You might have heard of the grain-free food trend for pets: treats and other pet food have begun to eschew the use of grains in their products under the belief that is a healthier dietary option for their pets, especially with regards to cats and dogs. If you have a dog, you would definitely know just how much of a difference they can make in your home, and it is only natural for you to want to give them what is in their best interests. So, what is the real deal? Is grain-free food legit or just another trend? Read on below!
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To begin with, before we go into detail with regards to the specifics of grain free puppy food and dog food, you should probably consider why this specific trend came about in the first place. In the past few years, there has been an increasing awareness on eating habits, and many people have started to think more carefully about their dietary habits. The grain-free pet food trend is technically an extension of this: as humans began to realize the need to eat more healthily, it only made sense that they would also start to consider whether what they were feeding their pets was also healthy or not. Whilst there is some form of controversy on the topic, most people will agree with the fact that dogs are carnivores – their diet is largely meat-based. Their ancestors point to this (i.e. wolves), their digestive tract’s specifics point out to this, and the very presence of their pointed canines is yet another testament to it.
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That being said, following the domestication of dogs, it is also true that they have gotten used to eating grains far more than their feral counterparts – but the fact remains that they are biologically wired to eat meat. A good example of this is how dogs digest carbohydrates – unlike humans, who have amylase (which breaks down carbs) in their saliva, dogs have this enzyme only in their little intestine, meaning that whilst not impossible, digesting carbohydrates is more difficult for them.It is this point that many advocates of dog grain free food Australia use: by removing the presence of grains in their food, and increasing the percentage of meat in it (whilst you can find 100% meat dog food, it is common enough for these foods to also include a bit of potato and the like), their metabolic processes can benefit from it – whether that is in easier digestion or easier passing out of stools.
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It should be also noted that grain-free treats are technically a good option if your doggie has a delicate stomach or suffers from allergies – but keep in mind to make the transition to grain-free food a gradual one, no matter whether you have a sturdy dog or not.