Is My Dog's Diet Really Grain Free?

Corporations often wrap commercial dog foods in brightly-colored bags with attractive words, catch phrases and pet photos. They produce a feeling of security and trust in consumers that leaves little room for worry. However, such packages also commonly conceal the true nature of those dog foods. Labeling that offers conflicting information with regard to ingredients confuses and confounds pet owners every day.

Grain Free Diets from the Shelf

In response, an increasing number of pet owners have begun to turn away from traditional commercial foods and pretty pictures as they understand the difference between good and bad nutrition. Grain free diets have become a way of life for many people who desire to give only the best food sources to their canines. However, grain free often means something different to each person. Pet owners who feed their dogs strict grain free diets know the positive results that can ensue. Their dogs are visibly healthier, with healthy skin and muscle tone. Some pet owners, however, do not achieve the same results. This is likely because not all commercial dog foods that advertise themselves as grain free are actually thus. Their packaging indicates one element, but their ingredients point in an altogether different direction.

The Reality of Grain Free Commercial Dog Foods

Many dry dog foods that are conventionally produced contain starches. Even dog foods advertised as grain free often name a minimum of one starch in their ingredients lists. Starches are long chains of sugars that must be digested back to their normal state. These are an unnatural component of dog diets, particularly in the quantities presented by modern commercial foods. Several examples of misleading dog food labels have been identified in recent years. As a result, many pet owners no longer place complete trust in either high-profile names or economical suppliers. This is because commercial pet food manufacturers are known to ignore and avoid the facts with canine nutrition. They overlook the need to make fundamental changes in commercial dog foods and instead employ clever marketing slogans. Among the most popular starches used in grain free foods are tapioca, potato, corn, barley, oats and rice. Companies use such ingredients because they are less costly than nutrient-rich meats and also help to retain the shape of kibble pieces. However, grains are associated with a host of health complications in dogs, including diabetes. To conceal such truths, commercial dog foods employ clever marketing strategies.

Slogans that Hide Facts

From veterinarians to dog groomers, most pet professionals agree that meat is a vital inclusion of all diets. Thus, many commercial dog foods state they are grain free as a way to imply that more meat is included. What this often means, however, is that the starch from the grain has been substituted with starch from another food source, such as tapioca or potatoes. Again, this is a cost-cutting measure that has little to do with nutrition values. Consumers have regrettably found that foods touted as grain free are in fact nothing of the sort. Ultimately, most grain free foods contain the same amount of starch and sugar as traditional dog foods. The two groups are simply marketed differently to appeal to different pet owners. Studies have shown that grain free dog foods tend to contain 18 to 30 percent protein, which is the same range as conventional foods. In order for dog foods to be truly grain free, they must contain more protein that compensates for the loss of carbohydrates. Commercial foods that are called grain free actually pose a level of danger to dogs. Some canines are allergic to glucose, while others suffer from diabetes and need the health benefits of a high-protein, low-carb diet. To fully ensure that dogs receive crucial nutrition, pet owners must use extreme diligence with grain free commercial foods. This means carefully reading all ingredients and conducting research to find viable manufacturers. An alternative to commercial foods without grains is a homemade diet for your dog. Recipes abound for such meals and incorporate protein, properly designed supplements, and fruits and vegetables. Only when pet owners take a proactive and decisive approach can they know for certain what is contained within their dogs foods.

Sources:

http://www.grain-free-dog-food.com/Grain%20Free%20Dog%20Food%20-%20the%20deception.php

http://www.grain-free-dog-food.com/Grain%20free%20does%20not%20mean%20more%20meat.php

http://www.grain-free-dog-food.com/The%20grain%20free%20dog%20food%20slogan%20is%20dangerous.php

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