Going Against Grain

Grain-free kibble represents an increasingly popular choice of foods.

By Nancy Kerns

Copyright 2008 Whole Dog Journal. Reprinted with permission, Belvoir Media Group, LLC.
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[A previous issue of WDJ] contained our annual review of dry dog foods, but with an exception from our usual format: This year, we decided to break out grain-free dry dog foods from the increasingly populated and competitive pack of terrific kibbled products on the market. We did not review them in the February issue (2008), but will discuss grain-free foods at length here.

In 2005, Natura Pet Products was the first pct food company to manufacture and market a grain-free kibble, which was initially called Innova Evo (and is now called simply Evo). The success of the product, in he market and with many of the dogs fed the diet, sparked a proliferation of grainfree foods. We were able to find more than a dozen companies that currently offer one or more grain-free foods that meet our election criteria.

Grain-free dry foods are still new enough that many dog owners wonder whether grain-free products are healthy for dogs - and how it's even possible to make a dry dog food without grain.

Early pet food manufacturers used grain and grain by-products east off by the human food manufacturing industry because they were readily available, relatively inexpensive, and functional. The choice wasn't made because dogs needed grain, but because dogs could utilize them.

Dogs have no dietary requirement for grains, and are physically not well suited to harvest, chew, and digest them. Biologists who study wild canines argue vociferously about the importance of the grains that are consumed by the dog's prey and are in turn taken in by the dog through consumption of his prey's digestive tract - but most agree that the percentage of grain in the dog's evolutionary diet is tiny.

The fact that the dog will eat grains and can derive benefits from them is less indicative of the suitability of dietary grain for canines and more of a testament to the dog's long evolutionary history of eating anything and benefiting from it.

Plus, laboratory studies have proven that dogs have no dietary requirement for carbohydrates whatsoever; dogs can survive and thrive on diets containing only animal protein and fat.

The last - but not least - impetus for creating grain-free dog foods is the fact that some dogs are intolerant of or allergic to cereal grains. For these animals, grain-free foods often produce amazing results, as chronic symptoms of intolerance or allergy go away, and the dogs begin to thrive - perhaps for the first time in their lives.

Features of grain-free foods

When manufacturing grain-free kibble, whether baked, extruded, or dehydrated, most pet food companies replace grains with other carbohydrate sources; "grainfree" does not mean "carb-free."

To calculate the percentage of carbohydrates in a food, start with 100, and subtract the percentages of protein, fat, moisture, and ash. The remainder is the carbohydrate content.

There has been an explosion of grain-free dry dog foods in the market. While these products can be highly beneficial for many dogs, be aware that they vary significantly and should be selected to meet each dog's unique nutritional needs.

The role that carbohydrates play in grain-free dry dog foods varies quite a bit. Some companies have produced foods that are very high in protein and fat, with low levels of carbohydrates. Others have taken a more moderate approach, creating products that are higher in carbohydrates, and with protein and fat levels that more closely resemble the levels found in
conventional, grain-filled dry dog foods. A dog owner who is considering a grain-free food has to look at the following to determine which of the products would be most appropriate for her dog:

Amount of protein

High-protein diets arc generally suggested for dogs with high-stress, high-activity lifestyles. Recent studies have suggested that a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet helps fat dogs lose weight more efficiently than higher-carb diets that contain fewer calories. Diets with more moderate levels of high-quality protein are suggested for dogs with kidney disease.

Amount of fat

Some of these foods contain very high levels of fat. High-fat foods are most appropriate for hard-working dogs, dogs in extremely cold environments, breeding animals, dogs with cancer (who benefit from low-carbohydrate diets), and "hard keepers" - dogs who are chronically thin. High-fat diets are not appropriate for overweight dogs.

Amount of carbohydrates

If an owner is trying to feed a moderate protein, lowfat food, the diet will necessarily contain higher levels of carbs. This is a perfectly fine formula for many dogs. Just keep in mind that high-carb diets cause blood sugar fluctuations and insulin resistance-
bad for dogs with or prone to diabetes. And dogs with cancer should eat high-fat, low- or no-carb diets (canine cancer cells utilize carbohydrates for growth).

Calcium and phosphorus levels

Some grain-free diets are very high in these minerals. Generally, the higher the product's protein - that is, its meat inclusion - the higher its calcium and phosphorus will be. These minerals are among those with AAFCO-recommended maximum levels; high dietary calcium and phosphorus can lower the digestibility of a diet, may create or exacerbate bone abnormalities (especially in puppies and most critically, in large-breed puppies), and potentially inhibit zinc absorption over the long term. We'd recommend avoiding the products with the highest levels of calcium and phosphorus for any puppies.

Ash level

Ash is essentially what is left over if the food is burned in an incinerator. It is largely comprised of minerals. especially potassium and phosphorus, with smaller amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, and zinc. High ash levels indicate a high mineral content; high phosphorus levels are especially damaging to dogs with kidney disease (but will not harm the kidneys of a healthy dog).

Calories

Some grain-free diets are very caloric-dense. Large- and giant-breed puppies, in particular, should not he fed high-calorie diets. And portion control is critical when feeding a high-calorie diet to a dog of any age.

Choices

On the following pages, we've highlighted some grain-free dry dog foods that meet our selection criteria for a top-quality food. On pages 16-17, we have identified 12 pet food makers with top-quality grain-free offerings, and we've highlighted the ingredients of one food from each company. The foods are presented in alphabetical order of their makers.

On pages 18-19, we delve deeper into the nutrient content of each highlighted food, including the amounts of protein, fat, oaths, calcium, and phosphorus (as well as other nutrients, as you'll see).

Though each of these products meets our selection criteria, as we have just explained, only you can select the grain-free food that's appropriate for your dog, using the nutrient values on our charts.

Keep in mind that these foods are not perfect for every dog; some dogs do better on a diet that contains grain!

WDJ'S 2008 APPROVED GRAIN-FREE DRY DOG FOODS

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What you can do...

• Consider a grain-free diet for any dog you suspect may have an intolerance of or allergy to
  grains, it's worth a several-month trial.
• Scrutinize the levels of protein, fat, calories, calcium, and phosphorus and select a food that is
  most appropriate for your dog's age, weight, and energy needs.
• Portion control is particularly important when feeding nutrient-dense foods. Carefully measure the amount of grain-free food you give your dog.