Naturally For Pets LLC

Grain free dog foods have become a favorite for those wishing to more closely mimic a dog's natural ancestral diet... and to lessen the risk of food allergies. And it's easy to see why...



Compared to the typical kibble or canned food, the best grain free recipes contain more meat based protein as well as easy-to-digest animal fats. And usually fewer carbohydrates, too.



Not only are grains like corn and wheat a frequent cause of canine allergies they can also be more difficult for a dog to digest.

Why Grains Can Be



More Difficult to Digest



That's because many plant-eating animals (known as herbivores) possess one powerful weapon many carnivores (like dogs) usually lack...

Salivary amylase.



Amylase is a special enzyme most herbivores and omnivores (like us humans) produce in their saliva. It's needed to begin the break down of starchy carbohydrates into simple sugars...

Before they enter the stomach.



Now, dogs also produce amylase. But the enzyme is added further down the digestive tract... in the small intestine.

Because a carnivore's saliva is mostly amylase-free, carbohydrates can be more difficult for a dog to digest.

What actually does make corn and other grains more digestible for a dog is the cooking process itself.



Why Kibbles Can Be Grain Free



But Never Carbohydrate Free



Compared to canned dog foods, kibbles cannot be made with just meat. That's because the process used for making kibble requires anotable amount of carbohydrates to create a dough-like binder to hold everything together.



Since there can be no corn, wheat, barley, rice (or any other cereal grains, for that matter), novel carbohydrates must be used in their place to make grain-free kibbles possible.



And vegetables (like potatoes) appear to be the most common source of carbohydrates found in non-grain recipes.



The Bottom Line



Supporters of grain-free dog foods claim these products provide at least two important benefits...

The're considered hypoallergenic

They attempt to mimic a dog's natural ancestral diet