Dog foods made with grain typically contain less protein than the best grain-free options.
However, numerous ones are produced using grain-substitutes that can disturb the nutrient equilibrium of the final product. This is due to the fact that the two most frequently used components to substitute corn, rice, and other cereal grains in alternative dog food varieties consist of…
- Potatoes
- Legumes (peas, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, etc.)
Legumes, which are suitable grain substitutes, are also advantageous due to their high protein content.
Plant protein, on the other hand, may lack certain essential amino acids, unlike protein derived from meat.
That’s why we suggest the following 10 grain-free foods containing meat as the primary protein source in every formula.
Wellness Core Grain-Free Kibble
- First 5 ingredients: Whitefish, herring meal, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, peas
- Other recipes: Adult, weight loss, small breed, large breed, puppy, large breed puppy, senior
The majority of the protein in this Wellness formula comes from fish and fish meal. When analyzing the label’s dry matter, we determined that the recipe has 38% protein, 17% fat, and an estimated 38% of carbohydrates, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 44%.
A protein-rich option that is outstanding.
American Journey Grain-Free
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, chicken meal, turkey meal, peas, chickpeas
- Other recipes: Puppy, large breed, senior, healthy weight
The majority of the meat protein in the formula for This American Journey comes from beef, chicken, and turkey meal. After conducting a dry matter label analysis, we found that the recipe consists of 36% protein, 16% fat, and an estimated 41% carbs. This results in a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 44%.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that the formula includes salmon oil, which is abundant in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, the product incorporates both prebiotics and probiotics to promote a healthy digestive system. It is highly recommended, particularly due to its affordability.
Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Other recipes: Puppy, adult, small breed, and more
Taste of the Wild High Prairie obtains the majority of its meat protein from buffalo, lamb meal, and chicken meal. By conducting a dry matter label analysis, we have determined that the formula consists of 36% protein, 20% fat, and 36% estimated carbs. As a result, the fat-to-protein ratio is approximately 56%.
Highly recommended, this is an excellent option for your dog.
Orijen Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Whole Atlantic mackerel, whole Atlantic herring, monk?sh, Acadian red?sh, ?ounder
- Other recipes: Large breed puppy, adult, senior, puppy, weight loss
The majority of animal protein in Orijen Six Fish comes from whole Atlantic mackerel and herring, along with monkfish and redfish. After conducting a dry matter label analysis, we determined that the recipe contains approximately 43% protein, 21% fat, and an estimated 28% carbs. Consequently, the fat-to-protein ratio is approximately 47%.
Enthusiastically recommended, is a product line that consists of solid grain-free options.
Dr. Tim’s Grain-Free Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon meal, pork meal, dried white potatoes, dried field peas, tapioca
- Other recipes: Several grain-inclusive formulas
The main sources of animal protein in Dr. Tim’s Salmon and Pork RPM are salmon and pork meals. Our analysis of the label in terms of dry matter shows that the recipe consists of 36% protein, 20% fat, and 36% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 56%.
This is a brand that is of high quality and does not contain grains. It is easily recommended.
Canidae Grain-Free Pure
- First 5 ingredients: Lamb, turkey meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans
- Other recipes: Adult, puppy, weight loss, senior
The main sources of animal protein in Canidae Pure Real Lamb and Pea Recipe are lamb and poultry meal. Our analysis of the dry matter label shows that the recipe consists of 36% protein, 20% fat, and 36% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 56%.
An excellent choice that is completely free from grains.
Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain-Free
- First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated chicken, organic flaxseed, dehydrated potatoes, dehydrated sweet potatoes, dried apples
- Other recipes: Fish, Beef, Turkey, and others
The majority of the meat protein in this Honest Kitchen formula comes from dehydrated chicken. When we analyze the label for dry matter, we find that the recipe contains 26% protein, 16% fat, and an estimated 49% carbs. This leads to a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 63%.
Crafted using authentic ingredients suitable for human consumption, not lower-grade feed ingredients. Contains a well-rounded nutritional profile that fulfills the dietary needs of dogs of any breed size.
By introducing warm water, the product can regain its moisture and expand to a weight that is four times heavier than its original packaged weight. In this way, a 10-pound box can produce a total of forty pounds of dog food. It is important to note that this product does not incorporate any preservatives, fillers, GMO ingredients, corn, wheat, or soy. Hence, it comes highly recommended with great enthusiasm.
Ollie Fresh Grain-Free Turkey Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey thigh, pumpkin, turkey liver, turkey heart, carrot
- Other recipes: Beef, chicken, lamb
The main source of animal protein in the Ollie formula is fresh turkey and turkey organ meat. When we examine the dry matter label analysis, we observe that the recipe consists of 39% protein, 25% fat, and an estimated 28% carbs. As a result, the fat-to-protein ratio is approximately 64%.
The company creates a personalized feeding plan for your dog, taking into consideration factors such as age, weight, activity level, and other feeding factors. They then suggest a specific portion size, determined by the required number of calories to maintain your dog’s ideal weight.
The fresh, personalized diet is brought directly to you according to a flexible schedule. It should be kept in your freezer… and then defrosted (as necessary) in your refrigerator.
Ideal for those seeking to provide their pets with a scientifically balanced diet closely resembling homemade food, this outstanding grain-free alternative eliminates the tedious work while being rather expensive. It comes highly recommended.
Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, salmon meal, whitefish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
- Other recipes: Puppy, adult, weight loss, senior
The majority of the animal protein in Merrick Grain-Free Real Salmon with Sweet Potato comes from salmon and salmon meal. When we analyze the label for dry matter, we find that the recipe is made up of 36% protein, 16% fat, and an estimated 40% carbs. This results in a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 44%.
An excellent choice that offers various formulas. A superior selection without any grains.
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, whole peas, sweet potato
- Other recipes: Puppy, small breed, adult, senior and others
The main sources of meat protein in Nulo Freestyle Adult Salmon and Peas are salmon, turkey meal, and menhaden fish meal. Based on our analysis of the dry matter label, the recipe contains approximately 33% protein, 18% fat, and 41% estimated carbs. This results in a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 53%.
Weruva Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, pumpkin, carrot, green pea
- Other recipes: Several different meat sources
The main source of animal protein in Weruva Funky Chunky Chicken is chicken. When assessing the composition without moisture, our analysis of the label indicates that the recipe consists of 64% protein, 10% fat, and approximately 18% estimated carbohydrates. As a result, the fat-to-protein ratio is approximately 15%.
A wet dog food that is exceptional and free of grains.
A GUIDE TO GRAIN-FREE DOG FOOD: IS IT GOOD FOR DOGS?
Why is there so much fuss about grain-free dog food – what is the reason for our strong opinions, and what is the controversy surrounding grain-free diets for dogs?
We understand that it can be confusing, so we have written this article to clarify some misconceptions and provide you with a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of grain-free dog food. This way, you can make an informed decision about whether it is the appropriate choice for your dog.
What is grain-free dog food?
To begin, let’s start with the fundamentals. When a label on dog food indicates ‘grain-free,’ it implies that the food does not include grains like wheat, rice, barley, oats, and rye. Most dog food options available contain varying amounts of grains, while certain brands, like Pooch & Mutt, exclusively provide grain-free alternatives.
Initially created for dogs with a known grain allergy, grain-free food has proven to provide health benefits for various dogs, especially those with sensitive stomachs or digestive problems.
There can be confusion regarding the term ‘grain’ and its association with ‘grain-free.’ Often, it is mistaken for ‘gluten-free’ and ‘wheat-free.’ Furthermore, it is incorrect to assume that grain-free food lacks carbohydrates.
Grain-free dog food generally has fewer carbs compared to dog food with grain, yet dogs can obtain the carbohydrates they need from sources like lentils, peas, or sweet potatoes, which are vegetables or legumes.
Grain-free vs grain dog food
Is grain-free dog food better than dog food with grain, or is it the other way around? Well, it really depends because not all grain-free food is produced to the same level of quality, and the same can be said for grain dog food. There are some common arguments that are often made in the grain-free debate:
- A dog that eats a high-quality grain dog food – which includes a portion of ancient grains (such as rice or oats) alongside other freshly prepared ingredients – may do perfectly well on this diet. Grains do contain vital nutrients, and lots of dog owners feed grain to their dogs and do just fine.
The main issues with grain in dog food are twofold. Firstly, there is a potential risk that your dog may have an undisclosed grain allergy or may not digest grain effectively. Secondly, many mass-produced commercial dog foods tend to include significant amounts of grain as a filler. It is preferable for dog food to not primarily consist of rice, wheat, barley, rye, or any other grain, but rather to incorporate a variety of nutritious ingredients with a substantial amount of meat or protein. Nevertheless, grain is frequently employed as a filler in low-quality dog food in order to occupy space.
- Grain-free dog food doesn’t include grains, usually due to the fact that grains could trigger an adverse or allergic reaction in dogs. The other commonly held belief is that it’s considered a more natural diet for dogs, closer to their ancestral roots. Wild dogs or wolves would have eaten meat, vegetables and plants found in nature, for example, so it should therefore be gentler for domesticated dogs to digest and offer many health benefits.
- Whether food contains grain or doesn’t, it’s essential that whichever range you buy is of a high-quality, contains varied, freshly prepared ingredients that have gone through minimal processing, and is nutritionally balanced. This usually means having a whole protein such as fish or chicken as the main ingredient. Dogs are carnivorous animals, so potatoes, corn, rice or similar shouldn’t make up the bulk of their meals.
Is grain-free the same as wheat-free in dog food?
The terms ‘grain-free’ and ‘wheat-free’ are often confused because wheat falls under the food group known as ‘grain’ or cereals, but it is essential to understand that they have different meanings.
When considering the composition, wheat is classified as a grain. The presence of the term ‘wheat-free’ on certain packaging does not guarantee that the dog food is also free of other grains like rye or barley. On the other hand, if you purchase ‘grain-free’ food, it will certainly not contain wheat.
Is grain-free the same as gluten-free in dog food?
Many individuals are unsure if ‘gluten-free’ is synonymous with ‘grain-free’. Gluten is a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley, and some dogs, like humans, may have an allergy to gluten, necessitating the avoidance of these particular grains.
If a gluten-free dog food includes other grains like rice, it may not have gluten. However, grain-free dog food excludes all grains including wheat, rye, and barley, so it is unlikely to have gluten. Always check the ingredients label to confirm.
Why choose grain-free dog food?
There is a lot of debate on both sides, so let’s delve into why you should opt for grain-free food instead of food containing grains.
Is grain harmful to dogs?
In general, grain is not harmful for dogs. When used carefully, it provides beneficial carbohydrates and many dogs can digest it without problems. Nonetheless, it can be detrimental for dogs with grain intolerance or allergies, and there are anecdotal claims that dogs with sensitive stomachs may fare better with grain-free options. Additionally, the presence of grain in numerous commercial dog foods takes up valuable space that could be utilized for more carefully mixed and nutritious ingredients.
If you give your dog food containing grain, you shouldn’t feel guilty, but it is crucial to examine the nutrition details and closely monitor your dog’s bodily responses to specific foods.
