What grain-free dog food is, and what replaces the grain
Grain-free dog food is food entirely without grains such as wheat, corn, barley, rice and oats. Instead of grain, the dog gets its carbohydrates from other sources, typically potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas or lentils. The purpose is not to remove carbohydrates, but to swap the grain out for ingredients that many dogs digest more easily, and to make more room for animal protein in the recipe.
It is worth keeping two things separate: grain-free and gluten-free are not the same. Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye, while, for example, corn and rice are gluten-free grains. A grain-free food is always gluten-free, but a gluten-free food is not necessarily grain-free. If you are looking for food for a dog that reacts to the grain itself, it is the grain-free line you should look for, and here you will find the entire selection under grain-free.
Which dogs actually benefit from grain-free food
Grain-free is not automatically better for all dogs. Most dogs digest grain perfectly fine, and in a healthy dog a switch to grain-free does not in itself provide a health benefit. It does, however, make good sense to consider if your dog shows signs that may point to a reaction to the contents of the food.
The classic signals are persistent itching, red ears, loose stools, a gassy stomach or a coat that just won't get into shape. Here a change of food can be part of the solution, but food allergies in dogs are far more often caused by an animal protein source than by the grain itself. If you suspect a genuine allergy, it is wise to talk to your veterinarian about an elimination diet rather than guessing. If you need to go that route, you can start with the selection under allergy-friendly, and if your dog has a sensitive digestion, the sensitive stomach collection provides a more targeted place to begin.
Grain-free dental treats for daily dental care
This collection brings together grain-free treats made with the teeth in mind. Both GRAIN-FREE CLASSIC DENTAL DELIGHTS and GRAIN-FREE BEEF & GAME DENTAL DELIGHTS are shaped so the dog has to chew, and the chewing itself helps keep plaque down between tooth brushings.
The difference between the two lies in the flavour: one is a classic variant, the other is based on beef and game. If you have a dog that reacts to grain but still needs a treat for everyday use or for training, the point here is that you do not have to break the grain-free principle just because it is a snack and not a main meal. The treats can be used as a supplement to the dog's regular food, not as a replacement for a complete food.
Grain-free meals for a dog's entire life
If you need a complete food and not just treats, the grain-free range is available across life stages. A puppy, an adult and an older dog have different needs for protein, energy and minerals, and that also applies when the food is grain-free.
Start your puppy on puppy & junior, find the everyday food for the adult dog under adult, and switch to senior when the dog gets older and needs an adjusted energy content. If you are unsure whether a grain-free food will suit your dog's taste before you buy a large bag, you can try it out with sample meals.
How to switch to grain-free without straining the stomach
An abrupt change of food is one of the most common causes of a loose stomach, and that also applies when you switch to grain-free. The dog's gut flora needs time to get used to the new ingredients. Therefore switch gradually over a period of about a week: mix a little of the new food into the old, and increase the proportion of new food slightly each day until you have fully switched over.
If the switch gives exactly the calmer stomach and firmer stools you were hoping for, you know it suits your dog. If the problems continue after the transition period, the grain is probably not the cause, and then it is time to look at the protein source or talk to the veterinarian. If you want to read more about the background before you decide, Essential Foods covers the topic in the article why grain-free dog food.
