Grain-Free vs. Grain-Inclusive Dog Food: What Owners Should Know

Grain-free dog foods replace grains such as rice, wheat and oats with ingredients like peas, lentils and potatoes. They became very popular — but are they actually better for most dogs?

Do dogs need to avoid grains?

For the vast majority of dogs, no. Dogs digest cooked grains well, and true grain allergies are uncommon. Animal proteins such as chicken and beef are more frequent triggers than grains.

What about the FDA investigation?

In July 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration announced it was investigating reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart condition, in dogs eating certain diets. Many of these diets were labelled grain-free and listed peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes high in their ingredients. The FDA has not established that these foods cause DCM, and research is ongoing.

What this means in practice:

• If your dog is healthy on a grain-inclusive food, there's no need to switch to grain-free.
• If you feed grain-free, talk to your vet — especially if your dog is a breed prone to heart disease.
• Watch for low energy, coughing or breathing changes, and see a vet if you notice them.

Good grain-inclusive options

When grain-free can make sense

Some dogs with specific sensitivities do well on a grain-free or limited-ingredient recipe, usually on a vet's advice.

Side by side