N& d Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate
Farmina N& D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Medium & Maxi Adult is a dry food made for medium and large breeds. Just like other N& D Ancestral Grain recipes, this low glycemic formula is made of high-quality animal protein and wholesome grains like organic spelt and oats.
First 5 ingredients: Chicken and pomegranate recipe are boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, whole spelt, whole oats, and chicken fat
This formula has no whole peas, by-product meals, or legumes. Aside from high-quality animal protein sources, this N& D recipe from Farmina has nutritious fruits and vegetables such as dried pomegranate, carrot, blueberries, apple, and spinach among others. These plant-based ingredients are rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals.
Enriched with vitamins and minerals, Farmina N& D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Medium & Maxi Adult provides complete and balanced nutrition. 90% of its protein content come from chicken, dried whole eggs, and herring. This food also has omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
Reviews for this Farmina N& D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate formula state that many dog parents buy this because of the high-quality ingredients. They feel confident that they are feeding their dogs only safe, natural, non-GMO, nutritious food.
The Benefits Of Grain
There are some different pros and cons dog owners should consider when looking into grain-free dog food.
If your dog has a grain allergy, of course, you can put him on a grain-free diet, which should address his health issues. Additionally, grain-free pet foods could be beneficial if your dog has digestive issues, since carbohydrates can be difficult for some dogs to digest.
Dog foods with grains may use wheat gluten or corn meal, which are cheap fillers that have little nutritional value and reduce the quality of the kibble or wet food. However, many grain-free dog foods will not use fillers, and instead may use better quality ingredients.
Caution: Grain Products To Avoid Or Limit
Although some grains can be a valuable addition to your dogs diet, you should try to avoid other low-quality ingredients. High-quality whole grains are the best healthy grains for your dog.
But, dogs with intolerances will still have adverse reactions to whole ingredients if they are allergic to that grain.
Common grain allergies include wheat and corn. Rarer, ancient grains may be a more suitable alternative for your sensitive dog.
Grain by-products frequently appear on dog food labels due to their affordability. Yet, these leftovers from manufacturing often have reduced nutritional content compared to whole grains.
Lower quality cereal grains and by-products may be safe pet food ingredients. But limiting these ingredients in favor of high-quality grains with more significant health benefits can help you create an optimal diet for your dog.
These grain products appear in dry dog food for their convenience and affordability, not their nutritional value. Selecting a formula that uses whole-grain ingredients instead of grain by-products ensures that your dogs diet prioritizes his health over profit margins.
Try to limit these grain products when shopping for a new grain-inclusive pet food.
- Wheat Gluten This dry powder is a highly processed product from wheat often used as a cheap protein source to manipulate a high protein content. Animal proteins are much more bioavailable to dogs. And gluten can be problematic for pups with food allergies.
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Why Choose A Grain
Owners who believe their dogs have allergies may prefer a grain-free diet as a way to alleviate signs such as itching, scratching or gastrointestinal upset. But the truth is, the causes of most dogs skin allergies are environmental substances such as pollens, and molds those dogs tend to itch in certain seasons of the year.
A small percentage of dogs who show signs year-round may have food allergies. While the allergies are usually triggered by a protein in ingredients such as beef or chicken, grains do contain protein and can potentially cause an allergic reaction.
In rare cases, the gluten in some grains can cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and in some cases, spikes in blood sugar levels after a meal, which could be problematic for diabetic pets. The only documented gluten sensitivities in dogs have been in Irish setters and border terriers.
How To Get The Most Out Of Grains In Dog Food:
- Soak grains for at least 12 hours prior to cooking to reduce anti-nutrients such as phytic acid, which binds to certain minerals and can reduce their availability.
- Cook grains well to further reduce anti-nutrients and increase digestibility.
- Select the type of grain to fit your dogs needs. Whole grains are more nutritious and wont spike blood sugar like refined grains however, they are not appropriate for all dogs. Dogs with gastrointestinal issues typically digest white rice better than brown, while dogs with kidney disease should avoid brown rice due to high phosphorus levels.
- Avoid corn, wheat and all gluten-containing grains.
- Never feed genetically modified grains.
- Opt for more nutritious pseudo-grains, such as buckwheat or quinoa.
- Avoid foods that rely on grains as substitutions for high-quality animal protein.
- Let your dogs individual needs determine if, and how much, grain to include in the diet.
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Can My Puppy Eat Homemade Dog Food
Yes – Puppies who are weaned off their mothers milk and eating solid food can eat homemade dog food.
The Azestfor Homemade Dog Food Recipes are suitable for puppies, adult and senior dogs. We have 24 recipes available here.
Why Feeding A Grain
While dogs are capable of synthesizing glucose for energy from fat and protein, it does not mean grains are an unnecessary part of their diet. Here are some reasons why it is a good idea to stick to grains:
- Your poochs digestive system requires fiber for regulating, as it serves the purpose of eliminating toxins from the body.
- Theres a whole myriad of vitamins and minerals your dogs get from whole grains.
- Grains, such as oats, also contain soluble fiber to help control cholesterol, stabilize blood glucose levels and enhances the absorption of nutrients.
- Unlike the sources of protein, grain can reduce the calorie content of a diet without compromising on the satiation it offers.
- Energy extracted from healthy carbs also helps dogs with certain medical conditions like liver or kidney disease, intestinal bowel disease, and pancreatitis.
- A grain-inclusive meal also works perfectly with dogs who require a low-fat or protein-reduced diet.
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Should You Feed Your Dog A Grain
If you think your dog would fare better on a grain free or novel grain diet, talk to your vet. He or she might take the same stance as the doctors we spoke to, who agreed: if it aint broke, dont fix it.
If your dogs doing really well on his current diet, I wouldnt change it, says Dr. Adolphe. My motto is all foods fit, its just figuring out which works best for your individual pet.
Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe
Wellness Complete offers another fantastic recipe that mixes high-quality meats with highly digestible grains.
Deboned chicken is the first ingredient in this recipe, followed immediately by chicken meal, and then added chicken fat. The result is a food that is high in the rich animal-based protein that dogs need as their primary source of energy.
For grains, we see oatmeal, ground barley, peas, and brown rice. All of these ingredients should be full of the nutrients that dogs should be getting from grains and should be easy for them to digest. The fiber should also mean that they have no problem digesting the proteins in this recipe.
The recipe then adds a selection of fruits and vegetables, as well as a nice nutrient pack, to ensure that your dog is getting all the nutrients that they need to thrive with every bowl.
The big red flag on this ingredient list is garlic powder. Garlic is part of the onion family, and onions and garlic are toxic to dogs. There is probably not enough garlic here to be overly concerned, but there is just no reason that it should be added to a dog food recipe.
The other concern with this kibble is the price, being one of the more expensive options on this list. But isnt your canine best friend worth it?
Pros
- A good selection of fruits and veggies
Cons
- Expensive
- Contains garlic powder
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Can I Feed Grain Free Homemade Dog Food To My Dog
Yes grain free diets are a healthy choice for your dog. The FDA’s investigation into a potential link between dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM or canine heart disease, has been inconclusive. Azestfor has been proactive and added Taurine to the Azestfor Homemade Dog Food Vitamin formulation. Taurine is beneficial in maintaining heart health.
Why Choose A Diet Containing Grains
If your dog doesnt have a diagnosed medical condition that requires the omission of certain dietary ingredients, its generally recommended to stick with a diet approved for your dogs life stage. Grains can be important sources of fiber, essential omega fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Ask your veterinarian to recommend a diet thats right for your dog, which will likely be a standard food such as the one described above or a therapeutic diet for specific health conditions.
If you are a pet parent who worries that your dog has an allergy, discuss this concern with your veterinarian. The doctor will help you determine if your dog is truly allergic and if the allergy is to environmental factors or food.
The information in this blog has been developed with our veterinarian and is designed to help educate pet parents. If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s health or nutrition, please talk with your veterinarian.
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Pet Plate Fresh Pet Food
Pet Plate is a service similar to Nom Nom in that they sell custom meals for pets. The company was founded after the owners dog died in the wake of the largest pet food recall in history, all with the goal of providing pet parents with safe, high-quality foods to feed their pets.
Pet Plate offers a selected line of pet food and treats that are lightly cooked and made with human grade ingredients.
The quality of the ingredients and the gentleness of the cooking process ensures the quality and nutritional integrity of the food itself. The founder of the company states that, nothing goes into our products that we wouldnt eat ourselves. This company sources almost all of their ingredients directly in the USA, their kitchen is in NYC and it often checked for quality.
Not only are Pet Plate foods made with premium ingredients, but they are nutritionally balanced and easily digestible. In addition to meat-rich proteins, this company formulates their recipes with fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritional balance.
While human-grade dog food may be at the top of the list when it comes to quality, there are plenty of other wonderful options out there for your dog. If you have the money to spend on this type of food, it is definitely worth it but dont feel guilty if you can only afford a 3-star or 4-star dry food. What is really important is that you give your dog the love he deserves and the highest quality diet you can consistently afford.
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Merrick Brand Dog Food
The ingredients that make Merrick a great choice include deboned duck, deboned chicken, turkey meal, salmon meal which is a source of omega 3 fatty acids, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato protein and lamb meal.
Merrick dog food also uses duck fat and chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols, blueberries, apples, salmon oil, organic alfalfa, natural flavor and salt.
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Tip: Save Time With Petplate
Want to make life a little easier? PetPlates here to help. Our vet nutritionist, Dr. Renee Streeter, has been with us since day one, crafting each of our recipes to ensure theyre both highly palatable and perfectly balanced.
With four recipes to choose fromall made with high-quality, human-grade, and whole-food ingredientsyoure bound to find one that your dog loves. Plus, meals are delivered right to your door and on your schedule. Youll have more time to spend with your furry family members, backed with the peace of mind that youre serving them the best.
In The Final Part Of Our Three
Throughout 2019, headlines about grain free pet foods and dogs with enlarged hearts circulated around the news and the industry in general. Manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers anxiously awaited any news as to whether or not there is indeed a link between grain-free diets and enlarged heart disease and DCM .
In response, the commotion has brought up an important discussion regarding grain vs. grain free pet foods and which is best to feed pets. Before we dive into what we know, lets take a look at where the DCM issue stands as of now.
DCM Update
To put things simply, there is still no dietary link between grain free pet food ingredients and DCM. And theres been no major update since we last checked in early last year. In June of 2019, the Pet Food Institute released a Q& A document that outlined the DCM issue along with questions from a consumers perspective. They instructed pet owners that the most important thing they can do is make sure your dog is receiving a complete and balanced diet that is formulated for his or her life stage. When asked if any ingredients or grain free food as a whole should be avoided, the FDA stated that they do not advise any dietary changes based on the information gathered so far.
The Result
Whats Next
Grain vs. Grain Free
The question many consumers have is whether formulas with grains are better for pets than formulas that are grain free.
Why Grain is Good
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Problems With Grains In Dog Food
Problems arise when grains substitute for high-quality animal protein. Corn and wheat two of the top five ingredients known to cause food sensitivities in dogs are sometimes used in place of more bioavailable animal protein in dog food. Gluten has been implicated in contributing to a variety of inflammatory health issues. For example, Irish Setters from the United Kingdom are predisposed to gluten-sensitive enteropathy, a condition similar to celiac disease in humans.
To avoid problems, grains should be considered in their proper context as carbohydrates and used appropriately.
Can Puppies Eat Grain Free Dog Food
As puppies have lots of growing to do, feeding them the right diet is vital for their development. The most important thing is that your puppy gets all the nutrients they need to grow into a healthy dog. Puppies can eat grain free dog food, so long as it contains the right balance of nutrients. Further, puppies who show signs of intolerances from eating traditional dog food may benefit from a change to a grain-free diet.
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What Is Canine Heart Disease Or Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a type of canine heart disease that affects the heart muscle. The hearts of dogs with DCM have a decreased ability to pump blood, which often results in congestive heart failure.
Some breeds, especially large and giant breeds, have a predisposition to DCM. These breeds include Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, and Saint Bernards. While DCM is less common in medium and small breeds, English and American Cocker Spaniels are also predisposed to this condition.
The reports submitted to the FDA span a wide range of breeds, including many without a known genetic predisposition. When early reports from the veterinary cardiology community indicated that recent, atypical cases in breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Whippets, Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus all consistently ate grain alternatives in their diets, the FDA took notice.
Ancient Grains: Pet Food Lessons Industry Missed Or Ignored
At a time when the pet food industry and consumers have been plagued with recalls and the canine dilated cardiomyopathy scare, you would think that manufacturers would want to do everything in their power to gain back consumer trust. Instead, we are witnessing a trend toward more line extensions with ingredients not supported by science that demonstrates the products are safe or effective at providing the proper nutrition. After all, if the companies hit hardest by the DCM scare would have conducted digestibility studies and nutrient analyses of their grain-free pet foods, that matter would have been put to bed back in 2018.
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Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Our limited ingredient dog foodfor allergies recipes are perfect for dogs with allergies or food sensitivities. Made with a fewer number of ingredients but never sacrificing taste and nutrition, our Venture line is everything you want and nothing you dontno traces of grains, glutens, potato, egg, peas, legumes, lentils, chicken, colorants, fillers, by-products, or artificial preservatives are in any of our Venture grain free recipes.
For dogs with allergies, dog foods with no grains or gluten are great options so these gluten free dog food recipes are a popular choice to avoid allergic reactions or upset stomachs. Theyre also enriched with taurine to support your dogs heart and overall health.
Prepare Potatoes For Grain Free Dog Food Recipe
Cook the potatoes by boiling them in water. They can be mashed or cubed into bite size depending on the preference of your dog. Begin checking the potatoes after around 5 minutes of boiling most potatoes will be done in 10 to 20 minutes. Potatoes are done when tender: The potatoes are done when they are tender all the way through. You can test this by poking the potato with a fork, paring knife, or skewer.
Step 4:
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