What Is Grain Free Dog Food?

When exploring the best dietary options for your dog, you’ve likely come across the term "grain-free." But what exactly does it mean, and how does it affect what goes into your dog's bowl? Understanding how recipes are put together can help you make an informed choice for your dog's daily routine.

What is Grain Free Dog Food?

Grain free dog food is, you guessed it, made without including grains, such as wheat, barley, oats and rice. These ingredients are usually replaced with complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes and lentils, as an alternative energy source.

The use of grains in dog food was heavily popularised during WW2 as an inexpensive filler to increase bulk. Fast forward to the present day, where we know a lot more about a dog’s nutritional needs, and you’ll see the use of certain grains, such as wheat, becoming less and less popular in dog food.

While the ingredients in human food legally must be individually listed, pet-food manufacturers don’t have to spell out the exact contents of their products. Boo. So, when you see 'cereal' on a generic dog food label, the grains used can vary from batch to batch.

We'd welcome you to compare that with Butternut Box’s recipes. Our ingredient lists are fully transparent, we list every single ingredient we use, from things like 60% human-quality pork, right down to a pinch of sage and thyme. 

Is Butternut Box Grain Free?

Here at Butternut Box, we opt for grain-free in most of our meals but we do have some recipes, such as Tuck in Chicken and Pork of the Town, which include high-fibre pearl barley and protein-packed quinoa.

By having a variety of recipes we can provide options for all of our customers, depending on your individual preference, as well as your dog’s own nutritional requirements. 

All of our meals are hypoallergenic and contain no added wheat, maize, soy or other mystery ingredients.

We know that there are certain dogs that are better off without grains in their diet, even if they are the good kind.

We have ten meal options that are grain-free, such as Beef It Up, Wham Bam Lamb and Gobble Gobble Turkey. In these recipes, we use other sources of complex carbohydrates, such as lentils and sweet potatoes. 

Which Grains Do We Exclude From Our Recipes?

We are highly particular about what stays out of our kitchen. You won’t never find these grains in a Butternut Box meal:

• Wheat

• Corn

• Maize

• Soy

• Rye

• Sorghum

• Amaranth

• Buckwheat

Is Grain Free Food Good for Dogs? 

Even though dogs don’t suffer from Coeliac disease, some dogs display certain symptoms when they eat grains, which can indicate dietary intolerance. 

You may have never considered the possibility of your dog having allergies, but if any of the following symptoms sound familiar it’s likely that something is disagreeing with them.

Similarly to us humans, they could be caused by seasonal and environmental changes, but often, it is due to their diet. Opting for grain-free could help your dog woof ‘fur-well’ to those irritating complaints that go hand-in-paw with food intolerances:

• Itchy red skin

• Rashes / skin infections

• Fur loss

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Sneezing

• Coughing

Most breeds have evolved to produce the enzyme that allows them to digest starch. This means that dogs can, in the main, process grains without any problems. But there are exceptions.

Breeds that have Arctic and Japanese origins, like the Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute, have as few of these enzymes as their wolf ancestors, so it’s best to steer clear of grains for these dogs.

Should I Feed My Dog Food with Grains? 

If your dog never, or rarely, suffers from the above symptoms it is likely that they don’t have a problem when it comes to digesting grains. This ultimately means you’re free to opt for food with grains or without, perhaps finding some sort of happy medium so that your pooch can reap the benefits of both.

If you opt to feed your dog a high quality food, such as Butternut Box, you can be rest assured that regardless of which option you choose, your pup will be receiving all of the nutrients they need to thrive.

Added variety

As the old saying goes, variety is the spice of life. This doesn’t just apply to us humans, but extends to our pooches too. As incredibly sensory creatures, giving your dog a selection of different tastes and textures is sure to put them into overdrive. Pearl barley for example will give a nutty, sweet taste with a pasta-like, chewy texture. The perfect addition alongside some high-quality meat and veg. 

Protein power

For the same reasons it’s essential for humans, protein should make up a large portion of your dog’s diet. Whilst meat and fish are often the main protein sources, other ingredients such as quinoa can provide an additional protein-boost to any meal. 

Why Grain Free Dog Food?

If you’re unsure whether or not your dog requires a grain-free food, it’s useful to be aware of the main reasons behind why, in some cases, it may be recommended as an alternative diet.

Ease digestion issues

Heavy use of certain grains in dog food can upset the delicate balance in your dog’s gut and aggravate existing conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome. Many grains, such as wheat, corn and maize can be highly indigestible to dogs, wreaking havoc on their digestive system.

Unfortunately, this issue often presents itself in a sloppy mess that is near impossible for us to pick up. Your dog’s poop is the most important sign of digestive health. If they are producing anything other than a lovely log it might be time to switch up their diet. 

Increase energy levels

The use of alternative, low-gi carbohydrates, such as pearl barley, quinoa, lentils or sweet potatoes in dog food means that energy is released slowly.

This means that your dog will be sustained for longer and is less likely to show signs of lethargy throughout the day. It could also mean more playtime requests, so be warned. High-gi carbohydrates, on the other hand, cause a quick energy spike followed by a nasty crash and burn. 

Help to control health conditions

There are a multitude of health conditions in dogs that can be helped by a grain free diet. Diabetes, for example, often requires a low-carb, higher-fat to help manage insulin production.

Similarly, dogs with pancreatitis can benefit from a grain-free diet. With this condition, the main focus is to minimise pressure placed on the pancreas to allow it to heal. Some grains can cause the pancreas to be overworked as they take more effort to digest, resulting in some nasty symptoms for your pooch. 

Is Grain Free Food Suitable for Puppies?

Yes, grain free food is suitable for puppies. However, as your pup grows they need quality energy sources to fuel growth and development. If you opt for grain free, it’s important that plenty of energy is supplied through a mixture of proteins and complex carbohydrates.

We would always recommend consulting with your vet on the subject, as they can help you to decide what the best course of action will be.