The dog, as most owners already know, is a direct descendant of the wild wolf. However, the animal, which has also been returning to German forests for some time now, is anything but a grain-loving contemporary. In principle, a dog’s digestive tract is not designed to digest grain. Many dogs even have problems with grain over the course of their lives, because the body cannot do anything with this raw material. The consequences can not only be digestive disorders but also allergies and intolerances are a common product of incorrect dog nutrition. Dog owners are therefore better advised to use grain-free dog food because it is adapted to the needs of the dog’s body.
Allergy hazard cereals
A dog that has never had a problem with its food and has consistently shown itself to be physically healthy is still not completely safe from allergies. Insensitive dogs, the risk of developing an allergy is even higher because the digestive system reacts very sensitively to unfamiliar and unsuitable ingredients. Such dogs and their owners will not be happy with ordinary dog food that has a certain amount of carbohydrates. The symptoms of a food allergy can then show up after a short time. If the dog scratches itself frequently, if it has diarrhea or if it seems generally exhausted, owners should always keep an eye on the possibility of an allergy and ask the vet for help.
In many cases where a dog shows allergy symptoms, the cause of the problem is the grain in the daily food. In order to be able to live a healthy and unencumbered life, the dog primarily needs animal proteins and fats and, depending on its sensitivity, reacts sensitively to everything that has nothing to do with this. Similar to gluten intolerance in humans, grain-containing food has a very strong effect on the dog’s general well-being and takes away the zest for life. Veterinarians often recommend buying grain-free food.
Choosing the right feed
In order for a dog – regardless of whether it is sensitive or robust – to be able to live happily, it needs nutrition that meets its needs. This presents many dog owners with a completely new task because they often give little thought to the composition of feed. However, since the dog as a pet has a very high status within the family, most owners are immediately ready to change their daily dog diet.
Quality is what matters most here because only really high-quality food provides the dog with the nutrients it needs to live. Well-balanced dog food is basically free of substances that are not good for the dog’s body. A look at the ingredients already reveals a lot about quality and suitability. Things to avoid in dog food whenever possible include:
- Milk
- Corn
- Wheat
- Sugar
- Soy
In addition, the quality of the meat contained is very important, because manufacturers of particularly cheap feed often use waste that can hardly show any biological value.