The Ultimate In-Depth Guide to Grain-Free Dog Food

The quest to provide our canine companions with the best possible nutrition often leads us down winding paths filled with conflicting information. One of the most enduring debates in the pet food world centers around the role of grains in a dog's diet.

In response to various concerns and dietary philosophies, grain-free dog food has emerged as a significant and increasingly popular choice. But what exactly constitutes a "grain-free" diet for dogs? Are these diets inherently superior? And how do you navigate the vast array of options available to make the right decision for your furry family member?

This ultimate in-depth guide will explore the intricacies of grain-free dog food, providing a comprehensive understanding that empowers you to choose the best and worst dog food choices for your beloved dog.

What Is Grain-Free Dog Food?

Technically, grain-free dog food is any diet for canines that doesn’t include grains, but people often use the term “grain-free dog food” to refer specifically to kibble or canned food that uses potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, lentils, beans, or other species-inappropriate ingredients as a source of carbohydrates rather than grains such as wheat, rice, or corn.

Grain-free doesn’t mean a food is free of carbs, sugar, or fat. In fact, many grain-free kibbles contain more carbohydrates than grain-inclusive formulas. Kibble, in particular, requires starch for the food to hold its shape.

You may believe that a grain-free commercial diet must include more protein from meat than grain-inclusive foods, but the opposite is frequently true. Many grain-free kibbles contain less meat than grain-inclusive varieties because they use pea protein to add both starch and protein to the food with one cheap ingredient (often broken down into separate ingredients, such as “peas” and “pea starch”).

Is Raw Dog Food Grain-Free?

While you could theoretically add grains to a raw diet, most raw dog food (including We Feed Raw) is grain-free. Our food is naturally grain-free, with NO added potatoes, peas, lentils, or pulses.

The Debate: Is Grain Bad for Dogs?

When the FDA released its Grain-Free Diet Alert back in 2019, it sent shockwaves through the dog-owning community. Information got misinterpreted, fear-mongering reached an all-time high, and scary news headlines proliferated.

However, the FDA's inconclusive investigation focused on a link between certain grain-free foods and DCM—dilated cardiomyopathy, which is the clinical term for an "enlarged heart." The FDA found no causal link between grain-free food and DCM.

"Most of the diets associated with the reports of non-hereditary DCM have legume seed ingredients, also called ‘pulses’ (e.g., peas, lentils, etc.), high in their ingredient lists…These include both ‘grain-free’ and grain-containing formulations," the FDA states. It’s not the “grain-free” part that is the potential problem, but rather the species-inappropriate ingredients these grain-free brands use in such large quantities.

What Is DCM in Dogs?

Typically found in large and giant dog breeds such as Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, and Boxers, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease that makes it more difficult for the heart to generate enough pressure to pump blood through the vascular system. The most common symptoms of DCM include:

• •Weakness and lethargy, including weight loss, fainting spells, and collapse, due to the heart’s inability to pump blood throughout the body

• •Respiratory issues, including difficulty breathing, a distended abdomen, and coughing, can be caused by blood becoming congested in the lungs

A variety of conditions can cause the heart to contract poorly, potentially contributing to DCM, including:

• •Poor blood flow to the heart

• •Prolonged rapid heart rate

• •Heart inflammation (myocarditis)

• •Low thyroid levels

• •Amino acid deficiencies (especially taurine)

Reasons Grain-Free Kibble Is Bad for Dogs

Here are some of the top reasons you should stay away from grain-free kibble:

• •Lectins are plant proteins found in grain-free kibble that can make your dog sick by interfering with their digestive enzymes, leading to inflammation, and blocking the absorption of important nutrients such as zinc, phosphorus, iron, and calcium.

• •Glyphosate, an herbicide sold under the brand name Roundup, is the most prevalent toxin in food today, and studies have shown it’s carcinogenic to animals. 94% of soybeans (a common carbohydrate found in grain-free kibble) in the United States are genetically engineered to tolerate herbicides like glyphosate.

• •Phytic acid, which is found in high levels in legumes, lentils, peas, potatoes, beets, and other ingredients commonly found in grain-free kibble, limits the retention of manganese in the body. Manganese is crucial to help dogs make fatty acids, metabolize carbohydrates and protein, and produce energy. It also plays a role in the maintenance and health of cartilage and bone in joints.

• •Low-quality starches like green peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are cheap ingredients that help hold grain-free kibble together, but they can be highly inflammatory in dogs. Additionally, these ingredients have been linked to skin conditions, digestive disorders, and other health issues in dogs.

• •Low-quality proteins, such as soy, peas, lentils, and beans, are cheap sources of protein that are high in starch and add calories to your dog’s diet without adding anything of value. They are essentially “empty calories” with no real nutritional value for dogs and a lot of potential downsides.

Are Grains Good for Dogs?

No. While grain-free kibble often includes problematic ingredients, that doesn’t mean dogs benefit from grains in any way. High-carb ingredients like grains:

• •Cause obesity and excessive hunger

• •Wreak havoc with insulin levels

• •Cause inflammation that contributes to organ and tissue degeneration

• •Disrupt the gut biome

A naturally grain-free frozen or freeze-dried raw diet is the best food you can give your dog since it doesn’t include harmful carbohydrates.

Do Dogs Need Grains in Their Diet?

According to PhD animal nutritionist Dr. Richard Patton, "Dogs don't need grain of any kind. They do require small amounts of soluble carbohydrate, which can be found in meat in the form of muscle glycogen."

Grains are not an ancestral food for dogs. High-quality animal tissue, not grains, is their optimal source of nutrition. Grains break down into sugars, and excess starch and sugar promote illness: Obesity, diabetes, skin problems, allergies, and more. Dogs will benefit most from low-carb diets, and grains are high in carbs.

The Importance of Taurine for Dogs

The amino acid taurine helps to regulate and generate nerve impulses, supports the maintenance of normal fluid balance, and is used in the brain, nervous system, and visual pathways.

Taurine is found in meat, fish, and milk—and it’s completely absent from grains. If you’re worried about your dog’s heart, one of the best things you can do is to feed a raw, meat-based diet (especially one containing organ meat), because it contains high levels of naturally occurring taurine.

Kibble and canned food may or may not add supplemental taurine to their formulas, but they typically use meat meals and by-products rather than whole meat, making the foods poor choices for dogs that need taurine in their diet to stay at peak levels of health.

Navigating the Grain Landscape: If Not Grain-Free, Which Grains Are Best?

For dog owners who choose to feed a diet that includes grains, selecting high-quality, easily digestible options is paramount. Certain grains are generally considered more beneficial for dogs:

• •Oats: A highly digestible grain, oats provide soluble fiber, which can aid in regulating blood sugar levels and promoting healthy digestive function.

• •Brown Rice: A good source of complex carbohydrates and fiber, brown rice is generally well-tolerated by most dogs and provides sustained energy.

• •Barley: Another digestible grain, barley offers a good source of fiber and various essential nutrients.

Conversely, some grains, particularly when heavily processed or present as less significant "filler" ingredients in lower-quality foods, may be less digestible and offer minimal nutritional value. It's always advisable to look for whole grains listed as primary ingredients rather than processed grain fragments or by-products.

Understanding the Distinction: Grains for Dogs vs. Grain-Free Dog Food

Many healthful pet food brands (including reputable raw companies) were erroneously lumped into a "danger" category by misinformed "experts" who saw all grain-free foods as harmful. There was no distinction made between naturally grain-free foods (e.g., raw) and those that are modified to be grain-free, the kind the FDA is focusing its research on.

The effects of this confusion and fear reverberate through the pet food industry today, and, unfortunately, it's left many well-meaning pet parents stumped and scared.

In short, the exclusion of grains is not a problem, whereas the inclusion of lentils, peas, potatoes, and other species-inappropriate ingredients to replace grains may be problematic.

Benefits of Grain-Free Dog Food

Several key reasons motivate pet owners to explore grain-free diets for their dogs:

Addressing Potential Food Sensitivities and Allergies

While true grain allergies are not the most common culprit in canine food allergies, some dogs do exhibit sensitivities or intolerances to specific grains. These can manifest in a range of symptoms, including digestive upset (vomiting, diarrhea), skin irritations (itching, rashes), and recurrent ear infections.

For these dogs, eliminating grains from their diet can lead to significant relief and an improved quality of life. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, a grain-free diet might be worth exploring.

Mimicking Ancestral Canine Diets

A significant argument supporting grain-free diets draws upon the evolutionary history of dogs. The wild ancestors of our domesticated companions primarily consumed prey animals, a diet rich in protein and fat with minimal carbohydrate intake, particularly from grains. Grain-free diets aim to replicate this macronutrient profile.

Potential for Easier Digestion

Some dog owners report that their dogs experience improved digestion, reduced gas and bloating, and better overall stool quality when switched to a grain-free diet. This may be attributed to the different types of carbohydrates used in these formulas, which are often considered more easily digestible, or the typically higher protein content.

Higher Protein Content

Many non-kibble grain-free dog foods tend to have a higher percentage of animal-derived protein compared to some grain-inclusive kibbles. Most dogs thrive on a diet rich in high-quality protein for optimal muscle development, energy levels, and overall vitality.

The Best Grain-Free Dog Food Options

How can you choose the best grain-free dog food options? Here are some things to consider as you look at the different choices available.

The Role of Potatoes and Legumes as Grain Alternatives

Kibble requires carbs to form the crunchy balls you’re familiar with. When grains are removed from kibble, carbs are frequently added to the food via legumes or potatoes, which may be tied to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy.

If you must choose a grain-free kibble for your pup, look for one with a minimum of these problematic ingredients.

Characteristics of High-Quality Grain-Free Dog Foods

High-quality grain-free dog foods should contain:

• •High protein levels from real meat

• •No peas, lentils, legumes, or potatoes

• •Plenty of taurine (an amino acid found in meat, fish, and milk)

• •No or low carbohydrate content

• •Essential vitamins and minerals

How to Identify the Best Grain-Free Dog Food Brands

Since kibble requires carbohydrates for its formation, and because the carbohydrate ingredients commonly used to replace grains in kibble may be tied to an increased risk of DCM, the best grain-free dog food brands can’t be kibble.

The best grain-free dog food is a nutritionally complete and balanced raw or fresh dog food diet.

Exploring Grain-Free Options: Finding the Right Fit for Your Dog's Needs

The market for grain-free dog food is extensive, offering a wide array of formats and price points. Here's a closer look at some of the available options, considering factors like nutritional well-being, convenience for the owner, and affordability:

High-Quality Grain-Free Kibble

While kibble offers convenience and is often more budget-friendly than other fresh options, it does involve higher levels of processing compared to raw or gently cooked diets, and it typically contains problematic carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, peas, and lentils.

When selecting a grain-free kibble, carefully examine the ingredient list to ensure a high proportion of named meat sources and the absence of excessive fillers, artificial additives, or problematic ingredients like lentils, peas, and potatoes.

Gently Cooked Grain-Free Food

These diets represent a middle ground, providing minimally processed, human-grade ingredients that are cooked at low temperatures to preserve nutritional integrity and enhance palatability.

Gently cooked grain-free options typically feature a balanced blend of high-quality protein, healthy fats, and easily digestible, grain-free carbohydrates. While often very appealing to dogs, they tend to be more expensive than kibble and require refrigeration or freezing for storage.

Grain-Free Air-Dried and Dehydrated Food

These minimally processed options gently remove moisture from whole food ingredients, resulting in nutrient-dense, shelf-stable foods that are typically grain-free. Air-dried foods retain more moisture than dehydrated options and are often ready to serve, while dehydrated foods require rehydration with water before feeding.

Both can be excellent alternatives to kibble, offering a more natural and less processed form of nutrition.

Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Embracing the principles of a natural, ancestral diet, grain-free raw dog food eliminates grains and focuses on providing dogs with uncooked meat, organs, and sometimes fruits and vegetables. This category includes both frozen and freeze-dried options.

Frozen Grain-Free Raw

We Feed Raw offers a diverse selection of frozen, naturally grain-free recipes, including single-protein options like beef, chicken, and turkey, which can be particularly beneficial for dogs with specific sensitivities. We also offer multi-protein formulas such as duck, venison, and lamb. 

Our frozen raw recipes are formulated to be complete and balanced for dogs of all life stages, providing a high-protein, biologically appropriate diet. For those new to raw dog food, our frozen recipes offer an excellent starting point.

Freeze-Dried Grain-Free Raw

For the ultimate convenience without compromising on the benefits of raw nutrition, freeze-dried grain-free options are ideal. We Feed Raw's freeze-dried beef and chicken recipes are grain-free and include beneficial fruits and vegetables, making them a highly convenient and nutritious choice for adult dogs.

This can be a great option for picky eaters due to the concentrated flavors.

Owner's Guide to Transitioning to Grain-Free Dog Food

Dogs are often prone to stomach problems when transitioning to any new diet, so it’s best to transition your pup to grain-free dog food over about 10 days.

If you sign up for a We Feed Raw meal plan, we’ll not only tell you how much to feed your dog each day, but we’ll also give you detailed instructions on how to transition your pup from their current diet to raw over 10 days.

We Feed Raw Is the Best Grain-Free Dog Food

Looking for a high-quality grain-free dog food that doesn’t include problematic pulse ingredients? Choose We Feed Raw’s nutritionally complete and balanced frozen or freeze-dried raw recipes.

Our frozen raw recipes contain approximately 80% muscle meat (with associated fat and connective tissue), 10% organ meat, and 10% finely ground bones, plus added vitamins and minerals for food that’s complete and balanced for dogs of all life stages, including the growth of large-breed puppies.

Formulated for adult dogs only, our freeze-dried raw dog food contains 85% human-grade meat and 15% non-GMO fruits and vegetables, and no grains, peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes, filler ingredients, preservatives, or artificial flavors or colors.

Get your dog started on the best grain-free dog food by taking our quiz.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?

Kibble that has been artificially made grain-free by replacing grains with legumes, lentils, and peas may be bad for dogs. However, a naturally grain-free dog food like a raw diet is the best food you can feed dogs because they have no nutritional needs for carbohydrates and thrive on a balanced diet composed primarily of raw muscle meat, organ meat, and bones.

What are some appropriate grains for dogs if I choose to include them?

If you choose to include grains in your dog's diet, it's advisable to use healthier options such as brown rice, quinoa, and oats. However, remember that these should not replace animal proteins in your dog's diet.

Is grain good for dogs?

Grain is not harmful to dogs, but neither is it essential. Some dogs might tolerate grains better than others, but they all will thrive on a diet primarily composed of animal-based proteins.

What grains are good for dogs?

If you decide to include grains in your dog's diet, options like brown rice, oats, and quinoa are preferable. Nonetheless, these grains should not substitute the primary component of their diet, which is animal-based proteins.

Is grain-free dog food better?

Grain-free dog food isn't inherently better for all dogs, especially since grain-free kibble contains problematic ingredients and high levels of carbohydrates. However, for most dogs, a balanced diet with or without high-quality grains can be equally nutritious, especially if it’s less highly processed than kibble.

Is grain-free dog food good for dogs?

Grain-free dog food can be a good option for dogs, particularly those with grain sensitivities. However, these diets must be complete and balanced and should avoid problematic ingredients that may be correlated with an increased likelihood of DCM (a heart condition), such as lentils, peas, and potatoes.

Grain-free vs grain dog food: Which is better?

Neither is definitively "better" for all dogs. The optimal choice depends on the individual dog's needs, sensitivities, and how well they digest and utilize the ingredients in either type of food.

Are grains bad for dogs?

Grains are not inherently bad for most dogs. They can be a good source of carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients. However, some dogs may have sensitivities to certain grains, and heavily processed grains offer less nutritional value.