As this is most certainly a blog written from a dog's point of view, then it goes without saying that this particular dog would have a few pet peeves ;)
After perusing a few forums about canine cuisine, this particular dog came upon posts (written by people) claiming their vets were telling them carnivorous pets 'need grain' in their diets. So I dug my paws further. Some vets snobbishly claim "dogs are not wolves", others justify the statement by claiming grains are more nutritious than cheap protein fillers in grain free diets.
What gives?
1) Do dogs 'need grain'?
Answer: If you Google this one, the answer 'yes' is provided by Purina 😂 Enough said.
2) Are dogs wolves?
Depends on the dog! Your pug is a mutant--you can continue with the pureed baby dog food. Your malamute on the other hand-- different story (If you don't know how wild your own dog is, ask yourself this--does my dog cuddle a cat or eat it?)
3) Cheap protein fillers. So here's the real rub-- grain free foods try to keep costs down by stuffing peas, beans and all sorts of legumes in dog food. A wolf would not be eating peas anymore than a stalk of corn in the wild. And in fact, studies show that legumes can block taurine and lower red blood cell counts in dogs--which is probably the main reason vets would be against it. But they don't tell you that, assuming most pet owners have peas for brains.
4) Alaskan sled dogs live entirely on fish and meat. Heck we knew a musher who raised his own cattle, slaughtered them and fed the whole darn thing to the dog lot! Those dogs lived much longer, healthier lives than any bag fed couch potato. But before you try this at home folks--these dogs were eating the organs, skin, bones- all of it. Same with the fish--skin, meat bones. Fish and meat are not nutritionally complete foods if you don't serve all the parts!
5) As most folks don't have cattle or salmon rivers in their suburban back yards--(nor could afford it) people resort to bagged and canned pet food. Fillers are fillers--they keep cost down. Fortified grains might just be the lesser of two two evils when compared to legumes. But grain inflammation is a real thing in dogs. Rice & veggies are probably ok, but depends on the dog.
Good luck and a woof and a howl!
