This might be taboo, but we're just gonna come out and say it- dogs are not wolves.
Due to their domestication, dogs have gained the omnivoric superpower of producing (pancreatic) amylase. In non-nerd terms, this means that although carnivorous, dogs possess the ability to process starch- the sugars found in a plethora of foods such as grain (wheat, rice, oats, etc.), potatoes, and peas- better than traditonal meat-eaters. This was critical for their evolution because it expanded wild canines' diets; early dogs were fed human food waste, which were loaded with grains. (1,4)
This does not indicate that all dogs' diets should consist primarly of grains, nor necessarily that they need grains at all. According to Lisa Rodier, an author at the Whole Dog Journal, "dogs do not require dietary carbohydrates", they can get all necessary nutrients from protein and fat. So that begs the question- why do we feed dogs grain? Well, because it's easy. It might seem obvious to say, but because domesticated dogs can digest grains, they're really good at using them for energy. Common starches like wheat, rice, and barley provide an inexpensive way to get dogs essential vitamins you'd otherwise have to derive through higher quality meats and vegetables. Furthermore, because dogs have evolved to process starches, most canines need the vegetable matter to have a balanced diet. Renowned veterinarians Dr. Ryan Llera and Dr. Cheryl Yuill of VCA Hospitals state that "dogs can meet their nutritonal needs by eating a combination of plant and animal foods." (2) While this does contradict Rodier's statement above, it's important to take into consideration individual dogs. As a species, dogs need plants, but due to allergens or other body mutations, some individuals are better suited for a pure meat diet. Interestingly enough, there is also evidence to support that dogs can thrive on a vegetarian diet (for more information, click this link regarding raw-food diets and scroll to the vegetarian section). The rest of this article will continue under the presumption that we're discussing the standard dog without any food allergies nor specialized diets. So, if carbohydrates can provide a good source of energy, and are safely digestible, then what's the harm?
The harm is both the type and quantity. Biologically, dogs are better equiped to utilize meat as their main energy source and use vegetables to supplement whatever nutrients they're otherwise lacking. Problems arise when the main ingredients they're digesting are low quality. Many dog owners will agree that in a good commercial food brand, meat should be the first ingredient- not meat byproduct nor byproduct meal, just the pure version of the animal. However, many dog owners also don't consider the quality of the plants in their food as well. What makes certain grains better than others is whether they've been sprouted, or "pre-digested". In Karen Wehrstein's article "Why Dogs Can't Live on Meat Alone", she explains how sprouted grains are seeds that have their protective shells, or testa, open (3). This makes it easier for the digestive system to obtain the nutrients within the seed, especially since plants have evolved in such a way that their seeds aren't readily digestible. Similarly to wholesome meat, good quality grains will list the simple ingredient, not a byproduct nor "whole grai. For example, sprouted brown rice will say "brown rice", not "whole grain rice" nor rice byproduct. Unfortunately, many commercial dry food companies tend to use byproducts as they're cheaper and is still somewhat useful for a dog's body. It's a same premise with white versus whole wheat bread- humans can still eat it, but the way white bread is processed can lead to increased weight gain, heart disease, and obesity compared to its whole wheat counterpart.
Grain-free food does not mean plant free, it just refers to a different carbohydrate source. Rather than wheat or rice, grain-free utilizes potatoes or legumes, and unfortunately, there isn't much information regarding how prolonged exposure to these foods effects a dog's body. We've seen dogs be able to safely digest starches for thousands of years. We know high quality grains are healthy for most dogs of all life stages. We know that even wolves sometimes consume seeds or grass to supplement their diets. However, we haven't seen generations of dogs thrive off pea-flour or beans. That isn't to say it's not possible, there just needs to be more research. Grain-free food became popular relatively recently around 2010 after a Chinese pet food manufacturer had contaminants in their vegetable proteins (the link opens the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report concerning this incident). This caused the public to go into a frenzy and misplace their fear in corn and soy, not the contaminants that caused the problem. The reason why grain-free foods are under question now is because the FDA says there could be a possible link between "certain grain-free foods and [canine] dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)" (5). Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicene defines DCM as a disease where the heart isn't able to generate enough pressure to pump blood throughout the body (7). Certain dogs are already susceptible to this, and it is most common in giant breeds such as Great Danes and Newfoundlands. However, in a 2019 FDA report, there have been cases of DCM reported in retriever dogs and toy breeds such as Shih tzus. It was discovered that 90 percent of foods associated in DCM cases were grain-free. Yet even with that information, it's hard to determine what within grain-free foods causes health problems. Is it all grain-free substitues or specific types like peas or sweet potatoes? Or is it "exotic" food that we've suddenly introduced our dogs to like chickpeas? (9)
Basically, unless your dog has a gluten allergy, it is safe and vet recommended to feed high-quality grains, especially as there still needs to be research on what in grain-free diets causes health problems. A prolonged, low quality diet of any kind prevents your dog from getting full nutrients and can lead to health issues such as obesity, diabetes, certain cancers, and a general lower life span. You know your dog better than anyone- you know what makes him/her sick, what they're picky about, and what their favorite foods are. You also know if your dog was thriving on a grain-included food before you questioned whether or not to switch to grain-free. Listen to your dog and vet to decide which diet would be best for them.
(1) Pennisi, Elizabeth. “Diet Shaped Dog Domestication.” Science Magazine, January 23, 2013. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2013/01/diet-shaped-dog-domestication.
(2) Dr. Llera, Ryan. Dr. Yuill Cheryl. "Nutrition- General Feeding Guidelines for Dogs" Care & Wellness, Nutrition, Pet Services. VCA Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutrition-general-feeding-guidelines-for-dogs
(3) Wehrstein, Karen. "Why Dogs Can't Live on Meat Alone." Whole Dog Journal, October 17, 2011. https://carna4.com/why-dogs-cant-live-on-meat-alone/
(4) Strauss, Mary. "Wolves, Dogs, Differ in Ability to Digest Starches." Whole Dog Journal, February 13, 2013. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/wolves-dogs-differ-in-ability-to-digest-starches/
(5) Dr. Coile, Caroline. "Can Dogs Eat Wheat And Other Grains?" American Kennel Club. May 13, 2016. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-wheat/
(6) Rodier, Lisa. "Carbohydrates and Your Dog's Digestive System." Whole Dog Journal, September 13, 2010. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/digestion/carbohydrates-and-your-dogs-digestive-system/
(7) Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine. "Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)". Cornell University, 2016. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/companion-animal-hospital/cardiology/canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy-dcm
(8) U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy". June 27, 2019. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
(9) Burke, Anne. "What Dog Owners Need to Know About FDA's Grain-Free Diet Alert." American Kennel Club, June 18, 2019. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-fdas-grain-free-diet-alert/
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