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What are Grains and What Does that Mean for my Dog?

Updated: Jun 29

Last updated: 6/29/2025

This might be taboo, but we're just gonna come out and say it- dogs are not wolves.


Through their domestication, dogs have gained the omnivorous superpower of producing (pancreatic) amylase. In simpler terms, this means that although carnivorous, dogs can process starch- the sugars found in many foods such as grain (wheat, rice, oats, etc.), potatoes, and peas- better than traditional meat-eaters. This adaptation was critical for their evolution because it expanded wild canines' diets; early dogs were fed human food scraps, which were loaded with grains (Pennisi, 2013; Strauss, 2013).

Image of dogs reaching their ultimate bread form. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/5mjnus/dogs_with_bread_on_their_head/
Image of dogs reaching their ultimate bread form. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/5mjnus/dogs_with_bread_on_their_head/

This does not indicate that all dogs' diets should consist primarily of grains, nor necessarily that they need grains at all. According to "Whole Dog Journal" author Lisa Rodier (2010), "dogs do not require dietary carbohydrates"; they can get all necessary nutrients from protein and fat.







🐾 Why Grains Are Common in Dog Food

If dogs do not require dietary carbohydrates, why do we feed them 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 deliver energy and essential nutrients that would otherwise require higher-quality meats and vegetables. Moreover, most dogs actually benefit from plant matter in their diets.


According to veterinarians Dr. Ryan Llera and Dr. Cheryl Yuill of VCA Hospitals, "dogs can meet their nutritional needs by eating a combination of plant and animal foods" (Llera & Yuill, 2025). This may seem to contradict Rodier's claim, but it's about context. While dogs as a species are omnivorous, individual dogs may thrive on different ratios depending on allergies, lifestyles, or health conditions. For example, some dogs perform well on high-meat, grain-free diets while others benefit from a more balanced inclusion of grains and vegetables.


Quality Over Inclusion

Similar to meat ingredients, the biggest concerns when choosing grain-inclusive diets are type and quantity. Biologically, dogs are best equipped to derive most energy from animal proteins, with plants supplementing micronutrients. Problems arise when low-quality plant ingredients replace meat as the primary source of energy. Many dog owners know 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, plant ingredient quality matters just as much.


What makes certain grains better than others is how they're processed. Wehrstein (2011) explains that sprouted grains are easier for dogs to digest because their protective shells, or testa, are broken. When looking at food labels on commercial kibble, high-quality grains will list the simple ingredient, not a byproduct nor "whole grain [insert name here]". 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 are still somewhat useful for a dog's body. It's the same premise with white versus whole wheat bread- humans can still eat it, but how white bread is processed can lead to increased weight gain, heart disease, and obesity compared to its whole wheat counterpart.

Image of a whole grain grain anatomy, showing the vitamins found within an individual grain. Whole grains are healthier than refined grains because they retain their bran and germ.
Image of a whole grain grain anatomy, showing the vitamins found within an individual grain. Whole grains are healthier than refined grains because they retain their bran and germ.
Grain-Free not Plant-Free

It's also important to note that grain-free 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 affects a dog's body (Burke, 2023). We've seen dogs be able to digest starches for thousands of years safely. 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, chickpeas, or lentils (Burke, 2023). That isn't to say it's impossible, just that more research is needed.


Health Concerns Around Grain-Free Diets

Grain-free diets became especially popular around 2010, following a major contamination scandal where a Chinese pet food manufacturer had contaminants in their vegetable proteins. This caused a widespread panic where the public misplaced their fear in corn and soy over the actual contaminants that caused the problem.


More recently, grain-free diets have come under new scrutiny. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported potential links between "certain grain-free foods and [canine] dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)" (Coile, 2024), a very serious heart condition.


According to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine (2025), DCM occurs when the heart cannot generate enough pressure to pump blood throughout the body. Certain dog breeds are already susceptible to this (i.e. giant breeds like Great Danes and Newfoundlands); however, a 2019 FDA report reported DCM cases in retriever dogs and toy breeds such as Shih tzus. In fact, about 90 percent of foods associated with DCM cases were grain-free (Burke, 2023).


Unfortunately, it's still unclear what causes health problems in grain-free foods. Is it all the grain-free substitutes, or specific ones like peas or sweet potatoes? Or is it "exotic" food we've suddenly introduced our dogs to, like chickpeas? More research is needed.


The Takeaway: Talk to Your Vet

Ultimately, unless your dog has a gluten allergy, it is safe and vet recommended to feed high-quality grains. 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: their preferences, sensitivities, overall health. If your dog was thriving on a grain-inclusive diet before, carefully consider before switching to grain-free. As always, consult your veterinarian to decide which diet is best for your dog.


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