What Grains are Good for Dogs? (2024)

FAQs

What Grains are Good for Dogs? ›

Recently, interest has arisen surrounding grain-free diets and their impact on canine health. When searching for the right food for their dogs, pet owners often focus on corn and wheat; however, many other grains are used in pet foods that have great nutritional value, including rice, barley, oats, and millet.

Although dog food containing healthy, starchy vegetables are a great way for dogs to meet their carbohydrate quota, wholegrains, like oats and brown rice, are also an excellent option. Oats and brown rice also contribute vital nutrients, minerals, and fibre.

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.

If you're considering oatmeal as an easily digestible option for a dog with an upset stomach, go for white or brown rice instead. “Those are much more tried-and-true and safe,” Watkins says. Oatmeal does, however, make a healthy addition to your dog's shampoo, Watkins says.

Whole (cooked) grains, like brown rice, wheat, couscous, oatmeal, and quinoa. Boiled pasta (without sauce) Eggs in any form - scrambled, hardboiled, or poached - no more than a few times a week. You can even feed your dog the eggshells - bake them for ten or fifteen minutes to soften and then grind them up.

However, a rice meal on its own should not be a daily affair – rice should only be part of a varied diet that offers all the nutrients your dog needs. Dogs can eat rice in moderation as long as it's simply cooked, without any seasoning or flavours, and as long as it's included as part of your dog's balanced diet.

Some of these grains include wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, amaranth, buckwheat, corn, millet, quinoa, and certain beans.

Chicken and rice: These two ingredients are very easy for dogs to digest, and are the prime ingredients in many commercial dog foods. This mixture will give your dog the protein and carbs needed for recovery. Sweet Potato: Full of healthy fiber and vitamins that dogs need, most pets consider sweet potatoes a treat.

Consuming a large amount can also lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and/or bloat, which can be life threatening. Half-a-cup of cooked oatmeal (at most), one to two times a week is more than enough for most large dogs. “Your dog should be eating a well-balanced commercial diet,” Dr.

While rice is lower in protein than other grains, it's still a good source of protein and amino acids. And chicken is a fantastic source of protein and amino acids for dogs. It's a complete protein source, meaning that it provides all of the amino acids that dogs need to stay healthy and grow.

What not to put in homemade dog food? ›

What ingredients should you avoid in homemade dog food? There's a vast number of human foods which should never be fed to dogs. Here's a list of ingredients you should avoid in your homemade dog food recipe: Onions, garlics and chives: these can cause gastrointestinal problems and damage to red blood cells.

Feed the Appropriate Amount

Cooked lean meats are good options as treats or food toppers for your dog. If feeding ground beef as a treat, limit the total amount to no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. Ground beef and plain white rice could be an option for dogs who need to eat a bland diet temporarily.

What are the top 3 ingredients to look for in dog food? The top ingredients to look for in dog food are high-quality proteins (named meat sources - chicken, beef, fish, and lamb), natural carbohydrates (whole fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (animal fats or plant-based oils).

“Grains like wheat, corn and soy that contain gluten can be difficult for some dogs to digest,” Ochoa says. “Look for grain-free or gluten-free options to support your dog's sensitive stomach.”

Grain-free diets may help some dogs with sensitive digestion. Although most dogs can digest grains without any problems, there are a few pooches that might struggle. If your dog is prone to digestive problems such as constipation, talk to your vet about grain-free dog food and whether this is a good idea for your pet.

So what alternative can we use instead of the rice? Sweet Potato, Butternut Squash or Pumpkin. Steamed or boiled (pumpkin also comes canned which works well). All of these items are rich in soluble fibre (the type that dissolves in water to form a viscous gel, which also coats and soothes irritated bowels.

If your dog has a gluten intolerance (you may see signs of food sensitivity which can be itchy skin, vomiting, diarrhea, and more), rice will be the winner over barley which does contain gluten. Barley is the winner when it comes to fiber.