The Best Grain Free Dog Food

Dogs can have food allergies just like humans can, and with human specialty diets, such as Paleo and gluten-free, on the rise, more and more dog owners are looking to switch their dog to a grain-free diet. In the wild, dogs are mainly carnivorous and the belief is that by switching them back to a more “natural” diet that their ancestors may have eaten, they will be healthier. However, most vet’s today recommend that carbohydrates and grains make up a small portion of a dog’s diet — 50% vegetables, 40% meat protein and 10% grains.

Dogs have little natural digestive support for breaking down and metabolizing complex carbohydrates and cereal grains, so over time, this can cause damage to their gut lining. Many grain-free dog foods, especially the moist and freeze-dried grain-free dog foods, contain more protein and animal fats and fewer carbohydrates than their grain-based competitors and are often more easily digested.

But where do you start when looking for a grain-free pet food? How do you know it’s safe to be feeding your dog a grain-free diet? Will they still be getting the nutrients they need? Below, we have complied a buying guide so you can make an informed decision about buying dog food and find the right grain-free diet for you pet.

Best Grain Free Dog Food – Comparison Table

Product name	Features	Star Rating
1) Taste of the Wild High Protein Dry Dog Food	Taste of the Wild with smoked salmon High quality protein recipe With smaller kibble	4.7 out of 5
2) Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food	Real deboned beef With 60% of protein from animal sources Help maintain healthy hips and joints	4.8 out of 5
3) Nature's Recipe Grain Free Easy to Digest Dry Dog Food	Real salmon is the #1 ingredient Easy-to-digest recipe With nutrient-dense,	4.7 out of 5
4) Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food	Real Meat First For Adult Dogs With Lifesource Bits	4.7 out of 5
5) Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food	Supports digestive health Supports skin health for adult dogs Made with natural ingredients	4.7 out of 5
6) Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Dry Dog Food	High quality protein Made with wild caught salmon Zero grains	4.6 out of 5
7) Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food	Advanced Natural Nutrition Savory Food Dogs Love Leaner Body Mass And Muscle Tone	4.6 out of 5
8) Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Dry Dog Food	Dry food for dogs Contains high-quality proteins Like real pork, beef and lamb	4.6 out of 5
9) Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Premium Dry Dog Food	U.S. farm-raised chicken Added vitamins & minerals No poultry by-product meal	4.7 out of 5
10) Crave Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food	Formulated to meet the nutritional needs Provides energy dogs need Grain free carbohydrate sources	4.6 out of 5
11) Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Dry Dog Food	Contains (1) 22 Pound Bag of Dry Dog Food U.S. farm-raised beef is the #1 ingredient No poultry by-product meal	4.6 out of 5
12) Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food	Packed With Real Salmon Healthy Ingredients With Lifesource Bits	4.7 out of 5
13) Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Grain Free Formula Dog Food	Contains (1) 4 Pound Bag of Dry Dog Food Real salmon is the main 1 ingredient Supported by Natural Balance’s ‘Buy With Confidence’ guarantee	4.7 out of 5
14) Purina Beyond Grain Free Dry Dog Food	Limited ingredient, Gluten and grain free With natural probiotics	4.5 out of 5
15) Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Dry Dog Food	Formulated high in protein Meet the needs of highly active small dogs Fortified with guaranteed live probiotics	4.7 out of 5
16) CANIDAE PURE Grain Free Dog Food	10 Key ingredients or less Packed with the goodness Healthy immune system supported by antioxidants	4.5 out of 5
17) Sojos Complete Grain-Free Dog Food	Raw Dog Food Natural and Raw Safe and Economical	4.3 out of 5
18) Nulo Adult Grain Free Dog Food	100% All Natural Grain Free For Large, Small Dogs	4.7 out of 5

Does my dog need a grain free dog food?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found a potential link between canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and dogs eating certain “grain-free” pet foods after reviewing more than 500 recent cases of DCM. In nearly all of these cases, the dog had been regularly eating a mostly grain-free product, the FDA report said. So, if your dog is happy and healthy and does not have any issues with the food they are eating at the moment, always consult your vet before switching your dog to a grain-free diet. You can also check out the ingredients list on your dog food and ensure that protein is one of the main ingredients, such as chicken, rather than listing corn, wheat or soy as the first ingredients.

Mentioned above, dogs are naturally carnivorous and so it is not in their nature to eat so many grains. That being said, they are not as carnivorous as cats and have actually learnt to adapt to eat fruits and vegetables. So, while they would choose to eat meat and meat-based proteins, it doesn’t mean they need them to survive and can actually survive on a plant-based diet. Although there are numerous studies proving the opposite, many people believe that grains and the main cause of allergies within dogs. We will go into this in more detail below, but, like the belief that all dogs are carnivorous, this is actually untrue.

Breaking Down Grains

What is true, is that dogs don’t have the enzyme amylase in their saliva to effectively break down the carbohydrates in grains like humans do. The enzyme amylase is needed to break down these carbohydrate molecules into starch to prepare these molecules for further digestion within the stomach. Therefore, a lot of people believe that dogs shouldn’t be eating grains. However, while dogs don’t have the amylase enzyme in their salvia, it is present in their small intestines, typically supplied by the pancreas in the form of pancreatic amylase, so carbohydrates can still be digested and and used within their bodies.

However, that being said, if your dog is allergic to grains or something within dog food that contains grains, it’s no-brainer to be switching them to a grain-free diet. Some dog breeds have a higher chance of developing food allergies, such as Retrievers, Boxers, Collies, Dachshunds, Dalmatians and Springer Spaniels, and, although it may be different ingredients they are allergic to, if you feel switching your dog to a grain-free diet is right for them, then you can.

There are some benefits to switching to a grain-free diet, too. Some owners reported that their dog had more energy, as well as smaller and fewer stools and reduced flatulence. They can also have a shinier coat, healthier skin and better breath.

Is it true that dogs are allergic to grains?

Mentioned above, there is a wide belief that grains are the biggest cause of allergies within dogs, but this is actually untrue. Allergies are an organism’s way of protecting itself from the invasion of foreign materials like bacteria and viruses. Science has shown that it is normally proteins that are the cause of allergies in dogs, although some contain more allergenic potential than others. These include ingredients such as beef, dairy, egg, chicken, wheat, corn and soy. However, not all grains can be allergenic. There are a few that are considered wholesome, such as brown and white rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, amaranth, millet and quinoa.

So, while dogs can be allergic to grains, it is much more likely that they are actually allergic to one of the products listed above. You should look to be removing these things form your dog’s diet too if you are worried about a food allergy, or work out which ingredient is giving them an allergy by a process of elimination. Some common symptoms of allergies within dogs include excessive flatulence, loose stool or diarrhea, rash and skin irritations, chronic licking, chewing or biting to relieve an itch, vomiting or frequent ear infections.

The bottom line is, if you are worried your dog is suffering from a grain allergy, you can switch your dog to a grain-free diet but make sure you carefully read the product label before buying. You can also speak to your vet and see what they recommend, as they will be able to carry out some tests on your pup to see what the source of the allergy is.

What makes a good grain free dog food?

Grain-free dog food is not so much about the absence of grains, but about what other wholesome ingredients are in the food that make a good dog food.

Animal Protein

A good grain-free dog food should have a whole animal protein as it’s first main ingredient. Dogs need higher amounts of protein and fats in their diet as these help support the building of tissue and organ development as your dog grows, as well as helping with the nervous system. In the wild, a dog will eat around 65% protein and 30% fats, with the remainder being divided among carbohydrates and other nutrients.

If you’re worried about an allergy, you should look for a dog food that has less allergenic meat proteins as the main ingredient. Chicken and beef are considered to be highly allergenic, so you should consider other animal ingredients. This could be meat from bison, venison, boar, rabbit, waterfowls and other “unusual” or uncommon animal protein sources. This is the best way for your pup to get protein in their diet without having any allergenic grains on the ingredients list.

You should remember that, while meat meals are acceptable, they should never be the first ingredient in your dog food. If there is, for example “lamb meal” present, this should be the secondary ingredient, with a whole protein as the first ingredient.

Healthier Carbs

We mentioned above some healthier carbohydrates that your dog could eat, including brown and white rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, amaranth, millet and quinoa. Remember, not all grains are allergenic and these grains above can be an essential source of amino acids for your pup that helps give them a well-balanced, nutritional diet. You could also always look for a dog food that contains healthy fruits and vegetables as they are packed with vitamins and minerals that help keep your pooch at their best. Vitamin C has great antioxidant properties, as well as vitamin A and vitamin E. Minerals like calcium, iron and phosphorus are also important.

Artificial Ingredients

There should never be any artificial flavors or ingredients in your dog’s food. Manufacturers include them to keep the food tasty, but they are unhealthy and can actually end up harming your dog. Only natural ingredients should be used within dog food to ensure your dog is getting the right nutrition they need.

If you’re thinking of switching your dog to a grain-free diet, take a look below at the best grain-free pet food we recommend, all available to you on Amazon.

1) Taste of the Wild High Protein Dry Dog Food

In the Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream dry dog food, real salmon is the number one ingredient, with an optimal amino acid profile and rich in protein for lean and strong muscles. Also rich in fatty acids, the salmon is high in omega-3 and omega-6 that not only makes the food highly digestible and easy on your dog’s stomach, but also work together to maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat. With no grains, there is no issue if your dog has a grain-allergy and the ingredients all come from trusted and sustainable sources so your pup is getting the best diet they can.

There are fruits and vegetables included in this food such as tomatoes, blueberries and raspberries and potato fiber, giving plenty of antioxidants to protect your dog’s overall health as well as vitamins and minerals to keep them active. Dried chicory root is present in this food as a source of probiotics, again promoting healthy digestion if your dog suffers from allergies, and also helping their immune system. If you are unsure whether you want to switch your dog to a grain-free diet, this food is also available with grains.

Key Features:

Taste of the Wild with smoked salmon
High quality protein recipe
With smaller kibble