Chances are you know at least one person who has gone gluten-free. Hey, you have probably even given it a shot, if you haven’t already eliminated gluten and grains from your diet. With the popularity of Keto and Paleo lifestyles, and the increase in wheat sensitivities and celiac disease, going gluten-free or grain-free has certainly become mainstream.
Stroll down the aisle of your grocery store and you will see the proof. You can easily find entire sections dedicated to gluten-free and grain-free living. And your local pet food store probably doesn’t look much different either. That’s because millions of dog owners across the country have realized that a protein-forward, grain-free diet isn’t just a human fad – but it can provide a wide hoss of health benefits for our four-legged friends as well. So exactly what are the benefits of a grain-free diet for your dog?
Better overall skin health
One of the most well-known benefits of a grain-free diet is the impact a diet consisting of grain-free dog food can have on your dog’s skin health – especially if they have an allergy or an intolerance. If you are noticing that your dog is experiencing dry, itchy or irritated skin, your puppy may be suffering from a food-based allergy. The most common ingredients dogs are allergic to are chicken, dairy and wheat. When allergic dogs consume these ingredients, their immune systems overreact, which leads to that uncomfortable, itchy skin. Many dogs experience relief from these allergy symptoms by making the switch to grain-free dog food.
Shinier, softer coat
While it may not be scientifically proven that it is the actual elimination of grains that result in more luscious locks for your dog, the high-quality ingredients used in grain-free dog food may also be helping. Because high-quality, protein-forward, grain-free dog food formulations are often rich in Omega-3 fatty acids – an essential building block for a shiny, smooth coat – many dog owners that have made the switch to grain-free dog food notice what a difference it makes on their dog’s coat.
Less eating and less poop
Because grain-free foods do not have as many indigestible ingredients (i.e. fiber), one of the not so obvious (yet highly appreciated) benefits of a high-protein, grain-free dog food diet is that your dog may likely poop less frequently. And because protein-forward dog food is more satiating, there is a good chance your dog will need to eat smaller portions, less frequently – which can also reduce the number of times they need to go each day.
Many dog owners may not realize that the decisions they make relative to the type of diet and dog food they will provide their dog can be one of the most significant ways they can guarantee and long, happy and healthy life for their pup.