Is grain-free food fact or fiction?

While out on the town last week, I heard some friends talking about avoiding wheat and other grains because of gluten sensitivities. Interestingly, I have friends and clients whose canine and feline friends are eating "grain free" foods. I had a look into the "no-grains" pet food craze.

Pet owners are always looking for new things to make sure their dogs and cats are as healthy as possible. The latest diet fad is the use of "grain-free" foods for our pets.

By avoiding the use of wheat, corn, bran, or other grains, many believe that they can keep their pets from developing allergies, resolve current skin issues, or prevent digestive upset. Furthermore, a small percentage of owners don't believe dogs and cats can digest grains.

Although gluten sensitivity is common in humans, it is actually quite rare in pets. Only Irish Setters have shown any genetic susceptibility, and experts don't know how widespread it is in other breeds or mixed breed animals.

Many pet owners also think that a majority of pets are allergic to corn or wheat in the commercial diets. This urban legend is also not entirely true. Wheat is in the top five allergens for dogs, but it falls behind beef and dairy. Corn actually comes in at number eight. Dust and grain mites are the top two offenders.

With this myth in mind, pet owners have started switching to over the counter "hypo-allergenic" diets, like those made with lamb and rice, turkey and barley or other novel combinations.

Unfortunately, this easy availability may make diagnosing the true food allergy dog more difficult as many pets are exposed to a wide variety of allergens as owners try different and more exotic diets.

Despite being "no-grain," these foods are not "no-carb." In fact, in some of the diets made with potatoes, the diet can't even be called "low-carb" as the level of carbohydrates is even higher than typical diets based on corn or wheat.

Finally, many people believe that pets can't digest corn or wheat. This common myth has been disproved by decades of research.

If you want to use a grain free alternative diet for your pet, do it for the right reasons. Also, ask your veterinarian about the best brands and what might be the right choice for your unique pet. Many new brands of foods have come into the market. Remember old established companies have teams of research veterinarians on staff that study foods and are constantly looking into better nutrition. Many of the "new foods" on the market do not have a research staff.

If you have questions about nutrition and your dog consult Dr. Norette L. Underwood of the Trumann Animal Clinic and Best Friends Vet Mobile Service at catdoc56@gmail.com

Sites like http://MyVNN.com can provide you with accurate and unbiased pet health information.