Many people ask us about whether or not they should go grain-free for their dog or cat. In general, we believe that most pets do well on diets that closely mimic the diet a pet’s ancestors might have eaten. This means for cats, a diet high in animal protein is most appropriate. For dogs, this is also true, but dogs can also utilize greens as a source of energy.
Most of our patients eat diets that tend to be higher in fat and protein and lower in carbohydrates, especially grains. We would prefer to avoid diets that contain by-products and fillers, corn, wheat, and soy. Small amounts of grains or other carbohydrates are used in preparing dry food to allow the food to be formed into pellets.
While there has been some concern about a heart disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM,) this is A VERY RARE disease in dogs and cats. Currently, we are not making changes in our dietary recommendations due to any fears of DCM.
To help determine which is the best diet to feed your pet, please consult with us about doing a food hypersensitivity blood panel. This test can best guide us in making the appropriate dietary plan for your pet.