Grains or no grains?
Unless your dog has a food allergy or food sensitivity, feeding him a grain-free diet is largely a matter of preference. Many canine nutritionists say that grain-free diets are not necessary and, in some cases, can even be harmful. Still, many people like to feed their dogs grain-free food because it is usually high-quality food with good ingredients. We suggest that you do not follow the crowd. If you like grain-free foods, be careful to avoid foods filled with peas, lentils, and other legumes. In large quantities, these ingredients can have the same effect on your dog as soy (also a legume). Look for grain-free foods that have low or moderate amounts of alternatives to grains. Consider rare cereals, like quinoa. Even dogs that are allergic to some common grains like corn are unlikely to be allergic to some of the ancient grains. And if your dog doesn’t have a grain allergy, there’s no reason to avoid foods that use grains in small amounts.
Artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, sweeteners
In general, all of these ingredients should be avoided. Many of them have been linked to cancer in human studies. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are preservatives that should be avoided. As for artificial colors, your dog is also not interested in the color of his food. Colors are only added to attract you.
