My dog has issues with grain food. Is it grain intolerance or the brand?

Question

I've tried my dog on two grain foods in her life and she seemed to do ok on one but didn't do well on the other. Is grains the culprit or is it the brand? She does really well on the grain free version of the same brand but didn't do well when it had grains. I've also fed her treats with grains and haven't seen to many problems. I'm confused if she is intolerant to grains or not? How common is it to be intolerant to grains? She is a cavalier King Charles spaniel. thanks! Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 5 years and 1 month old | 17 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

It is quite rare for a dog to actually have a sensitivity or intolerance to grains, despite what many food manufacturers claim in their marketing campaigns. Instead, the protein sources in foods (particularly chicken, beef, and lamb since these are among the most common protein sources) tend to be the cause of food sensitivities or allergies. Consider looking at the two foods that you have fed Chloe and determine if they have any differences in the protein sources. If she tolerated one of the foods well, it would be fine to continue feeding it, but do not feel that you need to stick with a grain free diet since they do not provide any superior nutritional benefits. Grain free foods can also be more dense calorically since potatoes and lentils are often used for the carbohydrate sources rather than grains, so you have to more closely regulate portions with these types of foods. Just remember than anytime you change Chloe's food to do so gradually by mixing the old and new foods together over 5-7 days. I hope this helps and that all goes well! :-)

My dog has issues with grain food. Is it grain intolerance or the brand?

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