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Is wheat bad for my dog? What about grain-free vs potato foods?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Why is wheat considered bad in dog food or treats? Is wheat comparable to potato in grain free foods? Why or why not?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 19th, 2017

This is a great question! There is currently no evidence that wheat or other grains in pet food and treats is 'bad' unless a pet has an allergy to wheat. Grains provide important nutrients, and even strict carnivores like wild cats probably ingest some grain contained in the stomachs of their prey. All pet foods need some way to provide carbohydrates, and the potato or pea in grain free foods is just an alternative source of carbohydrate. In summary, the 'grain free' pet food trend is mostly about marketing, and probably reflects the popularity of grain free and gluten free diets for people.

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