Are rice, oats, barley in dog food fillers or beneficial for dogs?

Question

Is brewers rice, rice bran, oat groats, oat hulls and pearled barley considered fillers in dog food? Why or why not? What are the best sources of carbs in dog foods and why? Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 5 years and 6 months old | 17 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

I am going to give an answer that is likely different than what you are expecting and is somewhat vague. There is a great deal of marketing and misinformation out there that speaks in terms of absolutes, but unfortunately the answer is much more complex than and can't be stated as good or bad. The term filler has not and is not commonly used appropriately. All of the ingredients you listed are good sources of nutrition and are appropriate for dog food, because dogs are omnivores (similar to people). Filler implies the ingredient has little or no nutritional value, but these ingredients do contribute vital nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids to pet foods. These products also provide protein, which may be easier for the pet to digest than some proteins from meat. Most dogs and cats (>90%) can utilize and digest nutrients from grains normally found in pet foods. One other thing to keep in mind is that these ingredients are one of a few different ingredients that are scientifically formulated in order to meet the known nutritional demands of your dog. These ingredients are utilized for the nutrients they are high in, so depending on the food, one may be more appropriate to use than the other. Given this, I cannot say that one is better than the other. For more information about dog food, I recommend you read the articles at the links below. https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-to-look-for-when-choosing-your-pet-s-food/ https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/ucm047113.htm I hope that helps and all is well with Chloe.

Are rice, oats, barley in dog food fillers or beneficial for dogs?

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