If there is one “trial” that has excited social networks and dog communities for several years, it is that of cereals in dog food and in particular in the composition of kibble and reports are multiplying on the subject.
The charges are numerous: their presence causes bloating, gas, diarrhea, diabetes, obesity, gluten intolerance and the presence of mycotoxins (toxins produced by microscopic fungi). In just a few years, the dry dog food market has remarkably adapted to this fear of cereals. Many brands claim to have eliminated cereals from their formulation and their merits touted on social networks. But are the cereals in their diet really harmful for our domestic dogs?
Alleged culprits on trial: cereals!
Behind the concept of cereal lie several concepts which are often confusing for the consumer: carbohydrates, gluten, mycotoxins, etc.
A cereal is a herbaceous plant grown primarily for the nutritional value of its grains. These are almost exclusively plants from the Poaceae family, more commonly called Gramineae. The best known, and also the most cultivated in the world, are wheat, corn, rice and barley. A grain of wheat contains on average 70% starch (complex carbohydrate). Gluten, for its part, refers to a set of proteins contained in the seeds of cereals of the Poaceae group.
Charge no. 1: not respecting the dog’s “natural” diet
1er The harm blamed on foods containing cereals is that they do not respect the dog's natural diet. To understand more precisely what the “natural” diet of the dog would correspond to, two approaches can be considered: focusing on the prehistoric dog or on free dogs (individuals of domesticated species which have little or no dependence on humans ).
The discovery of canid remains in tombs at different sites in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, dating from the end of the 3rde and the IIe millennium BC in an Early-Middle Bronze Age context, was able to demonstrate that the diet of dogs was quite similar to that of humans and contained cereals in some cases.
Sarah Hoummady, Provided by the author
The diet of free dogs, for its part, is also mainly based on human waste, with mainly cereals and human stools.
The data therefore comes together: the historical diet of dogs since prehistory is therefore made up of remains of human food (including faeces) containing in certain cases, cereals and, which is very different from the image of Epinal what we have of the “natural” diet of the dog (often represented as hunting, like a wolf in nature).
Charge #2: forcing dogs to eat starch they cannot digest
Contrary to popular belief, dogs have a little salivary alpha-amylase (an enzyme that initiates the starch degradation process) and starch digestion capabilities. During domestication, certain genes playing an essential role in starch digestion were selected. Over time and the selection associated with the creation of breeds, the number of copies of the gene coding for the manufacture of starch-digesting enzymes increased depending on the feeding habits of the breeds. The dog is therefore capable of digesting starch, even if all breeds are not necessarily equal.
Although the dog can survive without “starch”, its presence remains necessary in certain physiological conditions such as gestation and lactation.
Charge #3: Making dogs sick with gluten
The consumption of gluten-derived products can cause reactions of which three categories can be identified: Allergic, autoimmune reactions and other reactions.
In dogs, the relationship between gluten and intestinal disease has been studied in the Irish Setter for approximately 20 years, but at present the relationship between gluten and digestive problems in this breed is not clearly established. In the Border Terrier, an association between gluten and paroxysmal dyskinesia (episodic involuntary tremors) has been noted. At present, these are the only two reports of pathologies that could be associated with the presence of gluten.
In this context, an elimination diet could be considered to test the dog's sensitivity.
Charge No. 4: poisoning dogs with mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxins produced by microscopic fungi during plant growth, storage, transport and even transformation. The latter can be present in the different organs of the plant including grains, fruits but also tubers.
The most common in animal feed is alfatoxin B1, present in particular in wheat grains. In humans and animals, mycotoxins can cause various health problems (toxicity for the liver, kidneys, etc.). However, control methods are put in place at harvest and the food industry also uses detoxification methods. In general, mold does not grow on properly dried and stored foods, so effective drying and maintaining a dehydrated state or proper storage are effective measures against mold and mycotoxin production.
The total aflatoxin level would generally be higher for so-called “economic” dog foods compared to those of the “premium” class. This difference can partly be explained, among other things, by the use of lower-cost products with less controlled storage conditions.
The source of animal nutrients is also a factor to consider, with levels varying depending on the source of animal protein.
Are grain-free foods healthier?
Grain-free foods are not always starch-free, but protein crops have lower levels of carbohydrates than cereals. This is why they are of interest to the animal feed industry. These protein-rich plants are plants belonging to the Fabaceae group, such as peas, fava beans, lentils or beans.
Protein seeds contain a high level of protein of around 20 to 35%. Pea seeds, for example, contain 21% protein but also 45% starch.
The starch in low-carb dog foods is often replaced with fat. This may not be appropriate for the animal's situation, particularly in cases of overweight, obesity or kidney failure. Furthermore, a grain-free food is not necessarily less rich in carbohydrates when the compositions are compared.
Finally, recent studies have reported cases of heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs consuming grain-free foods rich in legumes, without this being linked to breeds at risk of this pathology. If currently, the association between grain-free foods and dilated cardiomyopathy is not yet clear, caution is required, particularly for pea-based foods as suggested by a very recent study.
Verdict: Cereal is innocent
The accusations concerning cereals are not as obvious as they seem: dogs have consumed cereals since their domestication, they have perfectly developed the enzymes to digest starch, gluten is only a problem for a few individuals of breeds not widespread and mycotoxins are found in all foods but their quantity is highly regulated at the time of grain harvest and by the industry.
Finally, choosing a grain-free food for healthy dogs without any particular medical situation is not currently scientifically justified. The accused is therefore declared: innocent!
