Dilated cardiomyopathy

• If there’s one issue that has gripped the dog-loving community for the past few years, it’s that of cereals in dog food, and in particular in the ingredients that make up kibbles.
• The charges are manifold: the grains are said to cause bloating, obesity, gluten intolerance diabetes, and be riddled with mycotoxins (toxins produced by microscopic fungi).

Presumed culprits: cereals!

• A cereal is a herbaceous plant cultivated mainly for the nutritional value of its grains.
• Gluten refers to a group of proteins contained in the seeds of cereals from the Poaceae group.

Charge No. 1: Failing to respect a dog’s “natural” diet

• The first charge levelled against foods containing cereals is that they do not respect the dog’s “natural” diet.
• The diet of feral dogs, on the other hand, is also mainly based on human waste, made up mostly of cereals and human faeces.

Charge No. 2: Dogs can’t digest starch

• Contrary to popular belief, dogs have acquired some salivary alpha amylase – an enzyme responsible for kick-starting the process of breaking down starch – throughout their evolution, and can therefore digest a moderate quantity of starch.
• While dogs can survive without starch in their diets, its presence remains necessary in certain physiological conditions such as gestation and lactation.

Charge No. 3: Gluten makes dogs ill

• In dogs, the relationship between gluten and intestinal disease has been studied in the Irish setter for around 20 years, with researchers having yet to establish any causality.
• At present, these are the only two reports of pathologies that could be associated with the presence of gluten.

Charge No. 4: Cereals can poison dogs with mycotoxins

• They can be present in various plant organs, including grains, fruit and tubers.
• In humans and animals, mycotoxins can cause various health problems (liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, etc.).
• Compared with “premium” dog food, the total aflatoxin content is generally higher for “economy” dog food.

So, are cereal-free foods healthier?

• Finally, recent research has picked upon cases of heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs eating cereal-free foods rich in legumes, including in breeds not predisposed to this pathology.
• Although the association between cereal-free foods and dilated cardiomyopathy is not yet clear, caution is called for, particularly in the case of pea-based foods.

Verdict: It’s complicated

• Having eaten cereals since they were domesticated tens of thousands of years ago, dogs have developed the enzymes necessary for them to digest starch.
• In sum, there is currently no scientific justification for choosing a grain-free food for healthy dogs with no known medical conditions.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.