The Benefits of Grains for Dogs: Millet, Oats and Quinoa

Should dogs eat grain-free or should dogs eat grains? Practically every dog parent has faced this dilemma when trying to find the best dog food for their pup. Here’s what you should know. 

Grains are carbohydrates, and similar to the foods you eat in your own diet, not all carbs are bad. Good carbs, like millet, oats, and quinoa give your dog energy and supply fiber to promote digestion.

Not to mention that grain-free diets often still contain carbs, however the carbs in these recipes are not typically considered beneficial. You’ll see ingredients like potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams and tapioca in place of beneficial grains. These types of filler ingredients contain little or no nutritional value, whereas grains like quinoa provide a wide range of essential nutrients that support a dog’s optimal health.

Grains and Allergies in Dogs

Because of how these foods are marketed, it’s easy to think that a grain-free diet may be preferred for sensitive pups with allergies. But as noted above, a grain-free diet for dogs will still have carbohydrates in it–and more often than not potato carbohydrates. These types of carbs can heighten allergies and systemic yeast infections in some pups.

All of the grains included in Sundays are not only high quality, but also gluten free. Gluten allergies are rare in dogs, but due to the constraints of our USA-based human-grade production facilities, we are required to be gluten-free and therefore can pass that benefit on to customers for dogs that may have wheat sensitivities. Plus we use the proper proportions of grains in relation to protein, healthy fats and fiber.