The good, the bad, and the ugly: A Focus on Grain Free Foods
October 1, 2018
There seems to be an increase in marketing and media attention these days on every aspect of our lives, including dog foods. One popular trend we are seeing is grain free foods. What are grains? Are they bad for dogs? And are grain free foods the answer? There are many sources of grains that can be used in foods. Grains are seeds of plants that are used as a source of nutrients. Things like wheat, oats, barley, corn, rye, sorghum, millet, and rice are all considered grains. One reason people think grains may be bad for dogs is allergies. In humans, grain and gluten sensitivity is becoming more noticed, and so many people are wondering if their dogs are also allergic. In truth, only about 10% of dog allergies are to foods, and of these, the majority of the allergens are to beef and dairy. It is estimated that less than 1% of dogs are sensitive to grains. Are grains fillers? Absolutely not! Grains provide a number of nutritional benefits. Grains are easily digested, and are utilized just like other carbohydrate sources. In fact, they can be higher in protein and lower in sugar than alternative carbohydrate sources such as potatoes, which makes them healthier! They also provide healthy fats and antioxidants. Grains […]
Learn MoreNovember Nutrition: What food should I feed my pet?
November 2, 2012As November begins, many of us start thinking of our delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. As thoughts of cranberries and stuffing fill our minds, I urge you to think of the meals we give our pets every day. Here at Heritage Animal Hospital, we offer a variety of prescription diets and wellness diets for all of your pets’ needs. Our veterinary therapeutic diets include Hill’s®, Purina®, and Royal Canin® products. They are available for a variety of health issues including weight loss and management, diabetes, kidney disease, gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting or diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, food sensitivities or allergies, liver disease, urinary tract disease, joint disease, and dental disease amongst others. For our healthy pets, we offer Purina Pro Plan® foods and Solid Gold® foods for all lifestages including puppy/kitten, adult, and senior. There are a number of reasons we at Heritage Animal Hospital recommend Solid Gold® Foods. Solid Gold® was one of the first pet food companies in the United States that uses all natural ingredients in their food. Solid Gold® is a holistic food that uses premium ingredients and none of the foods contain artificial preservatives. Solid Gold® does include ingredients such as quality protein sources for muscular health, whole grain for fiber, fruits and vegetables for cell […]
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Maple Grove, MN 55369
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