Grain-Inclusive Dog Food: What to Look For in a Complete, Human-Grade Recipe
If you've read that grains are "filler" and then read that grain-free might be a heart risk, you're not alone in feeling stuck. Good grain inclusive dog food is neither: it's a complete, balanced recipe where whole, human grade grains like brown rice and oats add digestible energy, fibre and nutrients alongside real meat. Here's what our nutrition team looks for, and how several of our gently-cooked dog meals put it into practice.
What is grain inclusive dog food?
Grain inclusive dog food is any dog food that uses cereal grains, such as rice, oats, barley or wheat, as part of its carbohydrate base. Grain-free recipes leave cereal grains out and often use potatoes, peas or lentils instead. Neither label tells you whether a recipe is complete, well made or right for your dog.
That's why we suggest you compare grain-free and grain-inclusive dog food on the details: the quality of the grain, the meat that comes first, and whether the whole recipe is balanced. At Tom&Sawyer we make both kinds, so we have no reason to pick a side, only a reason to get each recipe right.
Want a shortcut? Take the meal quiz and we'll match your dog with grain inclusive or grain-free meals based on their age, weight and sensitivities.
Are grains healthy for dogs?
Yes, grains are healthy for most dogs when they're whole, properly cooked and part of a balanced recipe. Cooked grains supply carbohydrates for energy, plus fibre, B vitamins and minerals. Dogs digest cooked starch well, which is why we fully cook every grain in our kitchen.
Grain allergies are less common than many pet parents think. A critically appraised review of food allergen sources found that the foods most frequently reported in dogs with food allergies were beef, dairy products, chicken and wheat.1 Three of those four are animal proteins. If your vet suspects a food allergy, the protein is usually the first thing to look at, not the grain itself. Our guide on how to know if your dog has a food allergy explains how vets test for one.
Which grains are healthy grains for dogs?
Healthy grains for dogs are whole, recognizable and fully cooked. The ones we use most:
- Brown rice: keeps its bran layer, so it adds fibre and minerals.
- White rice: very gentle on the stomach and a classic choice for sensitive dogs.
- Oats: soluble fibre and slow, steady energy.
- Pasta: a familiar, palatable carbohydrate for picky pups.
Read more on carbs in do dogs need carbohydrates?
What about grain-free diets and heart health?
The grain-free and heart health question is still unresolved. In 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration began investigating reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain foods, many labeled "grain-free", with a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds and/or potatoes as main ingredients.2
The FDA has said the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs "is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors", and in December 2022 it said it does not intend to release further public updates until there is meaningful new scientific information.2 No cause has been established.
Our read: this isn't a reason to fear grain-free food, and it isn't a reason to avoid grains either. If your dog has a heart condition or a breed risk, talk to your veterinarian about the whole recipe, not just the grain line on the label.
What makes a grain inclusive dog food complete?
A complete grain inclusive dog food provides every nutrient a dog needs, in the right amounts, for its life stage. In North America, the reference is the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles, and a complete recipe says on the label which profile it meets (for example, adult maintenance).
Use this checklist when you compare labels:
What to check | What a good recipe shows |
Nutritional adequacy statement | Formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for a named life stage |
First ingredient | A named meat or fish (lean ground beef, Alaskan pollock, chicken breast) |
Grains | Named whole grains, such as brown rice or oats |
Supplements | Vitamins and minerals that balance the recipe, not replace real food |
Who formulates it | Animal nutritionists, board certified veterinary nutritionists, with lab testing of the finished recipe |
Every Tom&Sawyer recipe is formulated by animal nutritionists and lab tested to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles, and no more than 3% of each recipe comes from added vitamin and mineral supplements. The rest is real food.
What does human grade mean in a grain inclusive dog food?
Human grade grain inclusive dog food uses only ingredients fit for people and is made in a facility inspected to human food standards. Human grade is an official designation, and it covers the whole process, not just the ingredient list: storage, handling, cooking and transport.
Our recipes are made with 100% human grade ingredients and prepared in a federally inspected human food facility under the same rules as food for people (Safe Food for Canadians, SQF, GFSI, HACCP). Compare that with feed grade ingredients, which are made to animal feed standards. The rice and oats in our bowls are the same rice and oats you'd cook for dinner. See how we create human grade dog food in Canada for a look inside our kitchen, or read our standards.
Which Tom&Sawyer recipes are grain inclusive dog meals?
Our grain inclusive dog meals pair a named protein with whole, gently-cooked grains, and each one supports different needs:
Recipe | Protein + grain | Supports |
Lean ground beef + oats | Senior support, sensitive stomach, joint and skin & coat; puppies with Puppy Booster | |
Alaskan pollock + brown & white rice | Low fat, senior support, novel protein for dogs with allergies | |
Chicken breast + white rice | Low fat, skin & coat, sensitive stomach | |
Lean ground beef + pasta | Picky eaters, skin & coat; puppies with Puppy Booster |
Prefer grain-free? Our Classic Pork Stew, Turkey Gobbler Feast and Kangaroo recipes are grain-free and just as complete. Not sure which fits? The meal quiz sorts it out for you.
When might a dog do better without grains?
A dog might do better without grains when a veterinarian has confirmed a specific grain sensitivity, such as a reaction to wheat. For most other dogs, the choice between grain inclusive and grain-free comes down to the protein, the digestibility of the recipe and what your dog enjoys eating.
Signs worth raising with your vet include ongoing itchiness, ear infections, soft stool or vomiting after meals. A vet-guided elimination diet is the reliable way to find the trigger. Our meals for allergies collection groups the recipes made without the most common triggers.
Ready to find the right grain inclusive meal for your dog?
Choosing grain inclusive dog food gets easier when someone has done the label reading for you. At Tom&Sawyer, every meal is human grade, gently-cooked and balanced by animal nutritionists, and you can mix grain inclusive and grain-free recipes in one Meal Box.
Build your pup's Meal Plan in a few questions, and join the pack of Sawyer's Loyal Companions who get fresh meals delivered on their schedule.
Please consult your veterinarian before making changes to your pet's diet, especially if your pet has a medical condition.
Resources
- Mueller, R. S., Olivry, T., & Prélaud, P. (2016). Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Veterinary Research, 12, 9. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-016-0633-8
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy." Content current as of December 23, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy