The misconception that grains are useless fillers.

There are many opinions circulating on the Internet about the nutrition of dogs and cats, The topic of grains often comes up. A common idea is that grains like wheat, corn, and rice are merely cheap fillers added by manufacturers because dogs and cats can't digest them. It's also often claimed that grains lead to obesity, diabetes, and allergies. These claims are striking, especially because it would be strange if an indigestible substance were actually fattening. Therefore, it's important to get the facts straight. Research shows that dogs digest grains almost 100% of the time, and cats only 90-95%. Grains are therefore a valuable energy source for both animals. The term "useless filler" is therefore inaccurate.

Does that still lead to weight gain?
This idea isn't entirely accurate. Obesity is caused by excessive total food intake, not by any specific ingredient. For a pet dog gaining weight, it helps to reduce the amount of food (including treats) and give it more exercise. A lack of activity often plays a role in diabetes. For animals with this condition, it's best to limit fast carbohydrates from wheat or rice. Grain allergies occur in dogs and cats, but other ingredients are more common. Wheat is among the top 10 allergy triggers, but almost 80% of that list consists of animal products such as beef, chicken, or lamb. Gluten-free grains like corn and rice rarely cause allergies. So why are grains used? Besides energy, they also provide fiber, minerals like manganese, and B vitamins. In short, there's no reason to avoid grains unless there's a specific reason (e.g., an allergy).

Source: EA Hagen-Plantinga.

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