Are cereals good or bad for dogs?

There is a wide variety of cereal for dogs, but not all are good for them. You have to keep in mind what is the nutritional value that the cereal will add to your diet and know which ones are recommended and which ones to avoid. Here is a brief table that may be useful to you:

The cereal in the dog’s diet

Dogs need in more protein and to a lesser extent carbohydrates. Although cereals are not essential in a dog’s diet, they are a great source of energy, vitamins and minerals, and they also provide them with fiber, which improves transit and helps them maintain better digestive system health. For this reason there are some brands that in their recipes incorporate, for example, rice. And it’s a way for your dog to have energy reserves.

Still, it is recommended that the proportion of cereal in a feed must be less than animal protein from which the feed is made.

Adding that a feed is “cereal free” does not mean that it is of high quality directly, since it may have other unbalanced ingredients, such as too many carbohydrates with ingredients such as potatoes or sweet potatoes with an excessive percentage of these; or with harmful preservatives and dyes. You always have to see the total composition of the feed, and not just one ingredient.

What has happened in recent years is that different feed brands of low quality have abused the amounts of cereal in their formulas, one of the reasons is due to a surplus of cereals, or to cover nutritional deficiencies in a cheaper way.

you should always talk to a veterinary food expert, to advise you on feeding your pet, since there are different requirements depending on age, breed, activity level, diseases, etc. To finally opt for one feed or another.

Dogs may suffer intolerances or allergies

Another fact to take into account before introducing cereals into your pet’s diet is to know that some dogs are prone to suffering allergies caused by gluten or some type of specific cereal.

• Gluten is a protein found in some cereals such as: wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and bulgur.
• There are gluten-free cereals such as: rice, corn, millet, buckwheat, amaranth or quinoa.

This is one of the reasons that when a change of feed with different ingredients is made, it must be done in a moderate, progressive and vigilant way. If your dog is diagnosed as having an allergy or intolerance, Grain-free feed will be perfect for your diet without a doubt.

The importance of proper dog nutrition

The feeding the dogs It is one of the most important aspects to take into account so that their growth and development is healthy and strong. With a complete and balanced nutrition you will ensure that your pet is full of energy and that it has iron health to be able to face possible complications in its body and have a strong immune system that fights them.

To choose a suitable feed you must take into account:

• Size, age and breed of the dog.
• Diseases.
• The percentage of the predominant feed must be animal protein.
• That you specify the source of animal protein in your description.
• That includes fresh and natural foods.
• Labeling must be clear and understandable.

A complete and balanced diet is the key for a dog to be happy, without forgetting the degree of palatability you must have your daily food.

So, are cereals good for dogs?

Summarizing, cereals for dogs are good as long as they are suitable for consumption and the daily diet is rich in protein feed cannot be based on cereals.

The important thing  is that your pet has a complete and balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs, a varied diet that contains vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and of course with a pleasant taste.

If you have any questions about pet feeding, consult a veterinarian who is an expert in animal nutrition.