Which is the better dog food 'filler', potato or grains?

Question

Some grain-free brands seem to be using 'potato' as a filler. If sweet potato is listed first before potato, I usually go on and get the food. Then some quality brands of dog food use brown rice, oatmeal, wheat bran/flour or cracked pearled barley as the filler.

So which is the better filler, white potato, or one those quality grains? I had just been trying to avoid grains, but some good foods, like Natural Balance L.I.T just rely so heavly on potato, wich makes me wonder if I should avoid too much potato too.

Answer 1

aha! so you've stumbled upon a gaping hole in the grain-free dog food marketing mumbo jumbo!



There is nothing about dog physiology that makes potatoes 'better' for a dog than grains.

on the contrary, grains are generally more nutritious than potatoes, even for dogs.



From a glycemic index perspective, the grains used in the better dog foods score better than all potatoes, including sweet potatoes.



"grains and wheat are allergens for dogs" is a self-serving and disngenuous half-lie on the part of premium and grain free dog food marketing.



The most common dog food allergen by far is protein.Most dog foods primary protein source is meat.



There's nothing about dog physiology that makes the protein in corn, soy, etc any more allergenic than the protein in meats.



Hence, if your dog is allergic to its food, it is most likely allergic to protein, which presents a challenge. It's usually not nearly so easy as just switching to a grain-free food

Answer 2

All dog food will contain a certain amount of 'filler' . In the majority of Commercial dog food , this will be grains . Like corn or maze etc . More and more the consumer is becoming savy about what they feed their dogs . In other words they are looking for brands With labels such as 'grain' free . That is ingredients such as corn , soy , wheat . Potatoes and sweet potatoes do not fall in to this category of grain . Therefore the producer can still pad out their brand with potatoes and the like and label it grain free. Potatoes . sweet especially do have more nutritional value then most grains . Therefor i would much rather buy a brand that had been 'filled' out with sweet potatoes then corn / soy etc .

Answer 3

Actually, it is corn meal and wheat gluten that seems to trigger allergies in dogs, and certainly neither is good nutrition for them.



The better brands do use sweet potato or rice, both more digestible and barley is probably acceptable. I would steer clear of any kibble using oatmeal or wheat, even white potato except in very small amounts.



I feed my dogs Canidae, rice is among the ingredients, but it is far down the list -- meat should always be the first ingredient. I took mine off Science Diet years ago, that had a lot of corn meal, and they have been in far better health since, no more dry skin or yeast infections.

Stay with something that has no corn meal or wheat gluten or artificial preservatives and that lists meat as the first ingredient - the less fillers the better for most dogs.

Answer 4

In testing places, dogs seem to prefer potatoes to grains. I would stay away from any kind of wheat, but brown rice, oatmeal and barley are good grains and most dogs can handle them without any problem. The most important thing to look for when deciding which food to buy, is the first ingredient (that means it's the most prevalent ingredient in the food) and it should be a meat or fish source. It's best if these are the first two ingredients.

EDIT:

I use Canidae also, the Senior kibble

Answer 5

It depends on whether or not the dog has a grain allergy, I'd suggest. I've had one of mine on a commercial made fish and potato diet for some years now after he had Giardia early on. He's been brilliant on this ever since much as because it's expensive, I'm now gradually weaning him off this and onto the same maker's Lamb and Rice, which is what my other dog is eating.



My dog has NEVER been gassy on his potato diet so this isn't necessarily going to happen. It might be so if the dog has uncooked potato however.

Answer 6

Many dogs have allergies to grains so I would pick a food with potatoes

Answer 7

I'm confused. I don't understand the need for a dog filler. You can get brands of food that's affordable, without buying the best that's recommended for dogs.

Answer 8

Potato is higher in carbs, so I stick to the grain type. Tastes better over noodles, too.

Answer 9

Potatoes make dogs fart