Corn & Grains In Pet Foods

Dr. David Gagnon

Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic is AAHA accredited, which means we adhere to the guidelines set forth by the American Animal Hospital Association.  For accreditation, we are measured against approximately 900 rigorous standards in the veterinary industry and we provide outstanding medical care and client service.  AAHA publishes a monthly magazine for veterinary professionals called AAHA Trends.

The January, 2016 issue of AAHA Trends contains an article titled “Myth Busters: Corn Edition!” by Kelly Smith.  This article goes into some of the myths regarding corn and grains in pet foods.  Here are some myths and other excerpts, as listed in the article; these are quotes from board-certified veterinary nutritionists and studies they cited.

Myth #1: Dogs and cats did not evolve eating grains and therefore cannot digest grains

·        “…three genes responsible for the digestion of dietary starch were expressed 7-12 fold higher levels in the dog compared with the wolf.” (Rebecca Remillard, PhD, DVM, DACVN)

·        “…both dogs and cats digest better than 95 percent of the starch in a properly cooked diet containing 50 percent corn or rice.” (Remillard)

Myth #2: Grains are allergenic

·        “At this time, there is no evidence to support that animals on grain-free diets have less incidence of food allergies than animals on conventional diets.  Food allergies in general are uncommon [in pets].” (Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVN)

Myth #3: One can evaluate the “quality” of a pet food by reading the ingredient list

·        “…the ingredient list according to AAFCO [the Association of American Feed Control Officials] should not impart any information regarding the quality, nutritional balance, or digestibility of the pet food product.” (Remillard)

AAFCO evaluates whether a food has the components necessary for a complete diet.  You should not strictly feed a diet that is not AAFCO approved (e.g. feeding treats or table scraps as the main diet).  The ingredients in pet food are listed in order of weight.

Myth #4: Corns/grains are non-nutritive “fillers”

·        “I’ve heard concerns about them [grains] being ‘filler,’ which is nonsense…. They are added because they contribute energy and other essential nutrients, as well as very useful dietary components, such as fiber” (Jennifer Larson, DVM, PhD, DACVN)

It is difficult for consumers to know which pet foods are high quality and which are not.  A food’s claim to be grain-free or not doesn’t reveal anything about its quality.  A food that is known to be high quality may work well with some pets, while it may disagree with others.  The pet food world is a confusing place.  Even employees at pet stores are often misinformed when it comes to certain things, such as corn/grains.

If you have any questions or concerns about pet foods, don’t rely on television commercials or online articles.  Sometimes these are reliable, but oftentimes these are based on marketing or they play off the experiences of a select few individuals.  Please look to your veterinarian as the first source for reliable information regarding your pet’s nutrition.