Alternative Diets: Does My Dog Require a Special Food?

There are many options when selecting food for your dog. These food options are often called “conventional” or “alternative.” A conventional diet may be the best choice for most dogs, but some may do better on an alternative diet, or their owners may prefer one. The most important consideration is whether the food is complete, balanced, and appropriate for your dog.

What is complete and balanced dog food?

Dogs need several essential nutrients from their food. When choosing a commercially prepared dog food, check the label for a nutritional adequacy statement. This statement indicates whether the food is intended to provide complete and balanced nutrition for a particular species and life stage.

This statement is often based on standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). A food may demonstrate nutritional adequacy by meeting established nutrient profiles or through feeding trials. If the statement is absent, it may be difficult to tell whether the food provides all the essential nutrients your dog needs in the right amounts. These nutrients can come from a variety of ingredients and combinations. Unless your pet has a food allergy, the nutrients the ingredients provide are usually more important than the ingredients themselves.

Many alternative diets are produced by smaller companies that may not do nutrient analyses or feeding trials, and so are unlikely to have a nutritional adequacy statement. A homemade diet is likely to lack essential nutrients unless the recipe has been formulated for your dog by a veterinary nutritionist or board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

What are conventional diets?

Conventional diets are the dry kibble or canned foods that most people think of as “dog food.” They are manufactured in a production plant and sold through veterinary clinics, pet stores, grocery stores, big-box stores, and other retailers. They usually contain one or more animal protein sources(often chicken, beef, pork, or fish), a dense carbohydrate source, and perhaps some fruits and vegetables. They also contain oils that supply essential fatty acids, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements.

Some commercial pet foods contain byproducts of human food production, such as organ meats. A common myth is that byproducts are bad, but byproducts can be rich in nutrients and contribute to the nutritional value of a pet food. Their presence does not, by itself, determine the quality of the food. There are strict regulations on what is allowed as a byproduct for animal consumption. Dead carcasses, roadkill, or anything contaminated with fecal matter are not allowed.

What are alternative diets?

Alternative diets are intended for dogs or owners who need or prefer certain qualities in a food. Examples include grain-free, plant-based, raw, freeze-dried or dehydrated raw, fresh, homemade, and limited-ingredient diets. Below are brief descriptions and important considerations for each type.

Grain-free or gluten-free

Gluten is a protein found in some grains, including barley, wheat, and rye. Other grains do not contain gluten. All grain-free dog foods are gluten-free, but not all gluten-free foods are grain-free.

Some owners choose grain- or gluten-free food to address digestive upset or skin irritation they suspect is related to a food allergy or sensitivity. Allergies or sensitivities to grains or gluten are rare in dogs. Grains are not simply fillers; they can be excellent sources of important nutrients such as iron, calcium, and several B vitamins, like thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.

Plant-based

Plant-based diets do not use animal-derived ingredients. Dogs need nutrients, not particular ingredients, and they can get those nutrients from different combinations of ingredients. Research into how well dogs digest and absorb nutrients from plant-based diets is still developing.

Raw, dehydrated raw, and freeze-dried raw

These diets are typically meat-based and may or may not contain carbohydrates. Raw food has not been cooked. Several forms of raw diets are available in pet stores and other retail locations. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) states that the risks of raw meat-based diets to pets and people outweigh their purported benefits. Dehydrating or freeze-drying raw food does not reliably eliminate harmful microbes, so these foods are considered just as risky as raw meat.

Fresh

Fresh diets resemble homemade diets but are prepared by a company and sold to pet owners at a retail location. Ingredients and nutritional adequacy vary among products. An additional concern is whether a company manufacturing this type of diet follows any food safety guidelines to ensure the food does not contain pathogens or contaminants.

Homemade

Homemade diets involve the pet owner purchasing ingredients and personally making the food for their dog. This type of diet allows you to control what your dog eats and can be a good option if they have specific nutritional needs. It can be risky to prepare one without guidance from your veterinarian, an animal nutritionist, or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Research into online recipes for dogs and cats has found that many lack one or more essential nutrients.

Limited-ingredient

Limited-ingredient diets typically include only one animal protein and one dense carbohydrate ingredient and may be used for pets with suspected food allergies. If you are considering one for your dog, keep in mind that over-the-counter dog foods may come into contact with other proteins during manufacturing, even if only one protein is listed on the label. Ask your veterinarian which food to use for a food allergy trial.

When would an alternative diet be a better choice?

An alternative diet may be a good choice for your dog in some situations.

• If your dog has a suspected food allergy, a diet with carefully selected ingredients may be appropriate. Ask your veterinarian which diet to use.
• If your dog does not tolerate an ingredient in their current food, a different diet may be better tolerated. Your veterinarian can help you choose an appropriate food.
• Owners may prefer certain ingredients for personal or religious reasons. An alternative diet gives you more control over which ingredients are included.
• For dogs that are very picky, a freshly prepared or homemade diet might be more palatable.
• For pets with multiple medical conditions affected by nutrition, a carefully formulated homemade diet may allow for an individualized recipe.

How else can I tell whether the diet I have chosen is right for my dog?

Along with checking that the food is complete and balanced, consider these questions when deciding whether it is right for your dog:

• Is the food for the appropriate species and life stage (e.g., growth, adult maintenance)?
• Is your dog at a healthy weight and able to maintain it?
• Does your dog have healthy muscle mass?
• Are bowel movements formed and regular without blood or mucus?
• Does your dog have healthy skin and a healthy coat?
• Does your dog have a good activity level?
• Does your dog eat enough of the food when it is offered without leaving large amounts behind?
• Does your dog have a health condition that requires changes to specific nutrients in their food?

There is no clear evidence that alternative diets benefit most healthy dogs more than appropriate conventional diets. An individualized alternative diet, often homemade, may be useful when a dog has specific medical needs and no suitable conventional food is available. If you think your dog would benefit from an alternative diet, ask your veterinarian which options may be the best fit for your dog.