Why Grains and Fillers Can Be Harmful in Your Dog’s Food

BY STAFF WRITER

Many commercial dog foods contain grains and fillers as cost-effective ingredients, but not all are beneficial for dogs, especially Labradors and Retrievers, who are prone to obesity, allergies, and digestive sensitivities.

What Are Grains & Fillers in Dog Food?

Grains: Ingredients like wheat, corn, soy, rice, and barley are often used as carbohydrate sources in kibble.

Fillers: Low-quality ingredients added to bulk up the food without adding real nutritional value, such as corn gluten meal, wheat middlings, and cellulose (wood pulp).

Why Are Grains and Fillers Harmful for Dogs?

Can trigger allergies and sensitivities

Many dogs are intolerant to wheat, corn, and soy, leading to itchy skin, ear infections, and digestive issues.

Common allergens in cheap dog foods include corn, wheat, and soy, which should be avoided for sensitive dogs.

Can Lead to Weight Gain & Obesity

Labradors and Retrievers are prone to obesity, and high-carb fillers like corn and rice can lead to rapid weight gain.

These ingredients spike blood sugar, leading to energy crashes and increased fat storage.

Low-Quality Fillers Offer Little Nutrition

Many commercial brands use corn gluten meal and wheat middlings as a cheap protein substitute, but they lack the essential amino acids found in real meat.

Cellulose (wood pulp) is sometimes used as a fibre source, but it’s indigestible and offers no nutritional value.

Can Cause Digestive Problems

Fillers like soy and corn gluten meal are hard to digest and may cause bloating, gas, and diarrhoea.

Dogs don’t naturally process large amounts of grains like humans do.

Some Contain Harmful Chemicals and By-Products

Low-quality grains can contain pesticides, molds, and mycotoxins, which are harmful to dogs.

Artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin) are often found in grain-based foods and have been linked to cancer and organ damage.

What to Avoid on Dog Food Labels

When choosing food for your Labrador or Retriever, avoid these low-quality ingredients:

• Corn, wheat, and soy (common allergens, low in nutrients).
• Corn gluten meal and wheat middlings (cheap protein substitutes).
• Cellulose (wood pulp) (indigestible filler).
• Artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin).
• Meat by-products (unidentified animal parts, low-quality protein).

What to Look for in High-Quality Dog Food

• Real animal protein (chicken, beef, fish, turkey, duck, lamb).
  Healthy fats (salmon oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil).
• Digestible carbohydrates (sweet potatoes, lentils, chickpeas, pumpkin).
  Natural fibre sources (carrots, apples, blueberries).
  No artificial colours, preservatives, or flavours.