Rice has been used as a dog food since ancient times, yet it should not be the main component or basis of a dog’s diet. Some veterinarians say that dogs need to eat rice to supplement their diet because it is easily digested. Although it is not harmful to the dog, it does not provide much nutritional value. In the following article you can find more information about rice for dogs.
rice for dogs
There are many scientific theories that suggest that dogs are descended from wolves, therefore, like them, they are essentially carnivorous creatures that must eat only meat. In this case, cereals such as wheat, maize or rice are completely excluded from their diet. However, and although the indicated thesis is absolutely correct, dogs have coexisted with humans for many centuries, during which they have fed mainly on the remains of our food.
Based on the above, it can be inferred that throughout this time the canine digestive system has also evolved, digesting and assimilating a vast amount of food that it did not originally eat. Among them, obviously, is one of the most convenient grains that dogs can eat, rice.
Is Rice Helpful for Dogs?
Far from saying that only meat should be fed to a dog, some grains, such as rice, can be very beneficial to their diet. Rice is, and is by far, the best grain that can be provided to a furry dog in its diet. It is an exceptional source of carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index, ie, provide long-lasting energy.
Clearly, the secret to the proper use of rice as part of a dog’s nutrition lies in the amount and proper proportion of meat-based protein sources. You cannot base dog feeding solely on rice, or use it as its primary source.
Dogs suffering from stomach or assimilation disorders, for example, inflammatory bowel disease (also known as canine IBD) better tolerate a low-fat diet, including adding rice to your diet while covering protein levels. can be converted into the required content. Along with other assimilated meat-based foods.
A portion of boiled rice with boneless chicken meat and/or a raw egg is a food with high nutritional value for both healthy and sick dogs. This dish is part of the canine BARF diet and many natural diets. Therefore, contrary to what has been commented on forums and social networks recently, rice is a very valuable food for dogs. An exceptional complement to your basic diet, which should be composed of meat or fish.
However, rice should not be confused with other grains such as wheat or corn. Wheat or corn are almost unusable grains for a dog, barely meeting some nutritional requirements and simply used as fillers in (balanced) feeds to reduce costs.
benefits of rice
Feed sold in stores usually also contains grain in its formula. On many occasions this grain is rice, which provides the following benefits:
- If a feed contains rice as an ingredient, it is a sign of quality, as lower quality feeds use corn or wheat as the grain, due to their economic value.
- Rice provides your dog with the energy it needs, as the carbohydrates it contains are highly digestible.
- It contains an essential amino acid called lysine, which is used in the construction of proteins and is not naturally produced in the dog’s own body, but must be obtained from an external source.
- Rice is a low allergenic ingredient and is suitable for dogs that show intolerance.
- Rice does not supply lipids, so it is very helpful for optimizing the balance of a dog’s diet.
- Rice is highly digestible and also contains little fiber, which makes it ideal for animal digestive care.
- Iron, zinc and manganese are minerals found in rice. These trace minerals participate in certain functions of the body.
- Since rice does not contain excessive purines, stone formation can be prevented. It is also low in salts, so it becomes a suitable food for dogs with kidney diseases.
- Its high palatability should be mentioned, and this is because rice is an ingredient with a good taste.
Is sorghum good with rice?
Undoubtedly, a feed that contains rice as part of its ingredients is a high quality feed. Nevertheless, we should be careful and review the list of ingredients, which, by legal order, must be shown in order of appearance from least to most. A feed whose primary ingredient is rice is not a beneficial feed, as it tells us that the majority of the said food is rice and this is a big mistake. However, a bait whose rice is located as the third or fourth ingredient is a convenient bait, while meat or fish are located between the first two or three ingredients.
Today we learned about an irrational trend of grain-free canine foods based on the insane theory that dogs should only eat meat because it originates from wolves and blah blah blah…. Thus, dietary products (balanced) free from beneficial grains such as rice are being created. What is not said is that they use tons of legumes to replace the rice.
Sure, you’re feeding lentils and beans to your pet. Don’t be silly adding grains to the feed, and we mean beneficial grains like rice. We have to completely avoid maize and wheat. You should stop to think for a moment what might be more nutritious for your dog, feeding him meat and a high-quality and highly digestible grain such as rice, or meat and a lot of legumes with poor nutritional status. You should keep this in mind the next time you buy her food.
Is Rice Better Than Potatoes or Legumes?
Obviously, the use of potatoes as an ingredient in canine feed is similar to the use of legumes such as lentils, beans or chickpeas. It is a marketing strategy to promote grain-free feeds, implying that they are of a higher quality than those that contain grain. something completely uncertain. Diets that are composed of rice in reasonable amounts are more nutritious and of greater biological value than those that contain potatoes or legumes as ingredients.
Of course we cannot mention here feeds containing corn, wheat, etc., because this class of grains is harmful, not because they cause health problems (which they do) but because they contain biologically active substances for the dog. lacks both in nutritional value. Wheat and corn are used to reduce costs in the production of processed food for dogs, they are very cheap raw materials.
This way manufacturers can get more profit, reduce the amount of meat-based protein, and use cheaper grains like wheat or corn. Rice can be included in appropriate amounts in a suitable diet for dogs. And it will always be more convenient to include rice before adding legumes or potatoes, for example. Don’t let yourself be manipulated by fashion or marketing strategies.
Are all types of rice the same?
Brown rice should never be given to dogs with gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea. It should always be white rice as our beloved rice needs starch. However, white rice has a higher glycemic index than brown rice and may increase blood sugar levels.
If your dog is diabetic, you can still give him some white rice when he needs it, but it shouldn’t be given constantly, due to the way white and brown rice are processed, while brown rice is more difficult to digest. Maybe because it isn’t. so processed. Brown rice has a seed coat in which nutrients are stored. White rice doesn’t have that coating, so it has fewer nutrients.
Carbohydrates are an important part of a dog’s diet, along with a certain amount of protein and fat. Just like us, eating too many carbohydrates can cause a dog to gain weight. Since industrially processed dog foods contain carbohydrates, you must be careful not to overload your pet with foods containing added carbohydrates, such as rice.
It is perfectly fine to add some rice to your pet’s food as long as you maintain an appropriate weight. When preparing rice for your puppy, boil it in water and don’t add any spices or seasonings. Make it easy and simple; He may not notice a difference, so as with any new food you add to your dog’s diet, consult your vet first and then start slowly.