The Impact of the Inclusion of Grains in a Canine Diet on the Animal's Overall Health

Authors

Rachel Bruner, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Date of this Version

Fall 10-19-2022

Citation

Bruner, R. 2022. The Impact of the Inclusion of Grains in a Canine Diet on the Animal's Overall Health. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Comments

Copyright Rachel Bruner 2022.

Abstract

The objective of this senior project was to examine the impacts that grains in a canine diet have on the overall health of the animal. Specifically, there was a focus on the nutritional attributes of grains, potential concerns regarding their inclusion in foods, misconceptions from consumers about grains in pet food, and alternatives to grains used in some diet formulations. The method of research for this project was a literature review. Scholarly articles focused on the various subtopics which helped to answer the research question were reviewed and included throughout the following discussion. Ultimately, the review of various literature resulted in the conclusion that grains are a useful source of nutrients in canine diets. They provide sources of macronutrients, namely carbohydrates, proteins, and essential fats, as well as vitamins and minerals. There are many consumer misconceptions that grains cause allergies in pets or are used as fillers in a recipe, but multiple studies by various authors have proven these misconceptions to be partly or entirely false. This is an ongoing field of research and conclusions about the usefulness of grains are ever-changing.