Inexpensive Dog Food Without Corn in India
|
|
Time to read 4 min
Every pet parent’s top priority is the well-being of their beloved dog. A significant factor that plays a role in this well-being is the diet that their dogs follow. Strong demand for inexpensive dog food has led to the use of corn as a significant filler to reduce costs – which has, over time, evolved into much more complex issues.
This blog’ll explore the problem with corn in food, how different method of storage and preparation affect it's nutrition, affordable alternatives, and other practical tips for providing a healthy and nutritious diet.
Problem with Corn in Dog Food
Corn by itself is not toxic to dogs. It all boils down to (1) storage and preparation and (2) nutritional contribution.
Storage and Preparation
Canned corn generally has high levels of salt added to act as a preservative. High sodium levels can cause dehydration and may lead to kidney problems. Some might also contain added sugar for taste, which might be in the form of xylitol, a dangerous ingredient.
Whole corn, on the other hand, although it doesn’t have preservatives, salt, or added sugar, is difficult to swallow and digest. It is also entirely passed without breakage in stool. All this together might sometimes cause bowel obstructions and other complications.
On the other hand, corn syrup is composed of high levels of natural sugars. These levels are unsafe for dogs and should be avoided when possible. But this is also an ideal food item if your dog is diabetic and/or is undergoing hypoglycemia.
Nutritional Contribution
Finally, cornmeal is a significant ingredient in dog food. Cornmeal has low nutrient levels and is only used as a filler to make food more cost-effective. So, ideally, you would want to provide your dogs without cornmeal.
Picking Inexpensive Alternatives
A good starting step to picking an inexpensive alternate is to read the nutrition and ingredients label of the product you are eyeing. In 2023, many brands even mention the per unit rate to make comparing similar category products easier.
Inexpensive alternatives exist in dry and wet food formats, with the dry ones being generally more affordable.
Inexpensive Corn-Free Alternatives Brands to Dog Food
- Signature Grain Zero dog food is made without corn and other common allergens. It is a dry kibble format food priced at about Rs. 538/- for 1 kg.
- Drools Focus series of dog food for adults and puppies is also made without corn. It is pricier than their regular range of dry kibble foods at about Rs. 375/- for 1 kg.
- Perfekt’s fresh dog food range has no corn or corn by-products. It’s made with fresh, wholesome, digestible ingredients. It is inexpensive, with their range starting at just Rs. 210/- per kg, including free delivery.
- Another option in the wet food range is Blep, which does not use any corn in its range of products at the time of writing this article. However, they are priced at about Rs. 815/- per kg.
Shifting to Corn Free Diet
Before making any changes to the regular diet of your fur baby:
Ensure you have spoken to a professional nutritionist or veterinarian about its impact on your dog’s health.
Don’t just go by the notion that corn is terrible.
Look at the nutrition label to understand the protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrate, and moisture mix.
Inexpensive corn-Free Options from Perfekt.pet
Homemade Corn-Free Options
For those more hands-on with their dogs’ meal plans, homemade corn-free diet options can be very affordable. This naturally involves meal planning on paper, buying ingredients and the subsequent preparation of the same to make them ready for cooking. However, the dangers of a homemade diet always apply, such as an unbalanced diet, excess or under-intake of calories, etc.
What is Your Opinion?
Have you tried placing your dog on a corn-free diet? What changes have you noticed? What would you recommend to other pet parents, such as yourself? Do you leave your thoughts in the comment box below.
Conclusion
Finding inexpensive dog food is challenging in India, where pet parents are generally price-sensitive. That being said, there definitely are options across the board in dry and wet food at different price points for one to decide.
One can also explore a mix of kibble and fresh food options if budget is a significant constraint. A natural next step towards finding the most inexpensive way of feeding corn-free is to make it at home – but that comes with its challenges.
A healthy dog is a happy dog, and a little effort in finding the right diet fit will go a long way in their well-being.
Although difficult to find, there are a number of inexpensive corn-free dog food options for dog
Corn by itself is not bad. It's dependent on the dog's personal traits as well as how the raw material is handled.
For budget sensitive pet-parents look to explore a mix of both kibble and wet food. Feeding just 20% of fresh food can make a difference that will last a lifetime.
For further assistance reach out on the button below.
Products Featured In This Blog
Does kibble have corn?
This changed from brand to brand, and even in a particular brand it can change from one line of products to another. The best way to know is to check the ingredients list. That being said, generally, corn and it's by-products are used in kibble to make it more profitable for manufacturers.
Is rice safe for my dog?
Rice is a part of the grain family and generally dogs are very much okay with consuming rice. However, if your dog specifically has allergies to grain then one should look for a grain free alternative to food.
