Health has become an increasingly popular topic of research and conversation in recent years. We now know that what goes into our body affects us in both the short and long term, and that making healthy choices now will set us up for a better and longer life in the future. We are lucky to have increasingly effective studies and ongoing research that points us in the right direction, but it is up to us to make a concerted effort to not only seek out and use this information on a daily basis.

Help your dog make the choice it can’t make itself

Until recently, a group has been overlooked that doesn’t have the power to make nutritional choices themselves—our four-legged friends. Food choices affect animals just as much as they affect humans, meaning that certain foods can cause the same harmful effects as humans may experience after consuming a food that doesn’t work well with their body chemistry. That being said, if you want your canine companion to live the longest, healthiest life possible, it is essential that you give their diet the same amount of research and planning that you give your own by switching to dog food without corn, soy, or wheat.

If you’re just beginning to research the healthiest nutritional options for your furry friend, we’re here to help. One ingredient to keep a particular eye on is corn. Corn is used in many forms in conventional dog food and is often one of the main ingredients in less expensive (many times meaning less nutritious) dog food, making dog food without corn a rarity. However, it can be a very harmful ingredient to canines and should be avoided if possible. To give your non-human friend the best chance at a healthy life, it is always best to choose dog food without corn. Not completely sold yet? Below is a list of 8 harmful effects of corn in a canine’s diet.

Toxins: Almost all commercially distributed corn today is sprayed with the toxic insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis, which can easily end up in your dog’s food unless you actively choose dog food without corn.

Shortened life span of your companion: multiple studies on rats have shown that those fed genetically modified (as most corn is today) corn lived shorter lives.

Organ damage: GM (genetically modified) corn has been proven to cause liver damage, kidney failure, heart failure and damage to many other internal organs.

Increased allergies: Corn is one of the top three known allergens for canines.

Genetically modified corn is unstable: Corn that has been genetically altered has been shown to be unstable, meaning that it could undergo a harmful change at any time.

Adverse gastrointestinal effects: Corn is not easily digestible and can cause swelling and discomfort in the intestinal tract.

Dilutes nutritional value of food: Since corn does not have a high nutritional content but is often added as a filler, food made with this as one of the main ingredients is often sparse on overall nutrition.

Environmental damage: As much of today’s corn crop is being genetically modified to withstand damage caused by frequent spraying of pesticides, these harmful toxins often damage their surroundings in the process.

At The Dog Bakery, our dog food ingredients are kept all-natural and locally sourced, and none of them contain corn, wheat, or soy – and our products aren’t just good for your dog. For every bag of The Dog Bakery you buy, we donate an equal amount to a local shelter to help out dogs in need. Shop The Dog Bakery today!

Rocky Kanaka

Rocky Kanaka is an entrepreneur, pet rescue advocate and dog dad to a rescue boxer named Flip, a blind Cane Corso called Kobe, and a terrier mix named Zoey. He's also a pet chef and owner of The Dog Bakery, which specializes in dog birthday cakes and fresh baked dog treats. His three dogs can't get enough of the dog cakes and treats!

Lorna Ladd

Lorna Paxton Ladd is a passionate dog lover and enthusiast of The Dog Bakery. She loves spoiling her 3 rescue dogs with dog cakes and jerky. A 15 year veteran in the pet industry, her aim is to educate pet parents on the best recipes, products, tips and tricks to optimize the human/canine bond. Her favorite product at The Dog Bakery are the customizable dog birthday cakes.