Is barley good for dogs

Can Dogs Eat Barley? What to Know About Dogs and Barley

Of all of the grains, is barely safe for dogs? Can dogs eat barley? Heres what you need to know before giving it to your dog.

You might have heard about the innumerable health benefits of barley for humans. It has both soluble and insoluble fiber, helps people lose weight, and can even help people lower their cholesterol. Does it do the same things for dogs? Keep reading and find out!

For ultimate pet safety, please ask your vet any questions you have regarding your dog eating barley.

Can Dogs Eat Barley?

There are so many different foods that can upset your dogs stomach. It can be tough to keep them all straight. Thankfully, you dont have to. Here on Spoiled Hounds, Im answering the most-searched-for questions.

Use the search bar and look for the answer to your dog food question. If you cant find it, let me know. Id love to research the answers for you and share them here.

So, can dogs eat barley?

Yes, barley is safe for dogs to eat, but you should still watch how much they eat and how they are eating it.

It is one of the common cereal grains, and a little barley might be good for dogs. But if your pet has an aversion or sensitivity to wheat flour, you might want to keep barley away from them because there are common ingredients in them (gluten).

Is Barley Good For Dogs?

Barley actually is good for dogs. You just have to watch how much you give your dogs. Barley is still a carbohydrate (like brown rice). Too many carbs can lead to weight gain.

This is why I recommend buying dry dog food that lists meat protein as the first ingredient.

In moderation, barley is actually really good for your dog.

Barley is the seed of a type of grass that grows around the world. They are in the same whole grains family as quinoa and oatmeal. There are lots of health benefits of barley, even for dogs. They have essential amino acids that benefit your dogs overall health. It also has vitamin E, which is good for your dogs skin and coat, and B vitamins that give your dog natural energy.

Due to its high level of fiber, it can help your dog with their cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Since it is a carb and dogs arent designed to live mainly off carbs too much barley can do the opposite and actually cause weight gain.

Is Barley Bad For Dogs?

The worst thing about barley is that it is a grain. Grains are also known as carbs and dogs that eat too many carbs could gain too much weight, which might lead to heart disease.

Is Barley An Allergen For Dogs?

Even though there is talk out there about grain-free food for dogs, barley is not a known allergen for dogs. That being said, it does have gluten in it, just like wheat. If your dog has gluten sensitivity, dont let them eat barley. This is the same wheat gluten that is bad for dogs with celiac to eat.

According to the AKC, these are the most common allergens for dogs:

Gluten is known to give dogs allergic reactions, such as coughing, sneezing, or itching. If you notice your canine companion reacts like that after eating barley, dont give them any more.

Specific Barley for Dogs Information

Lets dive into the different types of barley and if they are safe for dogs to eat. Read on to get information on barley cooked, boiled, dry, pearled, flour, grass, and powder.

Cooked Barley

Dogs can safely eat moderate amounts of cooked barley, just be careful with how you cook it. Dont cook barley in garlic or soy sauce both of which are harmful to dogs.

If your dog doesnt have any known food allergies, you can make your own homemade dog food with beef, barley, and veggies. The Farmers Almanac has an easy recipe.

As always, if your dog has never tried barley before, always give him a little bit at first and watch for any reactions before giving them more. If your dog gets stomach upset, give your furry friend some white rice and resume their dry food.

Boiled Barley

Boiled barley is one of the safest ways to prepare it for your dog. You can mix some meat in with it, but serve it plain. Unflavored food is the healthiest option for dogs because they have such sensitive noses and stomachs.

Dry Barley

Some commercial dog foods list dry barley as an ingredient. Dry barley is safe to give to dogs. Even though dried barley is safe to give to dogs, most dogs wont eat it dry alone.

Pearl Barley

Barley is also known as cracked pearl barley on the ingredients list of dog food. Pearl barley has lots of plant protein and dietary fiber.

Remember, if your dog has a gluten sensitivity, dont give them barley. It has gluten in it too.

Barley Flour

Barley flour is safe for dogs to eat. You can use it when making homemade dog treats as a substitute for other flours.

Barley Grass

The barley that we use in food is actually the seed of the barley grass. So can dogs eat the grass itself?

Grass itself wont hurt your canine friend. Its ok if they eat a small amount of it. The grass has the same nutrients as the seeds. Its a natural laxative, so if they eat too much grass it could cause diarrhea.

Barley Grass Powder

Yes, dogs can eat barley grass powder. You can even buy it made especially for dogs. Get Barley Dog on Amazon, there are lots of good choices there.

Barley grass powder contains a wide range of nutrients and has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Barley Water

As long as the barley soup doesnt have too much salt in it (or other unsafe ingredients for dogs) it is ok to give them in small amounts. Just like apple juice, you should only give your dog water to drink. Any other types of liquids might make your pet gain weight or consume too much sugar or spices.

Final Thoughts

In moderation, barley is a safe grain to give your dog. Be careful with how much you give them. If you prepare the barley at home, dont use any spices or ingredients that will upset their stomachs.

As always, if you have any questions about your pets food, please ask your veterinarian.

More Dog Food Resources

Here are some more articles about the best and worst food for your dog to eat.

Find lots more articles on what food dogs can and cant eat here on Spoiled Hounds!

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Can Dogs Eat Barley?

Can Dogs Eat Barley?

Published January 18, 2022 by DFG Staff

Grains are often used in the manufacturing of quality dry dog foods, andone of the most commonly used grains is barley. So, if youre wondering if dogs can eat barley, the answer is yes. However, this doesnt mean that you should give them a steady dose of barley. Yes, it has many health benefits, but too much of anything is usually a bad thing. Generally, its best to give your dog barley in moderation.In fact, many owners are choosing grain-free food for their pets nowadays. Read on to learn why your dog can have barley and other grains in limited amounts.

Dogs Can Eat Barley in Different Forms

Barley itself is safe for dogs to eat. The problem usually lies with other ingredients that are added to foods that contain barley. For instance, many soups and stews are cooked with a number of seasonings that are not good for dogs. But, this doesnt mean that all soups are bad for them and you can make your own with quality ingredients that are safe and healthy for your dogs.

Typically, I would use regular or pearl barley (which is basically barley with the outer hull and bran removed) for food recipes for my dog. Other types of barley varieties that are safe for dogs include:

Barley Grass

In small amounts, barley grass is not harmful to dogs, and it contains many health benefits. Barley grass is rich is antioxidants and also helps with digestion. It can also be used as a natural laxative for dogs that are suffering from constipation. Barley grass is commonly known as cat grass, and you can give it to your cats as well.

Barley Soup

As long as you buy soup made specifically for dogs or make it yourself, barley soup is safe for dogs and can be a very healthy treat. For a simple recipe, combine barley with carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes in a saucepan with a cup of water over medium heat and cook for about 15 minutes. Dont add any seasonings like garlic, onions, or salt (which are bad for dogs)!

Barley Water

You can make barley water by soaking barley in fresh water for several hours (usually four is enough). Afterwards, strain out all of the barley grain and youre left with barley water that you can give to your dogs.

Its believed that barley water can help dogs that are recovering from illnesses, surgery, etc. Barley water is also good for dogs that have kidney issues, and can help with abnormal urinary functions. If youre feeling creative, you can give your dog a mixture of half barley water and half apple or carrot juice for a tasty and healthy treat.

Barley Flour

You can use barley flour as a substitute for regular flour if youre planning on making your own homemade doggy biscuits. Barley flour is high in fiber and its sweeter than other flours which makes it a treat that your dogs will love!

Yes, Dogs Can Eat Barley in Moderation

Barley, in moderation, can be a healthy treat for your dogs. It has lots of fiber, antioxidants, and other micro-nutrients that are good for dogs. In addition, there are tons of creative and fun recipes that you can put together for any special occasion for your dogs.

Its one of those ingredients that can be as simple as mixing cooked barley with your dogs regular food or using your artistic energy to think of some great baked treats!

Can Dogs Eat Barley? Our Vet Explains The Nutrition Facts

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more

When youre looking at dog food ingredients, you may see barley and wonder just what this grain is and whether its perfect for your pooch. Barley seems to be growing in popularity as an alternative grain, overtaking common food fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. So, can dogs eat barley? Yes, dogs can eat barley, but it isnt recommended for them in large amounts.

Lets learn a little more about barley and how it benefits your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Barley?

Barley is a common ingredient used in many modern-day dog food recipes. The rationale for adding barley to dog foods is that its safe for a dog to consume barley in small amounts. In addition, the carbohydrates in barley provide your dog with energy for metabolism once theyre broken down into simpler sugars (in the form of glucose).

However, the fact that barley is safe for dogs doesnt necessarily mean its good in large quantities. Much of the nutritional value of carbohydrates in barley is intended for herbivores or omnivores, which dogs arent.

The Barley Controversy

Much like any other carbohydrate found in dog foods, barley isnt without its controversies. Essentially, barley is a safe-to-consume carbohydrate filler. The addition of barley in commercially available dog food, therefore, is mostly for economic purposes, not necessarily for the health benefits of barley.

The main argument against the use of barley in dog food is that while appropriate, barley isnt a natural food for dogs, because it isnt considered species-appropriate when served in large quantities. By extension, many people are against its use in small amounts as well.

Dogs (and even cats) do very well on diets with minimal carbohydrates and a preponderance of fats and high-quality protein (from an animal source). This distinction sets dogs apart from humans, therefore, the perceived benefits of barley in humans dont necessarily translate for dogs.

Dogs are healthier when products such as meat, poultry, lamb, and beef are the foundation of their diets. Prevailing veterinary advice advocates for feeding dogs such diets instead of feeding them as if they were herbivores just to cut corners when it comes to the cost of a meal.

Another reason why many nutritionists and vets dont agree with the addition of barley (and other grains such as corn or soy) in canine diets is because, in high amounts, these grains arent healthy for dogs. However, high amounts of animal protein dont seem to cause issues for dogs.

Much of the alleged controversy with high-protein diets in dogs is based on extrapolated information about the effects of high-protein diets on animals such as rats. However, rats arent carnivores, and there isnt much evidence to support the idea that high protein diets are detrimental for dogs (the same is true for cats as well).

Final Thoughts

Like many grains, barley is safe for dogs in small amounts. However, given the nutritional profile of dogs, the perceived benefits of barley in their diet are very minimal, and many would argue that their addition to a dogs diet isnt warranted.

Though the ultimate decision of a dogs diet will depend on pet owners deciding what they feel is best for their pup with the help of their veterinarian, prevailing evidence suggests that excessive use of grains such as barley isnt recommended for dogs and they do best on a good quality diet of appropriate rations of high levels of animal-derived protein.

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Featured Image Credit: Hans, Pixabay