Many people these days are becoming increasingly concerned with the quality of the food that they are feeding their animals. The concerns not only draw towards the ingredients and the way they are prepared but also which types of each ingredient is better for their specific animal. A debate on the nutritional value of the fillers used in many dog foods is being widely discussed.
The Debate
One type of filler always tends to sneak its way into the discussion, and that is rice. Should I be concerned with brown or white rice? Is brown rice good for dogs? While brown rice is generally less processed than the white rice (white rice has the outer layer removed during processing) the overall nutritional value is not deterred in any way. White rice has this outer layer removed which makes it for some animals with sensitive stomachs much easier to digest. Brown rice could be a good choice for dogs that have previously been viewed as having a weak stomach. Many smaller dogs tend to struggle with the digestion of brown rice, for dogs with larger stomachs and a more robust immune system brown rice is something easily digested and well- liked. Brown rice overall is composed of a larger number of minerals, this can be directly related to the processing routine of brown rice the outer layer is composed strictly of many minerals needed for daily bodily functions. Within the overall debate brown rice is good for all dogs, but choosing which dog to feed it to, is the real question.
The Numbers
As I described before the mineral content of brown long grain un-enriched rice is significantly larger than the white rice counterpart being contested in this article. A single grain contains 84mgs of Magnesium, compared to the 18mgs of its white rice counterpart. Magnesium is an essential for the body it promotes healthy bones and hearts, and is one of the most abundant minerals in most mammals. Brown rice also contains 162mgs of phosphorus, which is more than double the 68mgs contained in white rice. Phosphorus is very important in bone development and aids the all-important calcium in its journey into the strengthening of the skeleton. The last significant mineral contained in a significant amount in brown rice is potassium with brown rice containing 84mgs and white rice containing about 55mgs. Although not a significant a jump in the values potassium is an electrolyte and is very important in many mammals since it provides aid in the regulation of fluids. While brown and white rice both have their benefits the debate will still rage on. Either way brown rice is healthy for dogs, in any way you look at it.
