Are spent grains bad for my dog?

[corycorycory09]

I made a batch of founders breakfast stout, and rather than throw away my spent grains I decided to throw them in my garden, figuring they would biodegrade....

Well, I let me dog out for about 15 minutes and when I come to let him back in I see he is going to town on the spent grains...

Are they safe for him to eat? I'm concerned about the chocolate malt, although I can't imagine he had more than a few ounces of that particular malt.

Here was the grain bill for a full batch, I only made half:

16 lbs. American 2-row
1 lbs American Chocolate Malt
.75 lbs Roasted Barley
9 oz American Black Patent
7 oz Crystal Malt 120°L
22 oz Oats Flaked

 

[1977Brewer]

People make dog treats out of spent grains. They're fine. Even the chocolate malt...because there's no actual chocolate in it. My pups ate a solid pund out of my last batch, and I think they've been eating on the ones I dumped in the herb garden.

 

[bragona71]

I think your safe!! some make dog treats




https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/spent-grain-make-your-best-friend-cookies-87097/

 

[wysiwyg]

I wouldn't let him eat 20 pounds of grain, but a couple of handfuls certainly won't hurt him. I give my dog a little grain almost every time I brew, especially the lighter grains. My wife also takes some and makes dog biscuits from it - which he loves!

So, no, grains are not bad for your dog, in moderation.

 

[alane1]

My Lab puppy eats them all the time from the garden beds...let's just say they don't digest them very well.

 

[SnakeRidge]

Yeah, our dogs can get a little 'bound up' if we let them have too much. It's kinda hard to keep them away when I go outside and find my beagle on top of the compost heap like the queen of the mountain.

 

[TheCADJockey]

I made biscuits for my dog. He couldn't get enough of them and then I realized there wasn't anything weird in them and tried them myself. They were better than some of the granola bars I've brought for lunch, just a little dry. The dogs loved them.

 

[aprichman]

Spent grains are quite tasty but the husks are too fibrous for me to want to eat much. After every brew I will taste a little bit of the leftovers which gives me a better understanding of the grains. I'll try to taste the grains premash too.

 

[Swab]

Grains are fine, hops are bad.. if you do mash hopping, keep it away from your dog!

 

[Brewski_59]

Grains are fine, hops are bad.. if you do mash hopping, keep it away from your dog!

you beat me to it Swab.

 

[johngaltsmotor]

Just make sure to reduce the amount of regular dog food you feed them. Don't want them getting a beer belly like their master ;-)

My dog loves the grains. I'm not sure but that might be in part because my efficiency has been low lately so they're still a little sweet. Whatever the case, it is nice knowing that you're feeding them quality food and making use of something that would otherwise go to waste.