Puffed Brown Rice

Rice mills remove the tough husk while leaving the bran on the grain. Cereal processors heat that brown rice under pressure, then release the pressure so moisture inside the grain expands it.^4,6

1. 01 // Source Rice grains The rice mill removes the husk and leaves the bran coating on the brown rice.
2. 02 // Process Pressure and heat A puffer heats the grains under pressure, raising the temperature of moisture inside them.
3. 03 // Process Rapid expansion Releasing the pressure turns that moisture to vapor and opens small cavities in the grains.
4. 04 // Output Brown rice puffs The expanded, porous grains have lower density and a crisp texture.

1. 01

   Adds starch energy

   Brown rice is mostly starch. Dogs digested a prepared brown rice diet well in a small feeding trial, though that trial did not test puffed grains.^1,6

2. 02

   Gives a crisp texture

   Expansion opens cavities in the grains. Texture affects how dogs experience a topper, even though no study has shown that dogs prefer brown rice puffs.^4,10

3. 03

   Adds volume without weight

   Puffing increases each grain's volume and lowers its density. A small weight of rice therefore takes up more space in a topper without adding more nutrients.⁴

How much No standard percentage is published for puffed brown rice in dog toppers; dog feeding studies tested prepared brown rice diets instead.^1,2

1. Brands say

   Puffed brown rice gives dogs digestible energy

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In an 8-dog trial, a prepared brown rice diet had 91.61% dry matter digestibility. Brown rice supplies usable starch, but the trial did not test puffs, so their exact digestibility remains unknown.^1,6

2. Brands say

   Puffing makes brown rice easier for dogs to digest

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A laboratory study of 2 rice varieties found that puffing changed the grain's starch structure. In a separate 54-dog trial, particle size did not change nutrient digestibility in extruded rice diets. Neither trial fed brown rice puffs to dogs.^2,4

3. Brands say

   Brown rice puffs control a dog's blood sugar

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A laboratory digestion model estimated a glycemic index of 75.43 for puffed brown rice versus 97.00 for cooked white rice. It measured neither dogs nor blood glucose, so it cannot support a blood sugar claim for pets.⁵

4. Brands say

   Brown rice puffs provide lots of fiber

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Feedipedia lists unpuffed brown rice at an average of 2.0% crude fiber and 86.9% starch on a dry basis. Puffing adds air, not fiber. These puffs are principally a starch source.^4,6