Dogs and Carbohydrates — A Surprising Secret Revealed
Zero. That’s how many carbohydrates are nutritionally required by a dog to sustain life.
The fact that a dog food doesn’t need to contain any “carbs” at all seems hard to believe.
But it’s true.
You see, according to the National Research Council and compared to the other two major nutrients — protein and fat — no carbs are considered essential for a healthy canine diet.1
Dogs don’t need corn. And they don’t need wheat, barley rice or potatoes, either.
Dogs simply don’t need any carbohydrate ingredients — at all.
Yet surprisingly, “carbs” represent the dominant ingredient found in most dry dog foods.
Since the early 1950s, dog food manufacturers everywhere have fallen head-over-heels in love with carbs because they’re:
Carbohydrates aren’t bad for dogs. In reasonable amounts, they can actually provide a practical source of energy.
However, the problem lies in their quantity.
Using a dog’s ancestral diet as a model, the total amount of carbs consumed by a dog’s evolutionary predecessor is dramatically less than what’s become the norm for today’s kibbles.
One sensible source estimates natural carbohydrate consumption for a dog’s ancestors at around 14 percent of total diet.2
Yet on average, today’s dry dog foods contain somewhere between 46 and 74 percent carbohydrates.3
Today’s kibbles contain as much as four times the carbohydrate content historically found in the canine ancestral diet.
It looks like the pet food industry may have taken advantage of the dog’s remarkable ability to adapt to just about anything.
Doesn’t it make sense for a dog’s food to be more like the specie’s ancestral diet — with more protein and fat — and fewer carbs?
When choosing dog food, it’s reasonable to favor products lower in carbohydrates.
However, since most dog food manufacturers fail to disclose the percentage of carbohydrates contained in their products, the Dog Food Advisor provides an estimate of this important figure inside every review.
So, look for dog foods rich in meat-based protein. You could be adding years of better health to your best friend’s life.
The fact that a dog food doesn’t need to contain any “carbs” at all seems hard to believe.
But it’s true.
You see, according to the National Research Council and compared to the other two major nutrients — protein and fat — no carbs are considered essential for a healthy canine diet.1
Dogs don’t need corn. And they don’t need wheat, barley rice or potatoes, either.
Dogs simply don’t need any carbohydrate ingredients — at all.
Yet surprisingly, “carbs” represent the dominant ingredient found in most dry dog foods.
Why Dog Food Companies
Love Carbohydrates
Love Carbohydrates
Since the early 1950s, dog food manufacturers everywhere have fallen head-over-heels in love with carbs because they’re:
- Abundant
- Durable (long shelf life)
- Essential to the kibble-making process
- Cheaper (per calorie than protein or fat)
Are Carbs Safe?
Carbohydrates aren’t bad for dogs. In reasonable amounts, they can actually provide a practical source of energy.
However, the problem lies in their quantity.
Using a dog’s ancestral diet as a model, the total amount of carbs consumed by a dog’s evolutionary predecessor is dramatically less than what’s become the norm for today’s kibbles.
One sensible source estimates natural carbohydrate consumption for a dog’s ancestors at around 14 percent of total diet.2
Yet on average, today’s dry dog foods contain somewhere between 46 and 74 percent carbohydrates.3
The Numbers Aren’t Even Close
Today’s kibbles contain as much as four times the carbohydrate content historically found in the canine ancestral diet.
It looks like the pet food industry may have taken advantage of the dog’s remarkable ability to adapt to just about anything.
Doesn’t it make sense for a dog’s food to be more like the specie’s ancestral diet — with more protein and fat — and fewer carbs?
The Bottom Line
When choosing dog food, it’s reasonable to favor products lower in carbohydrates.
However, since most dog food manufacturers fail to disclose the percentage of carbohydrates contained in their products, the Dog Food Advisor provides an estimate of this important figure inside every review.
So, look for dog foods rich in meat-based protein. You could be adding years of better health to your best friend’s life.
Footnotes
- National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats”, 2006 Edition, National Academies Press, Washington, DC ↩
- Brown S., Taylor B., “See Spot Live Longer”, 2007 Creekobear Press, Eugene, OR USA, page 51 ↩
- National Research Council, National Academy of Science, “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats”, 2006 Edition, National Academies Press, Washington, DC, p 317
No comments:
Post a Comment