Carbohydrates in the Canine Diet
There is a significant difference between humans and dogs in their need for carbohydrates and in their ability to digest them. Like their humans, dogs need the appropriate combination of the basic food groups in order to maintain proper health. Dogs need carbohydrates but not too many, to stay healthy. It is carbohydrates that are used by the dog for maintenance of proper stool consistency, some energy, and proper thyroid function. Too many carbohydrates in your canine’s diet may result in weight gain, odorous stools, bad breath, tooth tartar, and sore gums. Because many dogs like the taste of carbohydrates, they will consume them excessively; much like children will eat candy. This does not necessarily mean that your dog requires all that is being offered. Dogs need to be monitored in what they eat or they will end up obese.
So how do canines get the carbohydrates that are required, when they are in the wild? Simply, from the digestive tracts of the animals that are caught and eaten. Rabbits and small rodents nearly always have partially digested carbohydrates in their system. When the dog consumes his prey, the carbohydrates are already broken down and predigested for his use.
Carbohydrates come in two forms, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates come from grains such as wheat, corn, rice, oats, soy and millet. They break down into starches and sugar when properly cooked. Complex carbohydrates, cellulose, come in the form of various fibers such as bran, hulls and peanut shells from the exterior portion of plants. A small amount is needed for proper digestion and stool formation. Nutrients are obtained from both sources, but most come from simple carbohydrates.
If carbohydrates are a major part of your dog’s diet, the time and energy needed for digestion increases, the dog performs less well, large amounts of stool are produced, and a protein deficiency disease may develop. In fact, soy is not advised as it slows the absorption of other nutrients that are required for good health. Dogs have evolved as meat eaters and although they need some grains, their health and longevity will be better served on a diet containing more animal protein than protein from grains.
Think about the origin of the dog. No place in history is it written that wolves lit fires and roasted fresh field grains! But there were whole carcasses available that contained everything needed for wolves to survive, including predigested vegetable matter in the intestinal tracts of their prey.
The reason the majority of dry dog foods contain such large quantities of cereal grains is that grains are an inexpensive nutrient source. According to the NRC (a private, non-profit group of scientists) guidelines, "Carbohydrates provide an economical source of energy in the diet of dogs." In actuality, canines have a difficult time digesting and using protein from carbohydrates. Dogs operate best on animal protein, which is far easier to digest and assimilate into their system.
Allergic reactions to grains are common in dogs. The best diet for your canine companion matches that fed in the breed’s country of origin as the breed developed. Each dog is an individual, and if yours refuses to eat his food, check the grains listed on the package. The dog may hesitate because of an allergy to one of the grains in the food.
A dog does not have an absolute requirement for carbohydrates in his diet. Most of the essential nutrients are available to your canine companion in proteins and fats. The carbohydrates are necessary for lactating and pregnant dogs and dogs with high energy requirements.
