On occasion, I come across some commercial cooked food for dogs as well as certain recipes and idea on how to feed dogs, that are baffling to me. Most have far too many carbohydrates and too little animal fat. I believe most of the inventors of these foods or recipes mean well, but what I see is many people using human nutrition needs mixed up with canine nutrition. What many forget (or even don’t know) is that dogs are carnivores and humans are omnivores.
This means dogs have a shorter, more simple digestion tract than humans, and have reverse methods of digesting and breaking down foods. In humans, the food leaves the stomach quickly and lingers in the intestines. Dogs digest food the longest in the stomach and then the food passes quickly through the intestines. They are not designed to digest fiber well (starches, vegetables, and fruit) so the stomach does that work for them.
There is no scientific data for food combining. “Proponents of food combining believe that proteins and carbs are digested at different rates, so it’s harder for the body to process them when they are consumed together. They also suggest that different foods respond to different pH levels in the digestive tract. So if two foods requiring different pH levels are combined, they can’t be digested together. Neither of these beliefs is based on scientific facts.” Source
For more on how canine anatomy and digestion works, go here: Anatomy of a Carnivore
Dogs need animal fat first and foremost. It helps keep them hydrated, gives them energy, and helps for good coat and skin. Any dog on a low-fat diet will have issues with skin and coat, and good mental clarity. See Yes, Dogs are Carnivores.
Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, Revised: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals!
Lew Olson's newly revised book is filled with an abundance of new topics and information. Whether you are new to home feeding or a seasoned raw feeder, have a senior dog or a new puppy, a pregnant mom or a toy breed, this book presents all the information you need to make the best nutritional decisions for your dog.Second, dogs need animal-based proteins. Animal proteins contain all the amino acids dogs need, while plant sources are lacking in taurine and l-carnitine, both important factors for healthy hearts in dogs. If the protein amounts feed to dogs daily are low, long term health issues could happen with the heart, kidneys, and liver. These 3 organs need animal protein to survive AND thrive! We also feed a variety of animal proteins, as each protein source can be more diverse than another, so this helps cover all the nutrients needed by canines.
Almost all the home cooked commercial diets for dogs are too low in protein. They make their formulas up with large amounts of starches.
These are a poor choice for dogs as these are the hardest for most dogs to digest, cause large stools due to high fiber and offer little or no nutrition. And on top of that, the fats in many of these formulas (and kibble too) and too low in animal fat. Often plants fats are added but dogs get little from those. And dogs need vitamins from animal sources, such as vitamin A and D3. Plant sources of Vitamin D (such as D2) can’t be utilized by dogs, and it is the same with beta-carotene. For more information on why high carbohydrate diets and plant oils are poor substitutes for animal proteins and fats, and why animal fat and proteins are superior for dogs: No Vegetarian Diet for Dogs
