Zero. Nada. Zip. That’s how many carbohydrates are required by a dog to sustain life.
The fact that a dog food doesn’t need to contain any “carbs” at all… may seem hard to believe.
But it’s true.
You see, according to the National Research Council… and compared to the other major nutrients… proteins and fats… no carbohydrates appear to be “essential” for the typical canine diet.1
Dogs don’t need corn. They don’t need wheat… barley… or potatoes. They simply don’t need these ingredients… at all.
Yet surprisingly, carbohydrates represent the most common raw materials used for making dry dog food.
How can this be?
Why Dog Food Companies Love Carbohydrates
Since the early 1950s, dog food manufacturers everywhere have fallen head-over-heels in love with carbohydrates because they’re…
- Cheap (much cheaper than protein or fat)
- Abundant (simple to acquire)
- Durable (long shelf life)
- Necessary for the process of making kibble
Please notice that not one of these reasons has anything to do with canine nutrition. Not one.
Are They Safe for Dogs?
Now, don’t get me wrong. Carbohydrates aren’t bad for dogs. No, in reasonable amounts they can actually provide a practical source of energy.
The problem lies in their quantity.
The amount of carbohydrates consumed using a dog’s “ancestral diet” as a model is dramatically less than what has become “the norm” for products created by the pet food industry.
One responsible source estimates natural carbohydrate consumption for a dog’s ancestors at around 14 percent of total diet.2
Yet today’s dry kibble averages somewhere between 46 and 74 percent carbohydrate.3
The Numbers Aren’t Even Close
Wow… that’s roughly four times the amount of “carbs” found in the canine ancestral diet.
It looks like the pet food industry may have taken advantage of the dog’s remarkable willingness to eat just about anything.
OK… maybe the ancestral diet represents an extreme. But considering the dog’s evolutionary background… it just seems that manufacturers may have gone too far in the opposite direction.
Doesn’t it make sense for a dog’s diet to be more balanced… more “natural”… more like the canine ancestral diet? With more protein and fat… and fewer carbohydrates?
My Strongest Recommendation
When choosing dog food, it makes good sense to favor products lower in carbohydrates. That’s because as the carbohydrate percentage of the overall “pie” falls… its protein and fat content must necessarily rise.
Simple math.
And remember… even though most dog food companies fail to disclose the percentage of carbohydrates contained in their products… the Dog Food Advisor reports an estimate of this all-important figure inside every review.
So… always favor dog foods rich in meat-based protein. You’ll be providing your pet with a diet closer to the one she was naturally designed to eat.
Plus, you may even be adding years of good health to your best friend’s life.
Never forget. Bad dog food sucks. Spread the word.
- 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 ↩
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for sharing this blog and revealing this secret because this is going to be beneficial for my dog.
I think I love you! =] Ok, well not YOU, but your take on what is required, or more aptly what is “not” required in a dog’s diet.
I’m a raw feeder, but trying to educate people about the benefits of raw feeding is like banging my head against the wall, 99.9% of people just don’t want to listen about why raw is better and most commercial dog foods are bad. Most people say something like, “kibble is good enough for my dog”. Not a very good way to think about a dog’s health in my opinion.
Maybe the notion of better canine health through an optimal diet comes natural to me, having been practiced human nutrition and supplementation via bodybuilding the past 20 odd years, to me it’s really not rocket science.
Keep spreading the word!
Hi Jim… I agree. Every dog caretaker should at least recognize what an ideal canine diet would look like. That’s the place to start. If you’re looking for a good dog food (and for whatever reason don’t want to feed raw) there are certain commercial products out there that at least attempt to mimic the design of the natural canine “ancestral” diet in their recipes.
I’ve already known this and I cannot believe how much vets r against this diet! They say how raw bones r so dangerous but dogs can naturally digest bones just fine because they have special enzymes to digest them. Never seen any wolves die from eating bones or raw carcasses so I don’t see what the difference is for our fellow companions. Also clean up is a breeze with the raw diet!!! Their poop is so tiny it disappears after a good rain shower!! LOL!!
To Mike Sagman – what are your feelings about a raw diet? Would you ever feed your dog(s) a raw diet? Do you feel that this type of a diet is truly in the best interests of the dog?
Hi Holly… When properly designed, a raw diet can be a nutritious (and fun) way to feed your dog… so long as that “design” is based upon real science.
Presently, we’re actually quite busy reviewing about ten dog food brands each week. As we complete our “first pass” of the industry’s products, we plan to publish in depth information about raw diets as well as “how to feed homemade”.
Mike – thank you. It would be great if you would include in that information an approximate financial comparison: feeding homemade vs. feeding a high-quality commercial dog food. I recognize that cost of “homemade” will vary by region and by ingredients (chicken vs beef, organic vs not, etc) but to put forward a “case study” that includes financials would be valuable. Thanks for a great web site!
Hi Holly… your suggestion should make for an interesting future study. But for now, we’ve been staying quite busy writing about ten reviews every week… with still hundreds more to go… yikes!
Hi Mike,
I’m looking for a dog food which doesn’t use grains (carbohidrates), and it might use potatoes in a small part in the recipe for dog food in Brasil, where I live, may you adviser me about this,???? I had read about Naturally Wild from Eukanuba…may I find that product in Brasil? Thank you and my best regards
Hi Viviane… there are quite a few “grain-free” dog foods readily available here in North America. You can find many of them by visiting our “Tag Cloud” which is accessible from the navigation menu at the top of this page. Click on the link labeled “grain-free” for a list of dog food brands that contain at least one grain-free product.
However, I’m sorry I do not have any information regarding the availability of any of these foods in your native country (Brasil).
i have a vet who believes the very high protein kibble (like EVO) puts a terrific
strain on dogs kidneys and recommends against it. she also believes that corn
is fine and likes Hills foods which surprises me because it contains byproducts. i have a 7 year old standard poodle and feed him lotus now but have tried wellness (so much poop) and other premium foods. what about kidney issues and high phosphorus?
Hi Diane… A high protein diet as it relates to renal dysfunction is a controversial subject. Many vets are convinced that high protein is detrimental to kidney health. Whereas others assure us that this low protein approach is somewhat outdated.
Since I’m not a veterinarian, it would be misleading for me to promise you that a high protein diet would be ideal for all dogs.
However, my personal favorite explanation and justification for a high protein canine diet can be found in a white paper entitled “The Biologically Appropriate Food Concept and the Dietary Needs of Dogs and Cats“. This article is published by Champion Petfoods… the makers of Orijen and Acana dog foods. I believe you’ll find this white paper very reassuring regarding these types of foods. Be sure to read the parts that relate to kidney disease.
Hope this helps.
I thought that potatoes were supposed to be poisinous to dogs??
Hi Claire… Potatoes are not poisonous to dogs. They are a very good grain-free source of plant-based carbohydrates and other nutrients.
Dogs have come a long way since their ancestors and their ancestors in the wild did not live long. I have raised my standard Poodles (and cats) on Nutro products for 13 years and they have enjoyed good health and long lives. Wheat can be a problem in some dogs, but rice and whole grains are not usually.
Hi L Walker… Your point is well-taken. However, a dog’s immediate ancestors were carnivores. And yes, of course, they have evolved. But 15,000 years (or so) over the millions of years of evolution isn’t much time for major anatomical features to change. We still feel an ideal diet would include less carbohydrates than the typical and unnatural 50% figure found in the average kibble.
I have been using Natures Logic; I have read the “white paper” carefully. I have 3 Am. Eskimo dogs: 12year old;’
9 year old; 5 year old, They all love the food, are energetic,
seem to be in excellent health. I am not consoled with the
conclusion that both groups of dogs (those on low fat. lo
protein diet) & the group on hi protein, hi fat) have similiar
degree of risk of renal problems (likely pancrease also). It just
makes common sense that protein makes the kidneys work
harder; hi fat gives the pancrease more work. I prefer to make their food with raw (meat, fish, chick) that has been
previously frozen to kill bacteria; raw veg; yogurt,cot cheese or rocotta, kelp, suppliments–but the dogs don’t “love” this
mushy mix–they prefer the crunch of the kibble. When others feed them I must use premade food. Re: dogs
ancestoral diet: in the wild, canines are short lived–5 years
usually would be “old” I believe. My previous dogs live to ages
of 9, 12, 14, 17, 16. 15, 14 1/2 they were on lower quality
foods since knowledge & availability were less then.
Hi Kimaira… I can understand your concerns about high protein. You’re not alone. Many feel the same way. But here’s another article by a a respected nutritionist (Dr. Lew Olson) that supports the concept of more protein for older dogs. It’s entitled “Senior Dogs and Special Needs“. Pay special attention to the references (links) she mentions in her article. Ultimately, this is a decision you’ll have to make for yourself. Anyway, hope this helps.