Thousands of years ago, Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, famously declared: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Today, a growing body of research demonstrates the importance of diet for health. At the same time, we observe a multitude of health issues in our pets. In dogs, skin issues, allergies, joint issues, digestive issues, urinary tract infections, and cancer are widespread. Many claim that these issues have a genetic origin, that they’re due to inbreeding and genetic defects, but not everything can be attributed to genetics. Most health issues involve genetic factors, but also environmental factors such as diet, which should never be underestimated. Given these facts, for the well-being of our loyal companions, it’s important to take a critical look at the food we give them.
A digestive system doesn't lie! Is the dog omnivorous or carnivorous? A review of basic biology will show you that the dog is primarily a carnivore. However, it can sometimes be an opportunistic omnivore when its environment offers nothing else, just as it’s also, much to our dismay, sometimes a scavenger…
Although dogs have evolved differently from their cousins, the wolves, in various characteristics such as appearance and behaviour, their digestive systems remain remarkably similar and exhibit all the hallmarks of a carnivore. For example, dogs have sharp back teeth, unlike the flat molars of omnivores, prominent canines, a chewing motion that remains vertical rather than lateral like omnivores, an absence of amylase in their saliva (amylase being the enzyme that aids in the digestion of starch in grains in omnivores), a stomach with highly acidic contents (which provides excellent protection against bacteria), and finally, a short intestine that does not allow for optimal digestion of plant matter. All these factors confirm that the dog is indeed a carnivore. A digestive system doesn't lie!
By definition, a carnivore's diet should consist primarily of animal-based foods. Indeed, their digestive system is designed to optimize the use of nutrients such as protein and fat from these foods. A dog's digestive system efficiently metabolizes these nutrients into energy, tissues, enzymes, antibodies, and so on. Unlike animal-based foods, plant-based foods contain a low proportion of protein and fat, with a significant amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are practically nonexistent in animal-based foods. Given this, it's important to consider our dogs' diets. What does their food consist of? Meat, offal, and bones, or grains and cereals? Animal or plant-based? Reading the ingredient list on the container of food you feed your dog is a key element in this process. What are the first 5 ingredients in the formula you give them? Are they of animal or plant origin?
Nutrition science is complex. Now that we've established that dogs have a carnivorous digestive system and that their diet should consist primarily of animal products, let's examine the quality of the animal proteins and fats we provide them. This isn't easy; the ingredient list is difficult to interpret. Meat, animal meal, meat by-products; the quality varies depending on the ingredients used. For example, a mixture of chicken feathers, beaks, and feet has a very high protein content, but its use by dogs will be very limited due to their low digestibility. Depending on the classification system used, foods of animal origin can contain meat from slaughterhouses, but also food from rendering plants.
In some cases, low-quality animal-based foods may contain animals that were sick or injured at slaughter and/or euthanized or died before slaughter… A serious analysis of the origin and understanding of the ingredients you serve your dog is therefore also a key element in the process towards a healthier and more natural diet.
Finally, while kibble offers advantages such as ease of storage, transport, and handling, its production requires a cooking process that destroys and denatures certain nutrients, including protein, fats, and vitamins. A dog's digestive system is designed to digest raw animal protein more efficiently than cooked protein, such as that found in kibble. From this principle stems the raw food diet for dogs, commonly known as BARF.
Aware of the increasing health issues in dogs since the advent of kibble, veterinarians Ian Billinghurst and Tom Lonsdale are the principal founders of this feeding philosophy. At its core, this diet consists of fresh ingredients, in a specific proportion of meat, bones, offal, and vegetables to provide a balanced and as natural a diet as possible for the dog. Meat provides protein and fat, bones supply minerals, collagen, and promote healthy digestion, offal is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, and vegetables, in small quantities, provide fibre, minerals, and vitamins. Bones also help maintain clean teeth free of tartar. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the quality and proportions of the ingredients in this type of diet are also of great importance. Inedible meats, or ingredients in excessive or insufficient quantities, can also cause health issues and deficiencies in your pet. It’s important to carefully choose the food or mix you give your dog.
A good energy level, a shiny coat, no ear infections, skin issues, or allergies, good muscle tone, a healthy weight, clean teeth, fresh breath, and a strong immune system are all qualities you'll find in a well-fed dog. Finally, by giving your dog a healthy and balanced diet, you'll also get the bonus of firm stools in smaller quantities; what more could you ask for?!
If you would like to learn more about canine nutrition, feel free to register for our nutrition training!
Karine Simard, agronomist, M.Sc.
Expert consultant in canine nutrition
