Carbohydrates in Dog Food

Aug 4

Note: This is part of a two article blog. This page explains why manufacturers are including carbohydrates in dry dog kibble. The next article tackles whether dogs actually need carbohydrates.

Most traditional style dry kibble dog foods contain a whopping 30-60% carbohydrates. Made up of grains and starchy vegetables like potatoes, rice and legumes. When we know dogs primarily need meat in their diet, why are these numbers so high?

Why are manufacturer’s including carbs in such large numbers?

1. They are necessary for the extrusion process in dry food. Fiber (carbs) help ingredients move through the extruder and assist with form and structure of the kibble pellets.

2. Corn or potato starch and fibers are also used as a binder in canned and loaf products.

3. The inclusion of carbohydrates helps meet required energy (calorie) requirements in the most profitable (cheapest) way possible.

4. Cereal grains are included because of their low cost and wide availability.

5. The cost of transporting, storing, handling and other aspects are less expensive with carbohydrates then with meat, poultry and fresher options.

6. Carbohydrates are used to add taste and texture, substituting for quality protein.

So in general, dog food with high carbohydrates are more profitable for the company.

Until very recently, manufacturers were not required to include the carbohydrate count on their dog food labels. The Guaranteed Analysis label included percentages for Protein, Fat, Fiber, Moisture and Ash. This mandate has recently changed and you will start seeing the carbohydrate percentage added. If you are reading a dry dog food label that doesn’t include it, simply add up the protein, fat, fiber, moisture and ash and subtract from 100 to get the carb/starch content.

Dogs don’t have a dietary requirement for carbohydrates! They can benefit from some carbs for the added energy they provide. Dogs are primarily carnivorous animals whose bodies are adapted to primarily utilize and digest protein and fat.

It is important for me to point out that there is a pretty big debate about whether dogs are carnivores or omnivores. A carnivore eats and thrives on meat products, whereas an omnivore eat and thrive off a roughly equal mixture of meat and plants. Herbivorous animals eat purely plants. Biologically, humans are omnivorous and are biologically designed to eat both plant matter and meat. Felines on the other hand are carnivorous and cannot utilize any plant matter.

Some experts would like us to believe canines are omnivores, having been domesticated and adapted to eat grains and veggies like people. However, they are significantly closer to carnivores that only eat meat than true omnivores. Dogs still share 99.9% of their DNA with Grey Wolves. Our domestic dogs may not be wolves but their digestive systems haven’t evolved all that much. Canines have a short digestive tract (like other carnivores) because meat takes less time to digest. The stomach is where gastric juices are mixed with food, using contractions to break it down for digestion. A carnivore has a single chambered stomach where most of the digestion takes place.

And there is a more significant argument. Recent studies have shown that canines have fewer salivary alpha amylase than humans. This means they struggle to digest complex carbohydrates. If carbs are comprising greater than 30% of their diet (as with most dry kibble products), they may not be breaking them down properly. As a result, they may experience digestive issues like diarrhea, bloating and vomiting. Since they lack the digestive enzymes needed, they often convert carbs into sugar. Excess sugar is not healthy.

Strive for low to moderate carbs (30% or less when possible). Plenty of meat -based proteins and healthy fats (from fish oils) and occasional fiber from cooked/steamed leafy vegetables will give them the nutrients they need.

Read the labels and calculate the carbs. There are many excellent air-dried and freeze-dried products which don’t require carbs for the extrusion process and don’t require high heat, resulting in a very low carb content and a product that maintains its essential nutrients.

Read the 2nd half of this article to better understand how excess carbohydrates effect your dog’s digestion and cause other health problems.

Following are some examples of Brands and their Approx. Carbohydrate Counts:

Farmina Pumpkin Puppy - 27.9%

Orijen Original or Six Fish - 28%

Farmina Prime Adult - 30.7%

Orijen Puppy - 30.9%

Nulo Freestyle Gluten Free - 35%

Canidae Gluten Free Salmon - 36%

Taste of the Wild Gluten Free Adult - 36%

Wellness Core Gluten Free - 36% to 38%

Nature’s Logic - 38.1%

Go! Carnivore Gluten Free - 39%