When determining the proper feed and nutrients required for canines, it is important to take a look at their eating habits and evolutionary changes from their ancestors, the wolf. Using information from their biological order, physiology and domestication impacts we can determine the best food choices for modern dogs.
Dogs are carnivores, specifically scavenging carnivores, a species who cannot live on plant protein alone, but need a meat-based diet to survive. Scavenging carnivores are specialized to survive on whatever “left-overs” they can find. Just because they typically do not hunt for live prey, does not mean that they will not. There may be periods of times where there are no prey scraps for them, leading them to hunt in short supply. Scavenging carnivores also play a huge part in the ecosystem clean-up role. Note that just because canines require meat, does not mean they will not eat plants and other nutrient sources when necessary.
The Carnivorous diet has impacted canine’s physiology over evolutionary time. Canines are known for their teeth and jaws. Canine teeth have serrated molars that are sharp and jagged to be able to rip, tear and crush bone. Their jaw is in a fixed position that only allows them to open vertically. Although they lack range of motion in the jaw side to side, it gives them the ability to open the jaw vertically much wider than other animals. Since they did not commonly eat plants, they lack flat molars giving them a harder time when extracting nutrients from plants. Plants have an outer casing made of cellulose, which is an indigestible fiber, it needs to be removed to gain nutrients from the source.
Beyond the jaw and teeth, dogs’ digestive system has evolved as well. The pancreas is responsible for producing digestive enzymes to break down fats, carbs and proteins. Canines’ pancreas is designed to efficiently break down animal protein and fat, supporting their meat-based diets. Unlike other animals, canines do not begin breaking food down in the mouth, which is why they digest carbohydrates in the small intestine. Knowing these facts modern dog food is comprised of pre-ground plant matter to reduce the amount of energy required to digest it.
Since dogs are carnivores, their bodies digest at a much faster rate than herbivores or omnivores. Another evolutionary tale that has come from being carnivores is having one large stomach instead of multiple small ones, such as cows. This means the food is spending more time in the stomach, which increases the acidity of the environment, allowing them to break down proteins, fats and even bones. Since their stomach is so acidic, 1.5-2 pH, it prevents harmful bacteria from spreading like the ones found in raw meat. Lastly, their small intestine is short to move food in and out quickly to ensure toxin exposlusion.
Overall, in the past canines mostly survived on meat scraps and excess proteins. Due to evolution and domestication, more grain and plant nutrients have made their way into the diet properly by grinding and mixing components canines struggle to naturally digest. Meat has always been a key nutrient in canines and can even be consumed raw due to their physiology properties. Our next article will focus on the different types of food, and diets you can feed your canine, as well as, the pros and cons of these diets.
