Low Carb Dog Food

Your dog is your pride and joy. We feel you. Yet, did you know that what you’re feeding him could be making him ill?  

Many dog owners, myself included, want the best for their dog so we craft an entire meal plan that resembles ours.

But dogs process foods differently than we do.

Dogs come from the ‘carnivorous canine’ family. They have sharp canines and a much shorter digestive tract than humans. 

They’re also known for their ability to break down fats during the metabolism process. That’s why the best way to keep our dogs healthy and active is to provide them with low carb dog food.

Benefits of a Low Carb, High Fat Diet

Fat is the most significant source of energy for your dog. It’s easier to digest, metabolize, and utilize than other nutrients.

Other benefits include:

• Provides muscles with loads of fuel for energy
• Helps manage bodily functions
• Regulates healthy cells, nerves, and tissues
• Works as an anti-inflammatory
• Gives food its delicious taste and smell
• Assists in the absorption of nutrients

There are so many benefits to providing your dog with foods high in fat because dogs don’t have to worry about chronic illnesses due to high-fat diets like us humans. Studies show that when we feed our dogs diets rich in fats, we’re helping them become robust and energetic.

So it would seem obvious that most, if not all, dog foods out there are high in fats, low in carbs. But that’s not the case at all. In fact, not only is it difficult to find foods high in fats and low in carbs, sometimes it’s not even easy to find nutritional labels that are truthful.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) doesn’t require pet food companies to put the percentage of carbs on their nutritional labels. This makes it hard to know what exactly is in the dog food you’re buying.

Health Problems Caused by a High Carb Diet

The way dogs break down carbs is similar to getting a surge of adrenaline running through your system over and over again. The reason for this is that biologically, dogs can metabolize carbs but they have no real use for them.

Dogs process carbs as glucose, causing their bodies to secrete large amounts of insulin to try and control all that glucose. This causes a spike in energy levels which increases dramatically before suddenly crashing. 

The process repeats itself until your dog is frazzled and worn out. Then, once that’s all over and, the extra bits of carbs still left in your dog’s system are stored as fat; the type that causes inflammation and obesity, not the healthy type that gets used as energy.

Other health problems include:

• Rough, prickly skin 
• A lackluster, dry coat
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Pancreatitis
• Inflammations 
• Obesity
• Several types of cancer

A Final Note on Low Carb Dog Food

It’s important to bear in mind that a balanced diet containing large quantities of fat with decent portions of protein, along with small amounts of carbs is essential to maintaining your dog’s optimal health and development. 

Providing your dog with a balanced, rich diet, enough water, ample exercise and lots of love will keep your pet happy and disease-free for a long time.