Effects of Carbohydrates In Dogs - Page 1

I have been doing some reading on dogs with behavior problems and I notice a couple of articles that breifly talk about some effects of carbohydrates and how it may contribute to some of the behavior problems in dogs.  None of the articles go into much detail and I was wondering if anyone had any further information or  a site I could go to to read more about this topic?

Here are some web sites I found:

http://www.rchumanesociety.org/_files/How_Diet_Affects_Behavior.pdf

http://www.springvalleyvet.com/site/view/164972_SafetytipsfromBarkBusters.pml

http://www.webtrail.com/petbehavior/april99.html

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/can-diet-cause-aggression-in-dogs/

i'm glad someone else is thinking about this as well.  rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, grains, and pulp are starchy.  we all know that starches break down into sugars.....what bodies use for energy, however not all starches breakdown into the same sugar forms.  i have serious concerns about some of the things being used in commercial dog foods in place of grains - namely potatoes and sweet potatoes.  take natural balance for example with an average of around 21% protein.  if you spend 54 bucks for a 28lb bag of duck/potato, you're buying a pretty expensive bag of potatoes with very little meat in it.  now if you have leftovers from your sunday dinner roast with potatoes and carrots and like to share that with your pets - i see no harm in that, but compare that with a bag of commercial dog food that is nearly 80% potatoes.......ahhh, that's a lot of starch.  no wonder we are seeing pancreatic problems in our dogs.  then compound that with the fact that most of what they are eating is completely devoid of enzymes.  (that goes for humans too)  the raw food people definately have a good point to share when it comes to meat - carb ratio, however, i think it is critical to know your sources whether you feed raw or kibble and what sort of chemicals/drugs may be found in either.  i really get up on my ear when i see foods labeled holistic or natural yet they contain menadione.  b.s.  menadione is neither holistic nor natural and has been proven detrimental to pets.  enough rant.
pjp

Good post ziegenfarm.  I agree.

Ziegenfarm.....
         As far as Natural Balance is concerned, I like the idea of a limited ingredient food...I like the use of a single carbohydrate too. Not all carbohydrates are created equal and sweet potato is a decent one.....I only wish that there was a little less of the single carbohydrate...lol..I would like the sweet potato to be further down on the ingredient list ....: )

       I also like the use of Salmon, rather than the use of "fish"..Two of the first three ingredients in Natural Balance are named as Salmon....I like that...I started to add canned Salmon to every meal for extra protein...I would love to find a food that had Salmon as the first ingredient  with limited ingredients and NO fish listed...Anyone know of one..???

        I hope this was not too off topic....


                  Deanna...: )

There is a pet nutrition consultant that might be able to answer your questions.  Dr. Susan Lauten will answer your questions for free if you email her.  Click on the "contact" link on her web site:  http://www.petnutritionconsulting.com/ .

personally, i like to see protein content in the 28-34% range.  (for gsds)   i believe protein in the 42% range is too high and could have damaging effects on the kidneys.  protein in the 21-22% range is a waste of money and you are feeding too much filler.  i read a very good article a while back on the quality of protein and the importance of water in relation to the kidneys.  quality protein, as in raw meats, can be fed in higher percentages without damage to the kidneys, whereas lower quality proteins as from grains are only safe in lower percentages and even then much more water is required to help prevent kidney damage. 
i think acana has their act together and makes probably the best kibble around.  i just wish it was more widely available.  i have had it shipped in, but it is very expensive that way. i could feed raw for less.  i would be very careful with evo and orijen, while they are both excellent products, they are not suitable for all dogs.  that goes for all formulas, i guess.  (heck, right now i have one dog on blackwood 7000 stress formula @ 34% protein, 25% fat plus bio case V enzymes, colostrum and nu pro because that is what he needs.)
pjp

Wow -- this is confusing.   My dog has been on Orijen since I got him... Puppy formula until 4 months old, then I switched to the Adult formula -- 40% protein.  He has done fine on it.   Now, Orijen has gone up in price -- where I shop online, it went from $58 + shipping (approx. 30 lbs.)  to $75 + shipping.   Sooooo, I ordered EVO  -- which is 43% protein.   I sure hope it doesn't cause any problems -- I may decide to mix it with a kibble that has less protein.

This evening I have been reading articles about high protein dog food and kidney disease.  The majority stated that high protein dog food  does NOT cause kidney disease/problems.   However, if your dog has a kidney problem, he/she will do better on a low-protein diet.

One of the things that isn't understood here is that dogs (and cats) do not metabolize carbohydrates in to energy like humans do. They metabolize protein and fat in to energy. The dog's metabolism is very proficient at hydrolizing glycogen (glycogen is "stored energy" in the body) from protein sources, so large amounts of carbohydrates are not required in their diet. Please learn this and understand this.
Dogs and cats are predators, humans are omnivores. Dogs and cats have very short digestive tracts. Humans have very long digestive tracts. Carbs are mostly metabolized in to fat in dogs and cats. Grains are tough to digest for dogs and cats. Potatoes are easily digested by dogs and cats. And yes, the protein derived from grains, especially in higher amounts, can be very tough on the kidneys. Protein derived from meat, poultry and fish sources is okay in higher amounts and will not tax the kidneys the way grain proteins do. The digestibility of the protein sources is also very important. In fact, it is more important than the actual protein content of the product because the amount of digestible protein is what counts for proper nutrition, not the amount of "crude" protein. What would be better to feed your dog or cat, a food with a protein content of 32% that is 55% digestible, or one with a protein content of 24% that is 95% digestible? Protein is processed in the liver and any waste materials are filtered and excreted by the kidneys. High quality protein does not generate large amounts of waste that needs to be removed from the body, but poor quality protein which is difficult to digest does and, in turn, puts a lot of stress on the kidneys. Grains, in my opinion, should be left out of dog food and especially cat food.