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Are Carbs Bad For Dogs?

Posted in Dog Health | November 5th, 2007

Some dog food manufacturers meet the MDR for protein by using primarily vegetable matter. Vegetable sources of protein also contain high levels of carbohydrates – not a bad diet for humans, but what’s good for a human isn’t always good for a dog.

The reason we digest carbohydrates well is that we start digestion in our mouths, chewing and breaking down the food. Dogs don’t chew, they gulp, and their digestion doesn’t begin until the food gets into their stomach.

Why is this important? Foods high in carbs can cause digestive problems in dogs, such as bloating, upset stomach, constipation, and excessive stool.

Make sure you pick a diet that contains more animal protein than vegetable protein. How? Read the label and select a food that has two or more animal sources of protein listed in the first five ingredients.

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