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THE CANINE HEALTH NUT

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CANINE NUTRITION BASICS: CARBOHYDRATES

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 The use of carbohydrates within pet food is probably the
most controversial topics in pet food right now. Popular
media has spent years demonizing different types of
carbohydrates such as rice, corn, and even potatoes – calling
them cheap-fillers, pro-inflammatory, and blaming them for a
large range of diseases from obesity and diabetes to cancer.
However, while carbohydrates are not strictly necessary for
dogs to live, aka dogs do not have a requirement for
carbohydrates, they are actually quite useful within our dog’s
diet. And most of the negative press around carbohydrates is
downright false, cherry-picking research studies, or
presenting only half of research findings (instead of the
whole picture). Let me explain why carbohydrates are used,
and what their benefits can be for dogs (along with some of
the drawbacks).

How Much Carbohydrates Do Dog’s Really

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 Need?

I think the reason why there is so much confusion about

carbohydrates and their role in the canine diet is that – dogs
do not have a nutritional requirement for carbohydrates,
whereas we do have minimal needs for protein, fats,
vitamins, and minerals. And people assume that because
dogs don’t need carbohydrates to survive, they shouldn’t be
present in their diet.

Carbohydrates are often thought of as “functional

foods” because they serve more of a functional
role, rather than a required role in the diet.

Carbohydrate “Needs” are likely variable…

The ideal amount of carbohydrates for any individual dog is

likely variable, and highly dependent, on other factors such
as – age, activity level and medical conditions. Generally
speaking a healthy, moderately to lightly active dog does well
with between 50-100g carbohydrates per 1000 kcals
consumed, with 2-4% crude fiber on a dry matter basis.
However some dogs may do better with more or less of this
amount depending on protein or fat needs, or fiber tolerance.

Highly active dogs typically do best with lower amounts of

fiber in their diet, needing sometimes less than 50g

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 carbohydrates per 1000 kcals in order to optimize calories
from fat and meeting protein needs.
Whereas certain concurrent medical conditions – kidney
disease + pancreatitis – might lead to both low protein
and low fat requirements, where higher carbohydrates
are needed to supply needed calories.
For dogs who need to lose weight, we might want a
moderate to high amount of fiber within the diet to help
with satiety.

The Purpose of Carbohydrates

1. Carbohydrates are a source of Fiber

Fermentation of Fiber in the colon (either soluble or

insoluble) produces short-chain fatty acids. We now have a
large host of research looking at the role of different fiber
sources (also called prebiotics) and their accompanying
probiotic bacteria and their potential benefits. Certain fiber

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 combinations have been shown to be extremely useful for
the management of small and large bowel diarrhea, irritable
bowel disease, and even skin conditions. There is even
pending research looking at the use of prebiotic fibers and
probiotics for the management of diabetes, heart disease,
cancer, cognitive decline, dental health, and kidney disease.
Prebiotic fibers are of particular interest because they are
more stable in comparison to probiotics, thus more likely to
survive storage and get to the large intestine for
fermentation.

Fiber Functions:

1. Proper function of GI tract : fiber can both speed up and

slow down gastric motility. Having a proper balance of
fiber within a diet for your dog will make sure they are
regular and have normally formed stools. Soluble fiber
retains water and slows digestion, whereas insoluble fiber
speeds up digestion and add bulk to stools. For dogs that
have issues with gut motility (acid reflux) adjusting fiber
content can be particularly useful.
2. Provides an energy source for good gut microbes:
Fermentable fibers travel to the large intestine and are
used as a substrate (eaten & fermented) by the good gut
bacteria to produce by products called short-chain fatty
acids, which supply energy to the intestines that line the
digestive tract.
3. Reduced energy density of the diet: Dogs that are more

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 inactive, prone to weight gain or that need to loose weight
can benefit from higher amounts of fiber within their diet.
Not only does higher amounts of fiber typically reduce
caloric density, but it also has been shown to help with
satiety when paired with higher amounts of protein.
4. Supports a healthy microbiome: using a variety of
different types of fiber sources can help support a diverse
and healthy microbiome.
5. Help with blood sugar regulation: soluble fibers form a
gel within the intestine which helps regulate blood sugar,
which can be particularly beneficial for dogs with
diabetes.
6. Can produce Short-Chain Fatty Acids or Volatile Fatty
Acids (also called Postbiotics) stimulate the gut-brain axis
and can influence a variety of different systems within the
body.

Serving Total Total Insoluble

Ingredient Starch
Size Carbs Fiber Fiber

Oats 1 cup 28.1 27.1 4 1.6

Brown Rice 1 cup 51.7 50 2.8 0.2

Quinoa 1 cup 39.4 32.6 8.4 5

Wholegrain
1 cup 45.5 38.5 6.3 4.1
Pasta

Potato with 1

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 Skin medium 36.7 29.9 4.8 3.3

Wheat Bran 1/2 cup 37.4 11.3 24.6 22.6

Pysllium
1/2 cup 32 0 28 4
Husk

Canned
1 cup 19.8 12 6.4 6.4
Pumpkin

Blueberries 3/4 cup 15.75 0.03 1.4 0.3

Strawberries 1 cup 17.8 0.01 4.4 2.6

Spinach 1 cup 1 0 4.4 3

Kale 1 cup 0.9 0 7.2 5.1

1
Pear 27.1 0 4 3.2
medium

Apple with 1
23 0.08 5.7 4.2
Skin medium

Tomato with 1
3.84 0 1.3 1
Skin medium
Note that most whole foods contain a combination of insoluble and soluble fibers, whereas our
supplements or purified fibers are more concentrated and typically supply one type of fiber.

Ideally we look to formulate diets with: ⅔ insoluble

to ⅓ soluble

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 2. Carbohydrates are a source of Energy – Starch

When we say “carbohydrates are a good energy source” you

might be confused. I mean fat provides a lot more calories
per gram fed (8.5 kcals/g) in comparison to carbohydrates
(3.5 kcals/g), so why would you use carbohydrates? It really
comes down to the individual dog and their nutritional
needs. There are three main instances where carbohydrates
would actually be a superior form of energy for a dog in
comparison to fat (or protein). 1. For Dogs who need a Low-
Fat Diet, 2. For Dogs who do Sprinting activities, 3. For Dogs
who need Low Residue Diets.

Low-Fat Diets

Dogs who cannot tolerate higher amounts of fat due to

conditions like pancreatitis likely will not tolerate using fat as
the main energy source. For these dogs carbohydrates are

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 the next-best form of energy. The reason for this is that
protein is actually a very poor energy source, and using
protein as an energy source can lead to both weight loss and
in some cases amino acid deficiency when essential amino
acids are used as fuel instead of for essential functions within
the body.

Sprinting Activities

The first five minutes of activity for dogs they use primarily
carbohydrates as a fuel source, then they slowly start to up-
regulate the burning of fat as fuel instead and convert to
almost entirely fat oxidation at around 90 minutes. What this
means is the main energy source for our dogs who do
sprinting activities (not endurance activities) is
carbohydrates. That said, if you create a diet lower in
carbohydrates, dogs can up-regulate to start burning fat
faster as the main fuel source, however, you may notice slight
differences in timed sprinting activities when significantly
restricting carbohydrates within a diet.

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 For more information on how activity level influences
energy use, you can read more about active dog
nutrition.

Low-Residue Diets

Diets created to be “low-residue” are typically lower in fiber,

lower in fat, and highly digestible. These diets are designed
to leave the stomach quickly (both fat and fiber make food
stay longer in the stomach), which can help dogs who have
gastrointestinal motility issues. Typically low-fiber
carbohydrates and highly digestible carbohydrates are used
in these cases in order to achieve this goal. This is why you
might see white rice or white potatoes in some recipes for
gastrointestinal diseases.

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 3. Carbohydrates are a source of Vitamins and
Minerals

Carbohydrates can be an excellent source of certain vitamins

and minerals for dogs, in particular magnesium, potassium,
and b-vitamins. Whole grains are a great source of
Magnesium, B-Vitamins and some are even a good source of
Manganese (oats!). Potassium is typically found in our root
vegetables such as potatoes, beets, and squash.

Our fruits and vegetables also contain a variety of different

vitamins and minerals and are typically an excellent source of
fiber, though these are typically less-dense in energy (starch).

Outside of carbohydrates, we can use certain proteins to

supply these vitamins and minerals or supplementation – so
carbohydrates are not the only sources by any means,
however, they may be the best tolerated, or the most
accessible.

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 4. Carbohydrates are Protein – Sparing

What does it mean by saying the Carbohydrates are “protein

sparing”? Dogs do not have a nutritional need for
carbohydrates, however, they do have a nutritional need for
glucose. Typically for dogs fed a low-carbohydrate diet,
protein is converted to glucose via gluconeogenesis within
the liver in order to provide glucose for vital body functions
(like the brain and other organs). Meaning that protein needs
are actually higher in a low carbohydrate diet in comparison
to a high carbohydrate diet because some protein (amino
acids) are converted to glucose for energy.

By providing carbohydrates within the diet, we can lower the

need for protein because carbohydrates can be a source of
glucose for vital body functions.

Where the typical 30% protein diet may be acceptable for a

diet with higher amounts of carbohydrates, typically we need
closer to 40% protein for diets lower in carbohydrates in

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 order to meet protein needs while using amino acids to
create glucose.

5. Carbohydrates are used in Kibble as a binder and

to cut costs

Ah, the kibble binding agent, this is the most common way I
see carbohydrates negatively marketed as a filler. Saying “it’s
just a filler used to bind kibble together”. The best marketing
has a basis in truth. And yeah, carbohydrates are needed at
about 40% DM in order to bind kibble together… Or at least
at one point that was true. New technology in the
manufacturing of kibble does not actually make this the case.
There are now kibbled diets on the market with as little as
20% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis.

Another common statement you hear is “carbohydrates are

just used by companies as a filler to cut costs” – again the
best marketing has a basis in truth. Carbohydrate-based
ingredients are typically a bit less expensive than meat-

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 based ingredients. However in pet food since both are by-
products of the human food industry, the cost difference isn’t
as big as you think. The quality of the ingredient will change
cost more than carb vs. meat within a recipe. For homemade
recipes – cost may play a role as carbohydrates are typically
less expensive than meat. But really, when we look at
carbohydrate use within a kibble recipe – it’s usually not the
main driver related to cost.

Carbohydrate Digestion

Mouth

When the dog eats their food that contains carbohydrates,

the digestion of carbohydrates will start within the mouth
with salivary amylase. ,However it’s important to note that
dogs “gulp” their food, and there isn’t much time for digestion
here. So realistically less than 2% of starch digestion occurs
within the mouth.

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 Stomach

As the food moves from the mouth to the stomach digestion

of start actually stops, this is because amylase actually
requires a pH of about 6 in order to break down the bonds
between glucose molecules.

Small Intestines

As our food moves out of the stomach and into the small
intestine the bile from the liver is released to neutralize the
pH and pancreatic amylase is released. The starch within our
grains and starchy vegetables like potatoes is broken down
and digested into glucose along with Lactose (milk sugar) and
Sucrose (fruit sugar).

Fun Fact: When we look at Pancreatic Amylase

Production of various species. Dogs produce 42-43
times as much pancreatic amylase as cats (3000 vs 70
units alpha amylase / wet weight) and dogs have
twice as many glucose transport proteins as cats.
Meaning they are significantly better at digesting
carbohydrates in comparison to our obligate
carnivore feline friends.

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 Blood Glucose Regulation & Storage:

Once lactose, sucrose and starches are broken down into

glucose, galactose and fructose within the small intestine of
the dog, they are transported out of the intestines to the
portal vein. Once in the portal vein they move towards the
liver where fructose and galactose are then also converted in
glucose.

Blood glucose levels then rise as glucose moves all over the
body to supply energy to the brain, nerves, and red blood
cells. Once blood glucose levels go higher than 110 mg/dl it
stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin. When insulin is
released it stimulates both the liver and the muscle cells to
start to uptake free glucose and store it as glycogen. A
normal range of blood glucose is 80-200 mg/dl, and currently
no research

Fun fact: Cats actually have a lower ability to clear

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 blood glucose and turn it into glycogen in comparison
to dogs.

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Excess glucose left over after meeting energy needs and

storage needs as glycogen is stored as fat within the body
(similar to excess fat and protein). Once glucose is converted
to fat, it cannot be converted back to glucose (similar to
excess amino acids converted to fat).

We’ve talked about times of high blood glucose, but what

about when there is low blood glucose like when fasting or
when consuming a very carbohydrate-restrictive diet? Once
blood glucose dips below 80 mg/dl , insulin stops being
triggered and instead, the pancreas starts to produce
glucagon. Glucagon then triggers the liver to switch from
storing blood glucose, to freeing up stored glucose.

Regardless of if a healthy dog is fed a low or high-

carbohydrate diet levels of blood glucose remains

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 within the same healthy window. No research thus
far has shown that diet composition (low vs. high
carb) in dogs significantly influences weight gain.

Gluconeogenesis

After about 24-48 hours without food glycogen stores within

the dog start to become depleted, so the body starts to up-
regulate gluconeogenesis within the dog. Basically, the body
starts to break down the body’s own muscle proteins (amino
acids), and those amino acids travel to the liver to be broken
down into glucose. About 70% of blood glucose is produced
by gluconeogenesis at the 24-hour mark, and almost 90% is
produced by 42 hours.

But this can also occur if you feed a low-carbohydrate or

carbohydrate-restrictive diet. The body needs glucose in
order to survive. Thus if it isn’t supplied in sufficient amounts
within the diet, protein (amino acids) ingested in the diet will

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 be used via gluconeogenesis in the liver to create glucose.

Large Intestines

Any carbohydrates that are no digested within the small

intestines then travel to the large intestines. Here remaining
start along with fiber is broken down by bacteria to produce
volatile fatty acids, short-chain fatty acids, and postbiotics.
The volatile fatty acids work to feed the cells that line the
intestines, where-as the postbiotics and short-chain fatty
acids may influence other areas of the body through the
“gut-brain axis” – similar to a hormone.

Common Sources of Carbohydrates

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Rolled Oats, Barley, Whole

Wheat Pasta, Corn, Quinoa or Millet
Refined Grains: White Rice, Corn Grits, White Flour,
White Pasta
Starchy Vegetables: Sweet Potatoes, White Potatoes,
Beets, Butternaut Squash, Turnips, and Acron Squash
Milk / Dairy Products: Goat Milk, Cow Milk, Cheeses
Fruits & Vegetables

Looking for a breakdown of the different

carbohydrate sources and their potential uses within
a diet? – coming soon-

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 The Bottom Line

Though there is no nutritional requirement for

carbohydrates for dogs, they are considered a “functional
food” and can serve many purposes within the diet for dogs
including…

1. A source of fiber & prebiotics to support the gut and

microbiome
2. An alternative source of energy to fat
3. A source of vitamins and minerals
4. An source of glucose so that protein doesn’t need to be
utilized to produce it.

Every dog is an individual and the amount of carbohydrates

or type of carbohydrates used may vary, but carbohydrates
can and do have a place in a healthy dog’s overall diet.

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