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How many times have you heard those claiming that our modern-day dogs are carnivores? Only to be followed up with the statement “…they only need to eat meat because our domesticated dogs descended from wolves, therefore must be meat eaters only.” Let us dive into the controversial topic of whether our domesticated canines are carnivores or not. To answer these questions first let's discuss what a carnivore is, and the three types of carnivores are that exist. Then, we can discuss how our domesticated canines evolved over thousands of years from their ancestor, the wolf.

By definition a carnivore is an animal that feeds on other animals. The word carnivore is derived from Latin and literally meaning “meat eater.” There are many kinds of carnivores, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Most carnivores are larger animals, have bigger brains with a higher intelligence, and a less complicated digestive system, unlike an herbivore with a more complex digestive system.

So, what are the three types of carnivores?

Types of carnivores and their varying levels of meat consumption:

·      Obligate carnivores- are also known as a hypercarnivore. A hypercarnivore are animals that consume at minimum 70% of meat in their diet. They are called obligate carnivores because they cannot properly digest vegetation. An example would be felines.

·      Mesocarnivores- are animals whose diets consist of anywhere from 30% to 70% meat, and then with a balance of non-vertebrae foods. This can include, but not limited to things such as fruits, grains, plants, and insects. An example would be coyotes, foxes, wolves, and polar bears are a few. Yes, our domesticated dogs belong to the Order Carnivora but does not necessarily make them an obligate carnivore or a mesocarnivore.

·      Hypocarnivores- are carnivores that eat the least amount of meat. These carnivores consume less than 30% of meat in their diet. Their diets will consist of and not limited to meat, fish, plants, berries, and nuts. They are also known as omnivores. An example of hypocarnivore would-be mammals (other bears, dogs), birds, fish, insects, reptiles, ants, rodents, and humans. These animals can be predator, prey, and scavengers.

So, what does that make our domesticated modern-day canine? It makes them an omnivore, also known as a hypocarnivore. Yes, our modern-day canines evolved from wolves roughly 11,000 years ago (end of the Ice Age) and thought to be first domesticated about 8,000 years ago. Modern day canines only share about 0.8% of their DNA with a wolf. That might not seem like much to you, but what differentiates us from chimpanzees is only about 1.2% of DNA. Should we follow a diet that is proper for a chimpanzee? No- no one would recommend doing that. So, if our domesticated canines are clearly not wolves, then why feed them that way? Before we start really diving into this topic, let’s understand like most wild animals, what they eat, and why they eat the way they do. These wild animals, just like a wolf are trying to survive to reproduce, as well eating to support their health through those reproductive years. With that said, we need to understand that we are not feeding our “pets” just to meet the basic necessities of life, but for longevity! We are feeding them for both their health and wellness, our goal is to support a balanced holistic life for them.

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Why does the domestication of canines’ matter when discussing the diet of these carnivores?

Well, let’s first acknowledge what was going on roughly 11,000 years ago. The Ice age was ending, the climate was changing, and humans were thriving. Humans at this time were hunters and gathers, foraging, and living in concentrated societies. As this was happening, wolves started venturing closer to these humans' settlements, and they would eat the food scraps from the humans, as well as their waste. The more food they had readily available to them, the more they reproduced and flourished. So, as this was happening, they passed down their genetics and characteristics to their offspring. Wolves began to evolve, and they became smaller overall, with smaller snouts, jaws, and teeth. With that said, humans' settlements starting evolving shifting from hunter-gathers to more of a domesticated society with agriculture. This is where canines' diets started to change with more starch being present and available to them. Through evolution, canines adapted to digest starch as their bodies started producing the enzyme amylase. There has been research done by scientist that discovered prehistoric canine droppings that had been preserved from the Bronze Age from these canines' biome that included the gut microbes that produce amylase. Why is this important? Amylase is an enzyme that essentially turns starch into sugar. This enzyme is what helps humans and certain animals' breakdown and digest complex carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, and grains. Canines for thousands of years still could not produce much amylase, but through research it is found that long before canines started evolving and their DNA changing, scientists discovered evidence of gut microbes in prehistoric wolves that were present even before they started producing amylase. In conclusion, modern-day domesticated canines have evolved producing amylase making them functional hypocarnivores, also known as omnivores.

What should I feed my domesticated canine? And what should I focus on when providing a balanced diet?

First, we as humans need to accept the fact that we have contributed to the evolution of canines and what their diet consists of. Our canines are our family! We want them to live a long and healthy lives. Life gets busy and commercial feed is an easy choice but does not mean it is the best option. Here at Leash & Beyond K9 Solutions we suggest feeding a homemade balanced holistic diet that can be raw or gently cooked. Soon we will be providing a service through our daughter company Vital Moments K9 Health Solutions that can make this an easier option for you. Our services will provide formulated diet plans with recipes for all stages of your canine's life using a mindful approach. For more information click here: https://www.lbk9solutions.com/vital-moments-k9-health-solutions

There is nothing wrong with feeding your dog a commercial feed, just be aware what is in that commercial product. The more processed the feed, the more unwanted chemicals and by-products will be in the food. If feeding commercial feed look for a brand that is freeze-dried, dehydrated, gently cooked or raw, that has whole food ingredients listed. Or your canine's diet could be a homemade balanced diet with essential nutrients that ensures the right balance of amino acids too. This includes but not limited to water, protein, meat, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. There are multiple foods a dog can have the have a reliable source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for them, that is not just from protein. You want to have a diverse diet for your canine that will include, all sources of protein, vegetables, fruits, small amounts of grains, nuts, fungi, and even seeds. We do want to avoid carbohydrates and sugar that feed inflammation. You want to have diversity in their diet to ensure balance within these meals whether you serve them raw or gently cooked.

Conclusion

Make every moment vital and worth living for your canine. Do not believe everything that “people” say and follow the “trends.” and do your own research. One thing I think we can all agree on is that our domesticated canines are in fact a carnivore, they prefer to eat meat, but will eat what they need in order to survive, thus over thousands of years led them to evolve from their ancestor of the wolf into the domesticated “pet” they are today, thriving on a well-balanced diet just like many other omnivores. Just some food for thought.