Low Carb Dog Food: Why Healthy Carbs Are Essential

These days, carbohydrates often seem like they are the enemy for both humans and canines alike, and we know there are many dog parents out there searching for a low carb dog food for their furry pals. However, when it comes to dog food, the issues are less about carbs versus proteins and more about focusing on healthy, carefully selected ingredients.

Why Carbs Get a Bad Rap

There are many sources of carbohydrates, and not all of them are healthy, especially for dogs. Too often, dog food brands will load up their food with cheap fillers such as wheat, corn, and soy, and while they provide calories, they provide little nutritional value. For this reason, many dog parents simply view carbs as filler ingredients rather than nutrition. 

Additionally, the popularity of low-carb human diets has truly influenced how people view carbohydrates, and this has trickled down to pet food. Many dogs are overweight, and so dog parents may assume that a diet that helps humans slim down also can be beneficial for dogs. 

Of course, there’s also a lot of messaging out there about how dogs descended from wolves and are meant to be carnivores. While healthy proteins are extremely important components of any dog’s diet, dogs are perfectly capable of digesting and utilizing carbohydrates.

Do Dogs Really Need Carbohydrates?

The short answer is yes. Carbohydrates are an efficient source of energy for dogs and they can support healthy digestion as well as supply some important nutrients and antioxidants. 

In general, a low carb dog food is definitely better than a high-carb dog food because dogs only require a limited amount of carbohydrates. However, the most important factors with any dog food are the quality of the ingredients and the reason why each ingredient was chosen.

Why a Holistic Dog Food Is Best

A holistic food for dogs is one that was crafted to maintain optimal health and to address common dog health issues. As veterinarians, we strongly believe that food can be healing and support optimum health, and our dog food does contain carefully selected carbohydrate sources. 

Today’s pet owners can choose from many different types of dog food, including dry dog food (kibble), canned food, raw diets, and fresh dog food. However, as veterinarians, we caution against some of these options.

Kibble and canned food are not suitable options for any dog. These are always heavily processed, typically contain chemicals and preservatives that dogs do not need, and often include poor sources of carbohydrates and proteins. 

The carbs tend to be the fillers mentioned above, and the proteins tend to be scraps left over from meat or poultry processing, and sometimes even come from diseased animals. Ingredients such as cartilage, poultry necks, fat trimmings, and meat meal rendered from animal tissues are all perfectly legal and all too common. 

These diets do not support your dog’s health needs, and, frankly, we should not serve our dogs anything less than human-grade ingredients. They give us so much joy and companionship, and it’s up to us to be the stewards of their health. 

So, that leaves raw and fresh diets. Again, the quality and type of ingredients should always be studied carefully. Raw diets are popular because they are unprocessed and contain whole ingredients without fillers and chemicals. These typically include a single raw protein combined with a few fruits and veggies, and perhaps fish oil. 

While human-grade raw ingredients can seem like a healthy choice, there are some drawbacks. Raw food can contain bone fragments, which can pose a health hazard to your dog. Additionally, there is always the risk of bacterial contamination, such as Salmonella or E.coli, which can affect your dog and your entire family. Additionally, many dogs, especially as they grow older, have a difficult time digesting raw foods in general.

Fresh dog food, which contains lightly cooked ingredients, is generally the best option for most dogs, especially if they are labeled as having as 100% “human-grade.” However, it is still important to look at the ingredients and the intent behind each ingredient, rather than simply opting for a low carbohydrate dog food. 

For instance, many fresh dog food brands (and raw brands) incorporate organ meats into their recipes. We do not recommend feeding organ meat to dogs. These proteins are among the highest fat tissues in the body, and high fat has been associated with weight gain, digestive issues, and pancreatic stress in dogs. 

At Chi Dog, we offer fresh 100% human-grade and vet-developed food prepared in USDA-inspected kitchens, and we use no organ meats or fillers in our diet plans. Each plan was crafted according to the holistic principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, which views nutrition as an important part of supporting the body’s overall balance and wellness. 

Ingredients are selected not only for their nutritional value, but also for how they may help support balance, comfort, and whole-body wellness. Each diet is matched to a specific functional nutritional intent by a certified food therapist. 

Chi Dog does contain a limited amount of carbohydrates, although the emphasis is on protein. But let’s take a look at one of our diets so that you can better understand why we choose the carbs we choose.