This is a common concern raised by pet parents who are used to feeding commercial diets that include carbohydrates (grains, potatoes, vegetables, etc.).
The short answer is that neither cats or dogs need carbohydrates to survive. The AAFCO Nutrition Profiles for both have no stated minimum requirements for the inclusion of carbohydrates.
But, my #furfam has been eating carbohydrates for years and seem to be doing fine. What gives?
Both cats and dogs are members of the order Carnivora denoting that both evolved from early carnivorous species.
This is where the similarities end between cats and dogs
• Cats
are obligate carnivores indicating that there are no metabolic adaptations to allow them to thrive on a carbohydrate rich diet. Instead after extended periods of time their digestive flora alters to favor bacteria that can break down carbohydrates into nutrients that are bio-available to the hosts native metabolic pathways - this is an inefficient process that may also produce adverse effects as it is not the preferred nutrient absorption mechanism.
• Dogs
are facultative carnivores indicating that there have been a limited number of metabolic adaptions to allow them to consume carbohydrates putting them at an advantage over obligate carnivores when consuming carbohydrate rich foods. However, it is important to recognize that these adaptions are only a partial adaptation and do not make dogs omnivores such as humans.
But but... my #furfam is doing fine!
It is true that no two animals are identical and may survive or even thrive on non-species appropriate diets. We personally have been known to indulge in junk food.
At Balanced Blends we are risk adverse when it comes to our #furfam and have formulated our Species Balanced™ dinners to be as appropriate as possible #becausetheyrefamily
Related Articles
New Raw and Charcuterie Recipes for Dogs and Cats - April 2020
Recipe changes – Changing a recipe is not a decision we make lightly. When we upgraded our raw recipes in 2019, we were really pleased with the results. However, due to issues with supply chain, we found we needed to make some changes to those ...
When do I need to reorder? This is confusing!
Agreed! It can be confusing especially as furfams can vary their consumption depending on activity, seasonal shifts, weather, vacations, and other factors. We recommend ordering on Sundays to ensure delivery the same week. The rule of thumb that we ...
Do you have variety packs?
While we don't offer specifically created variety packs, all of our products are sold in 1 lb. increments, which means you can pick and choose which proteins and styles (raw or cooked) you order, and can mix these across breeds, too. Our only ...
Are your Species Balanced™ dinners safe for my furfam?
Yes! We take additional steps to provide your furfam with a safe and healthy diet - Learn more about Species Balanced™ for Cats and Species Balanced™ for Dogs.
How do I unsubscribe? Do I need to call?
Unsubscribing is easy! No need to tell us! Just Sign In to your account on http://balancedblends.com/ and scroll down to the "Manage Subscription" button after your order information.