Unlike humans, dogs are primarily carnivorous, meaning that they have evolved to eat meat, bones and offal as their main sustenance. Carbohydrate consumption in dogs should always be limited. A dog can occasionally eat food which contains a small portion of carbohydrates, but this should not be allowed to become a regular occurrence. Dogs will often happily eat such processed foods, in a way it is the equivalent to junk food for humans. It may be enjoyable to them, but is far from healthy, or nutritionally valuable. The big difference between dogs and humans is humans convert carbohydrates into storable energy, but dogs cannot. 

As with humans, excessive carbohydrate consumption in dogs can easily lead to them becoming overweight and obese, leading to a multitude of  health problems such as cardiovascular complaints, diabetes, and significant joint strain. In breeds prone to conditions such as hip dysplasia, this poses a particularly high risk. 

Scientific studies have suggested that carbohydrates are essentially toxic to dogs digestive systems, often causing gut issues, straining the pancreas as well as increasing blood sugar, stimulating pre-inflammatory hormone production and pressuring the dogs immune system.

To read more on this topic check out our related blog articles. 

The Problem with Carbohydrates & Dogs