Low Carb Diet For Dogs
Is a low carb diet best for your dog?MetPet.com
A low carbohydrate diet for people is moderate in protein, high in fat and low in carbohydrates. Since foods are either protein, fat or carbohydrate in varying combinations, reducing carbohydrates necessitates increasing either protein or fat or both.
A low carbohydrate diet is based on the idea that, for some individuals, large amounts of carbohydrates can cause problems in metabolism (converting food to energy.) Problems in metabolism can cause obesity and other disorders and diseases.
Excess protein converts to glucose (sugar) so low carbohydrate diets have enough protein to maintain lean body mass but not in excess. The rest of the diet consists of fat primarily in the form of animal-based fats.
The average American diet consists of 300 grams of carbohydrates per day. The initial phase of the Atkins diet reduces the daily intake to just 20 grams per day for the first two weeks. This dramatic reduction in carbohydrates can lead to significant weight loss including the loss of water. The later phases of the Atkins Diet very gradually add in more carbohydrates primarily in the form of green vegetables, dairy, berries and nuts.
In other words, eat many sugars, starchy vegetables and grains and you will become both hungrier and fatter. Pet food companies now offer low carbohydrate diets for dogs with some products available only from your vet. There were initial problems developing a kibble that was not mushy since pet food companies had to eliminate or reduce the quantity of traditional 'filler' grains such as corn or wheat. Now that pet food companies have overcome the technological hurdle, your dog can join your low carbohydrate lifestyle.
Your low carbohydrate dog can also eat beef, chicken, fish, eggs and low starch green vegetables. Low carbohydrate kibble for dogs is also much easier to prepare (no preparation required), serve and store.
Although this approach is counterintuitive and still controversial, it may be a worthwhile idea to consider in order to have a slimmer, healthier dog. Researchers have found that dogs are able to taste the proteins and fats in food. Diet foods for dogs that are full of fiber but low in fat and protein are often unpalatable to your dog. Your dog may remain hungry and unhappy during the day on these types of foods. A chronically hungry dog can become irritable and anxious.A low carbohydrate diet may provide an answer for overweight dogs just as they do for people. Always make sure your dog is in good health before changing his diet. Very young puppies, pregnant or lactating females and elderly dogs require special consideration. Dogs with kidney disease and other disorders may require special diets.
If you are preparing your dog's food yourself, make sure that your dog gets periodic vitamin and mineral supplements made for dogs. Whenever you change your dog’s diet, make the change gradually over a week or two.
Simply add more of the new food to the old food until your dog is eating only the new food. This process helps reduce or eliminate any digestive problems. Always ask your veterinarian for advice before making major changes to your dog's diet.
