Source
Alexandra Rankovic, Jennifer L. Adolphe, and Adronie Verbrugghe (2019). Role of Carbohydrates in the Health of Dogs. JAVMA. 255(5), opening page 546.
Review article. Read the source PDF.
The opening passage below introduces the review. The clinical discussion is in the source PDF.
Opening excerpt from the authors
Health has become one of the most important factors for dog owners when choosing a diet for their pets. This growing consciousness in health has resulted in a large number of pet foods that boast various claims. Often, these claims mimic trends in human nutrition. Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets have become increasingly popular for both humans and pets. An increasing number of pet owners believe that dietary carbohydrates are unnecessary and may even be harmful. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, cancer, adverse food reactions, and gastrointestinal diseases are common medical concerns for dogs. Diet, and carbohydrates in particular, plays an important role in the treatment of these conditions. The intent of the information reported here is to provide an overview of dietary carbohydrates in canine nutrition and examine the role of dietary carbohydrates in the treatment of obesity, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and adverse food reactions in dogs. The role of carbohydrates in gastrointestinal health has been reviewed elsewhere.
Illustrations and media
Responses