A considerable amount of research has been done to date regarding the proper diet for canines. By studying the diets of the dog’s wild relatives such as the wolf, coyote, and fox we are able to learn a lot about the ancestral diet of the domesticated dog.
- We know the diet likely varied depending on the environment and what was available given the different climates and geography.
- The staple of the diet of carnivores includes other animals, it contains mostly meat, flesh, and bones with occasional fruits and grasses.
- Scraps, carcasses, rotten greens, fruits, and discarded seed and grains were eaten.
- Wolves prefer freshly killed prey, but if that is not available, they will eat just about anything that at one point was considered edible.
- Wolves generally eat the entire prey including the bones, skin, and organs.
- Wolves prefer fish especially salmon when available.
- The ancestral dog’s diet was high in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates
Protein – 49.5% of calories (123 grams per 1000 kcal)
Fat – 44% of calories (49 grams per 1000 kcal)
Carbohydrates – 6% of calories (16 grams per 1000 kcal)
Protein from meat contains balanced amino acids and a complete range of protein type nutrients including taurine and carnitine. Plant based proteins do not contain the same range of nutrients. Fats are an important part of the ancestral diet because they represent a broad category of nutrients. It is important to have a moderate amount of balanced and complete fats in the diet for optimal health. A small amount of plant based carbohydrates in the diet would also mimic the ancestral diet, but these must be raw and pulverized to ensure they are highly digestible and the animal is able to utilize their nutrients appropriately.