Language
Country/Area
No result found
The mystery of canine evolution: Why can dogs digest carbohydrates?
Over the past few thousand years, dogs have gradually adapted to human eating habits in their companionship with humans, which has given them the ability to digest carbohydrates. According to scientific research, dogs are classified as omnivores, although their physiology is closer to that of carnivores. So, why do dogs digest carbohydrates so efficiently? What is the evolutionary process behind this?
The structure of dogs' teeth and their shorter digestive tracts make them better suited to ingesting meat, but dogs can break down carbohydrates efficiently, showing their ability to adapt.
Archaeological discoveries show that the ancestors of dogs first relied on predation to survive, but since humans settled and engaged in agricultural activities, dogs began to establish a close relationship with humans. This relationship goes beyond work and protection to include transformation of food sources. Gradually, dogs begin to rely on food scraps left behind by humans, including carbohydrate-based crops and their by-products.
Research points out that dogs’ genes and their ability to digest carbohydrates are significantly different from those of carnivores such as wolves.
According to the latest genomic research, scientists have discovered that dogs have ten genes responsible for the digestion of starch and glucose. The presence of these genes allows dogs to effectively utilize carbohydrates. In contrast, obligate carnivores such as cats lack these genes, so they cannot digest carbohydrates. In human agriculture, dogs were exposed to foods that included grains and vegetables, further solidifying the evolution of this ability.
In a dog's diet, the ability to digest carbohydrates is a key factor in his health and development. However, choosing the right dog food doesn’t just rely on your dog’s taste preferences, but also takes into account their breed, size, age and health.
The U.S. dog food market is expected to reach US$23.3 billion in 2022, showing the importance of dog food needs.
Going back to history, before humans began to domesticate dogs, their main source of food was prey. As humans advance, dogs’ diets gradually become more diverse. It can be seen from the literature that as early as 37 BC, the ancient Roman poet Virgil mentioned the importance of feeding dogs; and in 70 AD, the ancient Roman agriculturist Columella recorded in detail the importance of dogs Nutritional principles of food. During the Middle Ages, the dietary standards of dogs also gradually improved, shifting from simple meat to a more diverse food combination. This also confirms that the progress of human society has affected the dietary structure of dogs.
Dog food on the market today is roughly divided into dry food, wet food and semi-moist food. Each type of product has its own characteristics and manufacturing processes. For example, dry dog food usually consists of pellets with a moisture content of 3% to 11%, while wet dog food contains 60% to 78% moisture. The process of making dry dog food is called extrusion, which requires the use of high temperatures exceeding 150 degrees Celsius. Such high-temperature processing can preserve the food for a long time but also reduces certain nutrients.
The diet that dogs need should not only look at the type of food, but also the quality and digestibility of the protein.
Most commercial dog foods use low-quality ingredients, which may contain some ingredients that are not suitable for human consumption. The advancement of science and technology has made the production of dog food more standardized. The selection of ingredients and the improvement of processing technology have also given dogs new choices in their diet. This is the epitome of the development of the modern pet food industry.
As humans gradually understand the importance of kilograms of dog food, when choosing dog food, in addition to paying attention to nutritional labels, we also need to pay attention to the authenticity of its ingredients. With so many choices and promotions on the market, how can pet owners help their dogs find the most suitable diet?
