I hear many pet owner say that the dog ancestors were wolves and so he should eat like one. But is that really true?
I did some reading and digging; And this is my answer.
Domestication of the dog
The history of the domestication of dogs is actually the history of the partnership between dogs and humans. This partnership is based on the needs of the humans and those of the dogs. Humans needed help protecting their herds, assistance in hunting, a smart alarm system and waste disposal. Dogs on the other hand, searched for companionship, shelter and a regular food source.
You can call this partnership a win – win situation.
When did this partnership started? On this there is still some debate. DNA studies suggest that there was a split between dogs and wolves into two different species about 100,000 years ago. There isn’t any proof that this is due to human intervention.
Research conducted in 2013 lead to an agreement in the field that the main domestication process started about 30,000 years ago in the Paleolithic era.
Mapping the dog genome
In 2013 a complete mapping of the prehistoric dog genome was conducted. This genome was compared to that of wolves and modern dogs. The result had shown that the origin of the modern dog is in the European wolf.
If the ancestors of the dog are truly wolves, does this mean he needs to be fed like them?
In fact, the domestication process has lead dogs to develop a better ability then their ancestors to digest starches. Some believe that this is one of the main factors which made dogs become humans best friends. Researched identified that this ability to digest starch and the difference between dogs and wolves are the same also between humans living from farming to those living from hunting.
The DNA of domestication
Comparison between the genetic structure of wolves and dogs shows a difference in 36 areas. 19 areas include gene critical to brain development, within these 8 to the development of the nervous system. This change probably occurred from the need of dogs to adjust their behavior and become more sociable in the presence of humans.
And, another 10 areas include genes in charge of nutrition, specifically to the digestion if starches.
Dogs high ability to digest starches and to thrive on a diet rich in carbohydrates is due to multiple copies of the gene AMY2B. This gene is in charge of forming amylase by the pancreas. Amylase is the first stage in breaking starch into glucose. And it is 28 times more active than with wolves.
In addition, they also found genetic changes enabling better transformation of maltose to glucose; A necessary stage of starch digestion. And, genetic change in the genes which allow the dogs body to make better use of the glucose.
In conclusion, Domesticated dogs are not wolves. And so, their diet should be different and meet the nutritional requirements of the dog and not the wolf.
Dogs, after domestication, have developed, not just a better ability to digest starch, but also the ability to utilize it better than their ancestors.
The difference in nutrition needs also to relate to the different life style between modern dog and wolves. First, dogs don’t live in extreme conditions as wolves. Wolves depend on hunting and surviving long periods when food is scarce. They live in the cold, traveling for miles to find food.
Dogs on the other hand, live in a warm apartment, lying on the couch, with food available almost at all times. So, dogs don’t need large amounts of fat in their diets to provide energy for hunt, or large amount of protein to form muscles for long walks.
On the other hand, dogs are exposed to larger quantities of pollutants. If it from their processed food, smoke, pesticides, cleaning materials and more. This means, they do need more antioxidants to counteract their affect.
Dogs are dogs. And as such, they need to eat like dogs.
For more information and for any question, feel free to contact me.