

Fats are particularly important for brain health and can affect cognitive performance and behavior in dogs.Īmino acids derived from proteins are building blocks for muscles, hormones and chemicals that send messages throughout canine bodies. Meat provides many of the proteins and fats essential to canine growth and development. Read More: Dogs Have Co-Evolved With Humans Like No Other Speciesĭespite their ability to eat other foods, lean meats such as chicken, turkey and beef remain the foundation of commercial dog diets today. This exploitation of new food sources set domestication in motion eventually, dogs adapted to eat a wider variety of foods than their strictly carnivorous ancestors.

Wolves began living alongside people as early as 17,000 years ago, feeding off food waste left at the outskirts of human settlements.

So, what should you feed your dog for optimal health? And what should you avoid to prevent harmful or even fatal outcomes? Dogs and Diet Evolutionĭogs are thought to be the first mammal that humans domesticated, and their diets reflect the split from their wolf ancestors. Similar to humans, dogs need nutritionally balanced diets – not only for healthy growth and development, but also for regulating their behaviors.
