Are dogs really carnivores ?

[GermanSheperdlover]

This post isn't to start a bunch of crap. It just seems to me when times got lean for wild dogs they might dig for roots or berries or? The reason I kinda think they did is because I had a GSD once that used to pull raspberries off the bush and eat them. I have also heard of dogs eating strawberries, blackberries and other things on their own. Just why do dogs dig and just dig to dig. I have some other thoughts about wild dogs eating other things to survive. Just wondering about your thoughts on this.

[RawFedDogs]

Yes, dogs are carnivores. They are decended from wolves who are also carnivores. There are physical charateristics that make an animal a carnivore or omnivore.

1. Carnivores have large mouths as they eat other animals. Omnivores/herbivores have smaller mouths.

2. Omnivores have flat teeth in the back of their mouths. This is used to crush and mash plant material. All plant material has each cell coated with cellulose. You must mash and crush this shell to extract nutrients from the plant. Humans have these flat teeth. Carnivores don't have flat teeth. They can't get through the cellulose to get to the nutrients. Carnivore teeth are designed to kill prey(front teeth) and to rip and tear meat and crush bones(back teeth).

3. When omnivores/herbivores chew, they move their lower jaw not only up and down but also sideways in order to crush the cellulose. Carnivores don't have the ability to move their lower jaw from side to side. Only up and down.

4. Omnivores/herbivores hae an enzyme called amylaze in their salava and stomach juices. Amylaze is used to digest plant material and digestion begins in the mouth for these animals. Carnivores don't have amylaze in their salava or stomach. They don't make the enzymes necessary for digesting plant material.

5. I don't know how to explain it with words but there is a difference in the way the lower jaw is hinged in omnivores/herbivores and carnivores. Feel your own jaw bone. It begins at the joint with the skull and goes down then angles toward the front. Carnivores jaws start at the skull and go straight toward the front.

6. Carnivores have very acidic stomach juices to kill bacteria on meats and to digest bones. Omnivores/herbivores have much less acidic stomach juices.

7. Omnivores/herbivores have relatively long intestinal tracts. Carbs must ferment in the gut for a long time during digestion. Carnivores being meat eaters have a very short intestinal tract in order to get the meat through the body quickly before it rots. With their short intestinal tract they are not able to have carbs in the intestines long enough to digest.

8. Omnivores/herbivores chew their food into a mush before they swallow it. Digestion in an omnivore begins in the mouth. Carnivores only rip, tear, and crunch their food until it is small enough to fit down their throat. They can fit some amazingly large pieces down their throat. Much larger than an omnivore is capable of.

So there you have your biology lesson in a nutshell. There is no arguing the fact that dogs are carnivores. They have all the physical characteristics of a carnivore and none of the omnivores characteristics.

Yes, dogs will sometimes eat berries in the wild because they are sweet and taste good. Their bodies are incapable of deriving any nutrition from them, however. And also yes, any smart animal will eat most anything when he is starving.

[rannmiller]

Also, dogs dig because of a denning instinct or because they were bred to do so to catch whatever it is they were bred to hunt. Wolves also sometimes bury their food in the wild to come back to later, which is why a lot of dogs will bury their bones or toys. Just to address the digging portion of your questions since RFD answered everything else.

[SuZQuzie]

RFD, while there are several fallacies in some of your statements, the one that bugs me the most is the amylase argument. Salivary amylase is found in rodents and primates and a few obscure animals here and there. For the most part, however, it is absent in the saliva of most every other animal, including herbivores and carnivores. Cattle? Nope. Horses? Nope. Pigs? Nope. Humans are more of an exception than a rule.



As of now, canines are not considered obligate carnivores by the books.

While I would never, ever suggest feeding a dog a flake of hay, I have no problem giving them hydrolyzable carbohydrates which require no fermentation to break down. They are the "high sugar and starch" foods such as potatoes, berries, bananas, mangoes, and tomatoes. While they is no requirement for the actual CHO, these foods can still offer a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants not easily found in animal-based foods.

[RawFedDogs]

For the most part, however, it is absent in the saliva of most every other animal, including herbivores and carnivores. Cattle? Nope. Horses? Nope. Pigs? Nope. Humans are more of an exception than a rule.

Amalyse is not found in carnivores because it is used to digest plant matter. It is not found in cattle and horses because their digestive systems are entirely different. They have multiple stomachs to digest plant material. Digestion for them is a whole different process. I'm not sure pigs if pigs have it or not.

As of now, canines are not considered obligate carnivores by the books.

Anytime I see the works "obligate carnivores", I know I'm talking to someone who is going to try to convince me that a dog is an omnivore which they aren't.

While I would never, ever suggest feeding a dog a flake of hay, I have no problem giving them hydrolyzable carbohydrates which require no fermentation to break down.

I have serious problems with it and woudln't feed it to my dogs for anything.

They are the "high sugar and starch" foods such as potatoes, berries, bananas, mangoes, and tomatoes. While they is no requirement for the actual CHO, these foods can still offer a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants not easily found in animal-based foods.

Care to name some?

[GermanSheperdlover]

WOW, In the Seattle Times today they had an article on a COYOTE attack in the midle of the city. Pretty unreal. Here is a quote by one of the wildlife people

"And, says the service, coyotes are equal-opportunity diners. They don’t mind feasting on grass, fruits, and berries. Their meals also included mice, rats, gophers, mountain beavers, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, birds, and carrion."

Don't get me wrong because I really think meat is what a dog should eat. Notice how they say "meals also include", sends a message to the normal dog owner that these food groups are good for dogs. Now I'll go back and read what everyone has said so far.

Here is a link to the article and notice it was in the middle of the day. I thought coyotes were night tme hunters.

Local News | Dog injured after coyote attack in Magnolia | Seattle Times Newspaper

[rannmiller]

For the record, dogs are more closely related to wolves than they are to coyotes.

[RawFedDogs]

From what you quoted, it said that they "don't mind" eating grass, etc." It also says their diet includes mice and other animals. I guess if they are very hungry or near starving they will eat grass, etc.

Like rannmiller said, dogs are much closer to wolves than coyotes. I mean MUCH closer.

[GermanSheperdlover]

Are their any breeds of dogs that can be traced back to coyotes ?? I live about 20 miles north of Seattle and up until about 20 years ago you could hear the coyotes howling at night. I recently have gotten my young Shepherd to howl, funny as heck. I get him to howl while on my bed with me.

Oh, by the way I am watching a show (dirty jobs) on dog food. Pretty cool show about frozen food and stuffed hoves.

[jdatwood]

I recently have gotten my young Shepherd to howl, funny as heck. I get him to howl while on my bed with me.

Shiloh howls too.... although she is ~45% wolf