DOGS are OMNIVORES!

[Cliffdog]

Sorry for making all these threads, I just have so much to say

Anyways, we here all know pretty conclusively, that dogs get everything that they need from meat. However, I wanted to hear any arguments as to why they are so, as opposed to being omnivorous.

I get told often, "Yeah, when you put it that way, fresh food diet sounds pretty good actually... but what about veggies? What, none? But dogs are omnivores!"

What would you say to that person?

And not in a rude you're-so-ignorant way. I would like scientific facts if you have them, I would like to hear what you would say if you were trying to convince someone to feed their dog a carnivore diet.

Anyone who answers is awesome, thanks!

[jdatwood]

Look in their mouth.... at their teeth... They are NOT designed for breaking down plant matter. They are designed to crush bone and tear through meat. I think you can easily see that a dog is a carnivore by simply looking in their mouth Compare them to the teeth of a true ominvore or even an herbivore

Dogs lack the long digestive tract necessary to break down plant material and gain nutritional value from it.

[Cliffdog]

That's pretty much what I say as well

[xxshaelxx]

Omnivores and Herbivores have an enzyme in their saliva that begins to break down plant matter as it is chewed. Dogs do not have this enzyme. Any plant matter that goes into their body un-processed comes right back out the way it went in–I've seen it, I can contest.

[Cliffdog]

That's semi-true. Dogs do not have the enzyme, amylase, in their saliva- but they do have it, in decent amounts, in their gut. Which has been used to me as an argument for the omnivorous side, and some research by me has proven it's true. I don't think it's proof they're omnivores though, just proof that they are designed to be opportunistic... because if they were omnivorous then it WOULD be in their saliva as well.

[xxshaelxx]

That's semi-true. Dogs do not have the enzyme, amylase, in their saliva- but they do have it, in decent amounts, in their gut. Which has been used to me as an argument for the omnivorous side, and some research by me has proven it's true. I don't think it's proof they're omnivores though, just proof that they are designed to be opportunistic... because if they were omnivorous then it WOULD be in their saliva as well.

It's not in their saliva, and it's not as heavily present in their systems as it is in an omnivore or herbivore's (at least from what I've heard), and their digestive tracts are far too short for it to go to work on vegetables. I almost had to take Amaya to the vet because she got all tied up by the grass she was eating and started squealing at 12:45 in the morning one night because she couldn't poop. That's enough proof to me that anything green that goes in comes right back out the same way it went down.

[bolo]

Both my dogs eats grass and when they poop all the grass are whole and not broken down. Sometimes I see it with cooked rice.

[RawFedDogs]

That's semi-true. Dogs do not have the enzyme, amylase, in their saliva- but they do have it, in decent amounts, in their gut.

Yes, dogs do have amylase in their gut but the "decent amounts" is questionable.

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 have 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 and very little in their 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.

[Cliffdog]

Awesome post, Bill! I was hoping you'd comment.

[BrownieM]

I was at the Natural History Museum in New York last weekend and I actually took pictures (to post on this forum ) of part of the museum that talks about canines. It specifically says "CARNIVORE".

I think the Natural History Museum probably knows what they're talkin' bout, eh? I figure that can be something I whip out and show anyone who is confused...