I was asked, because Kaper is fed a raw diet, if her ‘menu’ includes fruits and veggies. First things first: dogs are carnivores and I’m always amused by people, including (apologies to Mos) veterinarians, who insist that they are omnivores. If you have evidence to the contrary, I’m sure The Smithsonian would be delighted to know! As such, dogs have *zero* nutritional need for veggies, fruits, grains.
By DNA, dentition, by their very physiology, they are wolves in designer clothes! Their dietary needs are simple: lots of meat, small amounts of edible bone, small amounts of organs.
Note: my dogs (between 7-22 including puppies, fosters, our own dogs) have been raw fed for almost nine years now.
— Anne
Anne, my understanding was also that dogs are carnivores but really “obligate carnivores” which I guess means that in the absence of a completely carnivorous diet they can and will live on omnivorous diet scavenging for food other than meat but their instinct is to hunt and be a carnivore. If they had the choice they’d be 100% carnivore!
Dogs are opportunists that is why they branched off from canis lupus and evolved into canis famialiaris. The mitochondrial DNA between wolves and dogs is 99% the same.