Dogs and humans have lived alongside one another for tens of thousands of years. During this time, dogs have participated in society by providing humans with companionship, protection, shepherding, and hunting. Cats were domesticated comparatively recently - estimates suggest 5,000 to 10,000 years ago – likely through vermin hunting near human settlements.
Domesticated animals like dogs and cats (Canis familiaris and Felis catus respectively) have been selectively bred and are genetically distinct from their predecessors in the wild.
What is an ancestral diet?
The term “ancestral diet” does not have a standardized definition in canine and feline nutrition; this is in contrast to a “growth diet for puppies” or an “adult maintenance diet for cats”, which are formally defined and have objective criteria and nutrient targets for the species and life-stage.
"The term “ancestral diet” does not have a standardized definition in canine and feline nutrition."
“Ancestral diet” is a general term for a dog or cat diet that mimics what a wolf or a wild cat might consume in the wilderness. In pet foods, such products are marketed as higher in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates, and they often use whole-food sources, although there is a high degree of variability in the market. They may be sold in the form of kibble, canned food, raw meat, or homemade diets.
Typically, these diets are marketed to consumers under the philosophy that domesticated dogs and cats should be fed based on the native diets of wolves and wild cats.
Do dogs and cats need carbohydrates in their diets?
The primary role of dietary carbohydrates is to be an energy source, as they are easily converted to glucose for energy. In pet foods, carbohydrates supply approximately 3.5 kcal/g, protein supplies 3.5 kcal/g, and fat supplies 8.5 kcal/g.
Certain tissues - including the brain and red blood cells - have a physiological requirement for glucose. However, carbohydrates are not considered nutritionally essential, because pets can generate glucose by metabolizing certain amino acids and oxidizing fatty acids. That said, including carbohydrates in the diet can spare amino acids for other functions, including maintenance of lean body mass.
Even though dogs and cats can live on low carbohydrate diets, does not mean it is an ideal feeding strategy for all pets. Carbohydrates such as rice, wheat, and corn not only provide energy (calories), they also supply many essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, protein, and fat.
What is considered essential in the diets of dogs and cats?
An essential nutrient is one that is required to support life but cannot be synthesized by the body and must therefore be provided in the diet. There are close to 40 different essential nutrients required by dogs and cats, depending on the life stage and circumstance.
Animals (including humans) have requirements for nutrients, not ingredients. Thus, it is more important to consider the nutrients that an ingredient source provides, rather than focusing solely on the ingredient names themselves.
A diet that follows the general “ancestral” approach may be deficient or excessive in one or more essential nutrients required to support life, which could lead to negative health consequences if fed long term.
Are there any risks in feeding an ancestral diet?
Ancestral-type diets can be found across a wide variety of food types (e.g., kibble, canned, raw, and homemade diets) and the risk level varies according to the individual feeding practice. For example, some ancestral diets are formulated with uncooked meats to mimic feeding habits in the wild.
Raw meat-based diets carry inherent food safety and public health concerns associated with bacterial and/or parasitic contamination. This contamination can impact the health of the cats and dogs consuming the food, as well as the humans that care for the animals. Freezing, free-drying, and dehydration are not considered “kill steps” for foodborne pathogens and thus do not adequately reduce the risk of contamination. Raw diets that are based on whole prey feeding are also at risk of nutritional inadequacies.
Veterinary and human health care organizations including, but not limited to, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Canadian Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (CAVN) strongly discourage the feeding of raw meat-based diets to companion animals.
Should I feed my pet an ancestral diet?
A diet recommendation for any pet should be based on a combination of factors, including medical history, dietary history, and physical examination findings from your veterinary care team. Ultimately, the goal is to feed your pet a good quality, complete, and balanced source of nutrition that is species-specific and life-stage appropriate. Talk to your veterinary care team to align on a nutritional plan for your individual pet.
