Should I Feed My Pet an Ancestral Diet?

Are pet dogs and cats different from their wild ancestors?

Domesticated animals like dogs and cats (Canis familiaris and Felis catus, respectively) have been selectively bred and are genetically distinct from their wild ancestors.

Dogs and humans have lived alongside one another for tens of thousands of years. During this time, dogs have provided humans with companionship, protection, and help with herding and hunting. Cats were domesticated comparatively recently—estimates suggest 5,000 to 10,000 years ago—likely through hunting rodents near human settlements.

What is an ancestral diet?

The term “ancestral diet” does not have a standardized definition in dog and cat nutrition. In contrast, a “growth diet for puppies” or an “adult maintenance diet for cats” has a formal definition and objective nutrient criteria for the species and life stage.

“Ancestral diet” is a general term for a diet that mimics what a wolf or a wild cat might consume in the wilderness. These diets are marketed based on the idea that domesticated dogs and cats should eat like wolves and wild cats.

Pet foods marketed as ancestral diets are often described as higher in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates, and they often use whole-food sources. However, these products vary widely. Ancestral diets may include kibble, canned food, raw meat, or homemade diets.

What nutrients do dogs and cats need?

An essential nutrient is one that is required to support life but cannot be made by the body in sufficient amounts and must therefore be provided in the diet. Dogs and cats require close to 40 different essential nutrients, depending on their species, life stage, and other individual needs.

Animals (including humans) have requirements for nutrients, not ingredients. It is more important to consider the nutrients that an ingredient provides rather than focusing solely on its name. A diet that follows the general “ancestral” approach may provide too little or too much of one or more essential nutrients if it is not properly formulated. This imbalance could cause health problems if the diet is fed long term.

Do dogs and cats need carbohydrates in their diets?

The primary role of dietary carbohydrates is to provide energy. Carbohydrates are easily converted to glucose, which the body uses 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—need glucose. However, carbohydrates are not considered nutritionally essential, because pets can make glucose from certain amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and by oxidizing fatty acids. That said, including carbohydrates in the diet can leave more amino acids available for other functions, including maintaining lean body mass.

Although dogs and cats can live on low-carbohydrate diets, this does not mean these diets are ideal for all pets. Carbohydrate sources such as rice, wheat, and corn not only provide energy (calories), but also supply many essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, protein, and fat.

Are there any risks in feeding an ancestral diet?

Ancestral-type diets include many food types, such as kibble, canned food, raw food, and homemade diets. The risks vary according to the individual feeding practice.

For example, some ancestral diets contain uncooked meats to mimic feeding habits in the wild. Raw meat-based diets carry food safety risks because they may contain harmful bacteria or parasites. These can affect the health of pets eating the food and the people who care for them.

Freezing, freeze-drying, and dehydration do not reliably eliminate harmful germs and should not be relied on to make raw food safe. Raw diets that are based on feeding whole prey animals may also fail to provide the right balance of nutrients.

Veterinary and public health organizations, including 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 advise against feeding 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 high-quality, complete, and balanced diet that is species-specific and life-stage appropriate. Talk to your veterinary care team to develop a nutritional plan for your individual pet.