Carbohydrates in Dog and Cat Food

Carbohydrates are molecules made from just three elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The smallest and simplest form of carbohydrates are sugars which are also called Monosaccharides (e.g. glucose) and disaccharides (e.g. sucrose). Other carbohydrate molecules are much larger and include polysaccharides such as starch and dietary fibre.

Monosaccharides: Glucose is the most important fuel (source of energy) in animal cells but it is rarely available in nature. When enzymes break down the larger macro-nutrients in the body, glucose becomes available. Its small size and character allows it to pass through the cell membrane and release energy when metabolised. Other examples of monosaccharides include fructose (also known as fruit sugar) and galactose (a component of the disaccharide, lactose, also known as milk sugar).

• Disaccharides:  Most available sugars found in nature are disaccharides. They are made of two monosaccharides that are joined together. Examples are sucrose, lactose and maltose. If a cat or a dog has reduced levels of the specific enzyme to break down disaccharides, they may show signs of sensitivity and intolerance towards food containing it1 .

As shown in the illustration in our fact sheet, long chains of monosaccharides can form polysaccharides (starch and fibre). Starch is often produced in plant cells as a way of storing energy. Cats and dogs have the enzymes to break them down into smaller molecules, which can then produce energy for their cells.

Despite the perception held by some that dogs should eat the same food as wolves, studies have shown they can digest cooked starch. A genome study of dogs and wolves, published in Nature journal in 2013 showed that dogs have genes enabling them to digest cooked starch2. The study looked into genomes of 14 different breeds of dogs and compared them to genomes of wolves and indicated that dogs have the ability to digest starches and break them down into sugars as available source of energy. This evolutionary change has occurred in the past 10,000 years of humans farming crops and domesticating dogs, resulting in both humans3 and dogs being able to eat starch.

While cats don’t have an absolute requirement for starches, they are able to utilize them as an energy source. Manufacturers of cat food use those carbohydrates that are easily and rapidly broken down in the digestive tract of the cats. This includes the starchy portion of plants such as rice, wheat, corn and barley which are easily digested by cats when cooked.4 It is however important to remember cats need a much higher level of protein and fat to remain healthy, compared to dogs.

Dietary fibre is a general term for the edible parts of plants that are resistant to digestion. Like the human, cats and dogs lack enzymes to break down dietary fibre5. Dietary fibre has many health benefits for dogs and cats. There are different classifications of dietary fibre6, one of which is based on their solubility in water:

• Soluble fibre, which dissolves in water and is fermented in the colon has many benefits for cats and dogs. It keeps the digestive tract healthy by stimulating beneficial bacteria and increased viscosity. Soluble fibre can be found in different quantities in cereals, fruits and vegetables.

• Insoluble fibre, which does not dissolve in water, can be metabolically inert, but may also contain some prebiotic fibre

which ferments in the large intestine. Insoluble fibre absorbs water as it moves through the digestive system, providing bulking and easing defecation and improving faecal consistency. Insoluble fibre is not a source of energy for cats and dogs and therefore will not contribute to weight gain. That’s why it is used in specially formulated ‘light’ diets to provide satiety without contributing energy. Insoluble fibre can be found in high concentration in whole grains and fruit skin.

It is important to note that most plant based foods will have a combination of different carbohydrates (sugar, starch and dietary fibre) in different amounts. An example can be viewed in our fact sheet.

According to the EU law, it is mandatory to declare quantity of certain nutrients on all pet food labels, but that depends on the species of animal. For cats and dogs the following nutrients must be declared under Analytical Constituents:

• Protein (or Crude Protein)

• Crude fibres

• Fat content (or Crude oils and fats)

• Crude ash (or Incinerated residue or Inorganic matter)

Crude fibre is a measure that is determined by laboratory testing and needs to be on the label. However, it is not an indication of the soluble or insoluble dietary fibre content of the product.

Although labelling of sugars, starch and dietary fibre is not mandatory, a simple formula will allow you to work out the total

carbohydrate. % Carbohydrate = 100 – (% protein + % fat + % moisture + % ash) In this formula, If % moisture is not listed on the label, assume it is 10%

1 Wills, J., and R. Harvey. “Diagnosis and management of food allergy and intolerance in dogs and cats.” Australian veterinary journal 71.10 (1994):322-326.

2 Axelsson, Erik, et al. “The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet.” Nature 495.7441 (2013): 360-364.

3 Perry, George H., et al. “Diet and the evolution of human amylase gene copy number variation.” Nature genetics 39.10 (2007): 1256-1260.

4 De-Oliveira, L. D., et al. “Effects of six carbohydrate sources on diet digestibility and postprandial glucose and insulin responses in cats.” Journal of animal science 86.9 (2008): 2237-2246.

5 Please note some dietary fibre (whether soluble or insoluble) may be fermentable in the digestive tract and release small amounts of energy