If you’re trying to keep your furry friend as fit and healthy as possible, you’ve probably done some research on healthy dog food. There is a lot of debate on what is considered to be the healthiest option when it comes to feeding your canine.

Understanding whether dogs are carnivores or omnivores is the first step in deciding on the top choice for dog food. It seems as if dogs are carnivores since the begging starts as soon as a steak is thrown on the grill. But dogs also seem happy to eat kibble containing both animal animal and plant-based ingredients. So which is it, carnivore or omnivore?

When examining the anatomy of a dog, all signs point to carnivorism. Their teeth are sharp enough to tear apart just about any meat, and their digestive systems can easily handle large quantities of animal products. However, unlike other carnivores, canines do not to receive an amino acid called taurine in their diet.

Taurine is found in animal meats, like chicken and beef, but studies show that dogs are able to make this amino acid on their own. Cats, on the other hand, are strictly considered carnivores since they are unable to produce their own healthy levels of taurine. This means that cats specifically rely on diet for their taurine intake.

EarthRates examines the omnivore vs carnivore question even further: “Domestic dogs are descended from the wolf, also under the Carnivora order, but is an omnivore. While eating a diet of primarily and varied meats, wolves will also eat plants, vegetables and berries, including blueberries, apples or melons. So, dogs being classified as carnivores doesn’t help us much, because the physiology, environment and behaviour of an animal also has an effect.”

In other words, even though dogs seem to be carnivores, since they have the physical ability to consume omnivorous diets while also remaining healthy, classifying them as omnivores is more appropriate. As long as a dog receives a well-balanced diet that contains a healthy amount of both animal and plant products, the dog will remain healthy.

So now it is time to answer the age-old question: raw or kibble? By the term “raw”, we mean that the food will be prepared at home, mostly in the form of raw meat, but the pet owner can also choose to cook the chicken, beef, pork, or fish. Many pet owners also throw eggs into the mix. Kibble refers to dry dog foods that have been manufactured, and it typically contains a mix of animal and plant products.

All in all, the takeaway should be that a dog can survive on either a raw diet (or one filled with cooked meats) or kibble. If you opt for kibble, it is crucial that the dog food contains enough protein through. Although dogs are able to produce taurine on their own, it is still important that they acquire some through meat in their diets. If switching to raw is something that you would like to try, do so diligently since the first few months can be rough on a canine’s stomach.