feeding only chicken and rice

[FrostyPaws]

The dogs need some type of carbohydrate, that's usually why folks use rice as it's a cheap way of obtaining that. Dog's don't need many carbs, but they do need some.

[Officially Retired]

The dogs need some type of carbohydrate, that's usually why folks use rice as it's a cheap way of obtaining that. Dog's don't need many carbs, but they do need some.

According to the Merck Manual, a dog has no nutritional need for carbohydrates; consequently there is no "minimum" dietary requirement established for dogs in a normal, unstressed state.

To paraphrase, the brain does need glucose for function, but dogs are able to convert glucose from glucogenic amino acids and glycerol, so again there is no "need" for carbohydrates in a non-worked, non-stressed environment.

However, the article goes on to say, "Carbohydrates can become conditionally essential when energy needs are high, such as during growth, gestation, and lactation." Therefore, under the rigors of work, or of gestation, etc. a dog does actually need some kind of carb supplementation, for which rice or maltodextrin will suffice.

Here is the article.

Jack