Evolution of the Dog and impact of diet

In this Food & Nutrition segment Pooches at Play Co-host Lara Shannon talks with Big Dog Pet Food’s Chris Essex about the evolution of the dog and how they are the same or differ from their wolf ancestors – and how this impacts on the diet we should be feeding them.

With a jaw structure that they evolved to eat and thrive on in the wild, they talk about how dogs’ teeth and jaws are adapted to a carnivorous diet with teeth that are designed for capturing and dismembering prey. Their digestive system is also different to humans and indicates that they were born to eat raw meat and absorb their nutrition primarily from the body parts of their prey, as well as some other vegetable and grass matter for added vitamins.

They discuss the different ingredients that dogs must get in their daily diets for optimum nutrition and how you can ensure your dog is meeting this through the food you serve them.