Grand Strand Golden Retriever Rescue

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Dogs Don't Require Carbohydrates... So Should We Feed Them?

One of the most common arguments I encounter in canine nutrition is...
👇
"Dogs don't require carbohydrates."

That statement is true.
BUT it doesn't mean what many pet parents think it means.

The National Research Council (NRC) has not established a dietary requirement for carbohydrates because healthy dogs can manufacture the glucose they need through a process called gluconeogenesis, using amino acids, glycerol, and other substrates. This metabolic adaptation allows dogs to survive even when dietary carbohydrate intake is very low.

However, "no dietary requirement" does NOT mean carbohydrates have no physiological purpose or are inherently harmful.

Those are two very different concepts.

Think about it this way...
Dogs do not require dietary vitamin C because they synthesize it in their liver. Yet vitamin C is still an essential molecule involved in countless physiological processes.

The same principle applies to taurine. Healthy dogs can synthesize taurine from other amino acids, yet dietary taurine plays an important role in maintaining adequate taurine status and helping prevent taurine-deficiency dilated cardiomyopathy in susceptible dogs.

Carbohydrates are similar. Dogs don't NEED to eat them to survive, but that doesn't mean carbohydrates are biologically useless.

What do carbohydrates actually do?

✅️ They spare protein.
When adequate digestible carbohydrates are available, the body relies less on amino acids to produce glucose through gluconeogenesis. This allows more dietary protein to perform the jobs it was designed for building and repairing tissues, supporting immune function, producing enzymes and hormones, and maintaining lean muscle mass.

✅️ They replenish glycogen.
Glucose that is not immediately used for energy is stored as glycogen in the liver and skeletal muscles. Glycogen is an important fuel source during explosive activities such as agility, flyball, sprinting, hunting, and other high-intensity exercise.

✅️ They contribute to muscle hydration.
Glycogen is stored with water inside muscle cells. As glycogen stores increase, so does intracellular water, helping maintain muscle cell volume and supporting normal muscle function.

✅️ They nourish the gut microbiome.
Many carbohydrate-containing foods provide fermentable fibers that beneficial intestinal bacteria convert into short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate. These compounds support colon health, strengthen the intestinal barrier, influence immune function, and help maintain a healthy microbiome.

✅️ Carbohydrates stimulate insulin secretion.
Insulin is often misunderstood because of its association with diabetes and obesity, yet it is one of the body's most important anabolic hormones. It helps move glucose into cells, replenish glycogen, reduce muscle protein breakdown, and support recovery after exercise.

✅️ They provide more than just energy.
Whole-food carbohydrate sources also supply valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that contribute to overall health.

So when we look at the argument that way, the real question we should be asking is NOT...

❌ "Do dogs need carbohydrates?"

🟢️ The better questions to ask are:
▪️ Which carbohydrate sources provide the greatest nutritional value?
▪️ How much should I add?
▪️ How were they processed?
▪️ What other nutrients accompany them?
▪️ Is the overall diet balanced?
▪️ Is the diet appropriate for the individual dog?

A diet containing moderate amounts of nutrient-dense carbohydrates from foods such as pumpkin, berries, squash, oats, or buckwheat is very different from a diet composed primarily of highly refined starches with limited nutritional value.

Interestingly, even prey animals contain carbohydrates in the form of glycogen, although much of it is depleted soon after death.

Nutrition is rarely black and white.

Dogs are metabolically flexible. They can thrive on a properly formulated low-carbohydrate diet, and they can also thrive on a properly formulated diet that includes appropriate amounts of high-quality carbohydrates.

The presence of carbohydrates alone does not determine whether a diet is healthy.

Quality, quantity, nutrient balance, processing, and an individual dog's needs matter far more than simply whether carbohydrates are present.

📌
Dogs do not have a dietary requirement for carbohydrates.
They do have a physiological capacity to digest, utilize, and benefit from them.

Those are not the same thing.

Perhaps it's time we stop asking whether dogs should eat carbohydrates and start asking whether we are feeding the right carbohydrates, in the right amounts, for the right dog.

Because good nutrition is not about choosing sides.

It's about understanding physiology.

— The Holistic Canine 🐾 theholisticcanine.us

Need help formulating an NRC diet?
Grab my ebook "Fresh-Food Feeding Explained"...
Available on our website❗️
https://theholisticcanine.us/ebook/

Need a custom diet formulated by a PhD professional?
https://theholisticcanine.us/services

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Eggplant is packed with some serious gut-friendly powers for your pet! 🍆✨

🍉 WHY I’M FEEDING MY DOG WATERMELON THIS SUMMER
Watermelon isn’t just a refreshing summer treat—it’s packed with nutrients that can benefit your dog’s health. 🐶❤️

Here are a few reasons it’s one of my favorite seasonal snacks:

🍉 💦 It’s about 92% water.
Perfect for helping your pup stay hydrated during hot summer days.

❤️ 🫀 One of nature’s richest sources of L-citrulline.
Dogs use citrulline to help support healthy circulation, heart health, and mobility. Canine studies have found this pathway is altered in certain heart diseases, highlighting its importance for cardiovascular health.

💧 🩺 Can help reduce bladder stone–forming crystals.
A small peer-reviewed canine study found that dogs given a watermelon extract beverage had fewer calcium oxalate and struvite urine crystals after 3 months. These crystals are the building blocks of many bladder stones.

🛡️ 🍅 Rich in lycopene.
Watermelon is one of the richest fruit sources of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative damage.
👀 🥕 Packed with beta carotene:
This Vitamin A precursor supports healthy vision, skin, and immune function.

🍉 🤯 Here’s a fun fact:
The white rind (just beneath the green skin) actually contains more L-citrulline than the pink flesh. While most dogs won’t enjoy chewing the rind, it’s where much of this unique amino acid is naturally concentrated.

🐶 How much watermelon can dogs eat?

Watermelon should be an occasional treat. A good rule is to keep treats under 10% of your dog’s daily calories.

A practical serving guide:

🐾 Under 10 lb (4.5 kg): 1–2 small cubes
🐾 10–25 lb (4.5–11 kg): 2–4 cubes
🐾 25–50 lb (11–23 kg): ½–1 cup
🐾 Over 50 lb (23+ kg): 1–2 cups

✅ remove seeds and the tough green rind, which can be difficult to digest.

🐾 DOES YOUR DOG’S ITCHY SKIN START IN THE GUT?
A new study adds to the growing evidence that many dogs with atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) don’t just have a skin problem—they also have a gut problem.

Researchers found:
• Dogs with more severe allergies had greater evidence of intestinal damage.
• Biomarkers suggested increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”).
• Skin hydration declined as allergy severity increased.
• The findings support an important connection between gut health and skin health—the gut-skin axis.

What does this mean for pet parents?

If your dog struggles with chronic itching, licking, recurrent ear infections, or inflamed skin, focusing only on the skin may miss part of the picture. Supporting a healthy intestinal barrier and microbiome, while addressing the underlying cause of inflammation, may be an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Healthy skin starts from within. The gut and skin are deeply connected, and science continues to reinforce that caring for one helps support the other.

Unlike many probiotics that contain only a handful of human-derived strains, Primitive Probiotics™ combines canine-derived strains, soil-based probiotics, Saccharomyces boulardii, and wolf-derived strains to help support a healthier microbiome, a stronger gut barrier, normal immune function, and healthy skin from the inside out.

Because when it comes to allergies, supporting the skin may be only part of the solution—supporting the gut may be just as important.

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Is your supplement cabinet overflowing? More pet supplements don’t always mean better health for your pet. And you can’t supplement your pet out of a poor diet or lifestyle.
If you’re asking yourself whether your pet needs another supplement, the answer isn’t as simple as yes or no.
Before adding another chew, powder, or capsule, ask yourself:
✔️ Is my pet dealing with a current health problem?
✔️ Do they have breed or genetic risks I should address?
✔️ Or am I simply looking to support healthy aging?
In my latest article, I explain how to prioritize supplements, avoid wasting money on products your pet doesn’t need, and build a plan that supports healthy aging.
The best supplement is the one your individual pet actually needs.
Read the full guide and learn how to supplement with purpose, not guesswork. Link in comments 🐾

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UPDATE: REUNITED!! FRANK is home safe & sound after 4 days, 13 hours :)

🚨 FRANK was LOST on July 2, 2026 in Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 near Harbour Reef Drive Myrtle Beach .
Please spread the word for this lost dog by sharing this post.

💬 Owner's Message: "Frank is a resue today please Call us if you see him. "

🐾 Description: "Cream Colored Golden Retriver Mix"

🔗 For more info or to contact FRANK's owner, click here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/73083399

📣 Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://www.pawboost.com/l/rpl

⚠️ WARNING: Please be cautious of users offering ‘pet tracking services’ in comments. We recommend only working with local shelters and verified organizations. Never send money to unknown services.