betrbowl · Nutrition
You see the terms everywhere in pet food marketing — but what does high protein and low carb actually mean for your pet's health? The answer matters more than most labels will tell you.
Dogs and Cats Are Carnivores
Dogs are carnivore-leaning omnivores. Cats are obligate carnivores. Both species evolved obtaining nutrition primarily from animal protein and fat — not from starch. Their digestive systems are designed around this reality.
This doesn't mean carbohydrates are poison. It means that animal protein and fat are the biological foundation of their diet, and carbohydrates — particularly high-glycemic ones — are at best a neutral filler and at worst a contributor to serious health problems.
What Carbohydrates Do in Pet Food
In most commercial pet foods, carbohydrates serve a manufacturing purpose as much as a nutritional one. Starch is needed to bind kibble into a pellet shape during extrusion. Without it, the kibble-making process doesn't work.
This means that the carbohydrate content of most dry kibble — typically 30–50% — is partly a function of how the food is made, not what's nutritionally optimal for your pet.
A pet's body can generate glucose from protein and fat through a process called gluconeogenesis. They don't need carbohydrates to maintain blood sugar. This is fundamentally different from humans, for whom carbohydrates are an efficient energy source.
The Health Consequences of Too Many Carbohydrates
Obesity
Carbohydrates that aren't used immediately for energy are stored as fat. High-glycemic ingredients — corn, wheat, white rice, processed grains — cause rapid blood sugar spikes followed by storage. A pet can be eating a 'normal' amount of food and still gaining weight because the carbohydrate content of that food is too high for their metabolic needs.
Diabetes
Cats are particularly vulnerable. Their pancreas is not designed to handle large or repeated carbohydrate loads. Chronic high-carbohydrate diets are directly linked to feline diabetes — a condition that is now epidemic in domestic cats and that requires daily insulin injections to manage. Switching to a low-carb diet is often the single most impactful intervention for at-risk or diabetic cats.
Yeast and inflammation
Yeast organisms in the gut and on the skin feed on sugar and carbohydrates. Pets on high-carb diets often experience chronic yeast issues — manifesting as recurring ear infections, skin odour, paw licking, and coat problems. Reducing carbohydrates removes the food source.
Cancer
Cancer cells preferentially use glucose for energy. While diet alone cannot cure or prevent cancer, low-carbohydrate diets are increasingly recommended as part of the nutritional support for cancer patients — removing the fuel that cancer cells rely on most.
What High Protein Actually Does
- Provides the amino acids needed for muscle maintenance, immune function, enzyme production, and virtually every biological process.
- Supports healthy weight — protein is more satiating than carbohydrates, and higher-protein diets tend to support better body composition.
- Maintains muscle mass in senior pets — one of the most important factors in quality of life as pets age.
- Supports coat and skin health — the amino acids in quality animal protein are the building blocks of healthy skin and hair.
| Nutrient | Dogs | Cats | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein (min, dry matter basis) | 20–28% adult | 35–40% adult | Cats have higher protein requirements than dogs |
| Fat (min, dry matter basis) | 10–15% | 15–20% | Essential for energy, hormones, and fat-soluble vitamins |
| Carbohydrates (max, dry matter basis) | <30% ideal | <10% ideal | Lower is better for both species; critical for cats |
| Moisture | Higher is better | Non-negotiable — high moisture essential | Cats must get moisture from food |
What to look for at betrbowl
For dogs:
Look for named animal proteins in the first 1–2 positions, fat from identified sources, and carbohydrates from low-glycemic vegetables rather than corn, wheat, or white rice.
For cats:
Low-carbohydrate wet food, raw, or freeze-dried as a primary diet. Carbohydrates below 10% on a dry matter basis. High moisture non-negotiable.
Check the label:
Calculate estimated carbohydrates: 100% minus protein% minus fat% minus fiber% minus moisture% minus 6% (ash) = carbs. Aim low.
