BECAUSE DOGS AND CATS DON’T REQUIRE CARBOHYDRATE | |
 | Dogs and cats are anatomically adapted for a diet high in animal proteins and fats with very few, if any, carbohydrates.
That’s because carbohydrates are ‘empty calories’—simple sugars that provide no nutritional value to dogs and cats other than their limited and controversial energy potential. Once injested carbohydrates convert rapidly to glucose which causes blood sugar to elevate and fluctuate. Carbohydrates easily convert to body fat and are linked to obesity as well as other health problems including insulin resistance and type II diabetes. And while most pet foods contain 40-60% carbohydrate, ACANA diets contain 20%-30% carbohydrate—about half of other commercial pet foods. |
ARE ALL GRAINS BAD? | |
 | No.
Cats and dogs experience metabolic limitations to the CARBOHYDRATE in grains. In other words, it’s the CARBOHYDRATE OR SUGAR CONTENT (not grain content) of the food that is always the largest concern. And although grains are typically high in carbohydrates, not all grains are equal in this regard. |
HIGH OR LOW GLYCEMIC? | |
 | How high and how fast a particular grain causes blood sugar to rise depends upon CARBOHYDRATE QUALITY, which is measured by the Glycemic Index (GI) which determines the sugar content of grain.
For example, grains with a LOW Glycemic Index (55 or less) such as oats cause blood glucose to rise slowly and fall gently over a longer time - these are considered “HEALTHY CARBOHYDRATES”. Grains with a HIGH Glycemic Index (70 or more) including rice, corn or barley, cause blood sugars to rapidly surge and crash, which is why they are considered LESS HEALTHY. In other words, low-glycemic grains like oats trickle glucose into the blood stream keeping energy levels balanced while high-glycemic grains like corn and rice cause rapid swings in blood glucose and energy levels. That’s why ACANA diets are made either entirely grain-free or contain low-glycemic steel-cut oats (GI of 49). |