{"id":9470,"date":"2019-04-14T12:09:29","date_gmt":"2019-04-14T16:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smilindogbakery.com\/?p=9470"},"modified":"2019-04-14T12:09:29","modified_gmt":"2019-04-14T16:09:29","slug":"keto-diet-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smilindogbakery.com\/blog\/keto-diet-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Keto Diet for Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be scared away by the word \u2018keto\u2019. We promise, if you read through this entire article and do your research, you can easily manage this unique \u2018keto world\u2019 for your dog. When done properly, the keto diet can have many health benefits such as preventing disease, reducing inflammation, and boosting brain function. I know, it\u2019s crazy to believe that a small change in a diet can have such a positive effect. <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot to learn, and we hope this article helps guide you in the right direction. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is \u2018Keto\u2019?<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

The word keto is short for ketogenic. Similar to the diet for us humans, it\u2019s a low carb diet that\u2019s high in healthy fats and contains moderate protein. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wild dogs and wolves are used to going long periods of time between meals, so they gorge themselves when they have fresh prey, and fast in between hunts. They\u2019re able to fast because their natural diet contains a very low amount of carbohydrates and high fats. Yes, carbs are great for energy \u2013 just not for sustainable long-term energy. When a dog\u2019s body is forced to rely on fats for energy, it turns fat molecules into ketones, which are then turned into energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"High<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Health benefits<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

We have been using the keto diet for over 100 years in treating people with seizures. Not only has this been proven to help with epilepsy, but it has also has been shown to help with cognitive functions and diabetes. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cancer cells rely on carbs for energy. If we can remove the carbs that feed the cancer cells, we can slow tumor growth and even prevent them. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feeding a keto diet to your dog helps to regulate excess insulin, which helps to prevent the rise in blood sugar and inflammation in the body. Some chronic diseases such as arthritis and diabetes are directly related to high amounts of inflammation. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When a dog has high amounts of carbs and sugar it can cause insulin resistance. When that happens, it can damage the communication between brain cells. So, it would then negatively affect memory and cognitive functions. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Smart<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Switching up the Diet<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now that you\u2019re ready to switch over, there are a few guidelines to abide by. The first one is to consult an Animal Nutritionist or Veterinarian before making the change. Also, check out the resources we recommend at the end of this article. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The second guideline would be the percentage of fat, protein, and carbs you put into your dog\u2019s diet. If you\u2019re doing this as a lifestyle switch, you can follow these recommendations: 80% fat, 15% protein and 5% carbohydrates. For a dog who has an illness that can benefit from the change in diet we recommend: 86% fat, 12% protein and 2% carbohydrates. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Keto Friendly Ingredients<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are many great ingredients to add to your dog\u2019s food to up the percentage of fat. \u00a0We recommend:<\/span><\/p>\n