Which nutrients does my dog use first: carbs, protein, or fat?

A dog's metabolic processes are very similar to a humans! Food is broken down by the gastrointestinal tract into glucose. Glucose is then taken into the bloodstream and transported all over the body to provide energy to organs and tissues like muscles. When glucose levels are high it is absorbed by tissues and used or store. These processes are controlled by hormones in insulin and glucagon. When a dog is hungry their glucose levels become low. They will release some of their reserves which are stored in fat cells and the liver, when very hungry. Eventually a dog will feel weak and tired with our more caloric intake, which will provide glucose. Hope that answers all your questions!

Hi and thanks for your post! Since Chloe is lightly active, I would choose the lower protein option (20% verses 25%). Higher protein foods are more appropriate for working dogs and highly active dogs. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

You are correct that it is difficult to find a good quality weight loss diet. Good quality meats and fats are high in calories. At the end of the day, weight loss is about calories. So, a weight loss food is beneficial because they can eat the same amount of food. But you can achieve the same decrease in calories by feeding less of the Acana that you are currently feeding. A 10-20% decrease in daily calories is exactly what I recommend for weight loss, so you could simply decrease from a level 2/3 cup to heaping 1/2 cup for a month. If Chloe is losing weight, then continue at that amount. If she is not losing weight, then decrease to a level 1/2 cup. Since she is a small dog, it should take her a number of months to lose the weight, so don't be discouraged if she only loses a few ounces in that first month. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Interesting question! There are no hard and fast rules here and ut depends on the quality of protein and amount which is digested/absorbed, the lifestyle of the dog and any medical conditions, illness or injury. Maintenance diets in healthy pets are often lower in protein, injury, illness and intense exercise such as agility would require an increase in intake. Obesity is a concern and if Chloe is maintaining a kean, healthy weight i would not be concerned about changing her diet

Hello there! I'm not David obviously; unfortunately, I don't think he's on the forum at the moment as your priority question has been sitting for 20 minutes, so I'm answering it to make sure that you get an answer because you paid for one in a timely manner. I would consider a highly active dog as a working dog, such as one that helps herd sheep or pulls dog sleds for example. These are dogs that are active all day long, burning high amounts of calories, and require a special working dog diet to meet their caloric needs. If Chloe is walked 20-60 minutes five to six days a week, I would not classify her as highly active. She is active, but I would say more mildly active. Adult minimum fat percent of the diet should be 5.5%. The 10% should be fine for her. You can post again a free question in the forum if you want David to answer you, and it will stay until he gets to it. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Remember that all dogs are individuals just like humans. Some dogs have a fast metabolisms and others have slow metabolisms. If Chloe is maintaining her weight then that is the appropriate amount of food to feed her. The only other conditions that will cause pets to gain weight easily is endocrine diseases such as Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism. You may consider having her tested for those diseases since they will slow down her metabolism and caused her to gain weight easily. Otherwise you should continue to feed her the same amount of dog food. If Chloe is acting like she is starving or always hungry, you may try switching her to a lower calorie food so that she can eat a greater amount. If her lifestyle does change and she becomes more active, she will likely need to increase the amount of food. I hope this helps.

Hello, increased protein will likely not be of much benefit for Chloe if she is not very active. Either of those foods, provided they meet the AAFCO requirements for a maintenance life stage will be sufficient for Chloe. A higher protein food would likely benefit a working dog the most. Hope this helps