The Truth About Nutrition: Understanding Species-Appropriate Diets for Dogs, Cats, and Horses
"How the Veterinary Industry Sold Out to Big Pet Food—And Why Your Pet Deserves Better"
Nutrition is the foundation of health, longevity, and vitality—yet we have systematically stripped it down, processed it, and reshaped it into something unrecognizable for our animals. We have forgotten nature’s blueprint, replacing real food with synthetic, carbohydrate-laden substitutes that our pets were never designed to consume.
If we take a moment to step back and think about it from a human perspective, we know that ultra-processed, nutrient-deficient fast food is linked to obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease. Imagine if we were fed nothing but heavily processed meal replacements our entire lives, with synthetic vitamins added to compensate for what was lost in processing. Would we thrive? Would we be at our best? Of course not. And yet, that is exactly what we do to our animals when we feed them processed kibble and pelleted feed.
To truly nourish our animals, we must first understand who they are, what they evolved to eat, and why species-appropriate nutrition is non-negotiable.
The Evolutionary Diet: Carnivore, Omnivore, or Herbivore?
Every species has biological requirements dictated by evolution. These requirements determine their digestive capabilities, nutrient needs, and overall metabolic function.
Dogs: The Facultative Carnivore
Dogs are often mislabeled as omnivores, leading to misguided feeding practices. In reality, dogs are facultative carnivores, meaning they thrive primarily on animal-based protein and fat but have the ability to digest small amounts of plant matter in survival situations.
Key Indicators of Carnivory in Dogs:
Sharp, carnassial teeth designed for tearing meat, not grinding grains.
Low amylase production in saliva (unlike true omnivores such as bears).
A short, acidic digestive tract optimized for rapidly processing animal protein and fat, not fermenting fibrous plants.
Despite their ability to digest plant matter, dogs do not thrive on plant-based diets. Just as humans can technically survive on junk food but eventually suffer from chronic health issues, feeding dogs kibble packed with carbohydrates and synthetic vitamins leads to long-term consequences such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases.
Cats: The Obligate Carnivore
Unlike dogs, cats are true carnivores—they lack the metabolic flexibility of their canine counterparts. A cat’s body is biologically dependent on animal tissue and cannot derive essential nutrients from plant-based sources.
Why Cats Must Eat Meat:
Taurine dependence – an amino acid found only in animal protein, essential for heart and eye health.
Inability to convert beta-carotene into Vitamin A – cats must consume preformed Vitamin A from animal sources.
Complete reliance on animal-based fatty acids such as arachidonic acid for cellular function.
A hyper-acidic stomach designed to break down raw prey, not grains and starches.
A vegetarian diet for a cat is not just inappropriate—it’s biologically impossible to sustain them without synthetic supplementation. Much like a human attempting to survive without essential nutrients, a cat deprived of meat will develop fatal deficiencies.
Bears: The Omnivore
Unlike obligate carnivores or herbivores, bears are true omnivores, meaning they have evolved to consume and metabolize both plant and animal-based nutrients. Their diet varies greatly depending on the season, availability of food sources, and their specific species.
Key Indicators of Omnivory in Bears:
A mixed dentition with sharp canine teeth for tearing meat and flat molars for grinding plant material.
Digestive adaptability that allows them to process both animal protein and fibrous plant matter.
Seasonal dietary shifts, consuming berries, roots, and nuts in the warmer months and relying on protein sources such as fish and small mammals when necessary.
Bears thrive on diverse, whole food sources, much like other omnivorous species. While they can consume a variety of foods, their diet in captivity or human-controlled environments often lacks the balance nature intended, leading to metabolic issues similar to what we see in improperly fed domestic animals. The key to their health—like any species—is consuming biologically appropriate nutrition.
Horses: The True Herbivore
At the other end of the spectrum, horses are obligate herbivores—masters of hindgut fermentation, designed to extract nutrients from high-fiber, forage-based diets.
Why Horses Need a Forage-Heavy Diet:
A continuously growing gut microbiome that relies on fiber fermentation for energy.
A cecum specifically designed to break down cellulose from grasses.
Saliva production dependent on chewing forage, preventing ulcers and digestive issues.
A digestive tract ill-equipped for concentrated feeds, grains, and high-sugar diets.
Despite their natural reliance on forage, modern feeding practices often involve grain-heavy concentrates, which disrupt the delicate balance of the equine digestive system, leading to colic, laminitis, and metabolic disorders—paralleling the human consequences of excess sugar and processed foods.
The Sellout of Veterinary Nutrition
Despite overwhelming biological and evolutionary evidence, many veterinarians actively discourage pet owners from feeding raw meat and bones, claiming it is dangerous and nutritionally inadequate. But let’s ask the real question: Is this about pet health, or about industry profits?
Veterinary schools are heavily funded and influenced by commercial pet food companies—the same corporations that manufacture the ultra-processed, carbohydrate-heavy kibble filling veterinary shelves. Pet food companies and veterinarians have been financially intertwined for decades, shaping veterinary nutrition education and discouraging real food feeding in favor of highly profitable, prescription-based diets.
Common Myths Vets Perpetuate:
“Raw food is dangerous and will harm your pet.” (Yet, nature has been feeding carnivores raw meat for millions of years.)
“Kibble is balanced and complete.” (Yet, most commercial kibble contains synthetic vitamins and excessive carbohydrates.)
“Raw food will expose your family to harmful bacteria.” (Yet, kibble recalls due to Salmonella and mold toxins are routine.)
Final Thoughts: The Choice Is Ours
It’s understandable why many pet owners choose to feed dry food—it’s convenient, easy to store, and widely available. But let’s not mistake convenience for superiority.
Imagine if we were told that the only way to properly nourish ourselves was to consume nothing but processed meal replacement shakes, formulated by large corporations who insisted it was “scientifically complete.” Most of us would balk at the idea. So why do we accept this logic when it comes to feeding our pets?
We have spent decades feeding convenience over quality, prioritizing shelf-stability over biological function. But when we acknowledge species-appropriate nutrition, we take back control. We honor our animals’ evolutionary needs and empower them to thrive, not just survive.
It’s time to stop feeding against nature and start feeding with it.
Because at the end of the day, food isn’t just fuel—it’s medicine, energy, and the foundation of life.
Opal Montana - The Holistic Pet Collective