Why Ketogenic Food For Dogs Is Not A Trend or Fad
Story takeaways:
Many people have accused the keto movement of being a fad, trend or diet. Really, eating ketogenic food is a lifestyle that induces naturally-occurring ketosis in the body
In order to separate Fact from Fad, we recommend that pet parents use us as a resource and do personal research
Really, B&C is pioneering a space for ketogenic dog food, not capitalizing on a "trend" or "fad"
Navigating the nutritional space for dogs (and humans!) can seem overwhelming at times.
When it comes to choosing the right food for our dogs, there is so much conflicting information out there. "Grain-free is good”, "grain-free is bad," "vegetables are good", "vegetables are bad". It's hard to tell what the truth is among all these conflicting messages.
So, the real question is,
How can we separate fact from fad?
We always recommend doing your own research (that's why we include links to scientific sources!) when it comes to your dog. We don't want you to take our word for it. We want you to find out the truth about dog food for yourself.
We are so passionate about a ketogenic lifestyle for dogs, because we know that it's a highly researched science, not a fad. That's why we're not afraid to talk about the keto diet. We know that we have history and science on our side, and want to share what we know with pet parents.
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF KETOGENIC DOG FOOD
Dogs get energy from either glucose or fat:
1) When a dog eats a high-carb + low-fat diet, they burn glucose for energy (Glycolysis)
Glucose in the body comes from eating carbs + sugars
2) When a dog eats a high-fat + moderate protein + low carb diet, they burn fat for energy (ketosis)
Fat in the body comes from eating meat, bones and fat
Ketogenic food (like B&C’s raw food) contains a 1:1 ratio of healthy fats: high-quality protein + nutrients to help an animal’s body go into ketosis. To deep-dive into the science behind keto, check out this article.
When in Ketosis, dogs are able to metabolically thrive instead of merely survive off of biologically-inappropriate carbs and sugars.
To summarize: Keto is not a fad because ketosis is a metabolic process in the body that naturally occurs based on what dogs eat (or don’t eat). Simply put, ketosis is an evolutionary response and adaptation that allows dogs to get energy from fat instead of carbs.
A ketogenic “diet” doesn’t force the body to do anything it isn’t already wired to do. For instance, people and dogs can go into ketosis simply by fasting!
While a fad is a temporary craze, Ketosis is a scientific fact and bodily process with a history of helping people and dogs combat disease and live longer, healthier lives.
KETO IS NOT A TREND, DIET, OR FAD: KETO IS A LIFESTYLE
Eating food that induces ketosis (i.e. a ketogenic “diet”) has been occurring naturally in humans’ and dogs’ bodies for thousands of years. That’s because this “diet” is a bodily process and not a fad.
Humans have even been using ketogenic food as a therapy since the 1920’s:
“The ketogenic diet has been used since 1921 to successfully treat several forms of epilepsy in patients who don’t respond to anti-seizure medications. Made up of high-fat foods and very few carbohydrates, the diet works by triggering biochemical changes that eliminate seizure-causing short circuits in the brain’s signaling system..
Anecdotal evidence also suggests the diet may be useful in the treatment of brain tumors, Alzheimer’s, stroke and Parkinson’s disease, and several human and animal studies have found tumor reduction after treatment with the ketogenic diet. The suspected mechanism is that cancer cells require glucose for survival, and the ketogenic diet deprives them of this essential fuel.” – John Hopkins Medicine (source)
When people talk about keto as a current trend or fad that has just recently become popular, this just simply isn’t true. Scientists have been discussing the benefits of ketosis for almost a hundred years now.
In reality, dogs have been eating meat and bones (and going into ketosis) for much longer than they have been eating dry kibble. The true fad is feeding dogs biologically-inappropriate carbs through highly-processed kibble.
Don’t take our word for it: check out the work of KetoPet Sanctuary in Austin, TX. This is a whole facility dedicated specifically to researching how a ketogenic diet can help dogs thrive and defeat cancer!
WHAT BONES & CO. IS DOING WITH KETOGENIC DOG FOOD
Yes, Bones & Co. is doing something huge for dogs by introducing a raw, ketogenic dog food to the world.
We are:
Pioneering a new wave of dog food that optimizes a dog’s metabolic system from metabolically appropriate food
Bringing a voice to the ketogenic raw movement and lifestyle for dogs because we know the power that keto dog food has to positively impact a dog’s overall health
We are not:
Inventing something completely new without a scientific or historical precedent
The first people to talk about ketogenic food for dogs! See Dr. Becker and Rodney Habib’s work.
Ketogenic food for dogs is not a fad or a trend but a metabolically appropriate nutritional model for dogs. By advocating for this “diet”, B&C hopes to educate people about dog nutrition in the hopes of changing the way we feed our dogs.
BECOME A KETOGENIC food ADVOCATE
Yes, it’s more difficult to feed dogs raw food than bone-dry kibble.
Yes, it’s more challenging to pioneer a ketogenic movement than to stick to the status quo.
But fighting for our dogs’ lives through nutrition makes every challenge and difficulty worthwhile.
B&C is here to empower and educate YOU, a pet parent looking to research, dig, and understand the truth about dog nutrition. We are here to be a resource for you and to foster a community of #DogFoodRebels.
If you’re ready, BECOME AN ADVOCATE of the #RawFed movement with us, so that we can start feeding our dogs better, together.
Barks & Bones,
Your B&C Tribe
Have specific questions about your dog’s health? While B&C cannot give medical advice, we recommend seeking advice from a Holistic Veterinarian for your best furry friend (BFF). B&C is here to be a resource for you while you learn more about raw food, Keto, and dog nutrition!