Are sweet potato, potato, and rice healthy carbs in dog food?

Question

Is sweet potato, potato, brown rice and white rice considered "good" fillers in dog food? Why or why not? Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 5 years and 3 months old | 17 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

The word "filler" is not exactly accurate and has been perpetuated by a great deal of false information spread about dog food lately. The truth is that these ingredients actually have a great deal of nutrients and properties that make them an important part of the diet. Dogs are actually omnivores (similar to humans) and are not meant to eat an all meat diet, so it's expected that some degree of carbohydrates are in the diet and all the packaged dog foods are formulated to meet the known nutritional demand of dogs. Additionally, carbohydrates such as rice and potatoes are good for promoting a healthy digestive system. For these reasons, all the mentioned ingredients are good ingredients to have in dog food. The benefit of brown vs white rice is not well known and any claims that one is better than the other are usually not well supported by the facts. Same goes for different types of potatoes. The easiest way to sift through the vast amount of information about dog food is to always check the source of the information. If the information is coming from a veterinary nutritionist, then it can be trusted. Veterinarians are also good sources of information, but be wary if the veterinarian is speaking on behalf of a certain company. If the source of the information is coming from someone without these qualifications, then it's best to be very skeptical. I hope that helps.

Are sweet potato, potato, and rice healthy carbs in dog food?

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