Many people assume that because domestic dogs (and cats) belong to the order Carnivora, they must be meat eaters. That’s mostly true. However, not all members of Carnivora are obligate or true carnivores like cats, minks, seals and lions. Several species, such as bears and raccoons, are omnivores and giant pandas are considered specialized herbivores, with almost all of their diet consisting of bamboo shoots and leaves.
Dogs Can Eat Meat and Plants
Nutritionists, however, use carnivore to classify animals according to their nutrient needs and feeding behavior. Nutritionists consider dogs to be omnivores because they can get their essential nutrients from both plant material and meat, like humans. For example, dogs have an intestinal enzyme that converts the beta-carotene found in plants to active vitamin A. They can also convert linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, to arachidonic acid at a high enough rate to meet their needs.
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