Ancestral diets: The new trend in pet nutrition

Just as humans have embraced a variety of specialised diets, so too have pet owners.

The market is flooded with pet food choices, from paleo and keto to vegan and raw, catering to the unique needs of every pet.

One option that is gaining popularity is ‘ancestral diets’, which seek to replicate the natural diet of domestic dog’s wild ancestors.

Ancestral meals primarily consist of raw meat, but also incorporate other foods like fruits, vegetables, and even insects. They contain little or no grains.

According to global pet industry reports, grain-fee pet food is making inroads among consumers – up to 44% of the North American pet food market and 15% in the UK.

“There’s a growing interest in this option among South African pet owners too,” says Roger Bezuidenhout, marketing manager of national retailer Absolute Pets.

“South African customers are becoming more selective in choosing what they feed their animals, which can partly be ascribed to the growing importance of pets’ roles in the family and the knowledge that a premium diet helps keep pets happier and healthier,” says Bezuidenhout.

But what are the health benefits of an ancestral diet, and why would someone choose this option for their pet? The biggest factor is that it’s not carbohydrate heavy.

“When it comes to proper nutrition for dogs and cats, an important thing to consider is that they need animal protein, not carbohydrates. This specifically applies to cats. Dogs can use carbs, but they don’t necessarily need them.

“Both dogs and cats also need fruit and vegetables, as protein does not contain all the vitamins and minerals that they need,” says consulting Absolute Pets vet Dr Candice Cooper.

Nutrition Hub’s animal nutritionist, Lourens de Wet, agrees that too many carbs can be unhealthy for pets.

“In general, we see a lot more overweight pets or pets with diabetes and that’s often because of a carbohydrate-rich diet or sugar-rich treats. Moving from a carbohydrate-focused diet to something meatier has benefits in terms of the animal’s metabolic condition.”

Bezuidenhout says when deciding what to feed your pet, you should consider a range of factors that take into account the individual needs of the animal.

What is not up for debate, however, is that high-quality, appropriate ingredients in the correct proportion are always going to be beneficial, he says.