Can Wolves Consume Dog Food? Is it Good for the Wolves?

There are ads on TV and on social media that say certain dog food brands are better for pets because they taste more like wild wolves. Our dogs are from the same wolf lineage, but the food is the same. Is it possible to feed a dog food purchased at the pet shop to wolves and have it stay healthy? We’re here to help.

Dogs are descendants of wolves. Experts believe that today’s dogs are descendants of gray wolves. However, this doesn’t mean that there haven’t been many years of interbreeding or attempts to create designer dogs. Dogs and wolves don’t require the same nutrition. Regular store-bought dog food, such as kibble, will keep wolves healthy? No.

Let’s look at the nutritional needs of wolves. It will be obvious that the food you give your pet is not up to standard for keeping one of nature’s most magnificent and wild animals healthy.

The Differences between Wolves and Dogs

A difference in their size is the first thing you will notice when a full-grown Wolf stands beside a Dog. Although dogs are a descendant from the wolf, things have changed over the years. The majority of the dogs that we adopt are smaller than wild wolves. The difference in size does not end at the body. You will also notice that wolves have bigger teeth than dogs, and can easily take down large prey.

Wolves are hunters. Wolves don’t depend on humans for food, unlike domesticated animals. They hunt in groups. They are known to consume large quantities of food when they kill an animal. They can live for long periods without food because they have to survive on very little food, mainly due to the loss of territory. Imagine a dog lying on your bed, curled up at the feet.

What do Wolves Eat in the Wild

One of the most important carnivores in the forest is the wolf. The diet of a wolf is primarily made up of the animals that they find. Wolves eat mostly deer, elk, and moose. While they prefer hooved or ungulate animals, they aren’t afraid of scavenging when necessary. A pack of wolves can hunt rabbits and squirrels or catch fish to eat if larger prey is not available. When food is scarce, wolves will turn to eat grass, digging in the trash, and killing livestock. They do what they need to survive, just like wild animals.

Wolves can eat feast or famine. They eat a lot if they have large prey animals to eat. This is not always true for these animals. Their bodies go into famine mode when food is scarce. They survive on the stored fats and proteins they have accumulated from good meals. Wolves can eat well again if they find a food source.

Understanding the Needs of a Wolf

You can see that wolves rely on a lot of fat and protein to survive. These nutrients are abundant in their prey, which is other animals. These nutrients allow wolves to survive when hunting is not possible. However, wolves also need other foods. Even though wolves don’t eat vegetables or fruits with every meal, their bodies still need vitamins and minerals. You might be wondering how wolves obtain these vital nutrients. They are found in the prey they choose.

Although wolves may not make fruits or vegetables their main source of food the deer, moose, and elk that they hunt are. After a hunt, carnivores such as wolves don’t waste much. A wolf will eat an animal’s organs and also get the nutrients it has taken in. This ensures that their bodies have the nutrients they need to survive.

There are many dog foods that claim to give your pup the same food as wolves. This is not true in most cases. Dog foods are primarily made up of beef, chicken, pork, chicken, and sometimes fish. Although a hungry wolf won’t be fussy about what they eat this isn’t the type of protein they are used to. However, regular dog food does not contain any of the harmful nutrients, carbs, or fats that wolves need. Another source is the starches.

Dogs have evolved the ability to digest starches over the years since they were domesticated. They possess more of the genes required to do this. This gene is only 2 copies in the case of wolves. What does this mean to a wolf who eats regular dog food? They can’t digest the food and may become resistant to high-starch diets.

Dog kibble can also cause problems for wolves due to the inclusion of fruits, vegetables, and grains in many of them. These materials aren’t necessary for wolves to eat, but they can be used when they hunt. Dogs can’t hunt for these nutrients so well-balanced dog food is best. Different functions mean that wolves will rely more on the food they have been eating.

Summary

Although it is possible for wolves to survive on dog food it is not the best for their health. Wolfs are feast- or famine-carnivores and rely heavily on protein, fats, as well as carbohydrates. Even if they claim so, many dog food brands don’t have enough ingredients to sustain wolves in the wild.