🍚 Chinedu, Your Pets Don’t Need That Much Carbs, Do They?
I was on the roof again – not for gossip or sunbathing (though both are tempting) — but spreading out my dehusked beans to dry. The twins had finally stopped stomping on the cement, and Blaze, my forever-hungry dog, was lying like a bored lion beside my basin.
From the rooftop, I had a clear view of the compound next door. That’s when I saw it.
“Ehn? Is that fufu and palm oil?”
There was Chinedu, my neighbor's teenage nephew, shirtless, in boxers and flip-flops – standing over two shiny aluminum plates. Two dogs were wagging their tails excitedly as he poured a small lake of red oil over what looked like cassava balls.
I had to shout.
“Chinedu!!”
He looked up, surprised.
“Ah, Aunty Nene! Good afternoon!”
“Good what? You want to kill those dogs?”
“Kill ke? Na wetin we dey chop dem dey chop nah. Food na food.”
I climbed down quickly. Blaze followed me like he knew this was serious. I met him by the backyard fence.
“Bring that bowl, I want to see what's inside.”
🧠 Did You Know?
Dogs and cats don’t need high-carb diets like humans do. In fact:
✍️ Dogs can digest carbohydrates but thrive better on protein and fat.
✍️ Cats don’t process carbs well at all — their systems are built to convert protein and fat into energy, not yam and garri.
✍️ Diets with too many carbs can lead to obesity, diabetes, and lethargy in pets.
✍️ Wild animals don’t eat swallow and stew — why should your house-trained hunter be any different?
🧾 What I Told Chinedu And Now You, Dear Reader
✍️ Carbs are not evil, but pets need them in moderation.
✍️ The bulk of a pet’s diet should be protein and healthy fats, not cooked starch.
✍️ Cheap dog food often contains corn, wheat, and soy fillers — that’s already enough carbs.
✍️ Feeding pets fufu, yam, rice, and pasta as main meals is not balanced nutrition.
🥘 What We Practice at Home, Which I Told Chinedu
⏹️ Our pets get brown rice or oatmeal once in a while, mixed into protein-rich meals.
⏹️ We limit cassava-based food (too much starch).
⏹️ They eat more vegetables, eggs, and oily fish than processed grains.
⏹️ Treats are made from real meat or peanut butter — not bread or biscuit scraps.
⏹️ And yes, Blaze still gets the occasional scrap of plantain, because… who can say no to those eyes?
⚠️ Important Things to Note (For Chinedu and Co.):
⭐ Dogs can handle carbs better than cats – but still, quality and quantity matter.
⭐ Cats should eat almost zero carbs – their liver doesn’t produce the enzymes needed to break it down properly.
⭐ Feeding fufu, bread, or eba regularly can lead to:
❌ Bloating
❌ Diarrhea
❌ Weight gain
❌ Low energy
❌ Poor skin and coat condition
🛒 Helpful Links to Pet Food That Gets It Right:
❤️ Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula (With Balanced Carbs)
❤️ Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food (Low Grain, Balanced Protein)
❤️ ORIJEN Original Dry Cat Food (High Protein, Low Carb)
🧁 How It Ended:
Chinedu, to my surprise, actually listened. Well, sort of.
He now mixes boiled eggs and sardines with his garri and adds a sprinkle of dry dog food. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step.
“I just dey try reduce my dogs’ sugar belly,” he said the next week, rubbing one dog’s round stomach.
“I go even dey mix small vegetables. I hear say dem dey help digestion.”
I nodded proudly like a headmistress watching her most troublesome student finally pass a test.
📝 Final Thoughts:
✍️ Carbs are fillers — not fuel — for pets.
✍️ Dogs need more protein and fat than anything else.
✍️ Cats? Cut the carbs completely.
✍️ Observe your pet. If they’re sleepy, overweight, or always hungry – their diet may be wrong.
✍️ Your dog is not a mini-human. Stop feeding them as though they are.
🐾 Coming Up Next: "How Iyabo Over-Supplemented Her Dog to Death, In the Name of Vitamins & Good Intentions”
We’ll talk about Omega-3, why sardines are a pet superfood, and what your pet’s dry, itchy skin is trying to tell you.
😂 Affiliate Disclosure:
Some links may earn me small change. That change goes into buying Blaze his sardine fix so he doesn’t jump the neighbor’s fence in protest. Kindly support this peaceful household. 🐶
✌️ Signing out!
Nene Ajayi
Pet food crusader, rooftop peacemaker, and Lagos auntie.
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