Talk:Omnivore

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Dogs

If I recall correctly, dogs are actually obligate carnivores, having evolved from prehistoric gray wolves which exclusively consumed meat. Being an omnivore implies the possibility of surviving on only plant matter, of which a strictly vegetarian diet has been found to kill a dog. 12.17.177.164 (talk) 00:02, 23 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

This is incorrect. Assuming you are referring to domestic dogs, these are predominately carnivorous omnivores which have evolved from a carnivorous ancestor (the wolf). Dogs have an increased expression of amylase (starch-digesting) genes compared to wolves. There is no implication associated with the term omnivore that an animal can survive only on plant matter. Grey wolves do not always consume exclusively meat either. Many smaller carnivores are unambiguously omnivorous, including the maned wolf mentioned in the article

Domestic dogs are not omnivores.

In the illustration picture of this article, the dog is described as an example of an omnivorous animal, but from a biological perspective this is not the case, and although its varied diet due to human influence may make it appear to be that way, this is not the only factor to take into account when taxonomically classifying an animal as an omnivore, because if diet were the only thing to take into account, then the panda bear would be a herbivore due to its diet based solely on bamboo, although we know well that the panda's digestive system is not fully adapted to break down bamboo cellulose.

At present, and based on several studies, the dog is considered a facultative carnivore, meaning that although they are adapted to digest and obtain energy from plant sources, their physiology and anatomy are more oriented towards a meat-based diet.

In evolutionary terms, dogs descended from wolves, which are obligate carnivores, but their proximity to humans for thousands of years has made them more flexible in their diet. However, this adaptability does not make them true omnivores like humans, bears or pigs.

Sources: Recent Advances in the Nutrition and Metabolism of Dogs and Cats - PubMed

Are Dogs Carnivores or Omnivores?

Is My Dog a Carnivore or an Omnivore? - My Pet Nutritionist Smoke3498 (talk) 15:41, 26 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]