Not all fat is ketogenic
The ketogenic diet is often advertised as having health benefits for dogs, despite physiological differences between people and pets. What does the research say, and why is MCT oil essential?
Keto in humans
The ketogenic diet aims to induce the state of ketosis: when the brain, heart and muscles obtain energy from ketone bodies rather than from glucose. Humans can achieve ketosis by combining low-carbohydrate and high-fat meals with fasting. The energy requirement of the main organs is then satisfied through the metabolism of fats.
Ketogenic diets have been shown to reduce seizures in some human patients with epilepsy and are also suggested to slow down the growth of some tumours and support cancer treatment. However, long-term compliance with the restrictions is often unrealistic due to varying efficacy in individuals, poor palatability and adverse effects like gastrointestinal symptoms, pancreatitis, nutritional deficiencies/diseases, cardiac disease, or urolithiasis. The concept has therefore spurred scientific debate and criticism, and more research is still needed to formulate safe universal conclusions.
A dog is not a human
Ketosis is not so readily achievable in dogs. Dogs are carnivores, accustomed to longer breaks between meals and much less dependent on carbohydrates.
Consequently, they produce and utilise ketone bodies after overnight fasting more quickly than humans. Merely supplementing carbs with fat will not sufficiently increase the level of ketone bodies in their blood. To induce the state of ketosis in canines, the diet must contain specific fats high in ketone precursors: MCT fatty acids (C8 and C10).
High hopes, but no safe bets
There is some evidence that ketone bodies in dogs have direct anticonvulsant activity and that the alterations in neuronal metabolism and neurotransmitter function in ketosis may be beneficial in epilepsy. Similarly, there is preliminary evidence that MCT-rich diets may hinder the progression of certain cancers. However, there is neither a clearly proven and widely accepted mechanism for the neuroprotective effects of ketones, nor conclusive trial results concerning cancer treatment.
Risks in dogs
Apart from the lack of positive research findings, the induction of ketosis in dogs involves a possible substantial caloric reduction and lower palatability. Subsequently, diets with very high fat content (> 60 metabolisable energy from fat) entail a risk of pancreatitis development due to a possible inadequate quantity and poor quality of protein.
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