Thanks....so it does basically mean that their bodies are set up to be carnivorous, but they are able to live as omnivores or herbivores....

What Paw-Paw said. Just because we feed them veg, grains etc. doesn't mean it's good for them.

Omnivore yes. Herbivore not so much.

Nope...not missing the point at all. As I say, Cosmo doesn't go to the supermarket to eat grass and plants and carrots....he helps himself to grass and plants when he's out and has been known to dig up carrots.
Does she eat any veg though?

Here are some snippets from the "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" book that might explain a little more:

There are lots of references to studies if you're interested.

I know too much grain etc would be bad for them, but is some not good for them? That's what I am confused over I suppose, as Cosmo thrives on the food he's on, he's in superb shape (touch wood....) and there is veg and cereal in his diet. If I were to feed a home cooked diet there would also be veg and cereal in it.
But dogs can and do do well on a vege diet don't they...

Absolutely. Dogs are scavengers and eating grass, etc., is actually beneficial for digestive purposes. What I am saying is that we have introduced elements that ancestors of dogs would not have come across naturally -- maize, corn, rice, farmed fruits, etc.

Thanks Scarter that's interesting.
I would like some links if you have them.

I know on here we are always telling people not to feed a diet that is too high in protein....which is from meat...so....bit confusing. I am VERY tired though!

I wouldn't say it's a case of bad for them, just a bit pointless because their system doesn't utilise it as efficiently as raw meat. A bit like eating cardboard I suppose. It won't kill you, but you won't get any nutrition from it (unless it's covered in peanut butter ).

As for dogs on vegetarian diet, I won't even go there

Dogs eat grass partly to clean out their system. Have you ever noticed when they've eaten a lot of grass it comes out in their poo? That's because they don't digest it (because it's cellulose and their digestive tract is too short) so it acts like a pipe cleaner for their intestines!

I always used to be pulling strands of grass out of Tilly's bum.

BUT that's my point. They choose to eat vegetative matter and plants (including horse poo....look at the posts on ehre about dogs eating horse poo...) so if they choose to eat it, they can't be total carnivores can they?