In dogs, the most abundant taste buds are those that respond to sugars or sweet tastes. Sugar in dog foods and their consequences on health Sugars are also economical and easily digested sources of energy. Short chained sugars are to be avoided in dog foods as much as possible. Although they are a source of fast energy, they are considered as empty calories, because they are not adding any nutrient to the dogs diet. They quickly appear as glucose in the blood and will be converted to lipids and accumulate in the body, if the dog does not use them for energy.
Sugars can also play a role in the dog food as humectant.
Products such as hydrogenated corn syrup are often used in moist dog foods as humectant and plasticizer, to give the food a certain flexibility. The sugar also acts as a preservative against spoilage. The excessive use of sugar in feeds for dogs can create a series of problems starting with obesity, especially in older dogs who's activity has slowed down over the years but their appetite didn't. Mostly the problem is only identified when the dogs are already seriously overweight. Putting them on a diet is the only solution at that time and most pet owners are not really tempted by the idea.