What do you think of vegetarian dog food?

[daisyduke]

I'm thinking about switching my dogs to Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula Ultra Premium Dog Food. http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...yID_10962.aspx

Here is a picture and description. What are your thoughts on this? Is it okay for dogs to be vegetarian? I just can't stand purchasing meat products anymore (especially if not organic)! Thanks!

[Svadhyaya]

I've tried 2 different (high-quality) brands of vegetarian dog food and both of them gave my dogs diarrhea and made them throw up. I've never tried the brand you are talking about, however.

The food I feed them now has lots of fruits and veggies included, but also brown rice and human-food-quality (if there is such a thing) meat. They are doing wonderfully on that.

[moonstone523]

I feed my dog fresh rice and boiled chicken daily.

She has never once had a problem or had to see a vet.

Why do you want to make your dog a vegetarian? Processed dog food is like processed people food. Ew.

Give your dog real food. :)

[Revvell]

Dogs are naturally carnivores.

Revvell

[chilove]

I have to agree with everyone else so far. As an ethical vegan I would LOVE to be able to feed my dogs and cat a vegan diet but I have to accept the fact that am the guardian to animals that are biologically designed to eat meat and as their guardian I have the responsibility to do what is best for THEM. If you want to do the best for your dog you should him/her a raw meat and bones diet. It is super cheap (based on chicken), pretty easy is definitely the healthiest option for them. You can find a lot of information online about feeding dogs raw, just do a google search.

I have two rats that are raw vegans. :-) If you want vegan pets you can always adopt rats or a rabbit in the future. :-)

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Nimmanu]

Yeah, your dog is not made to eat a strict vegetarian diet any more than you are made to eat a strict meat diet. Trying to force morality upon him will only cause him to become sickly the same way a SAD diet does to humans. It is not ethical to make your animal sick out of a need to force them to a moralistic stance.