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.

[daisyduke]

Okay - I guess I'm doing the right thing. I feed them raw meat and bones right now. Thanks for your input!

[vgloveforlife]

Nimmanu-some could argue that humans are not made to eat a strict vegan diet just as much as we are not made to eat a strict meat diet. Is feeding your child a strict vegan diet wrong then?

Daiskyduke-One of the longest living dogs was a vegetarian but it was feed freshly cooked soups not kibble. Kibble is unhealthy whether it's meat or vegetarian. If you are going to feed a vegetarian kibble you could supplement with fresh foods or even some meat once and awhile so it's well rounded.

[Nimmanu]

Nimmanu-some could argue that humans are not made to eat a strict vegan diet just as much as we are not made to eat a strict meat diet. Is feeding your child a strict vegan diet wrong then?

Daiskyduke-One of the longest living dogs was a vegetarian but it was feed freshly cooked soups not kibble. Kibble is unhealthy whether it's meat or vegetarian. If you are going to feed a vegetarian kibble you could supplement with fresh foods or even some meat once and awhile so it's well rounded.

The only semi-valid argument that could be used in that theory is our teeth. However, the length and nature of our digestive system indicates that, at most, we can eat bugs, but otherwise be strictly herbivorous. The belief that we are omnivorous is actually unscientific if you include anything but insects.

The length and nature of our teeth also bears this out. Even our canines are not long or strong enough to tear meat, only to tear herbiferous items of a nature such as roots.

Personally, I think I'll leave the bugs out of my diet. But if one wants to argue against vegetarianism, they'd have to come up with something better than the standard, "but look at our teeth!"

[vgloveforlife]

Nimmanu-our bodies were definitly designed to digest small amounts of animal protein and we are most likely natural omnivores like the bonobo monkeys that share almost identical DNA. Changing our diet to a predominatley vegan one requires some supplements such as b12 and possibly others which I am fine with (especially b12 supplementation).
I don't see anything wrong also with changing the diet of our companion animals more to a plant based one as long as they are healthy and are getting all their nutrients. Animals can adapt to different diets just like you and I can (Domesticated animals prove this by eating kibble! And a lot of the times they enjoy and prefer foods that they would never ever eat in the wild). Omnivorious animals such as dogs can live a happy healthy life on a plant based diet just as much as on a meat based one as long as the food is fresh and preferably organic.

[Revvell]

Dogs are not "omnivorous", they are "carnivorous":
Dogs are carnivorous (meat-eating) mammals. These fast-moving animals have keen senses, with an exceptionally good sense of smell. Dogs have powerful jaws, and sharp teeth. Domestic dogs were bred from wild dogs; wild dogs are the descendants of wolves.

[Nimmanu]

Nimmanu-our bodies were definitly designed to digest small amounts of animal protein and we are most likely natural omnivores like the bonobo monkeys that share almost identical DNA. Changing our diet to a predominatley vegan one requires some supplements such as b12 and possibly others which I am fine with (especially b12 supplementation).
I don't see anything wrong also with changing the diet of our companion animals more to a plant based one as long as they are healthy and are getting all their nutrients. Animals can adapt to different diets just like you and I can (Domesticated animals prove this by eating kibble! And a lot of the times they enjoy and prefer foods that they would never ever eat in the wild). Omnivorious animals such as dogs can live a happy healthy life on a plant based diet just as much as on a meat based one as long as the food is fresh and preferably organic.

Bugs are the only logical meat source we could eat, as I already stated.

Like I said, I don't really want to eat bugs, so I'll go with supplementation, should I end up needing it.

Dogs and cats are not made to eat vegetables. Their teeth are not made properly to grind them up before swallowing. Their guts are not made properly for digesting them. Their entire internal structure is made for meat, from their teeth to their poopers.

Just as we are made to eat predominantly fruits, some vegetables and roots... and bugs.

We are not made to chase down chickens or kill cows and eat their raw flesh. This is why we must cook it, because it is contrary to our digestive systems. When we do eat cooked meat, we get sickly.

Just as a dog or cat can get sickly eating something artificial to them.

Just as it makes no sense to feed humans incorrectly, it makes no sense to feed animals incorrectly. It goes against the whole concept of moral treatment of animals.

[vgloveforlife]

Wolves eat berries, fruit and ocassionally grass.

Dogs have been eating plants since the beginning of their exsistence.

[Veganforlife]

I think it tastes bitter
JUST KIDDING!

[Veganforlife]

What do wolves eat?

Wolves are carnivores (meat eaters) but they will eat other foods as well. Their diet ranges from big game, such as elk and moose, to earthworms, berries and grasshoppers.

To avoid using too much energy catching their food, wolves prey on weaker members of a herd, such as old, young or sick animals. In summer, when the herds migrate, wolves eat mice, birds and even fish. They may also eat carrion.

Wolves eat their food very quickly, probably to protect it from being stolen, and to decrease the chance of attack from other predators. They eat the best parts first, and come back later for the remainder, as they can't afford to be wasteful. They will hide food in the snow, or icy soil, which helps to preserve it, and protect it from scavengers.

Wolves can eat every 5-6 hours when there is plenty of food available, or they can fast and live on scraps for 2 weeks when there is less food around.

Their digestion is very efficient, with all but 5 percent of large meat feeds able to be digested. Any splinters of bone that are not broken down somehow become wrapped in undigested hair, which protects the intestines from injury.

Pups are fed by the adults who disgorge fresh meat from their stomachs, or carry back fresh pieces of meat to the den.

Biologists learn much about the diet of wolves by studying their waste products, which are called 'scats'.