My friends dog is vegetarian.

[jacsam]

Okay.....so we have some friends that are NOT vegetarian at all and their little dog is sooo cute and she will not eat meat or dog food made from meat. If you give her some carrot sticks she is just as happy as can be. She's just always been like this.

[Ilse W.]

I feel sorry for the dog. They should try to feed raw meat. If I was a dog, I wouldn't want kibble or canned wet food either, but I bet the dog wouldn't refuse real raw meat. My golden used to eat any vegetables I'd give to him, along with bananas and apples. Now that he gets half a chicken every day, he no longer wants veggies. Now he gets raw liver and kidney for a snack. Yummm (that's Max talking!)

[Raene]

I fed my dog a vegan diet and regret it. I had to give her away b/c I moved and couldn't take her and luckily the people who adopted her thought I was a nut and gave her meat food.

Dogs are omnivores, not herbivores. However, crueler than feeding dogs veg is feeding cats. We're shortening our pets lifespans just because of our own dietary beliefs. I think it's sad.

[kaybee]

some dogs thrive on a vegetarian diet. my boxer has been on a mostly vegan diet since I got her and she is fit and muscular. People comment on the shinyness of her coat as her coat is shinier than most boxers. She gets a combination of commercial vegan dogfood, homemade balanced vegan meals, and fruits and veggies and other vegetarian(usually vegan) table scraps. I think it is possible for dogs to do well on a vegetarian diet, but it is also important to make sure that they are getting a balanced diet that includes everything they need. I supplement with lots of wheatgerm and ground flax, and she also loves fruit; I think the wheatgerm and flax are what keep her coat so beautiful. If I am doing homemade vegan meals, I use recipes from the book "Vegetarian Dogs" which include supplementing with zinc and B12. If your friends dog prefers meatless foods, then that could be fine, as long as she is getting a balanced diet. Sounds like their pup is ahead of the game in working towards a peaceable kingdom... ;)

[Raene]

You could just as easily say some people "thrive" on meat too...
what may appear to be health is actually good looks with a sickly body. I don't know...I just don't buy it.

[Ilse W.]

That's right. Just think of all those "fit" runners that keel over on the track and die of their first heart attack. Same thing. A dog will not "thrive" on a vegan diet. He will hang on as long as possible until the degenerative diseases take over.

[kaybee]

I disagree. I know of a number of dogs who have thrived on a vegetarian or vegan diet and have lived healthy lives to an old age. I also know of some dogs being fed a raw-vegan diet who are thriving. Dogs are not strict carnivores and many can do fine without meat, as long as a well-balanced diet is provided. Also, in the case of the dog in question being posted about, the dog DID NOT WANT meat-based food. Please respect those of us who seek to provide our dogs with a healthy diet without engaging in the violence required by animal slaughter and meat-based foods.

[Raene]

I don't think people should own pets if they can't tolerate feeding them what they would eat in nature. Is a dog going to run after a rabbit or eat some carrots and nutritional yeast? Honestly...and I'm not trying to be rude...but people just shouldn't have pets if they can't deal with that.

I promise if you let your vegetarian dog run loose in a field it's going to go after some type of bird, bunny, etc...it's what they're meant to do.

[Asian Pear]

Is a dog going to run after a rabbit or eat some carrots and nutritional yeast? 

Mine does both and is in excellent health. She eats her carrot "bones" with relish.

One of the oldest living dogs who died recently was fed a cooked vegan diet. http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0209...es/020918a.htm

[kaybee]

seriously, I think youre being a bit extreme. People shouldnt own pets if they wont feed them meat? come on. if my dog wasnt healthy or wasnt doing well, then there might be space for an argument. But my dog has been to several different vets in the course of routine exams, as well as been in the presence of trainers and has been judged to be quite healthy. I have had other dogs as well who have done well on these types of diets. There are numerous cases of dogs doing well on non-meat diets, and if dogs can do well on these diets and thus avoid the violence caused to other animals, then people should not be faulted for choosing to feed their dogs in a more compassionate way. I really dont think that you should judge people based on your belief that dogs cant survive or thrive without meat, and particularly to make a judgement that people who dont feed meat, but are feeding a balanced meat-free diet upon which their pet is thriving, are not good pet owners. Try telling that to raw food chef Ani Phyo, whos raw-vegan dog was a shelter dog who was actually brought back to health and has gained and maintained 40 or so much-needed pounds ON A RAW VEGAN DIET.

(thanks for the back-up, asian pear.)

[Eva]

I fed my dog the BARF diet since last year. My mom has him now while I'm traveling, and she's feeding the same. Several times, I have asked the question if there is a more humane thing to do. I really hate to support the animal abuse/slaughter industry.

Kaybee, can you suggest good resources or information for those who are considering feeding their dog a vegan diet? Or I guess even vegetarian is significantly better (to include only eggs?) than the raw chicken hearts and everything else Boli's getting now.

Thanks in advance if you're able to share more info. :)

[Asian Pear]

Kaybee I agree, most people feed their dogs kibble, which is not found in nature, should they not be allowed to "own" a dog?

My dog will chase rabbits and squirrels, it is instinct and is very different than the animal slaughter industry. You really can't compare the two.

Besides all dogs wouldn't go chasing rabbits, especially lap dogs, they'd probably be running in the other direction. I can't imagine a chihuahua or teacup poodle chasing a rabbit twice its size.

Also a house pet wouldn't get the same amount of activity that a wild coyote or wolf gets, so may not require an all meat diet. Now, I do give my dog a little meat, but she gets a ton of veggies, carrot pulp, nutritional yeast and garlic mixed in with it. She snacks on bananas and carrots every day. It cuts costs and gives her lots of nutrients and fiber.

[jacsam]

Just to let you know....my friends aren't vegetarian and have no reason to feed their dog vegetarian......it just happens that she won't eat meat. The dog is healthy, is cute and they've had her for years. She's full of spunk and her owners are very good to her. Ani Phyo has and incredible story about the dog she rescued named Kanga. He was in bad shape and is now healthy, full of energy and a beautiful dog. It's in her book and he eats raw, vegan.....it's very interesting.

[dogmd]

hi..

i have many patients who are vegetarian. most of them develop major problems if they eat any meat protein. these dogs are healthy and live very long and happy lives as vegetarians.

so there u go

[kyri]

i find this attitude of "i know what is best all the time for all" highly amusing . especially since most of the world will be chewing "YOU" apart when /if you have kids and you feed them raw vegan. they will be saying the same thing to you.

"I don't think you raw vegans should have kids, if you are not prepared to feed your child COOKED FOOD AND MEAT like they should be fed, you should give them up to people who really care for them, i feel sorry for your poor deprived kids."

why is it that in every community you will always find oppression? even with people who are oppressed, those people find others to oppress. it is baffling
really!