Vegetarian diet for dogs research, your opinions?

January 17, 2011 at 7:34 am · Filed under Introduction

14 Comments

  1. Love is a German Shepherd Dog said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:35 am

    bah-humbug is all I’m going to say on that! I only looked at a few of those links, btw. The second link is so STUPID and IGNORANT I couldn’t make it past the second pargraph (yeah, meat may not have enough calcium, but prey animals usually contain ORGANS and BONES as well. I’ve never seen an animal walking around that was just muscle meat alone)

    Dog’s are carnivores. End of discussion. Can they theoretically survive on “vegetarian” diets? I guess they could. But doesn’t that really make you wonder what kind of man made chemical compounds they have to add to keep a dog healthy? I mean, no vegetable matter contains nutrients that are meat specific. An animal anatomically designed to digest and process MEAT isn’t going to be able to digest and process those same nutritional needs from wheat and brocolli. You being a vegetarian, good for you. I personally prefer my steaks bloody and still mooing, but at least humans are anatomically omnivores, and at least we are actually able to process and digest vegetation. Dog’s, not so much… I think raw will be much healthier then whatever scientific garbage they have to throw into that.

    BUT… Kudos to you for researching and feeding what you feel is best. You are putting in time and effort to form your own opinion on what will work best for your dogs. Better then most of the media-brain washed individuals on here.

  2. Jenny said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:37 am

    Dogs are biologically wolves and raw meat on the bone is their natural diet. I don’t even approve of using commercial diets, because there are too many ingredients in them that cause dogs harm, such as corn and other grains, which are primary allergens for dogs, and sugar, which is the cause of so much diabetes in our pets.

    If you want to minimize your interactions with the commercial meat industry, find a kosher or halal butcher in your area. Dogs don’t need the prime cuts of meat, and are happy to eat the parts from which people prefer to abstain. The cattle are treated with respect, fed and watered, and aren’t allowed to watch the slaughtering of their herdmates.

    If you worked hard to find the diet that suits your metabolism, please don’t be swayed by claims that any other diet is appropriate for your domesticated wolves.

  3. TA said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:39 am

    I am a vegetarian, and had the same dilemma that you had. I have cats and dogs, and their were little fat, so I have to put them on diet (vet’s orders) but I cannot take away the protein for their diet, also I live un mexico, and is very hard to find good food for my pets, so I try to give them organic eggs ( I can find them relatively easy) and chicken, but I can’t find organic meat. If you can afford it, buy and also are places that keep the livestock in good conditions and don’t make them suffer as the industrial places. I found that for me and my dogs works a cross Between the raw diet and the commercial food, I cook brown rice, veggies and little meat (because one of them needs to gain weigh) and some commercial food, (the best I can afford) is the best solution I found. I don’t eat meat, any kind, only eggs and dairy, and if I could find veggie food I will buy it, but since I can’t find vegetarian food for them, I do what I have to do to provide them good nutrition, As I said, I try to find organic stuff, (and in mexico that is very hard) and I find other ways to compensate the pollution I might be causing for the consumption of meat.I hope this help you, also I know a dog that is very allergic to so many things and the only think that makes him feel better is the vegetarian diet, so as long as you keep your dogs under medical supervision, I don’t see a problem if you feed them vegetarian food.

  4. Shirley P said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:40 am

    dogs are carnivores, their spit has something in it to break down meat and their teeth are made for meat eating…. they are built to live off of meat

  5. WyrDachsie said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:45 am

    If you choose to be a vegetarian, well that’s just fine. Dogs are carnivores, they are not vegetarians. Whether you like it or not, dogs are meat eaters. What do wolves eat in the wild? Deer, rabbit, whatever else they can bring down.

    If your considering feeding your dogs vegetarian meals because how you feel about eating meat, then you are not doing something in your dogs best interest. Your doing what makes you feel better about yourself.

  6. Mayv, Priestess of Enyalius said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:52 am

    A lot of people like to claim that dogs will not be healthy or will not thrive on a vegetarian diet. I am not one of those people.

    I have three small canine children (Chihuahua mix) and they have eaten homemade vegan food for about three years. We’re not vegan, not even vegetarian, but we (my boyfriend and I) hardly eat any meat, dairy, or eggs.

    My oldest, a male, is just over six years old yet still runs around and jumps like a puppy, FULL of energy and in great health. The other two, females, are younger, and do extremely well, very playful like him.

    And yes, I did a lot of research about what was good for them and what to avoid before I started making their food. And to think, that (my researching this) all started because of the dog food recalls over concerns of contamination in the food imported from China!

    Originally, I put cooked chicken or some kind of lean meat in as a base, but I only did that for a few months. Now I cook some beans, add some brown rice, chopped vegetables (no onions), and rolled oats. I know, not raw, but that can give you an idea of the diet my babies eat.

  7. Paul said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:56 am

    There are very specfic requirements that a dog needs that it will not get from vegetarian diets. If you are willing to supplement realize that these supplements can get very expensive. Also to consider, many dogs will not eat vegetables. They may eat some like carrots and such but they will not be able to consume enough of these to fullfil their nutritional requirements. Their digestive tracts are not set up to digest large quanities of vegetables. Make sure that if you do decide to go with a kibbles brand vegetarian to make sure that it is indeed vegetarians. Many companies will spray their dog food with meat products to appeal to the dog so they’ll eat it.

    I hope this helps you in what you decide to do :)

  8. Curtis M said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 12:57 am

    There is no such thing as an obligate carnivore. Period. You are a carnivore or you’re not.

    Your dogs don’t care if you find the site of dead animals displeasing. If you have a problem feeding your carnivores a species appropriate diet, “rehome” them and buy a Bunny Ranch or a miniature horse.

  9. LauⓇen ♥Loves♥ Macy said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 1:00 am

    They can’t be vegetarians. Dogs are carnivores.(Meaning they are meat-eaters, And whether you like it or not it is going to stay that way.)

  10. Tria said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 1:03 am

    Please do not try to turn your carnivore into a vegetarian. If you want a vegetarian pet get a rabbit. If you are concerned about ethical reasons buy free range chicken, grass fed beef, or organic meats. There are commercially prepared raw foods do you do not have to huge chunks of meat, just something that resembles a hamburger patty. If that is something you are interested in I recommend Stella and Chewy’s or Primal. Sure they can probably live off of the vegetation dog food but they are not going to thrive off of it.

  11. Rachel [K&T] said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 1:17 am

    Dogs are carnivores by nature, but humans are supposed to be omnivores. Yet some are just herbivores and do fine.
    I see where you are coming from.
    The way I think of it, would you ever see a chicken, rabbit, cow out in the wild eating meat? No.
    Would you ever see wolves, coyotes, lions, tigers out munching on carrots, grass and rice? No.
    Study their teeth, study their nature, study their natural lifestyles and backgrounds, not just the protein and vitamins they need, before you make a decision.

    See what I mean?
    But, it IS your decision. Do what YOU feel is best for you and for them.
    I understand it must be so gross for you to feed raw. I eat meat and would have a problem seeing/doing that..that’s why I feed kibble :)
    And awesome job going vegan! Woo!
    Sounds like your dogs are very cared for :)

  12. 88=88 said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 1:18 am

    no…..they are meat eaters!

  13. Liz said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 1:19 am

    As someone else said, dogs are not obligate carnivours and they can do well on a vegetarian diet. The main issues are amino acids (lots of misinformation about this) and calcium which would mean feeding supplements/ nullifying the whole raw food idea.

    The whole issue of amino acids is A LOT more complicated than you seem to believe but I don’t really want to put half the A level biology syllabus in my answer- supplements should be fine.

    Get a health check from your vet about 2-3 months in to the new diet just to make sure everything is going OK.

    NB: If you’re buying kosher meat and are geniunely concerned about the welfare of the animal, check that it was stunned prior to slaughter. Not all Kosher abbatoirs do so.

    I don’t agree with you on veganism (sorry, you can probably tell ;) ) but good for you for doing what you believe to be right.

  14. Ollie said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 1:21 am

    I know your a vegetarian, i respect that, i just don’t think it is in the best interest for your dog for it to not eat meat either. It won’t be good for it, dogs need a balanced diet. Think of your dog :(

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