All vegetarians/vegans: If you have pets (i.e. dogs) do you feed them a vegetarian diet or a meat based diet? If a commercial pet food, what brand/type do you use? And why did you make that decision?
I've heard lots of conflicting information... dogs are predators and meant to eat meat, while other sources say animals suffer from the same health problems we do if fed a meat-based diet, and they can thrive on a vegetarian diet. Since I am vegetarian partially for moral/ethical reasons, I feel guilty for contributing to the meat industry for my pets; but I would be willing to if I felt their health would suffer otherwise. Thoughts? Thanks!
Cats NEED meat in their diet, particularly for a certain vitamin - I think taurine? Dogs do not require it, because they don't need that vitamin so essentially.
I have rabbits who are vegan by nature. We snuggle and share strawberries (I eat the berry, they eat the tops and greens).
Holy ****. If you try to feed your pets a vegan diet (other than rabbits and birds) then you do not deserve to own pets. Period.
Original Post by feanor:
Holy ****. If you try to feed your pets a vegan diet (other than rabbits and birds) then you do not deserve to own pets. Period.
That was incredibly rude. WTF is your problem?
I believe dogs can do well on a vegan diet under the right conditions. I'd research it pretty thoroughly before trying it. For cats, I think it's a bad idea ... they are closer to pure carnivores than dogs. Ask your vet?
There are organic pet foods on the market. I realize that organic meat is still part of the meat industry, but at least it's part of the better sector. My suggestion for organic products is Karma Organic made by Natura. www.naturapet.com It's a little grain heavy but the company is pretty trust worthy.
If you have the time and energy you can make your own pet food using local organic free range small farmed meat. Homecooking is great! Also if you can stomach it, a raw prey model diet is a great way to feed too.
To the lysistrata comment about asking your vet, unless you have a holistic vet you're probably going to get reemed. Funny thing about that though is all the food sold in Vet offices (Science Diet, Euk, Iams, Royal Canin, Purina) are mostly corn and grain fragments. Practically a veg diet (well, minus the meat and bone meal from all the 4D animals and euthed dogs and cats, seriously).
I know that since I'm a meat eater this thread was not directed toward me, but I spend a great deal of time researching foods and nutrition to make sure my dog gets the proper nutrition she needs to live a long healthy happy life. Personally I feel that since dogs are anatomically carnivores (teeth, digestive tract, yadda yadda yadda) that they need meat. I feed Sedona Orijen 6 fish (a high protein grain free kibble) and a partial raw prey model diet. She's the picture of health in every way.
My own personal question relates to dogs only - although I did put dogs and cats to get the discussion out there, in case other people are thinking about this issue too. (I don't own cats myself because I am allergic.)
There are commercially made "vegetarian" diets available that are supposed to be good... one in particular is made by a brand I trust - Nature's Recipe. Anyone have any experience with this brand or something like this?
http://www.naturesrecipe.com/DogProductDispla y.aspx?p=Dogs/Skin_dryVegetarian
What I really wanted to know is since there are vegetarians who are so ethically conscious of the treatment of animals that they won't buy gelcap vitamins (because of gelatin) or honey (because of bees), how do they reconcile that with supporting the slaughter of animals to feed their pets?
In fact, Shango really liked it a lot and preferred it over regular dry cat food.
That's funny, my dogs love the veg food more than the regular food (with meat) and wolf it down wheh I buy it. Although I don't see that as a good indication that it's good for them either. I just have to trust the labeling. My vet refers to poor quality dog food such as Kibbles n Bits, Purina, etc. as "Doggie Doritos". Of course they LOVE that stuff! Like a kid in a candy store! :)
Taurine is an essential amino acid (protein), that cats need to get from their food. It is not found in plant foods. However, all dried kibble has synthetic taurine added to it, b/c something about the drying process destroyes the taurine, even in meat-based kibbles. Vegan cat foods must also balance the pH of their products to match that of a meat-based diet (which they do).
Given that there are many nutrients we just don't know about and that there are many concepts about nutrition that we do not fully understand, I am not sure about the vegan diet thing (for cats - this is not as big an issue for dogs). There is some good evidence now, however, that cats are able to live long, healthy lives on vegan cat food (evolution has been making food for a long time now). I could also argue, that the effort of using healthful ingredients by the makers of specialty products like Evolution is probably very high, as compared to most commercial cat foods.
edited to add: My horses love their vegan diet!
Original Post by feanor:
Holy ****. If you try to feed your pets a vegan diet (other than rabbits and birds) then you do not deserve to own pets. Period.
Do you even realize how many animals are herbivores? Huge and thriving animals like elephants for one. Most animals (humans included) do very well on a vegan diet, not just rabbits and birds.
Why exactly do you come to this forum, by the way?
Jewels - wow, didn't know that. Thanks for the info...
There are many problems with your post and it doesn't have much to do with the original question. However I will address them... No, vegans or vegetarians do not need to take vitamins because they don't eat meat. You can eat a perfectly balanced, nutritious diet without eating meat or taking vitamins, and still get all the nutrition you need. Some veg*ns choose to take vitamins, as do some omnivores. Hope that helps clear up your confusion.
As far as your concept of happy cows being raised by "farmers"... I won't even go there, other than to say that most of the meat available is mass produced - not on some family farm. However my main reason for avoiding meat are the obvious health problems that result from consuming animal flesh. The ethical/moral issue is a side benefit to me.
And furthermore, the animal parts that are used in animal food are from the byproduct of slaughter.... not roadkill or whatever. (mmm, mmm, ground possum!... never seen that on a product label)
Yes, like you said - byproducts of animal slaughter - aka: Dead animals!
I think you are missing the point here... The point of my post is to question how veg*ns won't buy any meat or animal product for them selves yet still support the meat industry in buying meat for their animals. Or do they choose not to feed meat to their pets.
i respect and applaud vegans/vegetarians, but i've never heard of a vegetarian wolf. if you want to eat that way, that's wonderful, but don't place your ideals on another species that has no control over what it is fed. dogs are supposed to eat meat. they might be able to SURVIVE on a veg diet, but they are supposed to eat meat. one look at their teeth is all the proof i need.
Sigh...
even if you feed cats a veggie diet, they are going to go out and kill thier own birds and mice anyways. some animals are supposed to eat meat and some arent.
horses, cows, "some" birds, giraffes, elephants etc. can do fine eating grass and plants.
polar bears, sharks, wolves, lions, dogs and cats are supposed to eat meat. it's like what jules said.. they have fangs for a reason.
I'm not trying to be rude but this is an honest question. Do vegans breastfeed? because technically that's eating animal byproduct.
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