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Vegan dog foods Anyone have any experience with vegan/vegetarian dog foods. My yorkie has lost 2 pounds recently and seems to only want to eat vegetables. Thinking of giving her a vegetarian dog food. The only treats she will eat now are sweet potatoes and yogurt drops but she will not eat actual yogurt. She loves to eat veggies. If you put veggies in 1 bowl and chicken in 1 bowl she will eat the veggies. She has a good appetite but does not want to eat high calorie foods. |
Dogs can eat vegetarian or vegan or pescatarian diets. There are some on the market that are complete and balanced. You can also homecook under the guidance of a veterinary nutritionist. They can formulate a vegetarian recipe for your pup. However, just vegetables isn't a balanced diet and could be very dangerous long-term. Your pup NEEDS protein and such. What is your vet saying about this? |
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She does eat Blue Buffalo kibble 1/4 cup daily. I have been exact measuring the last 2 weeks and feeding her 2x/day with warmed wet dog food. She will not eat more kibble than this. After she refuses to eat more kibble then I will give her some veggies. |
Never ever would I recommend a vegan food for a dog unless it was absolutely completely medically necessary. Dogs are carnivores. I would never agree with feeding a doggie a vegan diet. 1/4 day of kibble and wet sounds fine to me, for her size. Jackson is 16lbs and eats 1/3 in AM and 1/3 in PM so 2/3 cup total per day. If she really needs to gain weight, just give her extra canned food mixed in. I think people way over-do giving dogs veggies in general. Any time Jackson has had a veggie, it just goes right thru his system, LOL. I spotted a carrot in his poop the other day after my stepmom gave him one. Oh and a few pieces of corn that he got that I had dropped on the floor. Yup, clear as day, right in his poop, undigested, lol. Honestly, as long as she's not deathly skinny, it's better to be lean than over-weight. I wouldn't worry too much. If she's not hungry, don't force her. But also make sure everything is medically sound. |
Also, make her really want food. How much exercise does she get? Nothing gets Jackson more hungry than a GOOD run. Heck, even a long walk. Just like people. After a good workout, I'm hungry. Make her food more exciting- act excited while making it, sniff it, act like you're going to eat it... make her really amped up to eat it. |
My dog Daisy is a vegetarian. She would happily eat meat, but unfortunately it makes her violently ill and sends her liver into failure. So, although some on this board want to condemn vegetarian food for dogs, it keeps my dog alive. And she is thriving at almost 12 years old when meat had her one paw in the grave for the first five years of her life. Luckily, I threw my beliefs and preconceived notions to the wind, put my trust in a veterinary nutritionist, and vegetarian food it is. If you want to feed your dog vegetarian food, then a good place to find one for $25 from a board certified vet nutritionist is here Welcome to Pet Diets. I see no reason to avoid a vegetarian diet for your dog if that is what you want to feed him/her. Just make sure it is properly balanced. If I had my choice, however, I would opt for an egg-based diet first, followed by a meat-based diet, followed by a vegetarian based diet. Good luck! |
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In the OP's case, it seems more like a case of picky dog, and owner giving in. I believe that most healthy dogs should never eat a vegetarian diet. Obviously Daisy is a rarity who is thriving on such a diet. |
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I think it'd be fair to say most dogs are not vegetarians or vegan, so that's what I meant by rarity. If it was more common, I think there'd be more commercial options for it, but there's not. |
One-fourth cup may or may not be enough depending on the pup. What is the vet saying about weight? From a scientific standpoint, I see no problem with a vegetarian or vegan diet. I'd much rather see somebody go ova-vegetarian if they wanted to go this way because egg is an amazing protein source for dogs. It's not hard to balance either (relatively). However, that doesn't mean that healthy dogs can't do well on vegan food. Dogs require amino acids and nitrogen, not "meat" or "poultry" or "fish". I'm not sure that there is any scientific evidence anywhere showing that dogs have to have animal products to survive. If we're talking about bioavailability of the protein source, then it's actually surprising that more people don't choose egg or red meat... Ry loves Ellie's soy nuggets. If it wasn't for the fact that I don't want him on a hypoallergenic diet, he'd be a vegan dog too. :) Over the time that we've had soy kibble in the house, I've become very fond of it - much fonder than I am of six month old animal based kibble. |
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Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula |
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I figured til recently you won't eat the food fine don't eat then. This did not work with her obviously. I am trying to find the best option for her without giving into her by playing food games. |
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Even if she only eats the vegan food as a treat it will still be calorie intake which is what she needs. Thanks for not thinking I'm nuts or over indulging her. |
I'd explore a few more options before resorting to a vegetarian/vegan dog food. Since she likes veggies so much have you tried making a vegetable puree and mixing it with her kibble?. What kibbles has she tried? Do you offer her cooked meat or raw? have you tried any premade raw foods? |
I'm going to switch my girls over to a vegan diet just as soon as this last batch of food I made is gone. They are allergic to fish, poultry and now beef. Enough is enough. There are just too many hormones and medication pumped into cattle these days and we are all ingesting it and having health problems. Here is some information for you. Dogs Can EAT Vegan Too I ordered the Cegetarian Dog recipe book on that link. |
Hre is another site, and part of it says: Advantages of Preparing Your Own Dog Food at Home There are many benefits of homemade dog food. Firstly, it is free of the additives, flavorings and contaminants often found in industrial pet food. Furthermore, it allows you to know exactly what goes into your dog’s food and what doesn’t – which is important, especially when considering what's in commercial pet food and how it is made. If its diet is well balanced, most dogs can thrive on a purely vegetarian diet, too. However, you should consult your veterinarian before switching your dog to an exclusively vegetarian diet. Vegetarian Dog Food Recipes: Homemade Meatless Meals for your Pet | Suite101.com There are many, many sites covering vegetarian diets for dogs. |
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:thumbup::thumbup: I would never feed any of my pups a diet that was recommended by some unknown source on a website. I am presently home cooking for one of my pups ... the diet came from a board certified vet nutritionist. She was sick, sick, sick when she started on this diet and is doing fantastic. As for RX foods that vets recommend, I simply do not understand the constant comments from people about how vets are recommending these foods because they make SO much money. Those diets are saving pups' lives!!! I know because I have had many on RX diets over the years....all three companies: Hill's, Purina, and Royal Canin. These foods are tried and tested and work. |
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Glad that your baby is doing so much better! Zeus has thrived on his and is so much healthier than he was a month ago when he started. :) |
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Vets are not the stupid creatures that many think they are. They know basics about nutrition....and in most cases that is all that is needed. No, they don't specialize in nutrition....they also don't specialize in cardiology and many other specialties. That is why we go to specialists. And, let me add that all of my pups are thriving on dog food. .. some RX...some regular. :) Sure you get a sick pup here and there, but they are all well nourished and have lovely coats and are happy pups! :) |
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It took months to find a new kibble she would eat to get her on the Blue. Tried TOTW, wellness, evo, nature balance, various proplan blends ( my preferred blend), etc. Right now she keeps eating extra tidbits (tops of 10 pieces) from Buddy's bowl which is Proplan Performance. Prior to her spaying she was eating this Proplan forumula but after her spay she refused to eat it. Hopefully she will start to eat more of the Proplan. He gets some fish oil mixed in with his kibbles. So far her bowels seem to be okay. He doesn't mind her sharing a bowl with him and will even step back and give it to her. I'm planning to switch the other yorkies back to Proplan for simplicity. |
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Thank you :) |
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My vet told me to feed her whatever she will eat at this point. She has had food issues since 4 months of age. He said I could try the Rx brands again but he doubts she will eat them since I have tried them before with her. |
Anything at all can be hazardous to a pup. They need a well balanced diet with the right supplements. I believe you would be happy with a vet nutritionist...as would your pup! You can find one at: American College of Veterinary Nutrition |
Why was RX food even brought up in this thread? I didn't see anyone trashing it or even asking about it...? Unless I missed something. |
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I brought it up and may have mixed it up with another thread. So sorry. |
Lol, I dunno, it was just kinda odd... I thought I had missed something since you started saying "I don't know why ppl trash RX foods..." and I looked back looking for posts about people trashing them and didn't see them in this thread, so I thought I had missed something. |
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