Vegan dog foods

[MikaTallulah]

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.

[Ellie May]

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?

[MikaTallulah]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

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?

I know she need protein that is why I'm asking about vegetarian dog foods. The vet says to get her to eat more.

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.

[Britster]

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.

[Britster]

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.

[107barney]

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!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by 107barney

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!

That's fantastic! I would never ever condemn feeding a dog who medically needs a vegetarian diet! As I said, I believe the only reason to feed a vegan diet would be for a dog like in Daisy's case.

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.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Britster

That's fantastic! I would never ever condemn feeding a dog who medically needs a vegetarian diet! As I said, I believe the only reason to feed a vegan diet would be for a dog like in Daisy's case.

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.

Nope, it's not a rarity. I've seen other vegetarian dogs who are also thriving. It's all about properly balancing the diet and nutrient profiles not ingredients. And as I said, I'd feed egg over meat if it was more portable and less perishable than meat.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Nope, it's not a rarity. I've seen other vegetarian dogs who are also thriving. It's all about properly balancing the diet and nutrient profiles not ingredients. And as I said, I'd feed egg over meat if it was more portable and less perishable than meat.

Different strokes different folks

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.

[Ellie May]

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.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Britster

Different strokes different folks

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.

I don't disagree that most dogs are not vegetarians or vegan. But, since some people want or need to feed their dogs vegetarian diets for whatever reason then there are both commercial and home cooked options available. I would never suggest that a healthy dog eat Daisy's diet - it lacks both linoleic acid and methionine and thus is not optimal for a healthy dog.

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by MikaTallulah

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.

Natural Balance makes a Vegetarian Formula, in Kibble and canned.

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula

[MikaTallulah]

Originally Posted by Britster

That's fantastic! I would never ever condemn feeding a dog who medically needs a vegetarian diet! As I said, I believe the only reason to feed a vegan diet would be for a dog like in Daisy's case.

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.

I am not giving in to her. She has always been a picky eater but lately it has gotten much worse. She also has digestive issues with most meats except chicken. If I was giving into her she would be eating only wet cat food but that is not appropriate for her. She also does a not eat eggs. She was a little plump before I had her spayed but then lost weight and was at a healthy weight. Right now she MUST gain weight per the vet. which is why I'm a bad mom. I refused to give into her.

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.

[MikaTallulah]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Nope, it's not a rarity. I've seen other vegetarian dogs who are also thriving. It's all about properly balancing the diet and nutrient profiles not ingredients. And as I said, I'd feed egg over meat if it was more portable and less perishable than meat.

I would feed eggs if she would eat it but she won't.

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.

[candigirl]

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?