Vegetarian diet

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I was posting resources to show its not simply an opinion. Dogs are not made to be vegetarians and I understand that you have your personal feelings but you also get the choice to choose which foods that you eat and if you feel bad like possibly missing a vitamin bad you can help your self a dog can't. It is especially important that a puppy is getting everything they need or there growth can seriously be messed up. Just because other people do it dosen't make it right or best for the dog even if that person has gotten lucky. You should not force a dogs system to do something there not meant for. I do hope you do some research and don't just base it on opinions. In fact I strongly suggest you consult with a vet nutritionist.

And when she does consult with a vet nutritionist she'll learn that for $25 an adult vegetarian diet can sustain her adult dog. It really doesn't matter what sources of protein are used if the amino acid requirements of a dog are met. Hate to tell you but your vet tech is wrong.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by lettuelady

No offence but I can google the good and bad of anything too. I am looking for personal experience from those in the group that have tried or are feeding a vegetarian diet.
Thank you!

I can tell you that having fed my dog vegetarian food for five years, she looked lovely and perfect labs. She's turning 15 in three months so it didn't kill the little carnivore. I also feed eggs and fish to my dogs. Perhaps an egg diet would work for your pup... Excellent source of amino acids, easy to make, etc. there are commercial options ...I already mentioned purina HA.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

In my opinion, it is wrong to impose your lifestyle choices as a human onto animals which cannot speak for themselves and are made up differently than we are, biologically speaking...


Dogs enjoy meat as part of their healthy DOG lifestyle. You will probably be hard pressed to find anyone on this forum who supports a vegetarian diet for dogs despite being vegan/vegetarian ourselves.

I impose my dogs lifestyle choices on them all the time. I'm their owner so I get to choose. I do support a vegetarian diet for dogs IF it is properly balanced as a home cooked diet or a commercial food that is labeled for puppies in this case. I suppose she wasn't that hard pressed to find support after all.
My dogs love eggs and legumes and are very healthy, living long lives.

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I can tell you that having fed my dog vegetarian food for five years, she looked lovely and perfect labs. She's turning 15 in three months so it didn't kill the little carnivore. I also feed eggs and fish to my dogs. Perhaps an egg diet would work for your pup... Excellent source of amino acids, easy to make, etc. there are commercial options ...I already mentioned purina HA.

I meant 'majority support' as opposed to any (sorry for retrospective clarification) and I know we all impose our lifestyle choices on dogs but I was speaking specifically about diet. In addition, I stated I am conducting some pseudo meta-analysis re: vegetarian diet for canines due to my own inexperience re: the subject. Also, I updated to state that there are research studies going on re: vegetarian diets and posted one specific to dental hygiene. Finally, dogs eat meat and plants and I don't think that was in dispute by anyone.


I would really rather not see this post digress into an 'us and them' debate since we are all here to learn. I believe Ann and some others have already pointed the OP to some vegetarian options.


Like anyone else, I'm entitled to my opinion

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I impose my dogs lifestyle choices on them all the time. I'm their owner so I get to choose. I do support a vegetarian diet for dogs IF it is properly balanced as a home cooked diet or a commercial food that is labeled for puppies in this case. I suppose she wasn't that hard pressed to find support after all.

My dogs love eggs and legumes and are very healthy, living long lives.

Believe me, your dogs in particular eat WAY better than I do, on a daily basis ! I've seen what you cook since you posted pics here, and it's amazing.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by TomA

Royal Canin is an average quality dog food but it uses corn filler which has absolutely no nutritional value for a dog. Corn also boosts the protein percentages on the label but it can not be metabolized by a dog so it is worthless. Wean your dog off the high priced corn stuff and switch to a good grain free food. Check out DogFoodAdvisor.com . Some excellent grain free brands are Blue Buffalo, Castor and Pollux, Evo, Merrick, Orijen. Avoid all Purina products.

You do know that dogfoodadvisor is run by a human dentist right? He also doesn't rate by how good the company is and quality control and such is a whole heck of a lot more important then ingredients. Blue Buffalo has serious quality control issues and to many of the life source bits can make your dog very sick it also appears there ingredients might come from China. Merrick has quality control issues.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by TomA

Royal Canin is an average quality dog food but it uses corn filler which has absolutely no nutritional value for a dog. Corn also boosts the protein percentages on the label but it can not be metabolized by a dog so it is worthless. Wean your dog off the high priced corn stuff and switch to a good grain free food. Check out DogFoodAdvisor.com . Some excellent grain free brands are Blue Buffalo, Castor and Pollux, Evo, Merrick, Orijen. Avoid all Purina products.

I would advise anyone who decides to choose a dog food by using the list that the dog food advisor recommends as "excellent' to Google two of the companies listed above.... Merrick and Castor and Pollux. Merrick owns Castor and Pollux. I used to use it way back before I realized that a safe dog food for my pups is more than a list of ingredients. Google Merrick and FDA. I did and I can only say it is a company I personally would never do business with. Purina is one I would, and do, use.

Sorry to go off the topic here. It was just that I felt I should comment about that one company. The only dog food companies I rely on and trust are: Hill's Science Diet, Purina and Royal Canin. Many of my pups are on RX foods from the above.

I don't really know anything about vegetarian diets for dogs, but 107barney's comments do make sense to me. If I were considering a vegetarian diet I would definitely speak with a vet nutritionist....but I do that for my pups for other diets as well.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Believe me, your dogs in particular eat WAY better than I do, on a daily basis ! I've seen what you cook since you posted pics here, and it's amazing.

Indeed! Her knowledge on dog nutrition is vast and she does have healthy dogs and feeds them well! I often go to Cathy with questions about foods for my pups.

I feel I feed mine well, but felt a bit like a loser after viewing those photos. LOL

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by 107barney

And when she does consult with a vet nutritionist she'll learn that for $25 an adult vegetarian diet can sustain her adult dog. It really doesn't matter what sources of protein are used if the amino acid requirements of a dog are met. Hate to tell you but your vet tech is wrong.

It wasn't one at my vets office it was a friend who is one. And she says a dog who needs it medically can thrive on it but that a healthy dog should not be on it because it is not optimal. We are talking a puppy with growing to do so it would be not an option for her to just make up a diet a vet nutritionist would need to be involved. I disagree that vegetarian food is ok and good for a healthy dog let alone a puppy.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

It wasn't one at my vets office it was a friend who is one. And she says a dog who needs it medically can thrive on it but that a healthy dog should not be on it because it is not optimal. We are talking a puppy with growing to do so it would be not an option for her to just make up a diet a vet nutritionist would need to be involved. I disagree that vegetarian food is ok and good for a healthy dog let alone a puppy.

Taylor you like anyone can have your opinions but you're always posting it like its "fact"
I'm simply stating that dr Remillard sells vegetarian diets - and she disagrees with you about this and I'll listen to her over you. Sorry. The OP wants to feed vegetarian food, she doesn't want everyone to tell her she's doing something "bad" or harmful by that choice and she isn't.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

I meant 'majority support' as opposed to any (sorry for retrospective clarification) and I know we all impose our lifestyle choices on dogs but I was speaking specifically about diet. In addition, I stated I am conducting some pseudo meta-analysis re: vegetarian diet for canines due to my own inexperience re: the subject. Also, I updated to state that there are research studies going on re: vegetarian diets and posted one specific to dental hygiene. Finally, dogs eat meat and plants and I don't think that was in dispute by anyone.


I would really rather not see this post digress into an 'us and them' debate since we are all here to learn. I believe Ann and some others have already pointed the OP to some vegetarian options. Like anyone else, I'm entitled to my opinion

Teddykins of course you're entitled to your opinion, I never said you weren't. As for your research, I have to wonder who made the vegetarian diets in question. Dogs have to have their amino acids and other nutrients met. If the diet (any diet) is deficient, it can lead to problems. We have yorkies- bad teeth will be more the result of anatomical misshapenings to the jaw than to some other factor if you ask a vet dentist. I have a four year old fed high protein meat for life with 10 teeth pulled at age three. What can ya do?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Taylor you like anyone can have your opinions but you're always posting it like its "fact"
I'm simply stating that dr Remillard sells vegetarian diets - and she disagrees with you about this and I'll listen to her over you. Sorry. The OP wants to feed vegetarian food, she doesn't want everyone to tell her she's doing something "bad" or harmful by that choice and she isn't.

I never posted it was a fact but there are several vets who feel the same as I do. It's amazing you bring up food and people want to tell you how stupid and dumb you are but someone brings up bad breeding and these people disappear. It's hard to believe people care so much about there dogs to fight about food yet not bad breeding hmmmmm......... Maybe I should just add myself to the list with Jodi and Lynzy this is such bs. I am not an idiot and I refuse to be treated like one!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

I meant 'majority support' as opposed to any (sorry for retrospective clarification) and I know we all impose our lifestyle choices on dogs but I was speaking specifically about diet. In addition, I stated I am conducting some pseudo meta-analysis re: vegetarian diet for canines due to my own inexperience re: the subject. Also, I updated to state that there are research studies going on re: vegetarian diets and posted one specific to dental hygiene. Finally, dogs eat meat and plants and I don't think that was in dispute by anyone.


I would really rather not see this post digress into an 'us and them' debate since we are all here to learn. I believe Ann and some others have already pointed the OP to some vegetarian options.


Like anyone else, I'm entitled to my opinion

But if it's different then "theirs" you will be made to feel stupid and like your a horrible person for your opinion. It's so ridiculous but sense it's reversed this time it won't be called out.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I never posted it was a fact but there are several vets who feel the same as I do. It's amazing you bring up food and people want to tell you how stupid and dumb you are but someone brings up bad breeding and these people disappear. It's hard to believe people care so much about there dogs to fight about food yet not bad breeding hmmmmm......... Maybe I should just add myself to the list with Jodi and Lynzy this is such bs. I am not an idiot and I refuse to be treated like one!

What's your problem today? You posted incorrect. I corrected it for the OP. You keep saying a puppy can't have growing needs met by vegetarian food and hats not true. Purina HA is labeled for all life stages. that's just one. If I have time, I'll come back and find others. I haven't had time to look at RC vegetarian but that may be also labeled as all life stages. What are you talking about with breeding - missed what you're referring to there. And why are you bringing Jodi and lyzny into it, the might not even care all that much about what a vegetarian person chooses to feed their puppy as long as it's balanced.

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Teddykins of course you're entitled to your opinion, I never said you weren't. As for your research, I have to wonder who made the vegetarian diets in question. Dogs have to have their amino acids and other nutrients met. If the diet (any diet) is deficient, it can lead to problems. We have yorkies- bad teeth will be more the result of anatomical misshapenings to the jaw than to some other factor if you ask a vet dentist. I have a four year old fed high protein meat for life with 10 teeth pulled at age three. What can ya do?

I hate forums, sometimes, for the misconstrued intent that is sometimes projected by the nature of forum limitations. Also, this is not the first time I have posted in haste to have my post questioned so I apologize and will try to get it through my thick head to not post between other tasks.


What I MEANT to say is my opinion was my opinion which was stated reactively. Following the OP's post, I started to research vegetarian diets for canines and I have yet to come across anything since I just started checking it out this morning. So, I've hardly had time to come across any conclusive studies (assuming there are any) or consider any studies at all but came across ONE study re: teeth. Of course, ONE study is just ONE study and means nothing in the grand scheme of things but I thought I would post it in case someone wanted to query the results with their vet who may have different insights/advice.


So, I am always open to new lines of thinking but I admit that I am biased towards my feelings re: animal and human relationships so it may take me longer (if ever) to come around to some consensus re: removing meat from a canine diet. BUT, I found the whole thing interesting and I do not want to make blanket statements or judgments especially since, as I admitted, I am not educated on the matter. Rather, I posted a reactive opinion based on my own bias.


I don't even know if this makes sense but I wish the OP good luck in finding a vegetarian diet since I am going to be no help on the basis of my feelings alone..lol


Hope everyone has a good day and thanks, as always, for stimulating conversation x