I’ve often wondered the ethics and viability of a vegan diet for dogs. I thought it was high time I looked into it for you. Is a vegan diet is not only viable but perhaps superior to a meat based, conventional pet food based diet? What is in ‘conventional’ pet food and can we trust it? Could I find enough evidence to say it is not only ok but better for Fido?
We are also giving away a 5 lb bag of dog food to one lucky reader!
Recent research papers from the University of Upsalla in Sweden and from UCD, both of them have demonstrated that modern dog has the enzyme composition that allows them to digest starch, but wolves do not! In other words modern dogs are the product of 10 to 14,000 years of evolution, living in human communities. The first one is published in Nature, and costs $32.00 to order online. Both of these papers put to bed the notion that dogs are wolves and, therefore carnivores. According to a report by PETA, companion dogs can do well on a vegetarian/vegan diets. Cats however need a vital component that is present in meat and a vegan diet is strongly advised against. I found an article online, written by Dr. Armaiti May (D.V. M., C.V.A). It claims VEGETARIAN DIETS CAN BE HEALTHY FOR DOGS. Dr May says that most pet foods contain slaughter house wastes and diseased and dying animals. Marked unfit for human consumption. Would you really want your precious pup to eat it? Some pet foods are even said to contain the remnants of un-housed dogs and cats that have been put to sleep from ‘rescue’ centres. If we are what we eat then surely, dogs are no exception? click here for full article.
Also, it may be surprising to you that the Guinness Book of World Records say that a 37 year old dog called Bramble was a vegetarian.
Can you recommend any home-made meals for dogs?
Basically our formula, which is a complete diet for dogs. Or a favourite meal of one of your own dogs. We do add things to the kibble such as nutritional yeast, table veggies, oatmeal in the AM, extra brown rice and quinoa in the PM. However,V-dog contains all of the essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals and 24% protein a dog needs to thrive.
It is important that humans have a high ratio of raw/uncooked foods to benefit from the nutrients and enzymes that are lost during cooking, is this the same for dogs?
No, dogs are not in the same category.
Are their any plant foods, which we find in our stores, a dog shouldn’t eat? Yes, onions, garlic, chocolate, peppers,grapes & raisins, macadamia nuts, hops, yeast and xylitol to name a few.
Why and how did you launch a vegan dog food - V-Dog?
We were attending an International Vegetarian Conference in Edinburg, Scotland in 2003, and Happy Dog was tabling there. I contacted them, and over the course of 18 months started selling their brand in the USA. We were never completely satisfied with it, and developed our own formula with our Ph.D professional pet nutritionist. We took out the allergens like wheat, corn, soy, and we have no GMO or gluten in our formula, but it is 24% protein.
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| taste tester Lefty sniffing out a V-Dog kibble |
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| eager dog! the bowl travelled around the room in her efforts to lap up all the V-Dog. |
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| I’d say her verdict was a big paws-up! |
Now we want to hear from you!
What is your experience? Do you have a vegetarian dog? Do you think imposing your diet on your dog is best for them? Leave your thoughts/experiences in the comments box below and lets see what you have to say.
V-dog have kindly donated a 5 lb bag of kibble for 1 lucky reader. All you have to do is submit an entry in the box below and promise to come back and tell us how your dog liked it.
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“It is important that humans have a high ratio of raw/uncooked foods to benefit from the nutrients and enzymes that are lost during cooking, is this the same for dogs?
No, dogs are not in the same category.”
I’d like to see the facts/science behind that answer… ALL animals should have living, fresh, whole foods as part of their diet.
“Are their any plant foods, which we find in our stores, a dog shouldn’t eat? Yes, onions, garlic, chocolate, peppers,grapes & raisins, macadamia nuts, hops, yeast and xylitol to name a few.”
The garlic myth is one I’ve been dispelling for years. See my article on the issue: https://www.facebook.com/notes/natural-pet-market/garlic-the-stuff-legends-are-made-of-from-deterring-vampires-to-poisoning-pets/10150415805182170
My dog is a shar-pei and for the past 2 1/2 years he has been eating V-dog and a home base protein diet. We decide to changed foods because he started developing allergies and we did not know what to do. Since we change his diet with v-dog and a combination of of quinoa, lentils, green beans, rice, egg and sometimes tuna, he is stronger than ever and his hair it’s beautiful and allergies free!!. He is 10 years old but he is healthy and happy as a 3 year old dog!!
I adopted my dog in July; she was being fed lamb/rice kibble and some high-caloric liquid OUT OF A TUBE because she had “stomach issues.” I ditched the tube, responsibly transitioned her to V-dog, and she’s never had a stomach issue on my watch. She loves raw veggies (cut into tiny pieces), but V-dog is her breakfast, lunch, and dinner: with some nutritional yeast sprinkled on for good measure.
My two little dogs are both on a vegan diet. I began feeding them Dick Van Patten’s vegan kibble some time ago when a trusted dog trainer I know personally told me it was absolutely safe. Since then, my dogs have been as happy as always! I’ve recently begun “crock-potting” my veggie and fruit scraps (I’m a raw vegan, so I’ve got LOTS of this, including juicer pulp) with a bit of water and making a yummy mush to mix with their food, adding even more good vitamins and minerals, and they LOVE IT!! I find they’re much pickier with raw veggies (which they do eat as well here and there). Thanks for the article!
My Puppies, Kasey and Luna, Miniture Chocolate and Tan long haired Dachshunds, started eating the kible as treats and they absolutly love it. Now at 6 months it is what they eat. They gobble it down. They are real health pups.
Thank you
Sharon
I think V-Dog must be a pretty good food, especially for dogs with allergies.
Too bad PETA is mentioned in the article, most serious dog owners/trainers don’t take them seriously.
I agree with Tracy, all dogs should get some fresh, raw food in their diet. That question should’ve been omitted from the article (for David’s sake, he comes off as someon pretending to know something he doesn’t). A dog can survive on only cooked foods, just as a human can. That doesn’t mean that it’s good for either.
“Can you recommend any home-made meals for dogs?
Basically our formula, which is a complete diet for dogs.”
How is V-Dog kibble homemade???
Nowadays there are loads of high quality meat based kibbles. It would’ve been beneficial to compare V-Dog to those, especially since they’re in the same price range.
Kibble is kibble is kibble. There are better foods we can feed our dogs. That said, it’s worth mentioning that one of the oldest dogs (Max, a terrier mix) has been on “Kibbles ‘n bits”, an inferior kibble (contains meat).
Bramble lived to be 27 (NOT 37 as the article states, must be a typo).
I don’t have a dog myself but I remember reading that dogs are fine on a vegan diet. I don’t remember what it said about cats though or where the article was from. It was awhile ago.