Vegetarian Dog Food

October 2, 2007

You'll get mixed reactions and arguments

I think. Some people say it is okay.

I think everyone says that you must feed

a cat meat but I'm sure I could find someone

to disagree with me on that point.

I feed my dog some food that has meat in it.

Gary

--- sisterocki <sophiebella wrote:

> A couple people have told me they are sure

> that a vegetarian diet is not good for dogs.

> What does everyone have to say about this?

>

October 2, 2007

I believe dogs are omnivore but have no problem with a balanced

vegetarian diet. Cats are carnivores and need taurine for their eyes

and a few other things. My cars ate not vegetarian and I won't give

them a veg diet although they do enjoy some of my veggies.

Julie

, Gary Mattingly

<gsmattingly wrote:

>

> You'll get mixed reactions and arguments

> I think. Some people say it is okay.

> I think everyone says that you must feed

> a cat meat but I'm sure I could find someone

> to disagree with me on that point.

>

> I feed my dog some food that has meat in it.

>

> Gary

>

> --- sisterocki <sophiebella wrote:

>

> > A couple people have told me they are sure

> > that a vegetarian diet is not good for dogs.

> > What does everyone have to say about this?

> >

>

October 2, 2007

Julie wrote:

> My cars ate not vegetarian and I won't give

> them a veg diet although they do enjoy some of my veggies.

>

Your cars??? I thought they ate gasoline! (LOL Sorry couldnt resist!!!)

Actually my cats will eat veggies if I tell them they cant have them

cause they wont like them. Then they gobble them up to make a liar out

of me. Bwahahaha

Hugs

Neysa

October 2, 2007

Yesssss keep those typo's coming. I make them. Good

for a laugh, we all need a good laugh (:- )

My cats aren't vegetarian but they sure do like a

taste of my veggies but they said only a sample here

and there, and they told me to make sure I stay out of

their food!

Donna

--- Neysa Dormish <neysa37 wrote:

> Julie wrote:

> > My cars ate not vegetarian and I won't give

> > them a veg diet although they do enjoy some of my

> veggies.

> >

> Your cars??? I thought they ate gasoline! (LOL Sorry

> couldnt resist!!!)

> Actually my cats will eat veggies if I tell them

> they cant have them

> cause they wont like them. Then they gobble them up

> to make a liar out

> of me. Bwahahaha

> Hugs

> Neysa

>

" The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected. "

Old Swedish proverb.

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October 2, 2007

I think short term a dog can be veg but needs some dairy if they can

tolerate it or eggs. I am actually home cooking for my pup who was

very sick over the summer and have done a lot of dog food research!

And yes, I have meat in the refrigerator for him as we speak! I'd say

omnivore means just that, not vegetarian.

, " Julie " <a4dzero wrote:

>

> I believe dogs are omnivore but have no problem with a balanced

> vegetarian diet. Cats are carnivores and need taurine for their eyes

> and a few other things. My cars ate not vegetarian and I won't give

> them a veg diet although they do enjoy some of my veggies.

>

> Julie

>

> , Gary Mattingly

> <gsmattingly@> wrote:

> >

> > You'll get mixed reactions and arguments

> > I think. Some people say it is okay.

> > I think everyone says that you must feed

> > a cat meat but I'm sure I could find someone

> > to disagree with me on that point.

> >

> > I feed my dog some food that has meat in it.

> >

> > Gary

> >

> > --- sisterocki <sophiebella@> wrote:

> >

> > > A couple people have told me they are sure

> > > that a vegetarian diet is not good for dogs.

> > > What does everyone have to say about this?

> > >

> >

>

October 3, 2007

Interesting web page:

http://www.k9care.com/Tip-Vegetarian%20Dogs.htm

BTW, we use Mr. Barkey's dog cookies.

Sue

----

sisterocki

10/2/2007 5:50:40 PM

vegetarian dog food

A couple people have told me they are sure that a vegetarian diet is

not good for dogs. What does everyone have to say about this?

March 9, 2010

Just to add my experience as a vegetarian pet owner, my dog has been a

vegetarian since he was a pup. He is seven years old now. Our vet, who is

holistic and will even recommend raw meat for cats and dogs, has never once told

me to switch to meat for our dogs (our new rescue is now a vegetarian as well!)

and fully supports a vegetarian diet for dogs. The woman who stated that dogs

should have meat for health reasons is mistaken: dogs are omnivores, the way

humans are. Certainly, cats are carnivores and need the special supplements from

James Peden; but dogs do beautifully on a vegetarian diet. I love the vegetarian

recipe for dogs sent in to the group -- I'm going to make this for my dogs. Hope

the doggie with the upset stomach is doing better!

March 10, 2010

Hi Karen,

I totally agree - pets are absolutely able to be vegetarians/vegans.

James Peden's research (done in concert with other scientists and

veterinarians) was extensive before he started the Vegepet business, and

he continues his research all the time. They found that dogs can live

well off of human diets, but better with some natural supplements . just

like we can. (All the Vegepet supplements are natural, not artificial.)

Cats do need some amino acids and vitamins more absorbable in certain

formats, but can easily get that from the vegan sources in their

supplements . just like we do - kelp oil rather than fish oil for DHA,

etc. It's totally do-able and totally healthy. Plus, the Vegepet diet

has helped some cat ailments that our vet was surprised about - got rid

of one cat's urinary tract crystals without the usual medications or

prescription foods vets recommend, helped improve another cat's kidney

functioning after a sickness, etc. Our vet is pleasantly surprised

every time we ask James Peden for advice and his help changes the health

of our cats for the better! Great guy! And there are other vegetarian

and vegan pet food companies - we've just had such luck with Vegepet for

2 decades and trust James so much due to the results of his kind help,

we're just committed to what works for us. So I agree with you - pets

can be veg quite easily and happily! :-)

Have a great day,

Lorraine

On

Behalf Of Karen McFarland

Tuesday, March 09, 2010 1:02 PM

Vegetarian Dog Food

Just to add my experience as a vegetarian pet owner, my dog has been a

vegetarian since he was a pup. He is seven years old now. Our vet, who

is holistic and will even recommend raw meat for cats and dogs, has

never once told me to switch to meat for our dogs (our new rescue is now

a vegetarian as well!) and fully supports a vegetarian diet for dogs.

The woman who stated that dogs should have meat for health reasons is

mistaken: dogs are omnivores, the way humans are. Certainly, cats are

carnivores and need the special supplements from James Peden; but dogs

do beautifully on a vegetarian diet. I love the vegetarian recipe for

dogs sent in to the group -- I'm going to make this for my dogs. Hope

the doggie with the upset stomach is doing better!

March 11, 2010

Just thought I'd chime in for another person pro vegan pets. I've raised 2

healthy vegan cats. I strongly recommend reading " Oblgate Carnivore " by Jed

Gillen. It's a great book that talks about the pet food industry, pets' dietary

needs, and why a vegetarian/vegan diet is doable and healthy.

, " Lorraine " <ldemi wrote:

>

> Hi Karen,

> I totally agree - pets are absolutely able to be vegetarians/vegans.

> James Peden's research (done in concert with other scientists and

> veterinarians) was extensive before he started the Vegepet business, and

> he continues his research all the time. They found that dogs can live

> well off of human diets, but better with some natural supplements . just

> like we can. (All the Vegepet supplements are natural, not artificial.)

> Cats do need some amino acids and vitamins more absorbable in certain

> formats, but can easily get that from the vegan sources in their

> supplements . just like we do - kelp oil rather than fish oil for DHA,

> etc. It's totally do-able and totally healthy. Plus, the Vegepet diet

> has helped some cat ailments that our vet was surprised about - got rid

> of one cat's urinary tract crystals without the usual medications or

> prescription foods vets recommend, helped improve another cat's kidney

> functioning after a sickness, etc. Our vet is pleasantly surprised

> every time we ask James Peden for advice and his help changes the health

> of our cats for the better! Great guy! And there are other vegetarian

> and vegan pet food companies - we've just had such luck with Vegepet for

> 2 decades and trust James so much due to the results of his kind help,

> we're just committed to what works for us. So I agree with you - pets

> can be veg quite easily and happily! :-)

> Have a great day,

> Lorraine

>

> On

> Behalf Of Karen McFarland

> Tuesday, March 09, 2010 1:02 PM

>

> Vegetarian Dog Food

>

> Just to add my experience as a vegetarian pet owner, my dog has been a

> vegetarian since he was a pup. He is seven years old now. Our vet, who

> is holistic and will even recommend raw meat for cats and dogs, has

> never once told me to switch to meat for our dogs (our new rescue is now

> a vegetarian as well!) and fully supports a vegetarian diet for dogs.

> The woman who stated that dogs should have meat for health reasons is

> mistaken: dogs are omnivores, the way humans are. Certainly, cats are

> carnivores and need the special supplements from James Peden; but dogs

> do beautifully on a vegetarian diet. I love the vegetarian recipe for

> dogs sent in to the group -- I'm going to make this for my dogs. Hope

> the doggie with the upset stomach is doing better!

>

March 11, 2010

Ditto on the " dogs are omnivores " . I am no expert at all but saw a snippet on a

nature show once which showed lions eating grass. This was a revelation to the

researchers. Apparently they need the phytonutrients. So " cats " aren't

CARNIVORES either.

March 18, 2010

Not replying to anyone in particular, but I wonder if any of the folks who have

pets and feed them non-vegan " pet food " have any second thoughts about whether

that is an ethical pactice?

I'm sure everybody on this group who has a companion animal has a strong bond

with them, and the thought of parting with their present companion at this point

would be much like the thought of parting with any other loved one.

But would you do it again (have a pet), knowing what you know now, i.e., knowing

that the choice to sustain the life on each non-vegan animal is also a choice to

cause many other animals to suffer and die? What would you advise other people

contemplating adopting pets that they don't believe can thrive on a plant-based

diet?

It's very sad to think about cats and dogs in animal shelters not being adopted,

but isn't it even more sad to rescue one of these animals and generate life long

demand for pet foods containing the tortured remains of many others?

Cats and dogs in shelters are there, generally speaking, as the result of poor

choices made by their former guardians. The cats and dogs are victims, as are

the chickens, fish, cows, etc. that are killed to feed them, especially for the

" premium " pet foods.

These are tough choices with disturbing consequences. Perhaps the most ethical

thing we can for the animals is to try our best to help them thrive on a vegan

diet, and if there are some individual animals that just can't make it, then we

provide them hospice-like love and attention during the days we have together.

What do you all think?

Regards,

Alan

March 18, 2010

Alan,

I wanted to reply to your letter on feeding pets non-vegan food. This

issue is one of the big reasons why I do not call myself a vegan, even

though I personally eat a vegan diet. But I do not believe one can be a

vegan and purchase non-vegan pet food for their companion animals.

This October will be 15 years I've been a vegetarian. I have a cat who

is 16 years old and she eats non-vegan pet food. I have tried over the

years to get her to eat vegan pet food. She refuses. She literally goes

without eating and walks around crying for food. So I have been doomed

to buying disgusting non-vegan pet food for her. At this point everyone

in my house knows that after she dies we will never again have a

non-vegetarian pet in our home. But for now I have no choice.

I think if you have a cat or dog you have to start them on a vegetarian

diet from the beginning. My cat, who was probably 10 when first came

across vegetarian cat food, absolutely would not eat it. Nor would she

each subsequent time I've tried giving it to her over the years.

I don't feel it is ethical to feed non-vegan food to a pet. And I also

do not feel it is in line with a vegan lifestyle. It turns my stomach

every time I feed her. I can't stand the smell, look, etc. It is so

disgusting. But she's 16 and I take comfort in knowing that this is

something that I will not be taking part in forever.

I'm glad you brought this up, thank you.

Jacqueline

www.vegblogger.co

March 18, 2010

Alan--I don't know about anyone else, but I'm just not convinced animals such as

cats and dogs can thrive on a vegan diet when they are natural carnivores. I

have one rescued dog, three rescued cats, and one " chosen " dog from a breeder. I

feed them regular dry food, and the cats get one can of wet food a day (split

between them). What exactly is IN the vegan pet foods? Has this been proven to

sustain them and give them a healthy, normal life? Isn't it true that these

animals are natural carnivores? How difficult or expensive is it to feed cats

and dogs a vegan diet, as compared to a traditional meat one? Can animals raised

on traditional diets be comfortably switched over?

I know--more questions than answers. But I am really interested to hear the

answers, and any experiences people might have had with this. I can see the

ethical conflict, but IS it a conflict when in the wild, and left on their own,

these animals eat roadkill, not plants? Maybe in the Garden of Eden, or in a

heavenly paradise, all creatures are plant eaters, but I haven't seen evidence

of this in this world. Maybe this is normal and natural for them, at least here

in this world? Not trying to be argumentative here. I really am interested in

this topic! Marilyn

March 19, 2010

Marilyn,

Lots of facets to explore with this topic. Just addressing part of your posting

....

I try to separate the choices that animals make in the wild, from the choices

that I make. If I chose to adopt a carnivore that could't thrive on plant-based

pet food, then I would also have chosen to cause the suffering of many other

animals for the duration of the adopted pet's life.

I know there is some debate as to whether carnivores (namely, cats; dogs may

vary by breed) can thrive on plant-based pet food with synthetic taurine.

Perhaps some cats can and some cannot. Like us, no two are exactly the same.

Best I can tell, if you choose to adopt a cat, there is at least a chance the

cat will not tolerate an entirely plant-based diet.

The choices we make and their consequences aren't always obvious when we buy

cans/bags of pet food that emphasize the happy pets who eat them, and downplay

the other animals that have been reduced to " ingredients " .

If the consequences of raising pets on a non-vegan diet were more visible,

perhaps people would make different choices. For example, what if instead of

buying a bag/can of non-vegan pet food, people had to select live farm animals

at the store and then standby and watch as they are " processed " .

- Alan

, youhavehowmany wrote:

>

> Alan--I don't know about anyone else, but I'm just not convinced animals such

as cats and dogs can thrive on a vegan diet when they are natural carnivores. I

have one rescued dog, three rescued cats, and one " chosen " dog from a breeder. I

feed them regular dry food, and the cats get one can of wet food a day (split

between them). What exactly is IN the vegan pet foods? Has this been proven to

sustain them and give them a healthy, normal life? Isn't it true that these

animals are natural carnivores? How difficult or expensive is it to feed cats

and dogs a vegan diet, as compared to a traditional meat one? Can animals raised

on traditional diets be comfortably switched over?

>

> I know--more questions than answers. But I am really interested to hear the

answers, and any experiences people might have had with this. I can see the

ethical conflict, but IS it a conflict when in the wild, and left on their own,

these animals eat roadkill, not plants? Maybe in the Garden of Eden, or in a

heavenly paradise, all creatures are plant eaters, but I haven't seen evidence

of this in this world. Maybe this is normal and natural for them, at least here

in this world? Not trying to be argumentative here. I really am interested in

this topic! Marilyn

>

March 19, 2010

we live in a suburb that was all farm land 30+ years ago with many remant farms

still around. While on a family walk/bike ride we were passing the Ag Center

for the local high school and I brought this up to my " part-time vegetarian "

husband.

I wonder how many people would coninue to consume animals if they were to watch

them processed or have to process the animal themselves.

I like how you related it to feeding our pets, as I didn't really think much

about it that way.

P.s. We are looking to adopt a dog in the next few months (before I get pregnant

again, and I'd be interested to hear the different types of dogs that you all

have been able to feed a veg diet.

Thanks,

Cassie

" life's a garden, dig it! "

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 19, 2010, at 2:38 PM, " soy_decaf_latte " <soy_decaf_latte

wrote: