Guest guest Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 If this is too far OT, please let me know, but I have some questions and hope to find some direction here. I've been feeding my dog a natural diet for several years (includes raw meat). Research with his particular personality (high prey drive, etc.) seems to indicate his protein needs to be lowered and/or come from other sources. Beans, soy, nuts come to mind first. Also needs grains, but many cause allergic reactions in dogs, so I'm careful about what he gets in that arena, as he already has skin problems. All this to say, has anyone here ever worked on a low-animal-protein diet with their own pets and, if so, can you offer any insights? Again, if this is too far " out there, " just let me know. Thanks, Paula J. Tulsa, OK and " Spawn of Satan " aka Brody, the Welsh Terror Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 ok not positive but I think dogs can actually be fed a vegetarian diet but cats gotta have meat. once again I aint sure but I heard that somewhere. good luck Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 yeah, i think it can be dave. there are some dogs with allergies to meat, where a veggie diet would benefit. (a friend of mine just switched hers over on recommendation of a vet, because the pup had severe beef allergies). there are a couple of vegetarian brands of dog food available. i saw one at petco the other day, can't remember the name of it. the other is by a company called natural balance www.naturalbalanceinc.com I'm not converting my own to a veggie diet, but i'm thinking of switching to natural balance duck & chicken blend anyway because it's a higher quality food than what i've been feeding my pekes. My friend, who is a peke breeder in Wash. state swears by this food. The cute thing about Natural Balance too, is that it was founded by actor Dick Van Patten (of " 8 is enough " fame). :-) Megan - Dave Friday, October 03, 2003 9:38 PM Re: Animals and vegetarianism ... ? ok not positive but I think dogs can actually be fed a vegetarian diet but cats gotta have meat. once again I aint sure but I heard that somewhere. good luck Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2003 Report Share Posted October 4, 2003 Hello Paula J, When I first became a vegetarian, some 18 years ago, I looked into the possibility of converting my pets (dogs and cats) as well. Advice from the vet and my own research indicated it's not a good idea. They are biologically omnivores and won't be healthy without animal protein and animal fat. For cats, the most affected area will be diminished vision. For dogs, the most affected area will be dry, itchy skin, hair loss. Since your dog is already having skin problems, making him vegetarian wouldn't seem to be indicated. Hope this helps. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2003 Report Share Posted October 4, 2003 Cats need the taurine and a couple of other things difficult to remember that are found in animal tissue - they can eat a vegan diet with *supplements* that supply these needed ingredients or they can eat a commercially prepared vegan diet that already contains the needed supplements. There aren't many such diets manufacturered, but they are readily available in the USA and Europe. Cats, I am told, live as long and as healthily on this diet as meat-eating cats. But they can be fussy eaters, as all cat lovers know ;=) Dogs are easier. Switching a dog to a veggie diet is quick, easy, effective, and they *love* it. A little (internal) olive oil makes their coats beautiful - even on an omniverous diet ;=) Dogs with allergies? Dunno. I'd say if my dogs had allergies I'd find out what they were allergic to an home cook all of their food to avoid it. Easy for me to say, of course - I have smallish dogs ;=) *and* I like to cook! Good luck, Pat -- SANTBROWN townhounds/ http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/ ---------- * " I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet " - Gandhi * " The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men " - Leonardo da Vinci ---------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2003 Report Share Posted October 4, 2003 Thanks for all the input. I really appreciate it. Brody's been on the Volhard diet for nearly two years (as long as I've had him). My previous Welsh and my Airedale were also both on this diet. It's a well-documented and researched program; you can read more about it at www.volhard.com. Brody pretty much came to me at 8 months old scratching, and it ebbs and flows these days. At one point we did a total elimination diet for six weeks with no change whatsoever. Whatever triggers his problems, neither the vet or I think it's dietary. I've always added flax seed oil to his meals, but am now trying something the vet recommended. Luckily for me, I use a vet well-versed in both allopathic and holistic practices. The Volhard diet includes grains and veggies in the a.m. meal; the evening meal is raw meat-based. My main reason for lowering his meat intake comes from research done by Dr. Dodman on how diets high in protein may contribute to aggression and over-active prey drive in some dogs. Brody is very prey-driven; I compete with him in earthdog trials. However, his aggression is on the rise, due in some part I'm sure, to the fact he's so itchy all the time. But that still doesn't excuse it! Am hoping a TTouch workshop in Dallas next month will start to move us in the right direction, behavior-wise, as I think some of his troubles are fear-based and stem from that. So, that's where I am. I'll keep at my research and see where it takes me. Thanks again for all the input. I really appreciate it. Best, Paula Johnson, LMT Therapeutic Bodywork Tulsa, OK - Sant & Brown Saturday, October 04, 2003 8:15 AM Re: Animals and vegetarianism ... ? Dogs are easier. Switching a dog to a veggie diet is quick, easy, effective, and they *love* it. A little (internal) olive oil makes their coats beautiful - even on an omniverous diet ;=) Dogs with allergies? Dunno. I'd say if my dogs had allergies I'd find out what they were allergic to an home cook all of their food to avoid it. Easy for me to say, of course - I have smallish dogs ;=) *and* I like to cook! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2003 Report Share Posted October 4, 2003 Here's a very good vegetarian food. They also sell a canned wet food. Their non-vege food is also very good and made from human quality ingredients. They also have cat food. http://www.breeders-choice.com/Dog_Products/avodermdog_veg.html It's available at Petco. I agree there is some controversy surrounding dogs as vegetarians. Dogs are carnivores and their system is setup to eat meat, i.e. a shorter digestive tract and canine teeth. It's very difficult for me to feed my dog meat but since they are part of nature I hope that I don't endure the bad karma of having killed animals to feed my dog. - " Sant & Brown " <santbrown Saturday, October 04, 2003 6:15 AM Re: Animals and vegetarianism ... ? > Cats need the taurine and a couple of other things difficult to remember > that are found in animal tissue - they can eat a vegan diet with > *supplements* that supply these needed ingredients or they can eat a > commercially prepared vegan diet that already contains the needed > supplements. There aren't many such diets manufacturered, but they are > readily available in the USA and Europe. Cats, I am told, live as long > and as healthily on this diet as meat-eating cats. But they can be fussy > eaters, as all cat lovers know ;=) > > Dogs are easier. Switching a dog to a veggie diet is quick, easy, > effective, and they *love* it. A little (internal) olive oil makes their > coats beautiful - even on an omniverous diet ;=) > > Dogs with allergies? Dunno. I'd say if my dogs had allergies I'd find > out what they were allergic to an home cook all of their food to avoid > it. Easy for me to say, of course - I have smallish dogs ;=) *and* I > like to cook! > > Good luck, > Pat > -- > SANTBROWN > townhounds/ > http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/ > ---------- > * " I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet " - Gandhi > > * " The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of > animals as they now look upon the murder of men " - Leonardo da Vinci > ---------- > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2003 Report Share Posted October 4, 2003 if your dog is experiencing hair loss i would recommend flax seed oil (uncooked only). my family's dog was losing her hair, but they started giving her flax and it grew back healthy... As far as feeding your pets veggie diet, from most every credible source I've read, I would concur with everything Pat said.. unfortunately I cannot say from personal experience, because my parents are too brainwashed by the meat industry's propaganda and the health food magazines (made to sell supplements) to consider a veggie diet for their dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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