Guest guest Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 >Hey there. So I'm researching on the possibility of feeding my dog a >vegetarian diet. He's currently on a vet-prescribed fish-based >commercial dog food because he has skin problems If the dog happened to be a human, a vegetarian diet might help. Vegetarian diets tend to clear up many human skin problems. However, your dog is a dog. Dogs evolved as scavengers, primarily, whose natural diet is precisely this-- >so much crap in commercial dog food Dogs have evolved to eat the offal, hooves, tails, brains, ears, & marrow left in the bones of animals whose carcasses have already been stripped and abandoned by the lions, tigers, hyenas, and even the vultures. Along the way, dogs have also evolved to eat with impunity much that would severely harm either humans or top predators. Dogs eat dung, rats, & rotting refuse as part of their normal, natural diet. The maxim in pet food manufacturing is that dog food must be nasty enough that a dog will eat it, but packaged attractively enough that humans will buy it. The latter is the hard part, because dogs will eat and thrive on almost anything. >I don't see the point of spending so much on his dog food if it's not >helping his skin probs. Most likely, the dog's skin problems have nothing to do with diet. Skin problems in dogs usually result from parasites, especially mange, but certainly not exclusively. Some diets can help to ward off specific parasites, but clearing up a skin problem requires, first and foremost, treating the problem. > And my dog LOVES most kinds of veggies and fruits. >He's quite a weird dog. He even licks lemons sometimes! Most dogs will eat vegetables and even fruit, but not as a primary diet. In Puerto Rico I watched street dogs avidly devouring wind-fallen avocados. In season, apparently, avocado is a staple of the diets of Puerto Rican street dogs, as a variation from their usual diet of rats and refuse -- but they need the rats and refuse too. > So I'm thinking of feeding him something like rice and veggies. I'm >currently researching on his nutritional needs and substitutes for >animal protein in his diet because I want to make an informed >decision and I don't want him to suffer any deficiencies. The Internet is full of food faddists and quacks who will prescribe all sorts of doggie diets, from vegan to predigested raw meat only. Many of these folks have gotten rich writing horror stories about commercial pet food. But your dog -- or any dog -- will probably choose a healthier and better-balanced diet for himself, if allowed to forage for it in dumps and gutters, than anything humans are likely to concoct, even if it is all stuff that you yourself might throw up at the mere thought of ingesting. Incidentally, cats have vastly more sensitive systems than dogs, and much more complex dietary requirements, but almost entirely in one direction: the perfect diet for any cat is mice. Thus the unending quest of the cat food industry is to recycle the waste from human food production in the manner that will most replicate the nutritional content of mice. -- Merritt Clifton Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE P.O. Box 960 Clinton, WA 98236 Telephone: 360-579-2505 Fax: 360-579-2575 E-mail: anmlpepl Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org [ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations. We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year; for free sample, send address.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 Dear friend, All my dogs have been vegetarian and I have had dogs for all my 64 years. Most have lived longer than average and have had no major problems. Of course, giving a dog a balanced vegetarian diet is more work than just dumping offal to him/her. Please google vegetarian diet for dogs. You will be surprised at the amount of even vegan diets available. Dogs have always been omnivores unlike cats and it is very simple to keep them vegetarian. All good wishes for 2009 and may all that has life be free of suffering. S. Chinny Krishna www.bluecrossofindia.org <http://www.bluecrossofindia.org/> aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of Seelan Palay 25 December 2008 22:12 aapn Vegetarian diet for dogs? Query from a friend of mine, can anyone help advise? Hey there. So I'm researching on the possibility of feeding my dog a vegetarian diet. He's currently on a vet-prescribed fish-based commercial dog food because he has skin problems, but I don't think the 'special' diet is helping much. And there's so much crap in commercial dog food. I don't see the point of spending so much on his dog food if it's not helping his skin probs. And my dog LOVES most kinds of veggies and fruits. He's quite a weird dog. He even licks lemons sometimes! So I'm thinking of feeding him something like rice and veggies. I'm currently researching on his nutritional needs and substitutes for animal protein in his diet because I want to make an informed decision and I don't want him to suffer any deficiencies. If you have any info that you think might be helpful to me right now, could you forward me the links or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 Never saw the original post here, but I think I agree with the prescribed outcome, based on my experience now with a 2 year old GSD...simulate dump food as much as possible! Or what might be in the stomach of a rotting deer carcass. Krypto won¹t touch processed food, except for rawhide dog treats, and prefers a diet of doggie dhal bhat, which is just leftover meat bits and bones, rice, potatoes, beans, and any vegetable rotting around, with a bit of nepali spice thrown in for flavor. He gets commercial vitamins but I always wonder if they really do anything but make me feel like I have done due diligence as far as his nutrition goes. His weight is lean, and his coat shiny and healthy except for a touch of dandruff in the winter. I¹ve tried getting him to like dog chow (Purina and local made) but he just rejects it flat-out, or eats it and then has serious digestive problems. He knows what¹s best for him, and he would love to rummage through the city street dumps we have here like his homeless brethren do all day long. I guess when Purina can simulate rotting-rat-infested carcass intestines, then they will have a hit with the dog packs in the world. For now, it seems the dogs of the world stuck in homes where all they get are a few buckets of kibbles thrown at them a couple of times a day are just missing out from a canine culinary perspective. But as mentioned, it seems dogs can survive on anything, even if it was only McDonalds meals...where as if u are human, u would be dead in a matter of months (although it has been reported that Happy Meals sometimes contain trace amounts of rotting-rat-infested carcass intestines, but perhaps just not enough for dogs). And as for asking your dog to be vegetarian by forcing some strange diet on him, I guess if it makes u feel better - go for it, but I don¹t think ur dog is really going to enjoy it as much as a trip to the dump. Jigs in nepal On 12/26/08 11:10 AM, " Merritt Clifton " <anmlpepl wrote: > > > >> >Hey there. So I'm researching on the possibility of feeding my dog a >> >vegetarian diet. He's currently on a vet-prescribed fish-based >> >commercial dog food because he has skin problems > > If the dog happened to be a human, a vegetarian diet might > help. Vegetarian diets tend to clear up many human skin problems. > > However, your dog is a dog. Dogs evolved as scavengers, > primarily, whose natural diet is precisely this-- > >> >so much crap in commercial dog food > > Dogs have evolved to eat the offal, hooves, tails, brains, > ears, & marrow left in the bones of animals whose carcasses have > already been stripped and abandoned by the lions, tigers, hyenas, > and even the vultures. > > Along the way, dogs have also evolved to eat with impunity > much that would severely harm either humans or top predators. Dogs > eat dung, rats, & rotting refuse as part of their normal, natural > diet. > > The maxim in pet food manufacturing is that dog food must be > nasty enough that a dog will eat it, but packaged attractively > enough that humans will buy it. The latter is the hard part, > because dogs will eat and thrive on almost anything. > >> >I don't see the point of spending so much on his dog food if it's not >> >helping his skin probs. > > Most likely, the dog's skin problems have nothing to do with > diet. Skin problems in dogs usually result from parasites, > especially mange, but certainly not exclusively. Some diets can > help to ward off specific parasites, but clearing up a skin problem > requires, first and foremost, treating the problem. > >> > And my dog LOVES most kinds of veggies and fruits. >> >He's quite a weird dog. He even licks lemons sometimes! > > Most dogs will eat vegetables and even fruit, but not as a > primary diet. In Puerto Rico I watched street dogs avidly devouring > wind-fallen avocados. In season, apparently, avocado is a staple > of the diets of Puerto Rican street dogs, as a variation from their > usual diet of rats and refuse -- but they need the rats and refuse > too. > >> > So I'm thinking of feeding him something like rice and veggies. I'm >> >currently researching on his nutritional needs and substitutes for >> >animal protein in his diet because I want to make an informed >> >decision and I don't want him to suffer any deficiencies. > > The Internet is full of food faddists and quacks who will > prescribe all sorts of doggie diets, from vegan to predigested raw > meat only. Many of these folks have gotten rich writing horror > stories about commercial pet food. But your dog -- or any dog -- > will probably choose a healthier and better-balanced diet for > himself, if allowed to forage for it in dumps and gutters, than > anything humans are likely to concoct, even if it is all stuff that > you yourself might throw up at the mere thought of ingesting. > > Incidentally, cats have vastly more sensitive systems than > dogs, and much more complex dietary requirements, but almost > entirely in one direction: the perfect diet for any cat is mice. > > Thus the unending quest of the cat food industry is to > recycle the waste from human food production in the manner that will > most replicate the nutritional content of mice. -- Paul Reitman, CEO Phoenix Studios Nepal Mobile: 9841589797 www.phoenixstudios.com.np/corporate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 My all dogs have been vegetarian. presently my bitch relishes raw or cooked carrots, lentils, LentilriceGruel (Khichri),Soyanuggets, Cheese, Mangoes, Melons,Oranges and many raw Vegetables. She is quite Healthy, Active and smart. Previous Pair of Cockers were friendly with rabbits and other animals brought by me. Dr.Sandeep K.Jain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 All the dogs and cats at the Animals Taiwan Rescue Centre thrive on a diet consisting of raw, meaty bones (mostly chicken, sometimes fish) and a blend of green leafy vegetables, garlic, apple cider vinegar, fish oil, and a few other supplements (probiotic powder or dried, powdered alfalfa). It costs us about US$15 per dog per month. Many of our dogs come in with severe skin disease, and our vet, although initially against feeding anything other than dry (highly processed, deemed unfit for human consumption) food, he now suggest this diet to many of his clients because he has seen how our skin-problem dogs regain health much faster than others; we've also experimented with feeding only our diet with no medication and indeed the skin got better. One pup in a litter of four with mange was adopted and returned 6 weeks later; despite having medication and a regular dry food, he came back in much poorer health than his siblings, who remained with us and were fed this natural diet. Buy *The BARF Diet* by Dr Billinghurst for more info. I've never looked back since switching. Having said that, I'm very interested to learn more about a vegetarian diet for dogs; if I could be convinced that their health or longevity wouldn't be significantly compromised, I would certainly consider switching at least my own eleven dogs, as I do hate that, on average, three chickens die each just to keep them in meat. Sean McCormack Founder www.AnimalsTaiwan.org 2008/12/26 Herojig <herojig > Never saw the original post here, but I think I agree with the > prescribed > outcome, based on my experience now with a 2 year old GSD...simulate dump > food as much as possible! Or what might be in the stomach of a rotting deer > carcass. Krypto won¹t touch processed food, except for rawhide dog treats, > and prefers a diet of doggie dhal bhat, which is just leftover meat bits > and > bones, rice, potatoes, beans, and any vegetable rotting around, with a bit > of nepali spice thrown in for flavor. He gets commercial vitamins but I > always wonder if they really do anything but make me feel like I have done > due diligence as far as his nutrition goes. His weight is lean, and his > coat shiny and healthy except for a touch of dandruff in the winter. I¹ve > tried getting him to like dog chow (Purina and local made) but he just > rejects it flat-out, or eats it and then has serious digestive problems. He > knows what¹s best for him, and he would love to rummage through the city > street dumps we have here like his homeless brethren do all day long. I > guess when Purina can simulate rotting-rat-infested carcass intestines, > then > they will have a hit with the dog packs in the world. For now, it seems the > dogs of the world stuck in homes where all they get are a few buckets of > kibbles thrown at them a couple of times a day are just missing out from a > canine culinary perspective. But as mentioned, it seems dogs can survive on > anything, even if it was only McDonalds meals...where as if u are human, u > would be dead in a matter of months (although it has been reported that > Happy Meals sometimes contain trace amounts of rotting-rat-infested carcass > intestines, but perhaps just not enough for dogs). And as for asking your > dog to be vegetarian by forcing some strange diet on him, I guess if it > makes u feel better - go for it, but I don¹t think ur dog is really going > to enjoy it as much as a trip to the dump. > Jigs in nepal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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