I am feeding my dog with vegetables and rice. He eats this only with dog biscuits. Is it OK for his health?

Question

My dog is great dane
9 months old.
His growth is not fast, since he was not having his mother's milk.
He came to us with in 15 days of his birth
We are pure vegitarians.
He also refuses to take non veg foods (which we tried)

Answer 1

I can't believe that your dog refuses to eat meat. My family is vegetarian but we made sure my dog had meat. We would go and buy the leanest mutton we could find, ask the butcher to mince it finely like cutlet meat, clean it well, and just boil it with some turmeric, ginger and garlic. He just loved it. Of course he also ate Spinach, dal and other veggies. A dog has different dietary needs from that of humans. I believe you should try harder to get him used to meat. He also needs fiber in his diet. As for growth, try ostocalcium vet for his bones, ABDEC vtamin drops for his macro vitamins and Sharkol for his coat and skin. Also Sharkol will give him some essential omega 3 supplements. Ask your vet of course before you try these things. And try and give him some Pedigree food too. Make sure you don't give him bones as very young dogs just swallow them and this could lead to stomach disorders. And your dog doesn't need to eat meat everyday. Three times a week should suffice.

You could try introducing him to meat along with his daily food, include it with his rice and vegetables. Hopefully that should work.

Answer 2

NO, NO, NO!!! It is not ok! First of all, why did you accept a puppy only 15 days old. It is terrible for both puppy and mother. Puppies don't develope well being taken away that young. You have a VERY large breed dog that is prone to hip dysplasia and heart problems. ALL dog biscuits are made for occasional treat use ONLY, not as a staple diet. Also, some vegetables are not good for some breeds, and rice on a daily basis (especially white) can cause potentially deadly yeast infections! And rice contains to much sugar for dogs. It should be used sparingly, and only whole grain. Dogs are carnivores and need to get the right sources of protein and folic acid, this comes from meat. It is ok for you aand your family to be vegetarians, but don't assume your dog should be the same, after all he is a DOG, not a human. You should also provide your dog with proper bones for strong, clean teeth and gums. Beef marrow bones from a reputable butcher are excellent. Boil them in water for a few minutes until they turn brownish (the color of cooked meat) remove from water and cool to room temp. Keep remaining in the fridge. If your dog is refusing to eat canned dog food, it is most likely the brand and type of food being fed. There is an excellent publication called Whole Dog Journal that does all the work for you in analyzing all food, canned and dry. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what your dog likes. Please, get this journal, it will help you with ANY AND EVERYTHING you need. They do not use advertisers, so there is NO favortism. All articles are written by professionals who believe in natural foods and remedies first and foremost! You can also find them online at www.wholedogjournal.com
You can also find a reputable veterinarian, including holistic from these people as well as products for your dogs health.
I hope this helps you and I hope you get help soon. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.

A dog lover

Answer 3

Everything that I have read and been told leads me to the idea that dogs are omnivores...

Stop feeding your dog biscuits with it's food. That would be like you always eating a candy bar with your meals. It's not healthy. It's meant to be a treat.

Vegetables and rice is okay. But, your dog does need some type of meat product in it's diet. Go to the store and buy some chicken breast without bone, chop it up in small pieces and boil it in nothing but water. Then serve it up with rice. This is an extremely bland diet that vets reccommend when a dog has been sick.

You can also give your dog veggies, but you need to make sure that the veggies you give your dog are okay. You need to go to the vet and have a talk with your vet about what they can reccommend. The internet has too much conflicting information that I can say that a vet should be the only one who you should really listen to.

Answer 4

Rice has almost no use for a dog and vegetables pass through mostly unchanged and cannot be used by a dog. Combining these with simple dog biscuits which are high in vegetable matter (generally by products from the human food industry and not whole ingredients) and high in fat are a poor choice for a carnivore - which your dog is. I'm not seeing any high quality protien in this diet which means your dog will consume his own muscles in times of high energy need. You should be making choices based on your dog's physiological needs, which is for excellent quality meat proteins. Vegetables and grains should be low on the list, if at all. Try timberwolf organics or newman's own (also organic) for high quality foods that are made for a dog's digestion, not for a cow's.

Answer 5

Uhhh.. no.. it's not ok for his health... He's going to suffer severe bone loss amongst other things with no source of meat protein. Dogs usually need more than one meat source to be fully nourished... I can't even begin to imagine what he'll be like without even ONE! Especially a great dane. You're vet hasn't reamed you a new one about this?!

Your dog can't digest rice, so that's doing nothing. And most fruits and veggies are beneficial, but minimally. Your dog needs protein.. lots of it.. and soon. I highly doubt your dog will refuse ALL meat. You need to slowly transition him to a high quality dry dog food such as Canidae, Innova or Wellness so that he gets some quality ingrediants in him!

Listen, you can choose to be a vegatarian, and you can deal with the consequences of that yourself, but don't force it on your dog!

Answer 6

some vegs are not good for dogs like potatoes, beans probally not so good if dog is in the house.but unlike humans dogs are not vegs and is not a healthy diet for dogs, especially during the most important first yearof growth more so with large breeds.with you veg lifesyle it may be difficult for you but if you love your dog you will get him a large breed high protein dog food . if you are a health conscious person that chooses veg life for healthy reasons then you can check out a raw diet for your dog.in nature wolves and dogs dont eat dogfood made of corn rice whaet potatoes or even the so called meat product in the dog food the absolute best diet is a raw meat and some vegs diet. this can be exspensive but they dont eat as much quantity because their body uses every bit from it you will see adifference in the amount of poop.also i must ask why you got the dog a 15days did its mother die. it needs formula till at least 4 to 5 wks you may have bone and joint problems in the future.when you pick a dog food get one for largebreed puppies untill 1yr old.

Answer 7

No - dogs are carnivors not vegitarians.
All dogs need a substantial amount of fat and protein in their diet - you aren't providing either.

I think you are seriously risking the health of your dog due to your dietary beliefs...it's a dog. Dogs decended from wolves - wolves don't eat rice.

Veggies and rice are a great additive - but not a staple!

It was also HIGHLY irresponsible for your breeder to remove a puppy from it's mother after only 15 days. This is unheard of! Dogs need to be with their mother for at LEAST 8 weeks.

Answer 8

Dogs are carnivores by nature. An all vegetarian diet is not going to supply him with all the nutrition he will need to grow good muscle mass to support his joints. He needs a good meat source and good quality fats to grow healthy and strong. Some dogs can be picky. Just because he refuses meat when you offer it does not mean he doesn't need it. You may need to start with small portions of uncooked meat included in with what you are currently feeding over a long period of time to give him time to adapt to the new flavor and texture. Vitamins are a strong requirement whenever a raw diet is provided since there are not proper proportions in most cooked and/or raw foods that can meet the nutritional needs of a dog. A good vitamin, trace minerals, pro/prebiotics and digestive enzymes are musts for a healthy pet. Check out www.b-naturals.com , www.petmedicinechest.com (name is deceiving, is all natural products) and www.k9power.com for some great options for natural nutritional support. Keep up with the vegetables, but only lightly cooked, in order to keep the enzymes active and as far as the rice, it's a great source of carbohydrates but should not be the main ingredient (use in moderation), and adding cottage cheese or yogurt is also very healthy for your dog. Sounds like your off to a good start. Just remember dogs are not people. We may be offended by eating meat but dogs were created by God to do just that. Offer him a good meat diet with the added vegetables, etc. and you will help him live a long and healthy life. Good luck. Hope this helps. (i.e - dog's can eat raw meat without problems because of the way their digestive tracts are made. Just start with small portions to allow his system to begin processing the proper amount of digestive juices required to digest meat since he has not had it before and you should be fine. Never feed a dog cooked bones, they are to brittle and can splinter, always offer raw bones as they can crush them with their molars and render them safe to travel through their digestive tract.)

Answer 9

Dogs need protein and soy or beans is not natural for them. They need meat. It is great that you are vegitarians, but your dog can't make the choice and must eat what you offer. The rice is fine, vegies are fine sometimes (never any onions though). Try some good meat based dog food such as Purina ONE. You could start mixing this with the usual rice/vegi mixture until he eats it.
You could also get advice from your vet.

Answer 10

Of course itis not healthy for your dog! He is primarily a carnivore by nature and needs the nutrients that come from eating meat. Veggies and rice are fine IN ADDITION to some meat, but not to the exclusion. If you insist on not feeding him meat, then you need to have your veterinarian recommend a proper food alternative...if it exists. For future reference, don't buy a carnivore for a pet. It is unfair to the animal.