Is it healthy for a dog to be vegatarian?

Question

Well i am planning on getting a dog and im vegatarian and very uncomfertable with handling meat even in dog food so i was wondering if it was healthy for a dog to be vegatarian.

Answer 1

Yes, it is very healthy for dogs to be vegetarian as long as you can provide what they need in other things. Dogs that are vegetarian also 75% of them happen to be healthier than meat-eating dogs that eat store-bought food becuase they can get sick from the meat if the animal had a disease. Some good things about a dog being vegetarian are:
Improved dental hygiene
Healthier skin and coat
Improved digestion
Improved weight management
Increased energy

Answer 2

Dogs are carnivorous. They eat meat . You can buy all kinds of dog food that doesn't smell like meat. The reason or difference between carnivorous and herbivorous(vegetarian) is the digestive tract in a herbivorous animal is twice as long as a carnivorous animal. Therefor a dog needs meat to let it's digestive tract work properly.

Answer 3

No, definitely not. Dogs have evolved as carnivores, so it's important that they have meat in their diets. They're quite unlike humans in the eating sense. Humans have a variety of dieting options whereas other organisms don't. You can talk to a vet, but he or she will have the same advice. Generic dog feeds are composed mainly of meat. Iams has always been pretty good for my pets.

Answer 4

Personally, I think it is very unnatural. Dogs come from wolves..which meat is their main diet. Dogs are meant to eat meat! Try getting a bird they don't eat mean...only seeds and pellets. Im sorry but Ive often heard that many dogs do not get what they need from a vegetarian diet.

Answer 5

NO

While dogs need vegetables and fruit to be healthy, they need meat too.

Soy protein has been proven bad for dogs. It causes health problems and doesn't "work" like protein for dogs like it does for people.

Pick a good kibble. Artemis is one of the best. It's holistic, with human grade ingredients. It doesn't smell bad, and if you put it into a container and use a scoop, it's not so bad. Just try not to think about it.

Other good ones: Innova, California Natural, Canidae, and Wellness.

Canidae doesn't smell bad either. I feed it to my dog.

Answer 6

No. Dogs are CARNIVORES, just like wolves. They are meant to eat diets of meat, flesh, fur, etc. They do not have the ability to digest vegetables/fruits. They lack the ability/enzymes to break down the cellular walls in vegetation, which would allow them to access the nutrients.

It is fine for you to be a vegetarian, but really don't push that off onto your animals. They need to eat a species appropriate diet.

I know many vegetarians on my rawfeeding list who do not eat meat themselves, but understand it is what is best for their dogs. They understand it is what they are supposed to eat.

If you have any questions, try reading the books on this website... www.rawmeatybones.com

Dogs who are fed a vegetarian diet are predisposed to have all sorts of health issues. Please don't do this to a dog.

And please don't think of getting a cat instead. They are CARNIVORES also, and are even more pre-disposed to eat meat. They are OBLIGATE CARNIVORES.

Good luck in your search for a pet.

Answer 7

Not really. I know someone who did it, and their dog lived to be sixteen. But that was only one dog. Out of a million.

Dogs are omnivores and I highly suggest that you give your dog meat because you want the best for your dog right?

I'm a vegetarian and I feed my dog Canidae. It doesn't look like meat, so I don't have a problem feeding it to my dog.

Answer 8

No, dogs are carnivores and NEED meat protein. It is not responsible for humans to try to inflict their eating habits or preferences on to dogs.

If you can't handle feeding a carnivore an appropriate diet it may be wiser for you to get a fish or get a pet such as hampster,Guinea Pig, Rabbit..that are vegetarians

****** Dogs are NOT omnivores!!!!!!!! They ARE carnivores!!! They NEED meat, they do NOT need nor are they designed to process veggies and grains. Study canine anatomy and digestion..look at canine's teeth...it tells what dogs are designed to eat & process*********

Answer 9

Feed your dog a good quality kibble. Even tho it usually has very little actual meat in it, there is usually added protien in it. Its not good at all to feed a dog an exclusively vegetarian diet, especially if you prepare their food yourself, with no meat or meat by product in it at all.

Answer 10

As long as you feed your dog dry dog food, you should never have to handle meat of any kind. Dry dog food, especially the better brands, provides significant nutrition for your dog.