Are dogs vegetarians by nature?

Question

I buy my dogs "K-dog" vegetarian dog food because I have done the research and science can actually prove that dogs are vegetarians. If you have ever observed wild dogs in nature (and I have), they eat vegetables (not meat).

People who force meat on their dogs will witness a dog eating meat only because that dog doesn't have a choice. If you put broccoli in one dog bowl and a steak in another dog bowl, that dog will go for the broccoli everytime.

Why do people insist on feeding dogs meat when they were never meant to eat meat?

Martin K, you are wrong. I just read an article online that tells me dogs are vegetarians by nature. I will email you the article so you can see that you are wrong.

connie_b, thanks so much for your response. I just wanted to post this question so people could realize that a vegetarian diet is very healthy for your pet. People on Yahoo Answers need to be made aware of the facts about vegetarianism so they can live healthier lives.

Answer 1

I believe a dog is naturally a carnivore but like a human it can survive on a vegetarian diet. I get MY proof from this link giving the differences in the digestive systems of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. I hope you will take the time to read this as an alternate point of view.

http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/carn_herb_comparison.html

Answer 2

Just be careful on a vegetarian diet, I heard that it can shut their liver down. If your dog is vomiting with diarrhea are you sure it's not just from switching the food? When you switched foods how long did you give it? A week, two weeks, a month two months? When switching a food you must wait at least 2 months to see any significant difference in your dogs condition, a week will not suffice. I see you've switched foods based on meat? Was all the food wheat, corn, soy and preservative free? Some dogs cannot handle preservatives, most cannot handle wheat or corn. Was the food you fed free from all those items? If you fed Purina Lamb & Rice, then went to Purina chicken, then went to Iams seafood etc then you are still giving your dog the ingredients he's most allergic to. Unless you were feeding a high quality food free from wheat, corn & soy. I would recommend you try The Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw dog food. It's human grade food for dogs, they use 100% organic grains, hormone/ antibiotic-free meats and non-GMO produce. All ingredients are guaranteed 100% Human Food Grade it comes in different types, Embark, Verve, Force, preference and Thrive, it contains no corn, wheat or soy protein, it's all natural and is very good for dogs with sensitivities. I believe with Force you can add your own meat to the food, personally I add just a little kibble in the evenings otherwise they are getting mostly the dehydrated food. It might be another way to go before putting him on a vegetarian diet. Remember it might not be the meat that's an issue but the other ingredients in the food. You also need to allow sufficient time for your dog to be on the food in order to see a difference in him.

Answer 3

Well, for everyone that said dogs were carnivores, that's not true because every dog I've seen eats both meat and vegetables, making them omnivores. I can't agree with you that a dog would go for vegetables over meat because I know my dog wouldn't. Although he does like vegetables, just not over meat. Also, when I stay with friends who live out in the rural areas of the country, stray dogs that have no homes will catch things like rabbits and such, so I can't really believe they're vegetarian by nature.

However, I also know though that they can be perfectly healthy vegetarians. I'd buy my dog vegetarian dog food, but the kind they have in stores doesn't come in small enough pieces for him to eat and ordering it online is too expensive. So that could also be a reason people feed their dog meat is because it's easier for them to find something more suitable for their dog. I don't think it matters much either way, as long as the dog's not eating just meat, he should be fine.

Edit:
You can't always believe everything you read on the Internet. There's an article out there saying there saying you can be a meat eating vegetarian.

http://articles.guidemegreen.com/articles/376/1/Pesco-pollo-Vegetarianism

Answer 4

Ashley, I guess you can believe what every you want, but that doesn't make it true. I tried your meat/broccoli choice, and guess what, my dogs went for the meat lickety-split..had absolutely no interest in broccoli. So you are under the impression that dogs can run fast, have huge teeth in their powerful jaws so they can run down those elusive broccoli stalks? They hunt cooperatively in packs so they can isolate the very old, very young, or sickly broccoli stalks from the rest of the healthy broccoli herd? What planet are you from? I know there are a lot of people like you out there, but sh*t really does stink, and dogs really do love meat!
On earth, all members of the canine family (wolves, coyotes, dogs, etc.) are what are called omnivores. They eat fruits, nuts, vegetables, and meat. Most of the time, they prefer meat! They are basically opportunist that will eat almost anything that is edible. By the way, where did you observe wild dogs? I used to work at a restaurant and stray dogs always left the veggies and went straight for the meat scarps. I'm sure you will continue to believe what ever it is you believe, but that does not make you right...just hardheaded. Maybe you're just someone who likes to be a contrarian to get an argument going...maybe you really know the truth but pretend to be idiotic.

Answer 5

You are either an idiot or a very clever troll trying to make veg*ns look bad. What wild dogs have you witnessed in nature that were eating veggies, and where was this? A person that stays willfully ignorant when they have access to the internet is a scary and dangers person.

<>

So, you think the way to do that is to completely lie and make up shite to try and make people aware of something? If you lie and make shite up, no one is going to listen to your real message because you look like a fool for lying and shiteing. And people can live a perfectly healthy life through omnivorism. Veg*ns don't hold the monopoly on good health, ya know. You hurt your cause more then you help it by being such a snit, ya know that, right?

Answer 6

Why don't you put up a link to this supposed article? I think you're just trying to get people to turn their dogs vegetarian.

I'm a vegan but I would never in a million years just feed my dogs vegetables. What you're saying is that dogs in the wild would only eat vegetables as I'm sure they'd have a tough time getting their teeth into things like tofu and other protein rich foods which can be found in vegetarian dogfood. Wild dogs would be seriously malnourished if they only ate vegetables.

My dogs old so I'm not willing to change her diet now. If I ever have another dog I may consider feeding it vegetarian food but only if I can be certain it has all the nutrients in.

It's fine if you feed your dog k-dog but what you are saying is absolutely ridiculous.

And where may I ask have you observed these wild dogs eating vegetables? Did you happen to be on acid at the time?

Answer 7

Dumb, Dumb,Dumb!!!! By the way Jonni Hayes it`s absolute crap that the Alpha male of a pack goes for the stomach because of the grasses it`s because the stomach area is the easiest to tear open & has the easiest parts to eat - heart liver, lungs, kidneys etc in fact all the easiest warmest juicy bits!!! The same reason why carrion eaters such as Magpies, Crows, Buzzards etc go for the eyes first!!
If dogs & cats were meant to be herbivores & not omnivores they would have more than one stomach so that they could digest the fibres of grasses etc as in the Ruminants such as cows, camels, sheep & goats. All you vegan ayatollahs out there should learn to be less emotive & more logical if you want to convince ANYBODY other than your clique. Ashley you probably still believe in the Tooth fairy, Santa Claus & the yellow brick road The Cape Hunting dogs in South Africa are just that - Hunting Dogs!!!!! Next thing you will be telling us that birds of prey such as eagles & the like just had a bad publicist!!!

Answer 8

What a load of bollocks! DOgs choose brocolli over meat??? I dont think so! I actually tried to get my dog to eat veggies on their own when I had no meat, guess what - She REFUSED!! Anyone who knows anything about dogs knows they are non obligate carnivores - They can SURVIVE for a while on a non meat based diet, but their digestive systems are best suited to carnivorous diet - canines, short gut, and very acidic stomach.

Check the digestive anatomy of a dog before comming out with such rubbish.

Answer 9

I thought you had been locked up! Dogs are not vegetarian dont talk bollox. They have teeth to eat meat almost exclusively.
What 'wild dogs' have you observed? Hyenas? Wolves? Both dedicated meat eaters. Ive never seen a pack of wolves persuing a terrified carrot! And as for a dog choosing broccoli over a steak that is ridiculous. You are so full of sh1t its un true

Answer 10

Out of curiosity, have you ever tried to FEED your dog vegetables? i have, and he licked it and walked a way. Another question, how are you so sure that this article is fact proof? I'm a dead-set on vegetarian, but scientific research shows that dogs are carnivores. There are probably vegetables that dog might eat, but it gives the dog no healthy benefits. If your article can from a pro-vegetarian website (and there's nothing wrong with that :]) they might try to tell you dogs are vegetarians, but there's really no facts backing it up. You found an article that states that dogs are vegetarians, but if you looked anywhere else, you would probably find that dogs are carnivores.