Wow. Vegetarian dog food?

Question

I was at this mutt mania thing today which was sponsored by shelters, you gave a ten dollar donation and then you could go to the park with your dog. There were lots of things like a mutt marathon where people walked their mutts around (Judge included there) in a line and that was cool. There were some contests and lots of booths set up, a lot with information about pet services and stores, some set up by the shelter that had some dogs and cats available for adoption there, and a lot of places with free samples. This is where the thing that bothered me came up.

I got dozens of little packages of food, which I'm probably going to use as treats anyway occasionally, and one bag caught my eye. Vegetarian dog food! I was just thinking, what the heck?! Some dogs survive on this? No meat at all in the dog food! That was just kinda odd...

Anyone have any insights on this kind of food?

I'll let the voters decide.

Answer 1

Vegetarian dog food is just a product made up by Vegetarians who own dogs, and don't want their dogs to eat meat either. They're PETA type people.

Answer 2

I run a petshop, and we have sold a brand of vegetarian dog food for 25 years, called 'Happidog'. There are other equally well established meat free dog foods. Whether I 'agree' with giving dogs such a diet?!?! Well, that is a different question altogether! I have been vegetarian for 17 years, but all my dogs have a meat based diet - it was MY choice to stop eating meat, BUT, meat and animals ARE for eating, and I don't feel it is MY right to dictate major exclusions from my dogs diets.
BUT there are meat intolerant dogs who thrive on vegetarian foods.

Answer 3

wow vegetarian dog food

Answer 4

I don't think I would ever use a Vegetarian Diet for my dogs unless I had a dog that was extremely sensitive to meat proteins.

Answer 5

As long as the ingredients substitute meat products it should be fine for a dog to eat. (Like how vegitarians eat tofu and peanut butter for protien.) I've never heard of it before, but I can imagine many animal rights people would love to buy that iinstead.

I think dogs should stick with good quality meat based food, as long as the food is healthy, I guess it doesn't matter.

Answer 6

yea vegetarian dog food has been on the market for a while...but my problem is this: look at your dog's teeth...do those look like the teeth of an animal that should be vegetarian? if you want to be vegan/vegetarian then thats fine, but don't force your dog to be one too

Answer 7

One of my poodles had severe skin problems. A friend mentioned that her dog's skin cleared up on vegetarian dog food. Desperate, I tried it. His skin cleared up quite rapidly.
(No lectures from well meaning dog lovers please. I am well educated about dog food and ingredients.) I have two specific all natural brands I swap between. One contains meat, the other veggies. Dogs do need variety and veggies, too! Why just meat or just veggies. Balance = health.
My dogs are happy and healthy. No more allergies! Dogs used to get there veggies from eating them from the stomachs of the animals they preyed upon. They cannot digest raw veggies. I find adding the veggie dog food the simplest way to balance the diet.
http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/avodermdog_veg.htm
http://www.canidae.com/dogs/all_life_stages/dry.html

Answer 8

Dogs are carnivores, they NEED meat. It is an extremely very rare dog who can't handle meat and then does need a vegetarian food. Again this is the extreme rarity.

Answer 9

dogs really need meat because vegetables protein is poor protein, even if at the back of the bag they mention a lot of proteins they are not high quality proteins .
the protein dogs need come from meat not from vegetables a person been vegetarian is one thing ,but a dog???
if you give only vegetarian protein to your dog by the time your dog will not be healthy.
meat is really necessary!!!!!

Answer 10

Dogs aren't vegetarians, and need meat in their diet. Vegetarian dog food is a very stupid idea.