can dogs go vegetarian?

Question

just wondering.

Answer 1

Yes they can. I would never do it though. I am vegan, and it is my choice to be. I really worry that a vegan diet for my pets is too risky and the vegan foods are not studied enough. I will not eat meat myself, for ethical and health reasons I won't go into 'cause it ain't important. I have vegan friends who have vegan dogs. I think if you get a dog you need to relax your policy on meat, or else you need to think about whether owning a dog at all is moral. If we take care of them, we need to feed them. That will involve killing things, so if killing things is wrong, owning meat eating pets are wrong. Most Vegans I know just don't want to support the way animals are raised and slaughtered for consumption in this country, but if you take that stand as meaning your pets too, I think you can't morally condone owning carnivorous pets.

Just my opinion

Answer 2

Yes, dog's can go vegetarian. However, you have to be very careful with it. I only went vegetarian with Patch because I wasn't happy with the Hepatic diets available on the market. Then again, I'm not totally vegan on him either, he gets a little bit of cooked chicken or can food a couple times a week, but eats mostly his vegetarian kibble.

Answer 3

They *can*, but it's generally not a good idea. Unlike humans, dogs are actually carnivores (well, omnivores, but with carnivore leanings)... they need meat. Their digestive systems are built for it.. short digestive track and the whole lot. They thrive on it. Humans don't, and our digestive systems are built to tolerate it when necessary, but not to thrive on it... we can, however, thrive on vegetarian and vegan diets (the ideal human diet). Look at humans and look at carnivores and other true omnivores... totally different.

Anyway, dogs... meat is good for them. They don't digest or metabolise vegetarian diets as well, and *need* meat. I'm all for people being vegetarian (for moral reasons) since our bodies don't require meat... but dogs are physiologically very different and DO require meat.

As for a raw diet... no. Not good. It's a stupid fad that needs to die already. Yes, dogs in the wild eat raw meat, blah blah blah. Dogs in the wild also only live 6 years... IF they actually make it to maturity (a fairly big "if"). Humans ate raw food, too... before we developed cooking techniques. And our life expectancy has been growing ever since. Dogs can tolerate raw meat better than humans... but it's still not a good idea.

Answer 4

I do NOT recommend a vegetarian diet for dogs. Dogs are not meant to eat that way. Their primary food source should be *meat*, not grains or vegetables.

I personally think feeding a dog an incorrect [i.e. vegetarian or vegan] diet borders on neglect.
.

Answer 5

Even though dogs are omnivores and scavengers in the wild for berries, nuts, etc., their primary source of food is meat, they need the protein, calcium from bones or other sources (egg shells), organ meat etc. I've heard of vegetarians feeding their dogs soy products for protein. It's not something I'd attempt, canines need meat, etc. and knowing this if I wouldn't get a dog if I were a vegetarian.and felt strongly about it.

Answer 6

It's extremely unhealthy for the dog to just be a herbivore. They're naturally carnivores and need many sources of protein to live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, some vegetarians don't see this a buy a specially designed dog food for them to be vegetarian. It's even MORE depressing that a company actually makes a vegetarian dog food. It's possible for them to be "omnivores", but not STRICTLY carnivores or herbivores.

Answer 7

Technically speaking, yes they could, but they could also eat a lot of chocolate...neither of which are good for them. Dogs need to eat meat. Eating only a vegan diet would probably make him/her sick. It would cause stomach aches and dirrehea and Im sure lead to other problems. I know for my dog even just buying a dog food that is more veggie based than meat based messes him up.
If it's something you really want to do I would talk to your vet and he can give you more technical information on why its not good. Then you can weigh your options.

Answer 8

I'm not sure that they can be 100% vegetarian. But all my late dogs love to eat anything from rice, vegetable, fruit, and of course meate

Answer 9

If everyone is going to get into what dogs are supposed to eat I think I should point something out. In the wild, naturally dogs eat RAW food only. Raw meat and they do eat some veggies. I learned this recently so when I got a puppy I started him on a raw diet (dogs must be put slowly onto a raw diet because their bodies are already full with the junk kibble we feed them, you start with a meat loaf, and each week cook it a little less). Once your dog is on a raw diet they are performing at their peak like they do in the wild. I have a 12 year old dog who eats kibble and she has never been even close to as healthy as my new dog who is on a raw diet. Our bodies can't handle raw food because we aren't made to but dogs and cats are made to eat raw meat. My dog eats raw chicken drumsticks, raw beef, raw pork, raw eggs, carrots, strawberries, bannanas, apples and pears. This is the diet my vet recommended and now he refuses to eat kibble, he loves his meat. Talk to a vet and do some research online before ever changing a pets food, they need some transition time to chang their diet in a healthy way.

Answer 10

OH YES............Here is a site that you'd be interested in. ...

******OH NO......my son (who eats purely organic and mostly vegetarian) sent me a GREAT site about a week ago, and now I can't find it!!! If I do, I will come back and add it into this message. So sorry.

I would not choose to make my dog a vegetarian, however, some people would. I'm only trying to answer your question and not put my own opinion in.

Now, to add more........my golden retriever "Pilot" eats only a very good brand of dry food "AM and PM...2 cups each feeding" and with it I only add veggies like, greenbeans, broccoli, carrots, etc... For his snacks he has fresh baby carrots (I keep them in his plastic container in the fridge....he walks to the fridge whenever he wants one..cute!!) Other times I give him chunks left over when I cut up fresh broccoli. He is mostly a veggie guy and he is almost 84 lbs. He is a big head, big paws golden.......just what I always wanted. He is age 2 and is quite healthy from all his veggies. Gosh, I must find that site for you. So sorry, I may have erased it by mistake or it is on my other site.