person made her dog a vegetarian

[Anna]

Can dogs become herbivores (you know - kelp suckers) (hahaha - my kids and I love this line from the movie -Happy Feet)

 

I was reading a little blurb in the sunday newspaper where they asked alicia silverstone(actress) - who is a very strict vegetarian - what she feeds her dogs.

 

And she replied that that the dogs gets some of her leftovers and beans and such.  She raved that the dogs have never been so healthy.

 

This is very interesting.  B/c human beings are omnivores so I guess we can go either way and be healthy - but dogs are strict carnivores? right?

So if we used this example and use a different animal  - Isn't this essentially like - putting your cows on a all-meat diet.

Can they - not only survive but trive on a such a diet?

 

I didn't realize you could do this

(not that I'm interested in doing it.  Cuz both Buck and I love our meat)

But I did find it really facinating. 

 

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You would have to supplement with vitamin B12, at the very least, probably with extra B7, too, and make sure that all of the essential amino acids were well supplied in the correct proportions in the vegetable proteins, since vegetable proteins are all lacking one or more of the essential aminos. The essential aminos are slightly different for dogs than for humans, dogs cannot make their own arginine, for example, and have to get it from food. I don't recommend this, but for people who have some very strong reason for feeding their dog a vegan diet, it could work if they are diligent about making sure the dog is getting all the necessary nutrients from supplements.

However, if anyone is thinking of trying a vegetarian diet for their pets, be aware that cats are obligate carnivores who cannot survive without animal proteins, no matter how hard you try to supplement a vegan diet.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Heck, when I homecook for Taquito, he gets veggies, meat, carbs, dairy and oils. I STILL have to add supplements...calcium, B12, fish oil and other medicines.  I cannot imagine a dog getting everything they need from being a vegetarian.

 

I think that is just NUTS. NUTS.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

totally bonkers.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

No comment, except this discussion reminds me of the movie, Seven Pounds with Will Smith.

The Great Dane in this movie was a vegetarian. 

[Taylor & Huff]

Oh ya I love that movie, not just because of the dog in it.

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny is on her way to a completely raw diet. I don't think I would ever consider giving her a vegetarian diet!

[Taylor & Huff]

Dogs are omnivours. So they can have a meat diet or a vegetable diet. I don't know if a vegetarian or meat based diet is better though.

[Michael Gurley]

Actually, dogs are carnivores. Check out Andrea's post a couple posts up from here.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I am a vegetarian, but I feed my animals a mix of MEAT kibble and Raw MEAT - I dont believe they should be vegetarian, or that its good for then, UNLESS they have severe allergies to meat proteins

[Anna]

but - you do see dogs eating a lot of vegetables in their food.  Mine loves grass and weeds.

 

about the teeth.  humans have incisors and flat molars which means we are omnivores.

I look in my dogs mouth and they have incisors ( much sharper and longer than mine-of course) and also they have flat  molars.  doesn't this mean they r omnivores too?

for example-sharks - they have sharp incisors all around their mouth - they r definetly carnivores.  but then why does dogs have so many molars too

 

And also - have you guys seen that tv documentary and article - about domesticating foxes.  They changed so many physical aspects of that animal in such a short time.  the domestication of dogs for such a long time must have changed eating habits too.   I mean to go from raw bloody meat - to dry kibble.  that in itself is a big dietary change. 

 

 

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I don't think this is acceptable dog parenting. I mean what for?? ALL veggies? Poor doggies!