I've been following this topic on another message board and was wondering if any of you have info about this. I would never feed that way but the poster has gotten my curiosity up about it. I figure a dog can survive on darn near anything but what they thrive on is an entirely different matter.


Lisa

I 100% disagree with feeding a dog a vegetarian diet...can't tell you how crazy I think that idea is.

I have had the opportunity to see a dog that a vegetarian fed meat-free and it was animal abuse in my opinion...no kinder way to put it. This animal was in sad shape and the owner refused to see it.

And the ironic thing is that she was a vegetarian because she wanted to prevent animal cruelty...and yet she was doing harm to the only animal actually in her charge.

If dogs were designed to eat veggies as a main source of food then their bodies would be able to break down the cell walls of veggies. They can't. They only get veggies through the stomach contents (with the cell walls already broken down) of the animals they kill. Their bodies are made to process meat. It's not simply a matter of getting protein...it's much more complex than that. To deny dogs meat is to do a HUGE disservice to them.

I'm not against people being vegetarians at all. But if they feel so strongly about it that they don't want to feed their dogs meat, then they shouldn't own dogs...they should own rabbits.

Dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet but they will never thrive.

I'm sure these people want to do the "right thing," but seriously, the dog is a carnivore. They should've learned that in elementary school.

Now, my opinions on vegetarians themselves is a whole 'nother can of worms...

 Quote: Ashley Hiebing

Dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet but they will never thrive.

Not to mention all the health issues they will ultimately have in life. ICK!!

There is a lady on my agilitypoodle list who feeds a vegetarian diet to one of her dogs because she has no choice. This poor standard has bloated twice, has IBD and is allergic to animal proteins. They spent $$$$$ on testing, and health care, etc.
Her other dogs are all fed raw.

I agree with everything Amber said. Pushing vegetables on a natural predator is insane. Try it with a lion, or a tiger, or a wolf. It's as insane as giving meat to a cow.

Pushing veggies on a predator would never be for the good of the predator, just for the good of the person pushing it - for their satisfaction alone. It's extremely selfish and short-sighted.

If predators offend some people, then as Amber said, get a rabbit.

I think Amber made an excellent point; the person wanting to prevent animal abuse actually abused animal in their ferver to force the animal to take part in their beliefs.

My vegetarian friends who have dogs absolutely would never feed a vegetarian diet to their dogs. Anyone who does should have their animals taken away from them.

Reminds me of the father/mother of a 4 year that only fed him a vegan diet all of his life. 4 years old, and weighed 17 pounds. They got life in prison.

Vegetarian diets for dogs or cats is pure animal abuse.

If I had a pet T-rex.
I would probably feed him grass and carrots and beans.

When will dog owners wake up and smell the raw chicken.....

-Ted

That's all pretty much what I though and the evidence the person wanting to do it gave was pretty flimsy, a PETA study. The only person I've ever known that did it was on a temporary basis trying to deal with allergies. The dog ate vegeterian for about six months then went on a lamb and rice diet.

Lisa