Cavalier

So true.

I suppose with all the health problems associated with BBs if puppy buyers can afford $3K for a pup they can also afford the vet bills...

There are a few things that don't quite add up for me, it's just a vibe I'm getting. 23 January 2006 25th September 2009 7th October 2009 Three years isn't that long, lovey. 29th September 2009 31st October 2009 Within one month your Parvo cases have jumped from 5 per week, to 10-15 cases per week. Dont patronise me. Does it really matter who I am??? You guys honestly need to get a life.... Yes within a month our parvo cases did increase from 5 a week (which is fairly normal) to 10-15. It called an outbreak. Who cares what anyone says on a public forum anyway??? Seriously - forums are for fun chat and sometimes you grab a bit of info. Surely nobody with half a brain would actually take the advice given on this forum and take it as gospel. Most of it is rubbish anyway. No wonder most people come on this forum a few times then leave. Unless you are part of the natural dog, no vaccinations, BARF diet, brigade you are blasted. What a small minded bunch of people you all are. You can all think what you like - Im out...

Who knows - maybe Im not a vet, maybe Im an Astronaut? Nobody has to justify themselves to anybody on a public forum, thats half the fun Anyway - you cannot be charged with impersonating a vet on a public forum. You have to actually advertise you are a vet and diagnose/treat animals conditions to have committed that type of offence. On the topic of cellulose. Both dogs and humans, when fed a diet high in plant materials, can have bacteria in their large intestines which secrete enzymes which break down cellulose. This is a process which happens over time. The body has an amazing ability to adapt to different diets and extract what nutrients it can out of many sources. Of course the ability of a dog or a human to break down cellulose is nothing compared to that of a ruminant or horse, however it is something that occurs nonetheless.

Please report me then This topic is just getting silly (and nasty) now.

Im not really interested in everyones insults. I know my dogs are happy and healthy and really thats all that matters to me. Whoever it was that is emailing Nick Costa....could you please let me know what he says? He was my Professor at Vet School (yes we study nutrition in great depth at vet school - contrary to what many believe). I questioned him on vegetarian diets when at Vet School and he believes dogs can thrive on a vegetarian diet if done correctly.

What I wrote about the dogs digestive system is correct. My dog ate some cat faeces the other week - she ended up in hospital for 3 days on a drip with bloody diarrhoea. A vegetarian diet does not just consist of carbohydrate - now you are showing your lack of nutritional knowledge ;)

Yes they are almost identical when compared with a herbivore, but humans are omniverous whereas a dog is first and foremost a carnivore. Although able to deal with small amounts of carbohydrate a dog's GI tract is designed to process flesh and bones. Starting from the head a dog has a long protruding jaw and large canines both of which are designed to grab and hold its prey, the jaw only moves up and down not side to side so dogs are unable to grind foods such as cereal grains or corn. The molars in a dog are used to crack and pulverise bone. Unlike us a dog's saliva contains no enzymes to break down starch, a dog's saliva acts solely as a lubricant to allow it to bolt down its food in large pieces as quickly as possible. The dog's stomach is relatively small because a carnivore eats a nutrient rich diet so only small amounts are required at each meal and their stomach acid is approximately three times stronger than hours having a PH of 1/2 compared to a human's 4/5 thus allowing the dog to to break down bone. The very strong acid also kills most bacteria. Their gut is comparatively much shorter than ours and food passes through much more quickly, this is another safeguard against bacterial infection. However the shorter gut also means that vegetable matter isn't well processed which is why cheap dry foods with lots of cereal fillers can cause digestive disturbances, humans with their much longer gut process carbohydrates much more efficiently. For those of you who consider a vegetarian diet completely suitable for a dog tell me have any of you ever bred a litter from two medium sized vegetarian dogs, weaned the puppies straight onto a vegetarian diet and successfully raised them to adulthood? Dogs saliva does contain amylase. The dogs intestine also contains enzymes which break down cellulose. Both the human and dog stomach has an average pH of 2. Both the human and dog stomach is relatively small. Biologically, the dog is an omnivore. The dog has NO physiological obligate requirement for meat (unlike the cat). Every nutrient that dogs need can be obtained from plant sources, or they synthesise themselves.

I agree. Also interested to hear he successfully raised a large breed dog on the diet. Thanks for the info. There are just as many synthetic additives in meat based dog kibble. So Im not sure this argument has much merit. Some people believe unless you are feeding a BARF or Prey Model diet you are being cruel to your dog. Its a very narrow minded viewpoint. There are many different ways of raising dogs. Just because someone does something diferent doesnt mean it is cruel.

Thanks for the link.. I find that website completely irresponsible.. ...what about the suffering of the poor cats who are raised on inappropriate vegan diets who don't get the taurine they need? A cat who doesn't get taurine will die. That website does not stress the importance of supplementing cats with taurine, IMO. You obviously didnt read the website very well. There is a huge section in there about taurine and how the food is supplemented with taurine. This food meets the AFFCO requirements. http://veganpet.com.au/articles/?page_id=9

according to the site they can provided they are fed their brand of food which has all the suppliments in it. Is that not the same as selling dog food with suppliments in it? Obviously the levels are different but doesn't it equate to the same thing - animal that needs meat to whatever degree being fed a meat free alternative? I know this is a hard topic so please understand my questions come from genuine interest and I just want to understand your views :D Yes can can be vegetarian too - if done properly. My cats eat it The Veganpet food contains taurine produced by bacteria.

Please explain to be the difference between a dogs GI tract and a humans. They are actually almost identical :D

Im feeding my kids Veganpet kibble. Google it and it will come up. Has all the nutritional info on the website, and a full analysis done by the Professor of Applied Nutrition at Murdoch University. My dogs preferentially eat the Veganpet over their old meat based kibble. People have a very closed mind when it comes to vegetarianism, Ive heard all the insults before. It becomes boring. We have thought very hard about our belief systems, and really it comes down to what you can live with and what lets you sleep at night. I know my dogs are healthy, happy, content and fulfilled and I am not contributing to the slaughter of millions of animals to get there.

Im going to go against the grain here.... *Prepares to be blasted* I have one dog who is 100% vegetarian, and 3 that are weaning their way onto it. Their diet consist of a balanced vegetarian dry food, vegetables, eggs, lentils and home made treats. Recently introduced a vegetarian dog bone and vegetarian pigs ears. She has been on this diet now for about 3 years. I am a vegetarian and originally I thought of putting her on the diet to combat her allergies - and it worked wonders. It sits well with her (she loves her vege protein balls!) and fits in with my beliefs. She is as healthy as she has ever been (I do yearly blood tests on my dogs to prove it), and do not feel I have in any way compromised my dogs health. Prior to starting this diet, in the 20 years or so I have had dogs, I have NEVER fed them bones or raw meat. Simply because I find it repulsive (especially getting meat juice in the beautiful Cavalier ears...). However - my pup is not on a vegetarian diet. I dont feel I have the time (or inclination) to balance a vegetarian diet suitable for a large breed puppy (although I am sure it can be done with a lot of thought). He will also never receive bones or meat....

Thanks for the info and feedback I also havent yet tried SL for incontinence, only Propalin. Might try next time.