Ruin Maniac Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Today I was speaking to someone from an animal rights group that has actively campaigned on my campus. These people have supported Oscar's Law and participated actively in puppy farm protests, which I was happy to hear, although I found their agenda to be a little ambiguous. Investigating their website to learn more (and I didn't really have my question answered, but that's not really relevant), I found they offered vegan pet supplies. Vegan food... for dogs and cats. Google results demonstrated that there are people who raise their cats and dogs on a solely vegan diet. I'm not vegan and I'm not about to impose veganism on any of my pets, but is it possible to raise a healthy, mainly carnivorous animal on a vegan diet? I don't trust the websites of the suppliers to provide unbiased sources of information. I've never heard of such a thing before, so I thought it might be worth asking here, where people have had extensive experience with dogs and dog owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) I have heard of it. I don't agree with it when Vegans impose their own personal philosophies onto their pets in the name of 'Animal Rights'. However, I have heard of some pets having such severe allergies to meat proteins and/or dairy products that Vegan products are all they are able to eat. Edited October 29, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Maniac Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 I've been trying to find some legitimate studies, but sadly the arguments "for" vegan pets seem to be affiliated with pro-vegan groups, where as those "against" it are affiliated with non-vegan pet food suppliers or from authors promoting meat diets, etc. I can't seem to find any neutral material. Would be nice to find an unbiased study involving bloodwork and longterm health surveys. D: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Sounds interesting. There might be some Holistic Vets on here who have experience with Vegan diets for pets ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Maniac Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 That would be awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Dogs are carnivores, and their stomachs and methods of digestion were designed to eat meat. I think it might be possible to feed a dog a vegan diet without killing him, but I think you would need to be extremely careful. People on here have used a vegan diet, and they might reply Some of those groups are hell bent on finishing pet ownership, and a lot of this advice is aimed at that. Further, they don't really care whether your dog is harmed or not, as long as their agenda is furthered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckandsteve Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Dogs are omnivores like ppl, so they can be healthy on a vegan diet but you have got to be very careful. Cats are carnivores and therefore cannot be feed a vegan diet. Any group that promotes cats eating vegan makes me suss. The resources that say maybe ok for dogs, hell no for cats are the resources to listen to. They have the most balanced arguments I am vegan and the prejudice against vegans is huge so reliable info is hard to come by. Easiest way I have found to filter internet based research is if it says vegetarian ok vegan bad, the person doesnt know what they are talking about as a vegan diet is healthier than vegetarian. How that transfers to pets im not sure but the same would be true. Just before someone rips into me my dogs eat meat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) It is the 'right' of an animal to eat a diet that is 'natural' for them. As a captive carnivore we have an obligation to provide them with a diet suitable to their species. They may survive without meat but IMO they will not thrive. There are lots of other pets that people can keep of they don't feel they can feed meat to an animal that should by nature eat it. JMHO. FWIW I was vegetarian for several years and know quite a few vego's who feed a raw meat diet to their dogs. Edited October 29, 2012 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckandsteve Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I agree with cats that they will not thrive. But the body runs on nutrients not meat if the nutrients are replaced by another source they will thrive. The reason for it being difficult is nutrients from different sources are absorbed differently so the amount required varies and there isnt a lot of good unbiased research on this in relation to dogs. Mainly because meat eaters are the majority and it is acceptable for meat eaters to make sweeping statements like i believe this with absolutely so facts to back me up so i will say its whats natural and end of conversation. When there is absolutely nothing natural about the meat we eat today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Dogs are carnivores, and their stomachs and methods of digestion were designed to eat meat. I think it might be possible to feed a dog a vegan diet without killing him, but I think you would need to be extremely careful. People on here have used a vegan diet, and they might reply Some of those groups are hell bent on finishing pet ownership, and a lot of this advice is aimed at that. Further, they don't really care whether your dog is harmed or not, as long as their agenda is furthered. Pretty well sums it up I think :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I fed my dogs meat when I was a vego. Amber is pretty much on a vego diet for health reasons, there is a little bit of animal fat in her food but the protein source is veggie. She is doing very well on it. Veggie protein is easier for her liver to process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I've heard of it but don't agree with it, if a human wants to be a Vegan I'm all for it but not for dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Chuck, you raise a really good point there, meat now is so not what it used to be. I know alot of owners who feed human grade mince to their pets( thinking they are giving the best), however i was told that pet mince is much better as its more natural, roo being the least ' messed with". It would explain why so many dogs have allergies to red meat these days. I too would love to see a study on it. The vegatarians i know are all skinny and pale. I don't think we have the right to enforce our beliefs on our pets, or our kids :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 It is the 'right' of an animal to eat a diet that is 'natural' for them. As a captive carnivore we have an obligation to provide them with a diet suitable to their species. They may survive without meat but IMO they will not thrive. There are lots of other pets that people can keep of they don't feel they can feed meat to an animal that should by nature eat it. JMHO. FWIW I was vegetarian for several years and know quite a few vego's who feed a raw meat diet to their dogs. I'm vegetarian and my guys get fed a raw meat diet, because I believe it's what is what is best for them. I struggle with handling the meat, and the smell of meat - but luckily my OH isn't vegetarian so she gets tasked with that most of the time lol I even make my own raw mix, I don't buy commercial because again, I believe it's better for them. My pugs love falafel and chick peas and tofu and veggies (probably just because they are pugs and to them, food is food), but I'd never feed it to them as their only diet unless they were allergic to meat. The vegatarians i know are all skinny and pale. I'm not skinny, and I'm pale only because the instant I step into the sun my skin burns to a crisp, not because I'm nutritionally lacking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I suggest if they want a pet that doesn't eat meat get a bunny, guinea pig, horse, sheep, cow, goat, camel or deer. That's all that comes to mind right now. I suppose they could also go into wildlife rescue and take on macropods, wombats and koalas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckandsteve Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 We constantly impose our views on our children and pets. Pets couldnt give 2 hoots if they dont get meat so long as they like what they are being feed. We impose that they not have litters on pets all of the time, havent seen too many upset about that. The skinny pale argument is another factless argument. It basically says to me all the meat eaters you know are fat and red faced, apparently that is healthier?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) Dogs are omnivores like ppl, so they can be healthy on a vegan diet but you have got to be very careful. Cats are carnivores and therefore cannot be feed a vegan diet. Any group that promotes cats eating vegan makes me suss. The resources that say maybe ok for dogs, hell no for cats are the resources to listen to. They have the most balanced arguments I am vegan and the prejudice against vegans is huge so reliable info is hard to come by. Easiest way I have found to filter internet based research is if it says vegetarian ok vegan bad, the person doesnt know what they are talking about as a vegan diet is healthier than vegetarian. How that transfers to pets im not sure but the same would be true. Just before someone rips into me my dogs eat meat I am also vegan and agree with all of the above, I know of dogs that have a vegan diet and they were all happy and healthy, but I feed my dogs meat. As with minimax the OH can handle it if it's grossing me out too much :laugh: I don't force my food choices onto my companion animals. Oh and I'm not skinny or pale :laugh: Edited October 29, 2012 by Aussie3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I get skinnier when I eat meat :laugh: Not so many carbs being consumed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I get skinnier when I eat meat :laugh: Not so many carbs being consumed. :laugh: Yep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantis Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Dogs are omnivores like humans, so they can eat meat, veggies & fruit. I would never feed my dogs just fruit, veg & grains, but I wouldn't feed them just meat either. That's why I like the BARF diet, a balanced mixture of everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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