Vegan pet food triggers meaty debate

[ms_maree]

Vets have advised against non-meat and non-dairy diets for domestic pets despite the increasing popularity of a vegan product designed to cover cats' and dogs' dietary needs.

Comments

[muggy_wump]

Dogs are omnivores.

[layweed]

Dogs have something of an easier time transitioning to vegetarian food options than cats do, but I still don't think it's a wise thing to do.

[lil_insanity]

They don't typically put eggs or dairy in dog food, so vegetarian dog food is usually vegan by default.

We used to have a dog with a bunch of digestive and immune problems, and she did a lot better on vegan food (Nature's Recipe Health Skin). The vet said it was fine to feed the other dogs the same food, so we did.

[lee_rowan]

Same here - my icon dog had allergies and did better on that brand... but I put an egg on top of it a few times a week. She lived to 16.5, not bad for a Shepherd mix.

However, we have two dogs now and one of them refuses to eat anything that hasn't got meat in it. I'm vegetarian, but she is obviously not

[muggy_wump]

Heh, just thought it was important to note that dogs have a far more varied 'natural' diet than cats. They have large, flat, molars at the back of their mouth for grinding down plants and roots. My dog will attempt to eat pretty much anything, including rotting meat, apples, cheese, bread, Weet-bix and his own vomit. They aren't a particularly picky species when it comes to food. :P