I think you may have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I am certainly not advocating that you change to standard, mass-market dogfood (this is, after all, a vegan community, and I'm here to participate on that level). My point is simply that it sounds like you're feeding your dogs a dinner that is almost identical to what you eat for dinner, and that the balance of nutrients that is healthy for you might be less than optimal for a dog.
It sounds like you're assuming that one or more of the things you're feeding your dogs is causing the gas. That might be correct, and someone here might be able to spot the ingredient(s). I wanted to suggest another possibility, which is that it might be a problem of overall nutrient mix--perhaps too much of one nutrient or not enough of another.
Sure, some vets are going to be biased against a vegan diet just as some human doctors are. But my mainstream general practitioner is just fine with me being vegan, just as the nutritionist that she referred me to was, and they've both helped me be a healthier vegan. Maybe you've already had un-helpful conversations with your vet about this--I don't know. But even vets not well versed in veganism have had a lot of training in nourishing dogs and might be able to help you tweak the dogs' diet in a way that will help. By all means, tell him that the vegan diet is non-negotiable (unless, of course, serious symptoms do develop at some point), and take the conversation from there.
Never hurts to give someone the benefit of the doubt :)
Sorry. I think my hackles were raised a bit when panicypoo insinuated that I was abusing my dogs in some way
omfg >< poor dogs!!!
I think was the exact phrase.
My dogs have only now been making the switch with me to Vegan in the last month. I've read a lot of articles both about nutrition, the no no's, etc. Also have some books on my table next to me about dog nutrition and such. I don't claim to be an expert but the arguments I come across about what to feed my dogs just make me shake my head.
(like the reference to potatoes and tomatoes being toxic. If that were true, my dogs would be dead cuz I couldn't and didn't keep them away from my tomato bushes this year)
I will be sure to bring this up at my next Vet appointment. I am not charging in blindly claiming things that might not be true to the detriment of my companions. But I don't expect the appointment to be very enlightening. I suspect we'll have a conversation about how "natural or unnatural" this food is to my omnivore babies. Veganizing humans is more common-- however, veganizing pets is not and I'm sure my country located Vet will not be up to the task.
It sounds like you're assuming that one or more of the things you're feeding your dogs is causing the gas. That might be correct, and someone here might be able to spot the ingredient(s). I wanted to suggest another possibility, which is that it might be a problem of overall nutrient mix--perhaps too much of one nutrient or not enough of another.
Sure, some vets are going to be biased against a vegan diet just as some human doctors are. But my mainstream general practitioner is just fine with me being vegan, just as the nutritionist that she referred me to was, and they've both helped me be a healthier vegan. Maybe you've already had un-helpful conversations with your vet about this--I don't know. But even vets not well versed in veganism have had a lot of training in nourishing dogs and might be able to help you tweak the dogs' diet in a way that will help. By all means, tell him that the vegan diet is non-negotiable (unless, of course, serious symptoms do develop at some point), and take the conversation from there.
Never hurts to give someone the benefit of the doubt :)
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omfg >< poor dogs!!!
I think was the exact phrase.
My dogs have only now been making the switch with me to Vegan in the last month. I've read a lot of articles both about nutrition, the no no's, etc. Also have some books on my table next to me about dog nutrition and such. I don't claim to be an expert but the arguments I come across about what to feed my dogs just make me shake my head.
(like the reference to potatoes and tomatoes being toxic. If that were true, my dogs would be dead cuz I couldn't and didn't keep them away from my tomato bushes this year)
I will be sure to bring this up at my next Vet appointment. I am not charging in blindly claiming things that might not be true to the detriment of my companions. But I don't expect the appointment to be very enlightening. I suspect we'll have a conversation about how "natural or unnatural" this food is to my omnivore babies. Veganizing humans is more common-- however, veganizing pets is not and I'm sure my country located Vet will not be up to the task.
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