The KInd Life Community Forum

I am vegan, and I am always bothered by the fact that I feed my dogs and cats animals. The only way I can reconcile the fact that I need to feed my companions other animals is by thinking of my choices in the scope of harm reduction. I don't think my dogs (and especially my cats) will thrive on a vegan diet, so I feed them fish based foods. My dogs eat Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Canine Formula, and my cats eat EVO salmon and herring formula. They are both high quality foods (albeit more expensive than many chicken or beef based diets). I do not think it is okay to systematically torture and harvest fish, but I feel that it is the best compromise. (They love their food too!). After reading Foer's Eating Animals, I felt awful feeding them fish, but I think it is important to provide my friends with the healthiest diet I can give them.

I know how you all feel. Dogs are not herbivores, they have a short intestinal tract, made for the digestion of meat. I own four dogs, and they are doing reallly well on a vegetarian diet. My reason for feeding them in this way, is that I can't buy them animal feed knowing how the animals were treated prior to them being "rendered" into dog food. We sprinkle nutritional yeast on their food weekly to make sure they are getting their B vitamins. Remember our dogs are domesticated, they are not out hunting for their food, they do rely on us to make their food choices for them. So feed them as your conscience dictates. There are organic meat options out their for your pet, but for some people these may be to cost restrictive or simply not fitted to your conscience.

I know exactly how you feel....My dog had lots of allergies, and so I went on a mission to find him the best food for his body..

Eventually my quest led me to a "raw food" diet for him which included Raw ground beef.... after two days, I couldn't do it anymore. Just looking at it grossed me out, let alone globbing it in his bowl and watching him go to town.

And continued my quest to other options.... Back then I read that Cats need meat/fish to thrive, while dogs do not... So I gave vegetarian feed a try and my poor dog was throwing up everywhere, and he had welts and red spots all over him. Tried a couple different brands with no luck.

I continued my quest and ended up with a responsible (I hope) feed that does contain meat/fish, but no allergens, biproducts, preservatives, etc. and he has done great. Its been about 5 or 6 years now and he's been symptom free. (except for an allergic reaction to plant out side or something)

So I'm not sure what they are supposed to eat or not, but I do know that my pup must have a certain diet to thrive. And I'm sure all breeds and dogs are different. Also different parts of the world feed different things so the dogs adapt.

Dogs are carnivores. It may be inconvienent for us dog owners but we must respect their evolution and life. Dogs make look different on the outside than their wolf brothern but inside they are the same. I feed my dogs meat. All the diseases stemming in dogs are from grains, corn, and other fillers. I do not choose beef or lamb b/c I can't do it. But I do feed buffalo, elk, salmon, etc. Not much domestic products. I use Timberwolf for dry and cook buffalo for their wet. They are healthy and happy at 14 and 13 years old.

Dogs are OMNIVORES indeed. I'm a vet tech with 3 rescue dogs and I've done tons of research. One of the main reasons why my dogs are vegan is because I refuse to support Factory Farming in any way. If I will not buy myself meat from tortured and sick animals, then why buy it for them? My guys, all large breed dogs (German Shepherd, Pit Bull and Husky X) are thriving, illness free and happy as can be. I feed them Natural Balance vegetarian kibble with as many extras as they want. They LOVE apples, melon, berries, greens and whatever else I eat (as long as there's not too much onion in it). Gary Null's dogs have been vegan for years as well as many other well-known people's.

As far as cats? They're true carnivores and I have not found any research that would make me feel comfortable feeding them a vegan diet.