Currently, vegetarian and vegan diets are on the rise. More and more people are predisposed to follow these types of diets for ethical and health reasons. Vegetarians and vegans who have dogs or cats as pets can face a moral dilemma regarding the diet of a vegetarian or vegan dog. In fact, can a dog be vegetarian or even vegan?
If you want to know more about this topic and even want your dog to have a vegetarian or vegan diet, continue reading this article by Animal Expert to learn more and end all doubts.
- Like ancestors.
- Dogs are optional carnivorous animals.
- Not omnivores.
- This means that they can eat vegetables but their diet should be based on animal proteins.
- There are two main evidence to support this statement:.
In the wild, a wild dog not only feeds on the flesh of the prey, but also consumes bones, internal organs and intestines (usually loaded with plant matter ingested by the prey). Therefore, you should not make the mistake of feeding your dog exclusively with muscle meat.
Have you ever wondered if there is a vegetarian dog or a vegan dog? As in humans, the vegetarian or vegan diet of dogs is based on plant-based products, although it may also include animal foods such as eggs or dairy products. On the other hand, a vegan diet does not accept any animal products.
If you want your dog to carry such a diet, as well as any other changes, this should be done gradually and also, always supervised by a trusted veterinarian so that you are sure that you are making these changes correctly.
It is best to start by gradually replacing your dog’s usual food with vegetarian or vegan food, which is easy to find in specific pet stores. It should be remembered that the new ration you choose for your fur should cover 100% of your energy needs depending on your age, physical activity and health. Therefore, it is not recommended to change your dog’s diet if you have any type of illness.
Once the dogs have completely accepted the new diet, you can move on to the next phase, giving it moist vegetarian or vegan food, so that the diet is based on fresh and natural products.
If you want your dog to eat vegetarian home-cooked food for dogs, we present a list of vegetables, fruits and all the accessories that can be used to prepare skins. On the other hand, there are prohibited fruits and vegetables for dogs that you should also keep in mind.
Discover other types of dog food in our eco-friendly dog food article.
Recent genomic studies show that dogs have a digestive system adapted to high-carb diets. This contradicts other studies that show that a plant-based diet increases the likelihood of pancreatic problems, as this organ is responsible for the release of enzymes to digest these types of molecules.
Today, many veterinarians use vegetarian diets in the face of certain canine diseases, but always for a limited time and with the necessary supervision of a professional. Soy-based vegan diets have also been shown to increase the likelihood of dogs suffering from skin diseases.
As always, if you intend to make any changes to your pet’s diet, you should first speak to a trusted veterinarian and perform an animal health inspection by visiting the professional and conducting regular tests to check overall health.
If you want to know some easy recipes for vegan cookies for dogs, watch our YouTube video:
If you want to read articles similar to Vegetarian dog or vegan: pros and cons, we recommend that you visit our Food Problems section.