A Look Into a Vegan Diet for Dogs
Many animal lovers choose a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle because they refuse to harm any animals. As a fellow animal lover, I can completely understand this life choice, especially with news media frequently reporting on animal cruelty and overcrowding of livestock. Of course, animal lovers transfer their personal life choices to those they love most, and for some, it’s their dogs. Before grabbing vegan dog treats, it’s important to understand that dogs don’t thrive on a vegan diet.
Are Dogs Strictly Carnivores?
Just taking a peek into your dog’s mouth will give you a hint. Dogs’ teeth were made to chew and ingest meat. Dogs have canines, molars and incisors made to scissor, pull and saw meat off a bone. When comparing omnivore and carnivore teeth together, it’s pretty obvious that dog teeth look completely different than human teeth. Humans, who are omnivores, have flat molars perfect for grinding fruits, vegetables and grains while dogs have needle-sharp molars that can grind meat effectively.
Look at your dog’s entire body too. Dogs’ eyes are close together for hunting, ears turned like radars to locate sound and sense of smell is simply amazing. Plus, dogs share 98% of the same DNA as wolves, and we know wolves hunt and kill animals.
With that said, wolves and dogs will consume fruits, vegetables and grains from the stomach contents of a killed animal. But are dogs and wolves consuming stomach contents in need of grains or because organ meat is highly nutritious? No one knows for sure. Although there’s plenty of research supporting dogs as carnivores.
RELATED: Raw Dog Food: Not All Dogs Can Eat It
Cat in a Coal Mine?
About 15-20 years ago, pet food manufacturers increased grains in cat food to reduce costs. When grains were increased, whole meat and meat meal were reduced, limiting essential amino acid profiles. Cats consumed this new grain-based cat food, and pet food companies lined their pockets.
Something terrible happened over time—cats went blind. Extensive research showed that taurine was missing from grain-based cat foods. Taurine is an essential amino acid found in muscle and organ meat. Diets without taurine will cause blindness in cats.
Taking this horrible incident into consideration, it’s important to know you can put your dog on a vegan diet, but he won’t thrive on it. You should also keep in mind the sources from which your dog consumes vitamins, amino acids and minerals. Vegan dog foods contain synthetic versions, so whole foods are much better. Knowing that dogs are carnivores, we understand it’s impossible to provide a dog essential nutrients from a vegan or vegetarian diet.
Choosing a Dog Food
Health and humane treatment of animals intended for food is a major concern for animal lovers. Animal lovers find it easy to make decisions about their plates, clothing and households, but it’s difficult for their beloved dogs. Rather than put your dog on a vegan diet, choose dog foods made from animals that were humanely farmed. Check out Open Farm dog food. Their ingredients are certified cruelty-free, and they even list where each ingredient was farmed.
Living a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is challenging, yet rewarding. However, for your dog, choose a meat-based diet from humanely treated livestock. Your dog requires animal protein.
