Vegan dog food?!

[ShePersisted]

We're getting a new puppy(!!!) in 2 weeks and just considering what food to start her on and to use as she grows. We're attracted to the idea of vegan dog food, from an ethical/sustainable perspective. What has been the experience of other dog owners? Do you feed your pet vegan food? Thanks!

There’s nothing ‘ethical’ about trying to make a dog eat vegan food. If you’re a vegan then presumably you care about animal welfare - maybe you’re own dog’s welfare would be a good place to start

Can you get a house rabbit instead? Much kinder than forcing a dog to be vegan.

Holy fuck.

OP I am a veggie but my dogs eat meat. I would not dream of feeding them otherwise. Pls rethink this for the sake of your puppy.

If you don’t want to feed a dog meat then don’t get a dog. Simple.

As it happens my dog is on a vegan food, under the guidance of a dermatologist.

He recommended Solo Vegetal which is in kibble and wet form - though the wet is much harder to find. For treats he's allowed Soopa treats.

'ooh I'm getting a cow but I don't believe it should eat grass so I'm going to feed it meat only, any recommendations for cow meat food??'

It’s not quite the same thing. Wolves/dogs are omnivores, so a dog could survive on a vegetarian/vegan diet it just wouldn’t be the best thing for it. A cow would not survive just being fed meat.

If you’re still there OP, then instead of trying to give your dog a vegan diet I would try and give it the most ethical diet you can. There are brands of dog food that are only made with free range British meat, which is much better than cheaper mass produced foods. You can also try raw feeding and source meat and vegetables that way, including buying less popular products like offal from a butcher. I’m vegan, and for the last couple of years I have struggled with the idea of giving my dog meat. For that reason I probably won’t have another dog after him, but I’m hopeful that won’t be for years yet!

This must be a joke....or a journalist trying to make a story....

@ShePersisted a dog is not for you. Enforcing an unnatural diet on your pet is not kind. To own an animal you have to be able to put their best interests first, and if that conflicts with your own moral values then you should get something different. Rabbits are vegan.

You are going to feed an omnivore who needs a balanced diet a vegan one?

Humans are omnivores too. Just saying.

I'd only feed vegan food to my dog if they had severe allergies to meat etc. I would give vegan treats as my dog seems to enjoy things like that.

Wolves/dogs are omnivores
No, they aren't. Wolves are carnivores and dogs are omnivores but require a high protein diet which can best (but not necessarily) be obtained from meats.

It is always wildly amusing how people continue to believe that wolves and dogs are the same things. If dogs are descended from any species of wolf, they are so far removed on an evolutionary scale as to have little in common. And in fact, science can now tell us that whilst dogs may have evolved from wolves, we can no longer make that assumption - the best that we can do is say that they are from the same familial grouping and descended from a common ancestor. In fact, believe it or not, dogs and wolves have a common ancestor with walruses and the giant panda, amongst others. Wolves and dogs share about 99% of their DNA. So do humans and Chimps. But that doesn't make us descended from chimps, or vice versa. A dog is a dog. A wolf is a wolf.

OP: virtualvetderms.com/login/product/solo-vegetal/

Wolves/dogs are omnivores
No, they aren't. Wolves are carnivores and dogs are omnivores but require a high protein diet which can best (but not necessarily) be obtained from meats.

They’re not omnivores to the same extent that people or bears are, but they’re not entirely carnivorous.

Personally, I'd never feed my dogs a vegan diet. But then, I'd never feed myself one either. I think the risk of missing out key nutrients is too great, for both me and Fido.

Dogs are not wolves, though. As an example, most dogs are far more able than wolves to digest starch. They have evolved to survive around people, and street dogs the world over scavenge through the rubbish.

There is vegetarian dog food easily available and searchchable for online. I guess you just try them and see if the dog will eat it.
Tbh though, even if i fed a dog mostly this, id consider supplementing it with some ethically sourced meat or fish occasionally on top.
Dogs are omnivorous and can do ok on a predominantly vegetarian diet, unlike cats.

It would be cruel to feed vegan food to a dog. Buy the poor thing proper food

I know a couple of people who give their dogs vegetarian dog food and their dogs are all very happy and healthy. Just do your research carefully.

Cats are completely different; they need to eat meat. Another reason (as if another one was needed 😉) for having a dog rather than a cat.

High grade kibble suitable for puppies, would be my advice.
Personally a vegan diet for dog is a no-no.
If you are talking ethics,
a puppy needs the best possible start and a vegan diet does not cover it.

I know someone that fed their dog vegetarian kibble amd the dog was as healthy as any other dog.
Its not as if feeding your dog on most mainstream dog foods is that great and noone breaks their heart over that.

If you want a vegan pet, get a rabbit 🙄

Don't get a dog please. If you HAVE to have strict principles, please don't inflict them on creatures that a) don't get a choice in the matter and b) will suffer to suit your ethos.

It is a really good idea to think about ethical ways to feed your dog.

I was really disappointed to see that Lilys Kitchen has sold out to Nestle Purina. . Some dog food manufacturers are still in the dark ages with regards to this.

Personally I do try to source ethical meats and packaging etc.

I try to avoid any food with rabbit as rabbit nearly always factory farmed for example. I look at where the meat is sourced and the welfare involved.

Co2 emissions are also high in some pet food production I prefer to use companies that consider this alongside the packaging they use.

So wankery threads are back then.......