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Vegan

Join Mumsnet's vegan community and discuss everything related to the vegan diet.

Vegan dog food.

49 replies

MissBrown · 04/09/2018 09:44

Hi all.

I'm a very happy vegan and don't have any questions about my own diet but I always promised that when my cat died, I would change my dogs to a vegan diet. I have heard many good things about it.

I am interested in making my own but it needs to be suitable for my very itchy dog who has quite yeast prone skin.

Does anyone have experience with this and have any advice.
They are currently on shop bought kibble and show absolutely no interest in it.

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
LikeLemondrops · 05/09/2018 03:21

No experience with vegan diet but I did have a very itchy, allergic yeasty dog who absolutely thrived once we switched him to a raw diet. He ate chicken carcasses, bones and all, eggs, all sorts of meat except pig.

Once we switched he stopped being itchy and had the most glorious shiny coat.

IvyFluids · 05/09/2018 03:32

Why are non vegans commenting?
Probably for the same reason that childless people are on a parenting page. Because they can.
You are not the gatekeeper of all things vegan.

Veganism isn't the best thing for your dog. Yes there have been reports on a few dogs living apparently quite happy lives but how many reports have not been made public about dogs that lived miserable lives on a vegan diet. Do you really want a dog living on beans? The farts would be horrific. Id speak to your vet about it.

MissBrown · 05/09/2018 07:59

Bimgy85

You are showing yourself up to be very stupid. The WHO is not some googled gobshite. Do the research yourself.

'Processed meat was classified as Group 1, carcinogenic to humans. What does this mean?
This category is used when there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. In other words, there is convincing evidence that the agent causes cancer. The evaluation is usually based on epidemiological studies showing the development of cancer in exposed humans.

In the case of processed meat, this classification is based on sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer.'
(Quote taken from the WHO website)

I am sure humans will carry on eating meat for hundreds of years but why is that unfortunate for me? It is far more unfortunate for you, the animals and the environment.

As for changing the facts, which fact have I tried to change? Dogs are omnivores, cats are carnivores and humans are essentially meat eating herbivores, just look at the length of our intestines. They are not designed to digest meat, hence the abundance of colorectal cancers.

Another thing, why are you trolling a vegan page??? I have come here for advice and the experience of like minded people, not ill-informed bigots like yourself.

OP posts:
Bimgy85 · 05/09/2018 08:21

You're seriously trying to tell me dogs are omnivores? That is an ongoing debate my love and not one you get to sign off on.

There is no definitive answer to that. So not sure how the rest of your information plays up.

MissBrown · 05/09/2018 08:23

Just to clarifiy, I came here for advice and the experience of others. I also mentioned that I would also go down the raw route if I thought that it would be beneficial.

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Doghorsechicken · 05/09/2018 08:39

Please just speak to your vet, not a load of people on the internet

Doghorsechicken · 05/09/2018 08:41

Personally, my dog has really improved with a raw diet called Poppy’s Picnic. He’s 17 & has a beautiful shiny coat

villainousbroodmare · 05/09/2018 08:50

Have you ever had to help your dog to pass a blade of grass? Most dog owners have. It is exactly the same as when it went in. That's a fair indication of a dog's ability to digest vegetable matter.
Also, there is nothing terrible that happens during the process of normal cooking except that lots of bacteria which can cause gastrointestinal problems in your dog and your family are killed. If you are very keen on creating your dog's own diet, buy raw ingredients and cook them yourself. Supplement bone with bone meal which is safer anyway than raw or cooked bones. Not sure how much? There are resources available to help you calculate but yep, that's why most people should really buy a reputable commercial complete food for their dogs. Containing meat.

Doghorsechicken · 05/09/2018 09:00

Sorry this post has actually really concerned me. Dogs are definitely carnivores, anybody who says different are intellectually challenged. You only need to look at their teeth to confirm that. They are built for gripping prey & chewing meat not eating apples. Have you people not seen any nature programs featuring wolves/African wild dogs etc? They hunt!

Twoweekcruise · 05/09/2018 09:04

At the end of the day, if a live rabbit sat in front of myself and my dog, who would have the natural tools to kill, tear the flesh apart, eat and properly digest the raw flesh of that animal? Obviously, my dog. Dogs are carnivores. End of story.

MissBrown · 05/09/2018 11:01

Oh dear I have really started something here! Maybe if some of you were to do some research yourselves, you would have a better idea rather than just getting angry about things that you may or may not have knowledge or experience of.

Just a quick google search came up with the following information found on the Hill's website (dog nutrition experts).

'Omnivores, such as dogs and people, don't have higher requirements for taurine and certain vitamins and can create their own arachidonic acid from vegetable oils.

Omnivore qualities

There are other nutritional, behavioral and physical factors that separate the omnivore and carnivore worlds:

Dogs have teeth (molars) with relatively flat surfaces designed to grind up bones as well as fibrous plant material.
Dogs can digest almost 100% of the carbohydrates they consume.
Dogs have a small intestine that occupies about 23 percent of the total gastrointestinal volume, which is consistent with other omnivores; the small intestine of cats occupies only 15 percent.
Dogs can create vitamin A from betacarotene found in plants.

Confusion in their conclusion
Some folks have come to the erroneous conclusion that dogs must be carnivores because they fall under the order Carnivora. A close look at the anatomy, behavior and feeding preferences of dogs shows that they are actually omnivorous — able to eat and remain healthy with both animal and plant foodstuffs.'

If any of the haters can find some studies or information that shows otherwise, I would be happy to read it.

Again, as I previously mentioned, I would also look into a raw meat diet, so I am not forcing my views on my dogs and there is no need for anyone to be concerned. I would be more concerned with the crap that goes into commercially produced dog food. All the antibiotics and hormones that factory farmed animals are fed cannot be good for anyone. I am doing careful research into a diet that would best suit my dogs and this is one area I am looking at.

OP posts:
Anastassiabeaverhausen · 05/09/2018 11:12

'Omnivores, such as dogs and people, don't have higher requirements for taurine and certain vitamins and can create their own arachidonic acid from vegetable oils.*'

'*As for changing the facts, which fact have I tried to change? Dogs are omnivores, cats are carnivores and humans are essentially meat eating herbivores, just look at the length of our intestines. They are not designed to digest meat, hence the abundance of colorectal cancers.'

Hang on are you saying we're omnivores or herbivores?

Bimgy85 · 05/09/2018 11:43

OP. As I said earlier it is an ongoing debate however dogs are carnivores the fact you think they're omnivores are hilarious

MissBrown · 05/09/2018 12:25

It i the general belief of people that humans are omnivores yet our bodies are designed like herbivores. Humans are able to digest meat but not well, hence the intestinal issues that people suffer from. Crohns, IBS, a variety of cancers.

There is a wide variety of interesting research out there which has brought me to the informed decision to eat a vegan diet.

If anyone is interested I can happily point you in the right direction.

OP posts:
MissBrown · 05/09/2018 12:38

Bimgy85 I would be happy to look into the evidence you have used to make your statement. If I am mis-informed I will happily concede. Do you have any links or cites that I can go to?

What is the ongoing debate?

OP posts:
downinthejunglee · 05/09/2018 14:23

Jesus you're obnoxious

MissBrown · 05/09/2018 14:29
Grin
OP posts:
user1483390742 · 05/09/2018 14:36

A vegan dog is the ultimate in animal cruelty. My friend made her dog eat vegan food- he was malnourished and sick looking, and went crazy if there was ever any meat around. They are carnivores and it is not right to impose such cruelty on an animal, regardless of how strong your views are.

tabulahrasa · 05/09/2018 14:49

“If any of the haters can find some studies or information that shows otherwise”

There are plenty, you’ll find them in scientific journals, not pet food websites.

I’d link to some...except I’m a hater Hmm apparently...

I mean I have absolutely no issue with people with vegans, haven’t eaten meat in nearly 30 years, but pointing out that dogs aren’t omnivores makes me a hater, so...

villainousbroodmare · 05/09/2018 15:01

OP, if I had a chronically itchy dog, I would take his misery very seriously and work hard in conjunction with my vets to find a lifestyle and diet that made him as comfortable as possible. I wouldn't care if it was based on bunny rabbits or vegetables. Perhaps take that as your starting point.

Doghorsechicken · 05/09/2018 16:24

Veganism is absolutely fine if it is your lifestyle choice. It is not ok when it’s forced upon an animal that depends on you entirely.

MrBeansXmasTurkey · 05/09/2018 18:08

But what about the other animals you would be killing to feed the dog? Isn't that even crueller?

bershetmelon · 05/09/2018 18:45

Personally I don't think a vegan diet is appropriate or fair to foist on an animal that hasn't really got a choice in the matter, it's the equivalent of me getting a rabbit and trying to feed it meat. At best it's got to be incredibly difficult to get right and if it's not then ultimately it'll be the dog that suffers. I'd go with raw (as you're willing to do that) or look at a good quality dog food (allaboutdogfood.co.uk gives good information) and consult with a vet

Bazinga007 · 15/01/2022 23:49

You are not a vegan if you have a pet. That's cruelty keeping them in you house, let them go.

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