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Is a vegan diet appropriate for a dog or cat?
Recently, vegan diets for dogs and cats have been receiving a lot of attention. In fact, not very long ago, a friend of mine approached me to ask about my thoughts on a vegan diet for a dog. Occassionally, my veterinary pet parents will ask as well.
Vegan Diets for Dogs
Take a look at this CNN article about vegan dog diets: Vegan diet for dogs: A question of thriving vs surviving.
This article is well worth reading in its entirety. But here are some of the high points that I think are important to realize.
- “(Dr. Donna) Spector and six other pet experts who spoke with CNN conceded — some more reluctantly than others — that most dogs could biologically live on a vegan diet. But doing so requires substantial attention to creating a balanced diet that makes up for the loss of animal protein with substitutions of beans, soy and, to a lesser extent, vegetables and grains.”
- “She (veterinarian Kathryn E. Michel, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine) recommended using only commercial pet food that has gone through Association of American Feed Control Officials feeding trials. Or, if you prefer to cook meals from scratch, consult a credentialed expert in dog nutrition to ensure a proper balance of essential nutrients.”
So, there you have it. While a vegan diet would not necessarily be my first choice as a diet for a dog, most dogs can do okay on a vegan diet assuming that the diet is complete and balanced. Could they do better on an animal based diet? That really depends on the individual dog. Some (perhaps the majority?) would while others might actually benefit from a vegan diet. You’ll have to make that decision for yourself based on how your dog does on the diet.
Vegan Diets for Cats
For a cat, the idea of feeding a vegan diet is a totally different subject than for a dog. Cats are carnivores while dogs are omnivores. What that means, in very simple terms, is that while dogs can digest and process proteins and other nutrients from sources other than animals, cats cannot.
Cats are meat eaters not by choice but by necessity. Several nutrients that are essential in the feline diet are derived only from animal sources and are not present in plant sources. Feeding a cat a vegan diet, without the addition of adequate levels of nutrients such as taurine and arachidonic acid, can endanger the life of your cat.
Photo Courtesy of Adrian Nier/Flickr.com
About Lorie Huston, DVM
Lorie Huston is a veterinarian, pet health and pet care expert, professional writer, blogger, social media and blogging consultant, and SEO strategist.
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I fail to see how a dog could do well on a vegan diet. HUMANS don’t do well on vegan diets, either. So let the dog decide. Put a plate of meat and a plate of veggies in front of a dog, let them decide. I’m pretty sure that the dog will pick meat.
I have no doubt you’re right about which food a dog would choose to eat, Karen. In most cases, a vegan diet would not be my first choice for a dog either.
Okay, do people who feed their dogs/cats a vegan diet realize what they are doing? It’s like giving cows, meat. The more idiots that try to change mother nature, the more they destroy it. This is sheer lunacy.
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