Veggies, who has experience with this (pet question)...?

Question

I posted this question in pets under dogs & cats. And got bombarded with no's:

"Your expericences, good or bad with your cat/dog on a vegetarian/vegan diet?"

Most everyone was extensive in telling me why I shouldn't do it, but only *one* person was able to tell me that she had a bad experience putting her cat on a vegan diet, which was what I was looking for, an experience. Has anyone in here ever put there cat and/or dog on vegetarian/vegan diet, if so how did it go?

Answer 1

Very few people have experiences with feeding their cats a vegan or vegetarian diet because most people knew from the start that cats are carnivorous. Listen to what they are saying because they know what they are talking about. Would you rather run an "experiment" and perhaps endanger your cat's health?

Just because people haven't had the experience of jumping off a building doesn't mean they don't know what they are talking about when they not to do it.

Dogs on the other hand have been more adaptable to their owners quirks and can survive on a vegetarian dog food formula. Frustrated perhaps but they will survive.

My dog will eat plastic, bottle caps, clay pots and the Science Diet bag if I let him

Answer 2

i think its a great idea.

my dogs are on a vegetarian diet;

not vegan..

there are many pet foods with non-meat flavoring.

animals are smarter than most people think;

mine are happier now.

im almost positive they knew they were eating there buddies with reg food.

if they get used to the vegetarian diet;

it would be fine to move to a vegan.

if they start getting depressed once you change diets;

stop immediatly though.

because diffrent animals react diffreent to diets.

Answer 3

Dogs are omnivores, so they can eat a well-formulated vegan diet, but with cats, there is no way to do it safely. I've heard horror stories from people who have tried it. The only thing I know for certain is that they require a certain chemical in their diet called taurine, which is pretty much exclusively an animal product.

Answer 4

OK LISTEN

My dog (we got him when I was in 3rd grade) Was allergic to dog food, it gave him ear infections. We fed him tofu and pees and carrots every meal!! He was a very hewalthy dog and he died jsut about 2 months ago. I am 23 years old!!! I am sure that doesnt mean it is a bad thing!!!

Dont worry about he will be great! The vet use to tell us how healthy he was all the time. He died cause he had a stroke, and obv old age!!!! Go for it. Dont listen to any1 saying no

As for a cat, it would be much harder to wean him onto that diet. He may not even eat it seeing that they are carnivorous so you may in turn be starving him to death. For a dog, its fine.

Answer 5

I don't force my diet on my dog. I feed him what he is supposed to eat as a dog and what my vet says is good for him. Don't do anything sort of major diet change for any pet before consulting a vet. Even just give a call to a vets office and they will give you lots of great information.

Why are you wanting to put your pet on a veggie diet anyways?

Answer 6

I believe the people who say vegetarian and vegan food is bad for dogs and cats are referring to vegan or vegetarian food that was not designed for a domestic cat and dog's nutritional needs.

Here's an Australian scientific study of proper vegan food for cats and dogs. Some say cats and dogs cannot digest plant-based food properly. Well, that is nonsense.

My sister is studying Vet. Science at the Murdoch University, which conducted the vegan cat food tests. She is getting me 3 packets of the vegan cat food soon for 3 of my cats.

Answer 7

Dogs have all loved and thrived on vegan food

Our cats barely touched the stuff so we haven't made the transition yet

Answer 8

I do not think that you should be putting your cat on a vegetarian diet as they are carnivores. It is their main diet and is what they were born to eat. I think that it would be unhealthy for your cat. But dogs are omnivores like us, and if we can manage then I do not see why you should not be able to.

And another thing- if your cat goes outside then it will probably just resort to catching birds or mice. I do not think that your cat would willingly follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Answer 9

I'm a vet and would have serious concerns about putting an animal on an unnatural diet. Dogs and cats are carnivores and eat meat for that exclusive reason not because they choose to. They need the oils, vitamins and certain minerals that meat contains and to put them on a vegan diet is both cruel and unfair.

I've heard of people who have done so but never encountered any of them so I can't give you the type of answer you're looking for but I hope I've helped.

EDIT: Some people here are saying dogs are omnivorous, thery're not. The reason dogs/cats will eat scraps that contain veg is that the veg is cooked therefore the fibres are broken down and can be digested.

PS. Dog food doesn't give any mutt an ear infection and whoever told you that 'that one is me' should be struck off the register. Ear infections are bacterial.

Answer 10

I put my dog on a vegan diet 5 years ago.  She is healthier now.  She used to have terrible allergy problems.  Now she's fine.

Answer 11

My dog was getting pretty chubby so we tried a vegan diet. It was ok for the first week or two. She started acting strange and tired all the time so we took her to the vet. They said that although veggies are good for dogs, they lack protein, which humans and dogs, need. If you're looking for a natural diet instead of processed dog food. i suggest feeding them small pieces of lean meat, raw hamburger, tofu, and fish, plus healthy veggies for your animal cut into small chunks. I suggest not a full vegan diet, but try to add in lean cooked/raw meats*my vet tells me to feed my dog raw hamburger all the time. its good for them, but bad for us* and some fresh veggies. a natural vegan diet is good for a dog, but make sure they have enough protien and nutrients.

cats on the other hand, would be a little different. They are instincivally carnivorous, so trying to feed them vegetables and such would not work good. they'll probably turn their nose up at it! for a natural "vegan" diet for a cat, maybe try getting lean pieces of meat and mixing in tiny chunks of like carrots and stuff. im not sure that it will work, since cats don't really eat vegetables. mixing in a little processed cat food+meat+small veggies may get them to eat it more. I hope this helps you!

Answer 12

DOGS:  I have seen some dogs do well on vegetarian / vegan diets. Other dogs do not respond well to being veggies. Domesticated dogs were raised eating what we eat, so much like humans - dogs can survive on just about anything, and are, by nature, Omnivores. However, different dogs can do well on different types of diets. If you have a dog and you want to try them on a veggie diet - there are several vegetarian foods for dogs (which are quiet expensive, but...) or there are many books/websites on cooking whole foods for your dog. Just make sure they are getting a good balance of vitimans and nutrients. Again, like humans, they need a good balanced diet.

CATS: Cats are by nature carnivores. They can not survive well being  a vegetarian or a vegan. There are essential vitimans and minerals and amino acids, etc, in meat, that cats (house cats, wild cats, etc) need to survive. I'm a vegetarian, and my cats eat meat. They need it. They will likely get quite sick if you try to make them vegetarian.

Answer 13

Good question!  I would be VERY careful about putting a cat on a vegan diet.  Cats are pretty much 100% carnivores.  You risk making them sick or even killing him with malnutriton.   Dogs are omnivores, so you have a better chance at finding meat-free safe choices.  

I look at it this way.  I don't *need* meat, so I don't eat it.  A carnivore like a lion, house cat, or dolphin requires meat, and it would be cruel for me to keep him from the diet he requires.

Answer 14

Cats should not be on vegetarian diets.  They are carnivores.  Dogs could be great with it.  I have a dog that has liver issues and with meat, she never felt well.  She is now 10 years old, a vegetarian and feeling great.

Answer 15

Having carnivorous animal companions is a vegan's dilemma. I have many rescued animals in my family and I am a vegan. I cannot, with a clear conscience , keep my animal companions on a vegan diet.  While it breaks my heart to have to feed them animals that I know have suffered, I must in order to keep them healthy.

Our dogs and cats are animals that have been completely domesticated over 1000s of years. While they instinctively try to "hunt," they would not be healthy eating flea ridden and possibly diseased rabbits, mice, moles, chipmunks, etc. they may happen to catch outdoors. They would probably starve if left to hunt for themselves because for the most part, they are not very good at it,  so if left to eat a "natural diet" they would probably not thrive.

Vegan dog food, while it may work for some dogs, does not seem to be the best food for dogs and most veterinarians warn against it. Vegan cat food, if any existed, would kill a cat.

I'm sorry, I know this doesn't answer your question. I just really think you would be doing your beloved feline friend much damage, probably kill him/her if you put him/her on a veggie diet.

It truly is the animal lover/vegan's dilemma. ***Sigh*** At least my tortoise buddy is a total herbivore.