Vegan dog biscuits?

@CatNPK (461)
United States
April 6, 2007 5:37pm CST
I have only tried feeding a dog vegan dog biscuits once, and she loved them. How do you feel about the ethics of turning a dog completely vegetarian or vegan? I have read that dogs can easily live healthy lives without meat, but I have never tried it myself.
2 responses
@Galena (9110)
7 Apr 07
a dog is a carnivore by nature. it's not right to make it vegetarian.
@CatNPK (461)
• United States
10 Apr 07
Dogs are actually omnivores. In the wild dogs eat a variety of vegetation. Cats are true carnivores, that's why they throw up when they eat grass. I'm not saying whether or not it's OK to turn a dog vegetarian, though - just being more specific. I'm really interested to hear from anyone who feeds their dog a veggie diet to see if how it's affected their dog's health.
@Galena (9110)
11 Apr 07
well true. Omnivore. still designed to eat meat among other things though. they can live without meat, but it doesn't seem right to make them do it to me. if people can't bring themselves to feed an animal meat, they should get herbivore pets.
@5000ml (1923)
• Belgium
11 Apr 07
Well, that's up to debat :) Dogs are regarded by many to indeed be carnivores. Cats can also eat fruit and vegetables, they're also not strict carnivores. Dogs eat grass too and then vomit afterwards. It's been reported that the grass might help with digestive system problems such as gastritis or nausea and so that might be why both dogs and cats tend to eat grass. I've noticed that my cats tend to eat grass just so they can easily vomit up only their hairballs afterwards, but that's just my experience.
@5000ml (1923)
• Belgium
11 Apr 07
I think it's rather cruel to make a dog into a vegetarian. They need meat in order to be completely healthy and if you'd allow a dog to choose between a bowl of meat and a bowl of carrots you can bet all your money that he/she would go straight for the meat. It's a human diet/life style forced upon an animal who can't do anything about it. It makes me so angry. Stick to how nature made these animals and give them meat along with vegetables.
@CatNPK (461)
• United States
3 May 07
The same reasoning is why I'm against declawing cats, debarking dogs, and extensive specialized breeding. I do believe in spaying/neutering due to the simple fact of overpopulation causing needless suffering.