Vegetarian Dog Diet and Food - Can Dogs Take It?

We have all seen it before. Someone has written a letter to the health editor of our favorite dog magazine, asking if the family dog can be a vegetarian. "I am a dedicated vegan," the letter might read, "I feel that it's morally wrong to let my dog be a meat eater. What alternative diets are available?" You might roll your eyes and pat your dog on the head, certain that you provide a better diet to your dog than that person ever will.

If you think that dogs can not thrive on a vegetarian diet, then you are only half right. Some claims have been made for dogs being able to thrive on diets that consist primarily of tofu, which should provide plenty of vegetable matter protein. But is that protein of a high enough quality to be metabolized by your dog? What kind of supplements will your dog need? Is there a quality commercial vegetarian dog food on the market?

Vegetarian and vegan diets are not appropriate for our dogs. Our dogs are still closely affiliated, genetically, with their ancestors the wolves. Wolves are one of the few true carnivores that exist in nature. Meat makes up the vast majority of their diet, in their natural state. Looking at their teeth, we can see how the dog's teeth are designed for shredding, not grinding, making them inefficient for extracting nutrients from fruit and vegetable matter. Fresh fruits and vegetables, often recommended as snacks for dogs who must lose weight, are recommended because only a very few calories are added to your dog's system with every treat.

Some human beings feel that eating a meat-based diet is wrong. Because humans like to have total control over our environment and the people and creatures around us, we impose our wills upon them. Our dogs, who would normally choose to eat a rabbit, are frequently forced to eat rabbit food if owned by people who disagree with eating meat. It is important to remember that even if you feel that eating meat is "immoral," your dog has no morality; he is an amoral creature who lives his life based on his desires, not on right or wrong. He eats his rabbit because he needs to eat and it tastes good, not because he believes he has a right to do so.

If you choose to feed your dog a vegetarian diet, several soy-based diets are on the market now. It is strongly recommended that you purchase one of these diets and follow the serving suggestions made by the company. It is also strongly recommended that a veterinarian be consulted before shifting him to a vegetarian diet. Your dog should also make frequent, regular visits to the veterinarian until you are certain that he has adjusted to the new diet.

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