Any vegetarians or vegan poodle peeps? - Page 2 - Poodle Forum - Standard Poodle, Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle Forum ALL Poodle owners too!

Indiana · 02-08-2013, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poodlemama99

I am going to look into vegedog.

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Yeah me too! I never knew anyone who fed their pets vegetarian before, so thanks for this thread! Love all the perspectives expressed here.

hunny518 · 02-09-2013, 05:48 AM

I've been a vegetarian for 17 years and I believe it's completely my choice and would never push it on anyone else, especially my pets. I feed all my cats and dogs raw now, and have cooked meat for my family for years now. It still repulses me and I occasionally gag when I come into direct contact with raw meat, but I know that I am giving my pets the best possible nutrition I can by doing it for them.

Dogs don't naturally eat a vegetarian diet and need nutrients from meat. I guess you could load them up with supplements but I just think that is unnatural and unfair.

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Poodlemama99 · 02-09-2013, 09:36 AM

I agree hunny518. The meat repulses me but I still cook it for the family and I am not a recruiter. Actually I hardly ever mention being vegan because of the comments it elicits from people. Lol.

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LauraRose · 02-09-2013, 12:40 PM

I'm veggie too (was vegan for over 3 years but missed cheese).
I feed Lula supplemental raw though. She just finished a duck foot.

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faerie · 02-09-2013, 05:51 PM

Humans are omnivores and can healthily eat a vegetarian/vegan diet. Dogs need animal protein. They need meat and bone and organ.

I believe in feeding my dogs and cat a species appropriate diet.

Sawyersmomma · 02-11-2013, 10:43 AM

I've been vegetarian for almost 3 years now (on the 19th!) and have considered the vegetarian diet for my dogs, but I just can't justify it. Dogs in the wild eat meat, they were designed to. Yes they could live off supplements and vegetarian diet, but the truth is they're designed to eat meat. Humans are omnivores, we can live off a vegetarian diet if we want, but dogs can't naturally handle it. I don't think it's fair to them to take them off meat if they don't have to

msminnamouse · 03-14-2013, 05:13 PM

There's actually a dog somewhere who lived to their early 20's on a vegetarian diet.

I couldn't be a vegetarian myself, but I really don't think Ginger would mind. She often eats her veggies and starch portion before the meat portion. And her favorite over anything else is fruit.

Cailin77 · 03-19-2013, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poo lover

Kruz is vegetarian after test to find out he has a problem with meat and fish even kangaroo .I have fed raw (meat) for close to twenty years so really had my douts of switching to veg but he is a happy dog now and all his skin and diegestive things are all good and is loving his food big time .But unless you are buying kibbles it does tak so work but when he sees me soaking lentils and beans he starts drooling and the vet is very happy with his progress .

That's very interesting! I've been a vegetarian for 8 years but wouldn't switch my pets' diets unless I thought it was the most healthy option for them. I never would have thought of vegetarian diet as a method of dealing with food allergies!

I'm currently in the midst of trying different foods for Brody to see if it helps with his habit of licking his feet. I've heard it can be a result of food allergies. (His former owner told me he's always done it and she never could get him not to. He was on cheap food from Tractor Supply when I got him, which I switched as soon as I could.) I currently have him on turkey and rice but I've heard poultry is a common allergen. I have a harder time with buying him lamb or beef because farming them is so much worse for the environment! Also, a lot of the lamb or beef dog foods have chicken in them anyway. Maybe vegetarian is worth a try!

On a related allergy note, I recently switched my cats to grain free, not due to grain allergies, but due to fish allergy! Trying to find cat food without by-product-meal as a first ingredient and without fish was surprisingly difficult. Especially considering that fish is the most common allergy for cats.

PammiPoodle · 03-19-2013, 10:49 AM

Bramble the Border Collie lived to 27 on a vegan diet! Dogs eating meat have lived similarly long and healthy lives, as well. Any animal or person eating only one thing or lacking a crucial nutrient will have poor health. Likewise, chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors, overly processed and "dead" foodstuffs can cause health problems. The same as a lack of exercise, mental stimulation, and love! Feed fresh, feed clean, feed a variety, and feed the soul. : ) There is more than one way to feed a dog, and you may not even have to skin the cat! ; )

Cailin77, I've heard of collar pressure causing nerve damage that can result in unpleasant sensations in the legs and feet, causing dogs to lick. Does Brody wear a collar on walks? I know it can be allergies, too, but I've known many foot-lickers over the years whose allergies weren't confirmed and never responded to diet or environmental changes, and wonder how often it may be the collar thing. I don't know if the sensations can go away if the trigger is removed, but if you think it's possible maybe you could try using a harness for a few weeks and see if it subsides? Just a thought! : )

Cailin77 · 03-19-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PammiPoodle

I've heard of collar pressure causing nerve damage that can result in unpleasant sensations in the legs and feet, causing dogs to lick. Does Brody wear a collar on walks? I know it can be allergies, too, but I've known many foot-lickers over the years whose allergies weren't confirmed and never responded to diet or environmental changes, and wonder how often it may be the collar thing. I don't know if the sensations can go away if the trigger is removed, but if you think it's possible maybe you could try using a harness for a few weeks and see if it subsides? Just a thought! : )

He does wear a collar on walks. I never leave it on him when at home though (have heard too many horror stories of pets getting collars caught). He walks very well on a leash, and is not a dog who pulls constantly. It's an interesting idea, buy I don't think the collar is to blame in Brody's case.