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With more people becoming concerned about animal rights and what we are actually eating, there has been a small but significant swing towards vegetarianism. As these people enjoy the benefits of their new diet, they show an equal concern for the food their dogs and cats are eating, and vegetarianism for pets is now becoming a growing market.
The main reason both dogs and cats have been considered traditionally carnivores is because of the structure of their teeth, and there are many people who would argue that it is unnatural to force an animal to live on a strictly vegetarian diet. However as supplements for pets are becoming more common, due to the decrease in nutritional value of many traditional pet foods, there is no scientific reason why these teeth have to be used, simply because dogs and cats were born with them.
According to the National Research Council (NRC) "Dogs require specific nutrition, not specific food stuffs..." They went on to say that there is no difference in the protein digestion in a dog's cereal based diet, as there was in a meat based one.
Mr Michael W. Fox, D.V.M. claims that there is a ‘benefit in health and temper, reduction in the risks of cancer, strokes and heart attacks, and other common disorders" in dogs that had been on a vegetarian diet for 5 years or more.
There has been major concern in what is meant when a pet food is considered ‘suitable for animal consumption only’. There are claims that in many states these foods actually contain unusable chicken parts (such as ground feathers). Some commercial animal foods have been made from diseased cows, and many contain high quantities of hormones, pesticides and antibiotics.
With this in mind it is refreshing to read the book ‘Vegetarian Dogs’ by Verona re Bow and Jonathan Dune. (Available from major bookstores)This excellent book includes Why our pets should be ‘meat-free’. There is supplement information, exercise and care, resources where you can purchase commercially made vegan pet food, and tips on how to make your own.
There a some great websites on dog vegetarianism. In all the research data currently available there were no scientific reasons why a dog or cat could not be vegetarian.
Finally to prove that maybe all animals can be vegetarian there is a delightful (true) story about a lioness cub who would not eat meat. She was apparently profiled on television shows in the USA, and her owners even offered a reward for anyone who could encourage this animal to eat meat, as experts all agreed that without it, she would die. She preferred vegetables and cereals and would turn away from meat in disgust. While she did not live to a very old age (about 4 years), her death was not a result of her diet. She contracted a virus while in Hollywood doing a television show. What she was remembered for were the pictures of her laying with a lamb, and her best friend, a little kitten.
Back in the Garden of Eden, God apparently made all animals to live together in harmony, and ‘gave green herbs as their meat’. The Lion did sleep with the lamb, and they all seemed to be vegan in nature. Perhaps there is some truth in that story after-all.
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