new puppy conundrum

"Who the fuck feeds a dog tofu?"

I do. Dogs are naturally more omnivores than carnivores. Cats are carnivores. My dog is a very happy and healthy vegetarian. Since we brought him home from the shelter, his coat got super shiny and soft, his temperment changed and he is freaking WONDERUL. Love had a lot to do with it. But having a veggie dog is easy. PLEASE read up on this first, people, dont just feed your dog rice and beans and hope for the best. Invest in high quality food. My dog's on Evolutions Dog food

and by the way....tofu is one of his favourite foods.

 

I will let the fact that you are 16 years old speak for itself. However, seen as how meat is linked to contributing to most cancers, it uses up a ton of resources, is ineffient and completely unethical, pollutes groundwater, you contribute to 100 or more deaths a year by eating it, it's pumped full of crap. They force feed animals chemicals (antibiotics) to keep them from getting sick. Why? because they are in such filthy horrible condtions that disease is rampant. Please read where your food comes from, you really seem oblivious. I am not trying to be mean, but after hearing misinformation a thousand times I just want to throw books at people.

 

I agree with everything said here, although pulling the age ard was unfair and unreasonable, and above all not right.
Many young people are very aware and awake these days.

However, the 16 year old in question DID make a rather stupid statement, backed up by no facts or evidence, and if shed only do a little research and take a little time to think, shed see that a vegetarian/vegan diet is actually the healthiest one around for a human being

-Maxi

 

Wrat: I'm glad you found some good organic dog food for your dog. If you ever decide to switch to Veg, Petguard makes an Organic Vegetarian Dog Food, but it is expensive.

For you naysayers out there who think that dogs can't be vegetarian, I present the following:

Shadow - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsshf/sets/72157594303275505/
Peta - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsshf/sets/72157594243752528/
Nube - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsshf/sets/72157594308618154/

I also have a little white dog who is in some of the pictures linked above. Her name is Sequoia, and she is 16. She's getting old, but she still gets around and has plenty of spunk to give me sass every day.

I feed all my dogs Natural Life pet food: http://www.nlpp.com/products.html?topic=vegetarian. They also love occasional Vegan table scraps and fruit, especially melon.

 

Dogs are naturally omnivores, like us, so they can definitely be vegetarian and be very healthy. You can even make your own veg dog food, as long as you make sure to put all the necessary nutrients in it. A GREAT book with recipes is "Vegetarian Dogs" and you can get it here: http://www.petacatalog.org/prodinfo.asp?number=BK233

Be sure to transition your dog into a veg diet gradually and give them lots of variety. I cook for my dog once in a while and otherwise mix kibble with vegetarian canned food. He loves it, and he is usually really picky. I believe the most important nutrients to watch out for in dogs are beta carotene (carrots are a great source), protein (brown rice, beans, wheat germ), magnesium, calcium, and zinc. The book I mention above has a complete list of essential nutrients and veg sources for them. Good luck!

 

Some good suggestions so far. There's also a 'raw food' diet (BARF), which you could do with organic meats.

It's very true that dogs are omnivores rather than strictly carnivores. So of course dogs can have a vegetarian diet. Whatever we feed them isn't going to be 'natural' anyway (wolves certainly don't eat out of plastic bowls), so if they're getting the nutients then I don't see the harm. They do enjoy meat, but I've know dogs love other foods just as much. So it's probably not a major preference.

Our pup has Burns puppy bites, which is a kibble*. He ate some processed crap before but then we switched over and he's now are really healthy and enjoys his food.
For a bit of variety and such Charlie also has tuna/chicken & rice, and some vegetables (leftovers really, so variety and small amounts).

*free range meat, natural ingredients etc