There is a growing trend towards people opting to offer their dog a vegetarian diet. In Fort Lauderdale, vegetarian dog foods are commercially available at the majority of pet shops. Although this idea isn’t as far “fetched” as doing so with a cat, there are some serious facts that a person should consider before making this decision.
As we know, dogs are omnivorous and, so in theory, they could switch to a vegetarian diet and live a full life. In many ways, a dog on a vegetarian diet will encounter the same challenges as a human would. It will become necessary to supplement the dog’s diet to ensure they are receiving all their necessary vitamins and minerals.
So why would a person consider putting their dog on a vegetarian diet?
The main reason would be to alleviate food allergies your canine may have developed. There are also personal beliefs and values, a reduction of cancer, the possibility of a longer life span and fewer heart, bone and kidney issues. None of the latter theories have been proven as of yet.
A dog’s ancestor, the wolf, supplements their diet of mainly meat with approximately 5% vegetation when it’s in season. It is because of this that dogs should probably be treated like the carnivore that their ancestors are, unless they have a severe medical complication in regards to metabolizing animal protein.
Cheaper dog foods that you can buy in grocery stores contain grains and other fillers as primary ingredients. This makes them mainly vegetarian and are generally accepted as low quality foods that are terrible for dogs. When speaking to any pet care worker, veterinarian or dog breeder, they will tell you to seek out foods that have meat at their main ingredient. There are also many studies indicating the vast benefits of feeding your dog a raw meat diet for even more added nutrients and health benefits.
In general, a dog should be fed a diet of mainly meat protein. Medical reasons sometimes suggest a vegetarian diet for dogs, but is not the first choice of a healthy, happy canine. Other diets such as raw food or natural, organic foods can be found in your local pet shops. Talk to your Fort Lauderdale dog food seller for more information and tips on choosing a new food for your pup.
