Here we go…
As you may or may not know, I don’t eat meat for ethical, environmental, and health reasons. Whether you agree/disagree with my personal choice, please don’t slight this question because of that. I am personally healthier than I’ve ever been, I haven’t been sick at all in the past two years since I went vegan and for the first time in my life I FEEL healthy, so veganism works for me. This isn’t the place for arguing about human diets, so let me go on.
I have two young, large breed dogs, and as their care provider I look out for their best interests. After doing a lot of research on dog foods I had settled on a kibble I’m happy with until I could securely start them on a raw diet. I feel at home researching vitamins, supplements, natural sources of protein, digestive properties, because I took the same care when I made the personal switch, and do the same for my dogs. And yes, I realize the requirements for me are not the same for them.
I wanted to start my dogs on a raw diet because of all the positive testimonials I had heard. Buying marrow bones for them to snack on and hot dog treats for training is one thing, but when I went into the deli to actually get prices on meats, I’ll be honest, it was a lot for me to take in when I saw the meat locker open. Hanging pigs and racks of cow, things that I don’t agree with or can even stomach anymore, and here I was getting prices on these dead animals in bulk to feed to my dogs. I felt hypocritical, and while that may be something I need to address with myself, it made me want to at least ponder other options.
I had seen Natural Balance Vegetarian formula in Petco, and was intrigued by the idea and knew a lot of people who recommended this brand. And it met AAFCO standards, if anything it is something I could try. So I started looking online, and there are a lot of vegetarian options for dogs. I’ll list them so you can view them and please give your opinion or any red flags you may see. I’ve also posted factsheets on vegetarian dog diets.
FACTSHEETS/WEBSITES:
http://www.helpinganimals.com/pdfs/Dog_Health_Survey.pdf
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/dogfood1.html (also a dogfood2.html)
http://www.vegforlife.org/dogscats.htm
http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/FactsheetDisplay.asp?ID=34
COMPANIES:
http://v-dogfood.com/ AAFCO approved
http://www.vegepet.com/ Supplement to homemade kibble
http://www.naturesrecipe.com/recipe_detail.aspx?id=424 Nature’s Recipe AAFCO approved
http://www.petguard.com/dog-products/dry-food/petguard-organics-adult-dry-dog-food Free of Corn, Soy, Wheat, and Yeast fillers
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/Vegetarian.html Natural Balance AAFCO approved
And there are more on the web sites provided. If these companies can create a kibble that is healthy for dogs, it also crosses my mind that a raw vegetable diet should be okay for dogs also, along with proper supplements if needed. I would much rather feed fresh than kibble, but I’ve found very little information on that online. Your thoughts with that would be appreciated. Also, I plan on doing trial runs with both of them on either the raw veggie or veggie kibble diets, whichever I’m more comfortable with doing. And if they’re healthy to my standards and that of my vet, I will then keep it. But I won’t make them stay on it if it doesn’t agree with their bodies. And depending on how it goes, I may go on to try a raw diet, but not all dogs do excellent on that, either.
Just warranting opinions, hopefully opinions of intelligent people who can respond as such. And don’t tell me to rehome my dogs, unless you’ll personally take them and let me have them on weekends (sike), that’s not happening. But please be open-minded and considerate, as I’m seeking out my dog’s best interest, with my interests in mind.
Marketing gimmicks that are still approved by AAFCO.
Carnivores they may be, but they are not obligate carnivores. They do not need protein from meat to survive, or even to sustain. If dogs were strict carnivores, then all the purina / ol roy / pedigree food that is mostly CORN and WHEAT would have killed them by now, but we all know dogs who are basically corn-fed and have lived long, healthy lives. Not defending these corn brands, but it’s still something to consider.
And in the amount of time it took you to respond, I can tell you checked all the links out and read what I posted in detail. Thanks.
Dachs – I am aware it is just what makes me feel better, The question is geared towards whether they can sustain. Everyone brings up wolves in the wild, and while I know they are direct descendants, I don’t know of anyone who lets their dog attack a duck, possum, squirrel, etc., and let them devour it "like they would in the wild." So no one takes care of their dogs like a wolf takes care of itself, they are domesticated after all.
GSD – If you read the ingredients in a lot of the veg foods, a lot of it is fully natural and what isn’t is vitamins and mineral supplements. You could argue the same about ‘man made chemical compounds" with over 50% of approved dog foods on the market. Plant protein and Animal protein are equal when it comes to amino acids and how they break down, the only difference is with Taurine, which dogs create on their own.
Thank you Paul, and that’s a good idea Jenny about kosher meat.
Lauren. "can’t" and "shouldn’t" have different meanings, please learn them.
Thank you, GSD. Ultimately, like I said, I’ll try it out if I do feel comfortable with it, which I don’t as of yet. I’m just trying to gather as much info as possible. I’ve been vegan the entire time I’ve had these two, and I’ve always told myself they eat meat because it’s what’s best for them, but like I said.. I’m trying to ponder all options. If only one does well on the veg. diet, then that’s great, I’ll keep the other one on the diet that works for them. If they both do poor, they will be fed what is optimal for their bodies, and at least I’ll know I tried.
Tria – I don’t want a rabbit. I may go with the idea of free range and kosher if anything, but I could never afford premade raw food for my 50 and 70 lb dogs, unfortunately.
Thanks Rachel 
Genetic makeup is another thing to consider, you’re right. There’s still a lot to consider, like if they’ll even like it! I’m glad you can tell the difference between me and some lunatic trying to feed their dogs an all-apple diet.
Thank you, GSD. Ultimately, like I said, I’ll try it out if I do feel comfortable with it, which I don’t as of yet. I’m just trying to gather as much info as possible. I’ve been vegan the entire time I’ve had these two, and I’ve always told myself they eat meat because it’s what’s best for them, but like I said.. I’m trying to ponder all options. If only one does well on the veg. diet, then that’s great, I’ll keep the other one on the diet that works for them. If they both do poor, they will be fed what is optimal for their bodies, and at least I’ll know I tried.
Tria – I don’t want a rabbit. I may go with the idea of free range and kosher if anything, but I could never afford premade raw food for my 50 and 70 lb dogs, unfortunately.
Thanks Rachel Genetic makeup is another thing to consider, you’re right. There’s still a lot to consider, like if they’ll even like it! I’m glad you can tell the difference between me and some lunatic trying to feed their dogs an all-apple diet.
Thank you Mayv, it’s nice to see someone who is doing it and having great results. After 13 ‘no’ responses I didn’t think anyone on this forum would be helpful with it, thanks.
Curtis – I said I’m not rehoming my dogs under any circumstances or getting a damn rabbit. Unless YOU are going to come take them, bike ride 12 miles with them a day, make homemade treats every sunday night and stuff all their kongs for the work week, cut up packages and packages of hot dogs for training, vacuum up after Josie twice a week, put up with her anxiety and velcro tendency, Zoey’s excited peeing, her tail knocking drinks and papers off the coffee table all.the.time., take them swimming weekly, drag their limp bodies into their crates every night when they try to sleep in the bedroom (they become QUITE unconscious, imagine that), buy nic nacs for them anywhere you go because they’re YOUR girls and mean their weight in gold to you.
I love and take care of them, so thanks for NOT reading my full post
