Utility Bar

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Pawcurious: With Veterinarian and Author Dr. V

Celebrating the truth that pets make people better.

  • RSS
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Google +
  • Goodreads
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • FAQ
  • Speaking
  • Pet Expert
  • Writing
  • Books
    • All Dogs Go to Kevin
    • Press
  • Blog
    • Picks of the Litter
    • Popular Posts
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Be The Change / Blogathon / Hour Four: The aftermath

Hour Four: The aftermath

November 6, 2009 by Dr. V

It really wasn’t that bad. Truly. I was shocked- it kind of smelled like refried beans, which is what I told myself as I ate it. FWIW the brand was Evanger’s. I did a test run of a different brand of vegetarian dog food earlier this week and
it was quite a bit grosser.

Someone asked me during chat what I thought about vegetarian diets for pets. Obviously I’m glad they exist, because otherwise I would have had to eat something much more horrific, but I have been known to recommend it at times for dogs.

Cats shouldn’t be on a vegetarian food. They are carnivores. They are made to metabolize meat.

Dogs, on the other hand, can do OK with a vegetarian diet. It can be a godsend to people whose dogs have food allergies, depending on what they are allergic to. I used it for Mulan, a senior dog with renal disease and food allergies that precluded use of the prescription renal diets.

I think people who choose to become vegetarian themselves for whatever reason are pretty awesome, but I don’t know that I would recommend that a vegetarian diet be imposed for ethical reasons on a dog who has no ethical concerns whatsoever with their food sources. I don’t think it’s a huge problem if the food is still balanced, but the diets I’ve seen have been lower in protein than other over the counter diets (which is why it was great for a renal failure dog.)

Thoughts?

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Blogathon, Daily Life

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. karen says

    November 6, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    Glad to hear the dog food you ate was fairly palatable 🙂

    I’ve generally eaten a vegetarian diet over the years. However, I’ve always fed my pets whatever diet seemed to best maintain their health. Currently, my cats eat Natural Balance Venison & Pea canned food (due to my maine coon’s food allergies), and my dog eats Wellness Core Ocean dry food. I have always figured spending a bit more on their food paid for itself in maintaining their health.

    As someone whose pets are all rescues, thank you for your generosity in benefitting the SD Humane Society with your blogathon.

    • Dr. V says

      November 6, 2009 at 10:25 pm

      My cat is on the same one. He seems to prefer the venison to the duck. I’m so thrilled NB has an OTC limited ingredient line!

      • karen says

        November 6, 2009 at 10:32 pm

        Ah, interesting! My food-allergy cat also prefers the venison to the duck. Totally agree, it’s nice to have multiple options for feeding a limited ingredient diet!

  2. Tassia says

    November 6, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    I’m firmly of the belief that we are omnivores, with sharp teeth to tear flesh and flat teeth to chew plants. Our species evolved because we scavenged meat from animal kills, and had the sense to eat insects and fish. We need protein. I prefer to get my protein from poultry and fish, but I do love a good steak from time to time, provided it was ethically raised and slaughtered. Growing up where I did, it was something I learned early on. I don’t support animal cruelty, even for livestock.

    People are free to choose what they put into their own bodies, and it’s not my place to tell them otherwise. However, when it comes to animals, if you’re not feeding them the diet they need and imposing your own morals and values on an animal, that is wrong. Animals are predators, and it’s natural for them to eat meat. If your animal has no food allergies and you’re depriving it of much needed protein because you can’t bear the thought of handling meat or meat byproducts, you should buy a bird.

  3. @shadowcatsd says

    November 6, 2009 at 11:51 pm

    Tell Tech Support that’s grounds for divorce. 😉

Primary Sidebar

Picks of the Litter

Popular Posts

  • Much Love to the Cat Guys
    Much Love to the Cat Guys
  • Litter Robot Review
    Litter Robot Review
  • Flash Mountain
    Flash Mountain
  • Here's Who I Blame for the High Cost of Vet Care
    Here's Who I Blame for the High Cost of Vet Care

Posts by Topic

Posts by Date

Footer

On Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

On Facebook

On Pinterest

  • Game of Thrones Houses
  • Is It OK To Text a Vet Friend For Free Advice? – Pawcurious: With Veterinarian and Author Dr. V
  • How Not To Kill Your Cat This Easter
  • Infographic: "42 Funeral and Burial Rituals from Around the World"
  • Throwing a dog friendly Bark Party is the best way to meet new neighbors! Check out my tips for a successful dog meet-up and giveaway, sponsored by @StateFarm!
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • PR, Giveaways, and Brands
  • © Copyright 2009-2025 Pawcurious, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
  • Web Design by Moxie Design Studios
Scroll Up