My pet carnivore?
In an era defined by sustainability and conscious consumption, It is common for people to choose to follow a vegetarian diet for various reasons, such as ethical concerns, health benefits, or environmental sustainability. Like most of HPS rangers are vegan or vegetarian! We are no strangers to the plant based diet. Feeding dogs a vegetarian diet has gained popularity among some pet owners for various reasons. Some people believe that by eliminating meat from their dog's diet, they are promoting sustainability and reducing their pet's carbon footprint. However, it is important to note that dogs are naturally omnivorous animals, meaning they require a balanced diet that includes both animal and plant-based nutrients. Dogs have specific nutritional needs that are best met through a diet rich in meat-based proteins, fats, and certain nutrients like taurine. A strictly vegetarian diet for dogs can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients like protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, which are crucial for their overall health and well-being. Such deficiencies can result in a range of health issues, including growth problems, weak immune systems, and malnutrition. As responsible pet owners, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of our canine companions by providing them with a balanced and appropriate diet that aligns with their physiological requirements. Properly formulated commercial dog food or raw meat-based diets are designed to meet these needs, ensuring our beloved pets remain healthy and thrive.
Obligate Carnivores
Obligate carnivores (or true carnivores) like cats, ferrets, dolphins, and even trout must have a diet rich in meat to get all the necessary nutrition. There are many amino acid groups that these species cannot produce on their own and must take in through their diet. Amino acids which can only be found in the flesh of animals. A diet lacking in these meat items can be damaging and fatal long term. Taurine for instance is literally lethal if left out of a obligate carnivores diet, which can only be found in muscle meat. Omegas 3 & 6 are also crucial (but not required by AAFCO) fatty acids that can really only be found in animals. There are plant based sources such as ALA which simply cannot be utilized by most carnivores.
Facultative Carnivores
Facultative carnivores are dependent on meat, while being able to obtain some vital nutrients through plant based sources. They can produce a handful of amino acids through what they eat, but do lack two key amino acids which are vital for healthy function. Amino acids like tryptophan and taurine can be produced in the body with precursors found in a varietous diet. β-alanine and L-histidine on the other hand are only found in brain and muscle tissue and cannot be synthesized. Other deficiencies may include arginine, lysine, methionine, iron, calcium, zinc, Vitamin A and some B vitamins. Ultimately, dogs can subsist on a diet devoid of meat, but will never thrive on this diet. Our goal as pet parents should always be to help our pets thrive, and feeding them a vegan diet simply is not that. Not to mention, what we think of as vegan pet food is full of starch, which again is incredibly species inappropriate. Heavy starch food, vegan or not, lead to issues such as diabetes and obesity among many other issues tied to diets like these.
Not to mention, not all nutrients are created equal. As mentioned previous, our pets lack many necessary bodily processes to properly utilize plant based nutrients to the fullest. For example, iron clearly distinguishes between heme and non-heme iron, but bioavailability and absorption are factors for all minerals. The absorption and bioavailability of iron in dogs can vary, anywhere from 100% to 10%, depending on the source. Another example is Vitamin A, which can be converted from beta-carotene in dogs. However this is done so very poorly. The amount needed would be a great deal when vitamin A requirements could quickly be met with a small portion of liver. As Billy Hoekman of Green Juju fame says, “plants are fantastic at doing what plants do, but terrible at doing what meat already does.”
There are plenty of herbivorous pets that can be kept while respecting their biological diet while feeding them vegan. Rabbits, guinea pigs, many bird species, and many reptiles can be kept happily on a vegan diet. When planning on being a pet parent, consider your intended pets biological diet before taking the plunge. The most vegan choice will always be to respect our pet’s biological diets and not imposing our restrictions on them.
