Vegetarians and Vegans and Pets

[nero_bolt]

I have often wondered what Vegetarians and Vegans feed their Dogs and Cats as they are predomintaly carnivores.. Cats more so than dogs

I was going to ask this question some time ago but when I read this today its the perfect time to ask.

What do the Vegetarians and Vegans on here feed their pets, mostly talking about dogs and cats.

 KITTEN has almost died after its owners fed it a strict vegan diet.

The horrific case at a North Melbourne animal hospital has prompted a warning about the dangers of people "forcing ideologies" on their pets.

Lort Smith Animal Hospital veterinarian Leanne Pinfold said the kitten was brought in this month by its owners, who were believed to be vegan.

She said the kitten's diet of potatoes, rice milk and pasta had caused it to become critically ill.

"It was extremely weak and collapsed when it came in. It was almost non-responsive," Dr Pinfold said.

The kitten was given fluids via a drip, placed on a heat pad and fed meat.

It remained in hospital for three days after which the kitten's owners were given meat to feed their pet at home, she said.

Dr Pinfold said as obligate or true carnivores, cats needed meat to survive.

She said people who wanted a pet that did not eat meat should consider other animals, such as rabbits.

"Concern for animal welfare has to include a biologically-appropriate diet," she said. "You can't force your ideology on the cat.

"Carnivores will seek out meat and your cat is possibly more likely to go hunting and kill local native fauna if you deprive it of meat.''

Dr Pinfold said she had not come across a similar case in her 11 years as a veterinarian.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/kitten-nearly-dies-from-vegan-diet/story-e6freuy9-1226682108386

[acacia_pycnantha]

I knew a vegan woman who fed her cat 1/2 tomato a day. I was a child then and she was a bit mad so I didn't discuss it with her. She was a teacher in the school I went to at that time.

Later I wondered if the cat ran away or died.

[mugssy65]

Linda McCartney was a vegan and insisted her dogs were too until they ate her prize winning bantams!

[channys_mum]

A vegan diet can cause blindness in ctats. I assume so in dogs also.

Giving vegiea is fine as long as it is with meat and not instead of meat,

[channys_mum]

and cats too

[colic2bullsgirlore]

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@acacia_pycnantha wrote:

I knew a vegan woman who fed her cat 1/2 tomato a day. I was a child then and she was a bit mad so I didn't discuss it with her. She was a teacher in the school I went to at that time.

Later I wondered if the cat ran away or died.

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  I bet the cat relished  that half a Marmande... probably helped it ketchup  to a mouse..

Never could turn me.... I decided that becoming a vegetarian amounted to a missed steak....: boom boom 

[acacia_pycnantha]

I am an indirect vegetarian.

means: the animal eats the veggies and then I eat the animal.

[the_bob_delusion]

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@acacia_pycnantha wrote:

I am an indirect vegetarian.

means: the animal eats the veggies and then I eat the animal.

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THat's, that's, that's brilliant. I haven't heard of that line before. 

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@channys_mum wrote:

A vegan diet can cause blindness in ctats. I assume so in dogs also.

Giving vegiea is fine as long as it is with meat and not instead of meat,

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I'm not sure about vegan. I think you can feed a dog a vegetarian diet - though it's not recommended - but cats can't live without meat.

[lis351]

I reckon if I took meat away from my dog, he would eat me! Definitely safer to feed him properly, I prefer my animals healthy and happy anyway. LOL