Is A Vegan Diet For Dogs Harmful To Their Health?
Food is a fundamental pillar to enjoy good health, and every day more people decide to change their diet to a vegan diet, eliminating all products of animal origin.
This decision is made sometimes due to the healthy use of vegetables, and in others, because it is contrary to animal suffering. It has its pros and cons when it comes to well-being, but there is a solution for everything. So, is a vegan diet for dogs detrimental to their health?
Many of the people who have opted for the vegan diet for themselves also consider the same diet for their pet. Even so, it must be borne in mind that both humans and dogs are mammals, and equally omnivores in both cases.
Dogs are not exclusively carnivores as is generally thought. Our metabolism works in a very similar way. Therefore, those who take the vegan option know how they should prepare it. Those same considerations should be taken into account if you decide to feed your dog a vegan diet.
The vegan diet in dogs
Vegetarianism and veganism can easily be confused, but they are not exactly the same:
Both types of diets are based on eating vegetables and also share the elimination of meat and fish from the diet. But, the big difference is that vegetarians do consume animal products such as milk, yogurt, eggs, cheese and honey, while vegans do not.
It should be noted that food consists of providing the necessary nutrients to our body for its proper functioning.
These nutrients are basically made up of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins. In addition, they are needed in specific and sufficient quantities in your animal’s diet if you do not want their health and well-being to be diminished.
Both minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates are obtained easily and in good quantity from vegetables. The great controversy in this type of diet is proteins.
It is a fact that your dog’s body is optimized to digest and utilize nutrients from animal sources more effectively than from plant sources. Even so, its metabolism is ready to accept a plant-based diet correctly and obtain enough protein. You will only have to take a series of considerations when preparing your vegan diet. Here we present them to you.
Create a vegan diet for your dog
So, as you have read so far, feeding your dog plant-based is totally possible. Even so, the vegan diet must be elaborated very carefully so that it does not lack any essential nutrient and this is present in the appropriate amount.
You can also make a good homemade vegan diet, but you should always ask your vet how to make it. This will be able to advise you on the use of nutritional supplements to supply any type of deficiency that arises from this homemade diet, a situation that does not usually occur when buying vegan prepared feed.
Other considerations to take into account when preparing a homemade vegan diet for your dog are:
- Investigate and consult with your veterinarian the best diet for your dog according to its size, activity and stage of life
- Choose fresh items.
- Take into account that natural and whole foods improve digestion in the animal.
- Pay attention to the balance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
- Use digestible carbohydrates: all grains in the food must be whole.
- Wash food well to properly remove traces of pesticides.
- Follow the recipes as exactly as possible.
- Use a scale to correctly measure quantities.
- Use nutritional supplements.
Is it harmful to your health?
As long as the above considerations are taken into account, the vegan diet should not be harmful to the health of your pet.
In the same way, it must be borne in mind that perhaps not all dogs tolerate a vegan diet equally well. Some animals for their own problems, and others for metabolic reasons. For this reason, the visit to the veterinarian must always be kept in mind to check that the nutritional balance of the animal is correct.
One thing must be taken into account: a balanced and good diet for the pet is essential for the development of a full and happy life.
