DogFoodRatings

 

 

Some dogs need a special diet.  Although we don't recommend vegetarian diets for most dogs, some dogs require a special diet due to allergies or other health issues.  Some vegetarians prefer to feed their dog a vegetarian diet, and wish to locate a brand that does meet all of their dog's nutritional needs.  Fortunately, there are a few brands that have high nutritional standards.

 Dogs are omnivores, not carnivores, so they can be fed a vegetarian diet.  Even though they are omnivores, they are primarily meat eaters and need to eat a high protein diet.  Since many of the commercial dog foods little resemble what a dog would eat in the wild, with their high amounts of corn, grain, and preservatives, a well prepared vegetarian diet can be healthier than some store brands.

 

If your dog is allergic to traditional meat sources but you are hesitant to switch your dog over to a vegetarian diet, you can first try alternative meat sources such as lamb, venison, or rabbit.  Common allergens include beef, chicken, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, and corn.  All of these ingredients are common in commercial dog food.  While you might not find alternative food in a grocery store, you can get check out the selection from Canine Caviar, Timberwolf Organics, or Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. 

If you plan on buying the food rather than preparing your own, a vegetarian diet can be  costly.  If the diet improves the dog's health condition, however, it will pay off both in terms of your dog's welfare and in savings on the vet bills. 

When you are feeding your dog a vegetarian diet, first talk to your vet.  A vegetarian diet in dogs often causes alkaline ph.  This can be tested at home with a urine ph testing kit.  If your dog's ph is too alkaline, you can feed your dog cranberry capsules to help balance it out. 

With a vegetarian diet, you can choose to prepare it at home or buy commercially made vegetarian food.  Either can provide a healthy diet for your pet.  If you are preparing it at home, be sure to correctly balance the food for your dog's needs.  Consider adding nutritional yeast to your dog's food for the B vitamins, including B12 which is not found in plant matter.  Other supplements can also be given to your dog to ensure a balanced diet.

 If you want to prepare your dog's own food but also want to save time, consider using Dr. Harvey's.  You'll need to add essential oils and the protein source, but this food includes vegetables, grains, herbs and some supplements.  Dr. Harvey uses organic sources when possible.

 Some high quality vegetarian dog foods include Nature's Recipe, Petguard, Wysong (to be used alongside home cooking), and Natural Life.