SUMMER 2017
less likely to cause gastrointestinal problems. Even raw bones are hard enough to cause fractured teeth and the bones can also be ground very finely, so no danger at hand. While laws are in place to minimize contamination of meat intended for human consumption, these laws do not protect meat intended for pet consumption. Therefore, owners who elect to feed raw meat and eggs should be careful to purchase only products of quality acceptable for human consumption from a clean and trusted source and perhaps a mix of the cooked and raw diets is always a good choice. Vegan diet. Not all experts are convinced that turning a dog or cat into a “vegan” is the way to go. Again, there are pros and cons. It became popular a few years ago when several brands of pet food were contaminated. Over 4,000 dogs and cats that ate the contaminated food died of kidney failure, and that sparked a lot of pet owners to take more control over what they feed their pet. So, instead of bowlfuls of kibble, many dogs and cats began eating homecooked meals or raw food. Others went “vegan” like their owners – and were placed on a diet of fruit, vegetables, rice and beans. However, a lot of pet experts say by feeding your dog a vegetarian diet, you’re going against nature. It’s biologically apparent that their teeth are designed for eating a diet largely comprised of
animal tissue. Dogs also have a short intestinal tract, which means they aren’t built for diets containing large amounts of plant materials. Plus dogs have a high nutrient requirement for protein and calcium. They also need a lot of B12, which isn’t found in plants. The incidence of food allergies in dogs is very low. And allergies can be developed against proteins in plants just as easily. Another factor to consider is that animal agriculture is a huge contributor to global warming, something important to anyone concerned with environmental issues. Dogs belong to the order ‘Carnivora’ but, confusingly enough, they’re actually omnivores. Therefore, just like a human, your dog can live on a vegetarian diet. Dogs have the ability to turn some amino acids (which are the building blocks of protein) into other ones that are usually found in meat. As such, they can technically get everything they need without ingesting meat. One of the world’s oldest dogs – a Border Collie from the UK named Bramble – lived the entirety of her 27 years eating a vegan diet. It’s my sincere belief that a little bit of everything may just be what the doctor ordered and through these diverse feeding practices, you will decide based on your dog’s performance what works best for him or her. Roanna Sabeh-Azar is the owner of Neo-Paws International Inc. www.neopaws.com
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