Wendy Brown, a canine nutritionist, recently published a study concluding that dogs are able to thrive on a meat-free diet.
Dr. Brown and her team studied the health and performance of Siberian Huskies during a 10-week racing period. They found that the dogs performed just as well on a vegetarian diet as they did on a traditional meat-based diet.
Brown, who works at the University of New England, told the Armidale Express she is confident that dogs can thrive on a meat-free diet, but warns that preparing a nutritionally sound vegetarian diet for a dog is more difficult and time-consuming than many people think.
She also voiced concerns about some of the commercial vegetarian diets available for dogs. She said that many of these diets go untested because the manufacturers believe that feeding trials are cruel. For her own trials, Brown said she uses show dogs that are well cared for and happy.
“As dogs belong to the order Carnivora, it’s often assumed that they are exclusively carnivorous, but in fact they are omnivores, belonging to the same superfamily with the Carnivora as the bamboo-eating giant panda and the omnivorous bear,” she said.
When Brown presented her findings during the Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition 2009, she addressed the common argument that dog owners should refrain from imposing personal values on their pets. Brown stressed that canine vegetarianism should be looked at from a nutritional perspective, such as meeting a dog’s nutritional needs, maintaining health and ensuring palatability.
If you’re considering switching your dog’s diet from meat-based to plant-based fare, you should consult with your veterinarian first to set up an optimal plan for your dog. Your vet can help determine a well-rounded nutritional plan you can realistically maintain.
PHOTO: It’sGreg
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