Another question: how well can dogs do on an all-vegetarian

[k9Karen]

any way what is the philosphy behind being a vegan, or vegen?? is it dietery, philosophical or what...and i am not being sarcastic...ii just would like to know

I think for most, it's not liking the idea of having an animal killed so they can eat; especially when there are alternatives. I can't eat anything other than seafood/fish, beef (no veal), pork, chicken and turkey. And if even I think about it too much, I get nauseated because I see the big brown eyes of a cow and "Arnold" (the Green Acres piglet)- even cute little chicks. Don't ask me to eat rabbit (OMG - I've had several as pets - couldn't think of eating one), lamb (way too cute), etc - can't do it. Let's not even talk about veal! In fact, I'm surprised I'm not a vegetarian. I guess I'm able to rationalize it enough and not think about it most of the time. I really don't eat that much meat - usually only one meal a day.

Did we have to get on this subject - looks like I'll be eating a salad for lunch tomorrow (again)!

[Traci]

Davet, here's one viewpoint, great site:

Beyond Veg , be sure to check out the articles regarding pets...

[Patrick]

The following link is to an article about a 27 year old dog (oldest in the world) who's owner swears by a vegetarian diet.
www.dogsinthenews.com/issues/0209/articles/020918a.htm

[Tina B and crew]

Mary...if you see her again why don't you tell her you'd like the name of her practitioner...then you can investigate, report or whatever it takes to put this person out of business. Egads! I totally support alternatives to conventional health care and vet care, but I never blindly believe someone who claims to know what they are doing without much research myself Poor dog

[BoxerTom]

The following link is to an article about a 27 year old dog (oldest in the world) who's owner swears by a vegetarian diet.
www.dogsinthenews.com/issues/0209/articles/020918a.htm

Kind of shoots a hole in the barf advocate's belief that raw meat is essential for a dog when one of the world's oldest dogs gets by with none!

[Traci]

And..

1) only in the UK (sigh)

2) purely anectdotal

3) no pics of the dog? darn, I soooo wanted to see this dog

[Julie B.]

forever. What do you think the whole "breed" thing is all about. We've created dogs and breeds into what we think they should be because WE (humans) find it aesthetically pleasing. I don't know how this differs from a person wanting their dog to be vegetarian because that is their belief system. Don't get me wrong, as I've stated previously I'm a vegetarian, but my dogs are not (I have beautiful skin and shiny hair, btw, thank you very much )but if you are going to go around saying that it is "unnatural" you better know that dogs in general are unnatural and created by human needs/emotions.