Commercial Pet Foods · Vegetarian Dogs & Cats
Veg Animal Foods & Treats · Animal Accessories & Supplies
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Celeste Says Veg is Best!
Found sick, skeletal, frightened, and suffering from three broken ribs and a broken tail near the border of Mexico, Celeste was picked up and placed in a pound to be euthanized. Instead, this lucky Chihuahua eventually made her way to the home of a Farm Sanctuary worker, where she received medical treatment, lots of love, and was placed on a vegetarian diet.

Two years later, Celeste loves to play and is healthier than most dogs her age. On any given day, this spirited and fortunate dog feasts on whole grains, quinoa, millet, veggies, dried fruits, broccoli, or squash, in addition to veggie kibble and veggie canned food. For a special treat, her mom gives Celeste her favorite snack: Cliff bars without chocolate chips. For fun, Celeste plays with her dog brother Barkley and her four mice sisters, who were rescued from a lab experiment at U.C. Davis.

Celeste is proof that pets-and humans-can regain their health with the help of a vegetarian diet. With so many vegetarian dog and even cat foods on the market, it's easy to switch from a meat-based diet to a more compassionate diet based on proteins, grains and vegetables. Since dogs are naturally omnivores, a vegetarian diet makes sense. As a vegetarian and animal lover, you'll feel better, too.


Commercial Pet Foods

  • Providing a ready market for slaughterhouse by-products, the commercial pet food industry profits from waste deemed unfit for human consumption and compromises the health of our beloved companions.
  • Using vague ingredient names, such as meat "by-products," "meals," "fats," and "digests," the commercial pet food industry disguises the truly appalling components of their products, which may contain virtually any kind of animal part from heads, feet, udders, and bones to blood, tissue, intestines, and necks. (1)
  • Essentially unregulated for quality, the animal protein found in commercial pet foods may come from almost any source, including "4-D animals" (those who were dead, diseased, disabled or dying before slaughter), road kill, animals euthanized at shelters, spoilage from restaurants or supermarkets, and even deceased zoo animals. (2)
  • The risks associated with feeding poor-quality, meat-based commercial pet foods to companion animals range from organ failure and impaired bodily functions to compromised immune system and allergies. (3)
  • Meat protein from non-slaughterhouse sources, such as road kill, may sit and decompose for several days before being rendered and is likely contaminated with dangerous bacteria like E. Coli or Salmonella. (4)
  • Food containing euthanized animals may be contaminated with sodium pentobarbital, a poison that withstands the rendering process and is designed to kill actually kill animals. (5)
  • " Following the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States, the USDA ruled that "downed" cattle who are too weak or sick to stand and pose a higher risk for mad cow disease, would not be allowed to enter the human food supply; however, meat from these cattle can still be used in pet food. During the peak of the mad cow outbreak in Great Britain in the 1990s, cats were diagnosed with a feline version of the brain-wasting disease, and may threaten more animals than we know. (6)

Works Cited

Vegetarian Cats & Dogs

  • Typically contaminated by antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, heavy metals, and other potentially hazardous materials, even meat (including fish) approved for human consumption is one of the most toxic foods people eat. (1) Lower in quality and severely polluted, the unnatural ingredients in commercial pet foods are causing more people to consider a plant-based diet for dogs and cats.
  • Studies conducted on companion animals subsisting on commercial meat-based diets reveal that diet-related complications included "kidney, liver, heart, neurologic, visual, neuromuscular and skin diseases, bleeding disorders, birth defects, immunocompromisation and infectious diseases." (2)
  • Originally developed for companion animals with allergies and other health complications, vegetarian pet foods are now more increasingly marketed to animal guardians concerned about the quality of commercial meat-based diets. While the concept of vegetarian companion animals is still unfamiliar and controversial to most people, dogs and cats have thrived on plant-based foods. (3)
  • Among the dietary benefits that have purportedly been enjoyed by vegetarian companion animals include, but are not limited to, healthier skin, coat, teeth, and weight, better digestion, fewer incidences of disease, as well as increased energy. (4)
  • While the nutritional needs of dogs are not the same as those of humans, canines have the amazing ability to digest and utilize a wide variety of foods, including plant-based ones; therefore, they can be classified as omnivores. (5) As a result, adapting to a vegetarian diet can be fairly easy for healthy dogs.
  • Cats, on the other hand, are truly carnivorous and switching them to a vegan diet may prove more complex for many individuals. Special precautions must be taken to keep cats healthy, and your cat will probably need additional supplements and enzymes to ensure he or she isn't missing any vital nutrients that can't be gleaned and utilized effectively from non-meat sources. (6)
  • Although vegetarianism has proven beneficial for many animals, making major changes to a companion's diet should not be taken lightly. According to veterinarian, Andrew Knight, "correct use of a complete and balanced nutritional supplement or complete diet is essential to prevent cardiac or other diseases and to safeguard the health of vegetarian companion animals. Regular urine pH monitoring is also important to detect the urinary alkalinization, with its consequent potential for urinary stones, blockages and infections, that may result from a vegetarian diet in a small minority of cases." (7)
  • Fortunately, veterinarians and other animal care workers are learning more and more about vegetarianism for companion animals. With proper planning and guidance, using nutritionally-complete vegan dog and cat foods that meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiless, which were determined in cooperation with the U.S. Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), it can be possible for your dog and cat friends to lead happier, healthier lives.
  • Whether your dog or cat is vegan or not, it is up to you to monitor behavior, appetite, weight, coat, teeth, and gums for any change. Regular vet examinations, blood and urine tests should monitor your companion's ongoing health. If you think your veterinarian won't be supportive of the dietary choice you've chosen for your cat or dog, don't hide the information. Your vet can take special care to note any nutritional deficiencies.

Works Cited

Veg Animal Food and Treats

The list below was compiled to inform you about as many vegan options as possible for feeding your beloved companions. While many of the companies listed below are purely vegan, some of them are not. Purely vegan companies are marked with a (V). Companies without this symbol have at least one or more products containing meat, milk or eggs.

(V) Ami Pet Products
Cruelty-free dog and cat kibble, faux bones, biodegradable cat litter, and more

(V) Boston Baked Bonz
781-752-4040
Canine-approved vegan cookies and more

Buddy Biscuits
Sweet potato, veggie, mint, molasses, and peanut butter dog biscuits

(V) Evolution Diet
800-659-0104
Veggie food, supplements, vitamins, and more

Fat Cat Happy Dog
Human-grade vegetarian dog food supplement with veggies and digestive herbs

(V) Harbingers of a New Age
406-295-4944
Home-prepared vegan diets for cats and dogs

The Honest Kitchen
858-483-5995
Plant-based supplements for dogs and cats

(V) K9 Domain
Vegan biscuits and other gourmet treats

Natural Balance
Vegan kibble for dogs

PetGuard
Organic, vegan canned entrée for dogs

(V) Raw Dog Action Snacks
Vegan, organic, raw treats for dogs

(V) Sam's Yams
Vegan rawhide made from dehydrated sweet potatoes

Sojos
888-867-6567
Plant-based dog food pre-mixes and organic catnip for the kitties

(V) V-dog
888-280-8364
High-protein vegetarian dog food

(V) Vegan Cats
866-88-VEGAN
Ready-made and home-cooked vegan cat and dog food

Veggie Pup
Vegetarian companion animal superstore

Wow-Bow
800-326-0230
Vegetarian cat and dog kibble, biscuits and more

Yarrah Organic Pet Food
Organic, vegetarian dog kibble, biscuits, canned food, and more

Animal Accessories & Supplies

Earth Doggy
877-331-9866
Earth and animal-friendly dog beds, clothing, grooming supplies, and much more

(V) Pet Aromatics
877-738-2766
Cruelty-free aromatherapy candles, shampoos and spritzes for dogs

Selected Resources

Books

Foods Pets Die For: Shocking Facts about Pet Food
by Ann Martin

Obligate Carnivore: Cats, Dogs, and What it Really Means to be Vegan
by Jed Gillen

Vegetarian Cats and Dogs
by James A. Peden

Websites

Animal Protection Institute
http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1
Features an excellent article on the contents and hazards of commercial pet foods.

The Dog Food Project
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/
Features a wealth of information on commercial pet foods and their alternatives.

Vegan Cats
http://www.vegancats.com/pages/1007/FAQ.htm
Features very helpful responses to FAQ on feeding and caring for vegetarian cats.

Vegan Dog Nutrition Association
http://www.vegandognutritionassociation.com
Features information about veg feeding practices for dogs, as well as direction to other resources.

Vegetarian Cats
www.vegetariancats.com
Overview of 2006 study evaluating vegetarian diets for cats

VegePets
www.vegepets.info
Facts about meat-based and vegetarian diets for cats and dogs

VegPets.com
www.vegpets.com
Information source for healthy, nutritious vegetarian diets for dogs and cats