Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject: Anyone got a vegetarian Labrador?
Hi everyone,
Here's a subject that I'm sure will spark some controvercy.
I'm interested in feeding Fletcher a vegetarian diet and, wondered if anyone else here fed there labrador diet, and if so, what do you use?
I've been looking at the dry foods available, and am interested in Benevo as it is wheat free, and Fletcher currently has a wheat free dry food (Autarky).
I can see that people maybe a little aware of replying to this one but hey - I'm game!!!
Firstly, I don't believe doing what you want is going to cause Fletcher any problems. Dogs, like humans, require a balanced diet of good vitamins & minerals so a truly healthy diet based on mixed vegetables would be quite suitable. I have a friend who is vegetarian & she feeds her dogs a veggie diet too, something that she's cleared with her vet, and they live a very healthy & happy lifestyle.
However, while I respect your desire to do what you're proposing, dogs are really omnivores & should therefore be given a mixed diet which includes meat. I'd therefore think twice before committing him to a diet which, in reality, he would have no control over deciding for himself. I personally believe this is being unfair on Fletcher, but I do understand that it's your choice so I would respect whatever you decide to do.
In short, you're OK to do what you are suggesting but please think of the little fella when making this decision.
____________ Life is like a box of Labradors - you never know what you´re going to get (or how big it is, or how wet it will be, or how much it will eat, or how loud it will snore.........!!)
I suppose in an ideal world, all dogs would be fed a BARF diet, as that is the most natural way for them to eat, but with all these balanced dried foods around, a lot (if not most) people choose to feed these.
I can't see the problem feeding an adult Lab a balanced vegetarian diet , although I wouldn't feed it to a pup, as I can't imagine it would contain enough protein. I did read somewhere that veggy diets were recommended for Dalmations , although I can't remember why . I'd say ask your vet, but in my opinion they seem to know little about diet and nutrition and just sell you whichever brands they stock .
Maybe speak to someone at the company that makes the food, I'd have thought they'd have a helpline or something.
I have read that dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet, but that they would not naturally choose it. I suppose it is your choice if you think you can manage to feed your dog a balanced diet this way, but I would tend to steer clear of it myself.
My feeling is that it is an ethical decision by us humans, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions on it. I would just wonder if it is fair to foist it on dogs though, when I think that in the wild they (as wolves) would naturally include a large portion of meat in their diet.
It is just my own take on it. Others might have varying opinions, and I am no nutritional expert really.
I can remember we had two dogs that used to stay in our boarding kennels that were veggies - and to be fair they looked good on it (but they were fed a mixed fresh diet rather than anything pre-prepared), lean and shiny with lovely clean healthy teeth
That said, I am a firm believer that dogs need some form of meat in their diet, and by that I don't mean dried food.
I am guessing that you are vegetarian yourself - if you are going to go down this route you need to take advice to ensure that they are getting the right balance of nutrients, protein and fat they require.
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. I'd say ask your vet, but in my opinion they seem to know little about diet and nutrition and just sell you whichever brands they stock 
