Quiz: Should Your Pet Be Vegan?

Ladies, gents, and paws: the controversy is real on this one. If you thought veganism in humans had its tug of war, it goes deeper. Many people, with GR8 reason, consider their pets as children. If you’re a pet parent, you know the feeling. You want the best for your fur babies, and why wouldn’t something so reasonable for humans to be off base for pets? Why wouldn’t a natural, vegan diet be beneficial for your pets?

Many people believe it’s the ethical way to go, and why that may be a valid stance for humans, does it stand for animals?

Why the Hesitation?

The debate, explicitly about dogs, is that although they are considered carnivores, they are technically omnivores and can survive off of a vegetarian or vegan diet. Suppliers of vegan pet products are often making the argument that they can, but the question is if they should?

Sure pets like birds, gerbils, and turtles thrive on a diet full of plant-based nutrients, is it fair to say that it’s enough for dogs and cats?

The Evidence or Research

Organizations like Pet MD and PETA are openly supportive of the vegan pet diet, but there isn’t enough research to conclude that it’s beneficial. On the flip side, there is evidence from practicing veterinarians that states that dogs and cats cannot absorb plant-based nutrients to fulfill the same necessity that animal-based protein nutrients provide them.