Vegetarian Dogs: Toward A World Without Exploitation

The quote below is from www.vegetariandogs.com. Just what I was thinking! I am going to order the book. I will discuss as I learn more. Can't wait to transition Jack to this diet. Have always had the feeling this dog wants to be a veggie dog.

What about meat?

Firstly, dogs are omnivores, not carnivores. Hence, as is the case with humans, it is not necessary for dogs to eat meat. Remember, there is nothing magical about meat. Meat contains high amounts of proteins, amino acids, iron and B-vitamins, among other things, which can be derived entirely from plant-based sources. Therefore, as this book will teach you, with proper feeding and supplementation, adequate nutrition is 100% attainable through a vegetarian diet. In fact, a vegetarian diet may help avoid suffering and the many potentially detrimental health effects (e.g., diseases, cancer, etc.) of consistent exposure to commercial meat-based food products. This is to due to chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, improper nutrition, herbicides, and other toxins farm animals are commonly exposed to on a daily basis. As mentioned, changes in temperament can be correlated with the increase of norepinephrine. Dr. Judith J. Wurtman of MIT notes: "Carbohydrate foods are relaxing, reducing stress and anxiety...Lean meat, in contrast, is one of the foods that stimulates brain chemicals such as Dopamine and norepinephrine, which have log been linked to the fright, flight, or fight reactions..."

Here are the ingredients in one of their products:
All natural ingredients of alfalfa, sweet potatoes, cabbage, celery, apples, spinach, organic kelp, coconut, bananas, and zucchini.

I have to admit I am skeptical as this by no means seems like enough of the concentrated amino acids that dogs would be used to. Also, a natural question from me perhaps...where's the wheatgrass???!!!

Here is a supplement they recommend to keep your dog healthy on a vegetarian diet:

Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Ascophyllum Nodosum, Taurine (from non-animal sources), Zinc oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E (dl-alphatocopheryl acetate), Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 supplement, Vitamin D2 (ergocaliferol), Vitamin A-Acetate.

It seems important to break this formulation down and see what foods could be substituted for this brew of synthetic vitamins. Calcium Carbonate is poorly absorbed by humans as is Ergocalciferl (D2). Vitamin D3 would be a better choice. Or maybe shitake mushrooms which are rich in Vitamin D...

The site stocks GREEN MUSH, a product I had forgotten about from HEALTH FORCE NUTRITIONALS! A combination of wheatgrass and barleygrass with CoQ10! A much better choice than synthetic supplements. Check out www.healthforce.com for more information about Green Mush as well as other great Live Food products. I have met Jameth Sheridan, the owner, and he is very knwoledgeable and committed to high quality in his products. I have never been a big fan of the VitaMineral Green (just a personal preference), but like his other products like Greener Grasses.