Can Dogs Be Vegetarians? The Answer May Surprise You

The vegan and vegetarian lifestyles have been trending a lot recently. But can dogs get in on the fun? Is it too dangerous for a dog to become a vegetarian? Read on to find out!

Dog parents who show off their dogs’ vegetarian meals are often called into question. After all, don’t dogs need meat in order to function? Well, it depends! Dogs are typically regarded as omnivores today, but they would have been carnivores before they were domesticated.

The sharp teeth that dogs have show that they were made to munch down on meat, not on vegetables of any kind. Dogs have difficulty processing carbohydrates, as their saliva doesn’t actually make the right kind of enzyme to break them down. This is one big real people believe dogs must have meat.

To be fair, vegan diets among dogs became popular thanks to a border collie who was on the diet and lived for a very long time – more than 25 years of age! This means that the public has seen some sort of evidence that this type of diet could be possible.

But what do experts say? It’s simple – there’s not nearly enough conclusive evidence to force a vegetarian lifestyle on your dog. You can give it a go, but we definitely don’t recommend it. You can speak to your vet about other options, but be ready to stick to good ol’ meat and kibble for a while!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay