Can a Dog be Vegetarian AND Healthy?

If I can remember correctly from my nutrition classes technically they can go vegetarian but they are better of to eat meat, but cats need to eat meat because they can't produce Taurine.

Unless the dog has a requirement for vegetarian food only it would be most unfair to deprive it of meat. Vegetarian dog food is on sale but it is fully of supplements to give the dog the balance of nutrients that it needs. I think that more of an issue here is would the dog be a happy dog eating vegetarian food - and I would say that it wouldn't be. You will probably also find that your dog is constantly scavenging for meaty tit-bits. I don't think that it would be fair to keep a dog under these circumstances.

Dogs are CARNIVORES.

There is absolutely no evidence of a dog being physically predisposed to vegetable matter - at all.

There are no molar teeth for grinding plant matter, dogs do not have cellulase in their digestive tract for breaking down plant matter. And guess what, plant matter comes out looking the same as it did going in!

It is possible to feed a vegetarian diet with the right amount of suppliments. But it is far easier and better for your dog to feed what they have been eating for thousands of years.

Also, talking to your vet about animal nutrition is useless. Most vets have not taken an adequate course in animal nutrition and therefore know little to nothing about what an animal should or shouldn't be fed. They just "pretend" to.

Yeah they can be IF you are creaming every supplement they need down their throats to make up for the lack of meat in their diet.

Dogs are carnivores and unless there is a MEDICAL reason for it and the dog is also allergic to raw meat sources of all types there is absolutely ZERO reason to feed a carnivore like an herbivore and certainly not to make yourself feel better.

Gets this through your head, animals EAT other animals. Its they way nature meant it to be. Just because you choose not to eat meat doesn't mean you should inflict that choice on your pets.

I know vegans who feed their dogs on raw diets. The least you can do is feed a healthy kibble.

And yes before someone says it there is vegan kibble out there but its is vet recommended for dogs who again cannot handle meat protein at all. Its is not for perfectly healthy dogs.

I know that some people do feed their dogs vegetarian diets, but I think that it is not in the dog's best interest. Unless there is a medical reason to feed a vegetarian diet I think you should stick with a regular diet.

Okay so what makes you think a dog can be a vegetarian? What are dogs? Carnivores. That means they eat meat. They need to eat meat (or a healthy dry food with meat in it) to be healthy.

No! They're CARNIVORES. Just look inside their mouths and at their teeth for proof.

I'm vegetarian and would never do that to my dog, IMO it's cruelty.