Can dogs and cats be vegan? That’s what a vet says

“Every time I give them meal for my two dogs, it gives me a guilty conscience and I feel so bad giving them other animals…”, »wrote with regret an anonymous person, in a Chilean Facebook group dedicated to providing information to those choosing a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.

Its publication sparked understanding and understanding within the community, but also much disbelief and controversy. Some people reminded her in the comments that animals can’t choose whether or not to be carnivorous, while others assured her that their own pets were plant-based and healthy.

And that’s it On the Chilean market there are at least two brands of kibbles or pellets vegan for dogs that claim to be “a nutritionally complete and balanced food » for our four-legged companions.

However, just because they exist doesn’t mean they’re the healthiest option for dogs and cats.

“Veganism is a philosophy of life and an ethical position based on respect for animals. Consistent with this, people must respect who they are. » insists the veterinarian and feline and canine nutritionist from the Austral University, Constanza Pinilla (@nutrifel.constanza ) has The third.

The expert, who is dedicated to advising the families of his furry patients on nutrition on a daily basis, assures that Dogs and cats should not follow a diet without animal products. This is his explanation.

For many people who choose not to consume animal products, feeding their pet food can be difficult: whether in the form of pellets, wet food or BARF (raw) diet, They will be faced with a scenario in which they will have to handle and smell animal meat.

That’s to say, What is for furry people an irresistible delight, for vegetarians, vegetarians and vegans, can be a source of disgust, guilt and remorse. This may lead them to consider options that could put their pets’ health at risk, such as starting to feed them only plant products.

Pinilla, the veterinarian, explains to L.T. What Dogs like cats are carnivorous animals and to optimally meet their nutritional needs, they must consume products of animal origin.

“Carnivorous animals have a much shorter digestive tract that, when given plant-based ingredients, doesn’t leave much inside the animal. (…) For example, when an animal has a good quality diet, the volume of excrement decreases, and with a poor quality diet, this volume increases,” he mentions.

That’s to say, Everything that is of plant origin is less “usable” by the organism of our pets, Therefore, excessive bowel movements result in poor or no absorption of nutrients. This is one of many harms that could be caused to a dog or cat by providing food that is not designed for its species.

Furthermore, Cats are strictly carnivorous, so as of today, there is no vegetarian/vegan food that can be purchased and feeding them a homemade diet of this type is even less recommended.

In general, Feeding plant-based foods to a dog or cat may cause the following effects:

• Excessive deposits.
• Loss of fur.
• Poorly shiny coat.
• Weightloss.
• Hunger.
• Lack of nutrients.
• Eye problems.
• Heart disease.
• Neurological problems.

“We may not see it immediately, but in the long term we will see it. Even if they don’t look sick on the outside, that doesn’t mean everything is okay inside. » adds the veterinarian.

In the case of cats, which are strictly carnivorous by nature, not eating animals can kill them in the long term . This is not the case for dogs, which are facultative carnivores, that is to say they are capable of surviving – which is not the same thing as living well – by eating foods of plant origin.

Sobre lo anterior, Pinilla ejemplifica con los perros que vien en situación de calle y que se ven obligados a comer basura y residuos humanos para revivir, que de alguna forma los ha “evolucionado” para poder seguir viviendo a costa de una diet sin otros animals.

“If I have a cat, I practically have a killing machine, because of its physical composition and its digestive system, everything is designed to make it kill and eat other animals. I must therefore respect what he is and give him the most suitable diet to give him good health. » explains Dr. Pinilla to LT.

Some people advocate the position of veganizing their pets because of a recent study in which a group of dogs were fed a vegan diet. They were analyzed for a year and the results showed no negative changes in their bodies.

“I was surprised, but we would have to see what repercussions this diet has in the long term. However, this is not an invitation to consume this type of food. The fact that there is a study does not mean that it is the right path,” he emphasizes.

In this line, The veterinarian believes that a philosophy of life should not be extrapolated to other living beings who “do not even have a principle of ethics or reasoning”.

“If it ultimately causes someone a lot of discomfort, it’s best to choose not to have a dog or cat. You may love them very much, but if you cannot accept them, it is better to choose another animal that is herbivorous and capable of giving it a diet that follows the guidelines of its posture,” he adds.

And, for the veterinarian, Prioritizing a vegan lifestyle over a pet’s health could be considered animal abuse.

Nevertheless, for those who still want to have pets but do not tolerate handling animal foods well, the veterinarian recommends the following:

• Wear a mask when feeding to limit the intensity of the smell of the food.
• Handle food with gloves.
• Remember that our animals depend on us.
• Consider asking someone else (a person living at home) to take care of the food.