Many pets can live a healthy life on a vegan diet
“It is true that dogs belong to the order Carnivora, but they are actually omnivores. The canine body has the ability to transform certain amino acids, the building blocks or protein, into others, meaning that dogs can get all the amino acids they need while avoiding meat.” Dr. Jennifer Coates, PetMD.
Most commercially available pet food has highly processed meat ingredients that are not fit for human consumption. Cats who were fed tuna had elevated levels of mercury, walked less, vocalized less, and played less. [Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health]
Bramble, a Border Collie on a vegan diet, lived until 25 years old! Or 175+ human years. The average age of a Border Collie is 10-15 years.
There are so many plant based pet foods available today. Make sure your vegan dog food has enough supplement of l-carnitine and taurine. Dogs can make their own taurine if they get enough protein, which is 25g per 1,000 calories.
Cats are trickier. They cannot produce their own taurine, so they need it from their food. There are vegan cat foods as well, but monitor their pH to make sure they are safe. [MicTheVegan]
