The Rise of Vegan Pet Food
As more people have turned to vegan diets, more have considered such diets for cats and dogs. There’s been some debate as to whether a vegetarian diet is nutritionally balanced for companion animals. In addition to pet doors for safety and convenience, pet owners have become increasingly concerned about connections between diet and their pets’ health, the environment, and climate change.
An estimated 1.5 billion people globally were vegetarians in 2010, with vegans being a subset of that population.1 Studies have found many feed pets vegan food due to moral, ethical, and animal welfare concerns. Pet food companies have worked to meet the demand with ingredients such as fish (suitable for pescatarians only), vegetables, and other alternative protein sources.
A Vegan’s Perspective
A vegan avoids meat, milk, eggs, and any animal-based product. In addition to concerns about animal welfare and the environment, they might be concerned about health issues related to diets high in saturated fats, salt, and sugar, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Health, moral, environmental, and ethical concerns are reasons pet owners choose a vegan diet.
A Non-Vegan’s Perspective
The counterpoint raised by non-vegans is whether dogs or cats can subsist on a meatless diet. They argue these companion animals have evolved to be carnivores. The nature of their gastrointestinal tracts puts them at risk of malnutrition, sickness, and death, so a vegan diet can be considered a form of cruelty from a non-vegan’s perspective.
A Veterinarian’s Perspective
Both dogs and cats have fewer enzymes needed to digest complex plant proteins. However, the scavenging nature of canines has enabled dogs to adapt to an omnivorous diet, so they can eat a variety of plant proteins and convert them for use by their bodies. Cats, on the other hand, require taurine, an essential amino acid not found in the vegetable kingdom, and, without it, they can become blind. A lack of digestible protein will cause the cat’s body to start breaking down and digesting muscle tissue.
Your Pet’s Well-Being Comes First
Your pet may not have a choice in picking a vegan or non-vegan diet. Dog food and cat food are formulated for your pet’s physiology and nutritional needs, so consult with your veterinarian before making dietary changes. While a proper diet and preventative treatments help, you also want to keep your animal companion happy with products such as a sliding pet door, patio pet door, or pet door insert. Shop at Australia Pet Doors for the latest items or call +61-437-644-330 for more information.