On Good Morning America, the hosts talked about people who chose to raise their pets vegan. This has been controversial for sometime, and you hear so many facts from both side that it is hard to discern who’s telling the truth. Basically, from information I’ve seen, a dog can eat very well on a vegan diet. However, raising your cat vegan may be a little trickier. So, to make things easier for you, I decided to spend some time researching veg*n diets of dogs and cats. Please remember though that I am not an expert on nutrition or veterinarian science, and if you are really concerned you should talk about this with your vet.
Dogs
Overall, dogs take well to a vegetarian or vegan diet. According to one study, done on 300 veg*n dogs,
Of the 12 lifelong vegetarians in the study, 100% were in good to excellent health. Of the 26 dogs who had been vegan or vegetarian for 90% of their lives, 22 (84.6%) were in good to excellent health. …
There also appeared to be a health advantage to veganism over vegetarianism: 82% of dogs who had been vegan for five years or more were in good to excellent health, while only 77% of dogs who had been vegetarian for five years or more were in good to excellent health.
Some of the conclusions of the study included that a veg*n diet seemed to promote the immune system against infections, with less infections occurring the longer the dog had followed the diet. Cancer rates were also lower. Also, there could be a problem with high alkaline levels which could lead to urinary tract infections, although cranberry supplements would help. Another health issue to watch for is a L-carnitine or taurine deficiency, but supplements are available for these too.
There are many foods that are fine for humans but poisonous or unhealthy for your canine friends. Here’s the list of things to avoid (if I’ve left anything out, let me know):
Alcohol
Apricots
Avocado
Broccoli (although small amounts might be ok)
Caffeine
Chocolate
Garlic
Grapes
Hops
Macadamia nuts
Mushrooms
Onions
Peaches
Potato peelings
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Xylitol (found in sugar-free foods)
Yeast dough
Overall, veg*n diets for a dog is totally possible. You can make your own or buy it already made.
Cats
The main problem people take with veg*n cats is that felines need taurine, vitamin B12, vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and arginine (all usually found in meat) in order to remain healthy. It is true that supplements can take the place, but it is difficult. Even VeganCats.com, a site promoting veg*n cats, has said that some cats need a diet that does include some meat. Adding enzymes pH to every meal is neccessary to leave your cat without a urinary tract infection. It is also recommended that you take your cat to the vet regularly to check for urine acidity.
Another problem is that plant-based proteins are less easily digested by cats than meat-based proteins.
Here is a list of foods that could poison your cat:
Caffeine
Chocolate
Garlic
Grapes
Green tomatoes
Milk (despite popular culture, many cats are lactose-intolerant)
Mushrooms
Onions
Raisins
Raw potatoes
When it comes to cats, it seems that the only way to successfully feed them a veg*n diet is to be extra-vigilant about every meal they have and consult your vet for regular checkups.
You can buy vegan cat food from VeganCats.
Conclusion
If you have a dog, then help them go vegan! It’s healthy and easy to do. But be way more cautious with cats. I’ll admit that this is an issue I struggle with. My baby, Flava Flav, is not vegetarian in the least. My mom feeds him meat. I have obvious ethical issues with the meat industry, and if I were living on my own might consider dog ownership even though I’ve lived 90% of my life with a feline pal.
Ahimsa 
April 9, 2009 at 9:04 am
Vegetarian Dog Diet at http://www.doggydietdetails.com FREE
You have recently welcomed a furry companion into your home. Your four-legged friend has adopted you as their own. Now that you have become a true pet owner, you need to decide what to feed your pet. You eat a vegetarian diet, so you would like your new dog to follow these same guidelines. Is a vegetarian diet right for your dog?
Let’s take a look at what dogs eat in the wild. A wolf or stray dog typically will kill an animal or scavenge until she finds an acceptable fare. In the wild, a dog will consume grains and vegetables, but the dog diet also contains meat.
Taking a look at your pet’s teeth, you may notice that grinding and tearing surfaces are present. This is one indication that dogs are omnivorous. This means that dogs are biological meat and plant eaters. Straying from nature can be a difficult task, but may not be impossible.
It can be possible to feed your dog solely vegetarian meals, but this type of diet is not typically recommended for your pet. Your dog diet must be well balanced and nutritious to support good health and optimal body function. A completely vegetarian lifestyle may be perfect for you, but difficult to achieve for your dog.
A healthy diet should allow your pet to thrive not simply survive. A vegetarian dog diet will, too frequently, result in a dog who shows signs and indications of a lesser quality of health than a dog fed a well balanced diet contain animal products.
Your dog’s body requires high amounts of protein. Protein is frequently provided through animal tissue and bones in the wild, as well as, in most varieties of manufactured dog diets.
Amino acids are also key to your dog’s health. Only 12 of the 22 essential amino acids can be produced by your dog’s body. The other 10 amino acids must be provided to your pet through your dog diet. A vegetarian dog diet has trouble meeting the requirements to allow your dog to thrive under these circumstances.
As with any change you would make to your own diet, you would want to consult your physician for medical advice. Talk to a professional about the advantages and disadvantages of feeding a vegetarian dog diet to your pet. Depending on your specific plan, he or she may be able to recommend some supplements to add to the prospective vegetarian dog diet that will create a healthy balance for your new furry friend. If supplements are not available to create the healthy and balanced diet your dog deserves, then the two of you can discuss other options to determine a dog diet that works well for your pet and satisfies your lifestyle.
A vegetarian dog diet goes against nature so to speak and is typically not recommended for dogs. Talking your situation over with a veterinarian will help you to determine the best way to achieve your dietary goals for your pet. Your dog’s diet must be well balanced and nutritious to provide essential nutrients and amino acids to your furry friend. Supplementation may help you to achieve your goal. Keep in mind that you and your vet both want what is best for your pet and you will undoubtedly determine a dog diet that works for your family.