Plant proteins are abundant in legumes, peas, beans etc. Raw is often best if it is broken down to improve digestibility. Vegetable fibre is difficult to digest and so must be well broken down by mincing or liquidising though not necessarily cooking which will reduce nutritional value. Excessive starches and sugars increase the risk of your dog developing serious diseases such as diabetes, colitis and other digestive conditions. Therefore be aware that cereals, including rice, and potato must be kept to a minimum. Well firstly because they do not have a large capacity to digest vegetable matter, including starches and sugars they do lean towards a high protein and high fat content diet. So what should you take into account when preparing a vegetarian diet for your dog. Another piece of evidence to give us an insight into the dogs true nutritional needs. Observers of carnivorous animals have noted that hunters will often eat intestinal contents before tackling raw meat. Perhaps obtaining certain minerals and vitamins that their meat diet lacks. Perhaps they are self medicating in some way. Dogs may prefer to be carnivores whenever possible and while meat and fish are their preferred prey, even when times are plentiful they will still eat some herbage. Owners who decide to feed a vegetarian or vegan diet can fully satisfy their dogs dietary needs if they are aware of the species’ nutritional requirements. Two important amino acids that may be lacking in vegetarian diets are Taurine and L-Carnitine, and these nutrients are vital for maintaining good heart health. Some breeds (e.g., Newfoundlands, American Cocker Spaniels) are prone to a low Taurine level in their systems even when Taurine levels in their diet are adequate. There is evidence that Taurine supplementation supports heart health in many breeds Lamb and rice diets have also been implicated as have homemade vegetarian and vegan diets. While premium dog foods typically include additional Taurine supplements, low protein diets as well as brands using high levels of cereal protein may not contain sufficient Taurine. That’s because it is far from clear that all dogs have the ability to synthesize adequate levels of Taurine. High levels of this amino acid are normally found in the heart muscle and it is abundant in most meats and fish, but cooking, especially cooking methods that immerse meat in water, such as boiling, can reduce Taurine levels in food by up to 85%. However, this is not supposed to be a problem for dogs, because, unlike cats, dogs are supposed to be able to synthesize sufficient Taurine from the sulphur amino acids, Cysteine and Methionine, much like humans. You’ll notice the “supposed to’s” in that sentence. Low levels of L-Carnitine are associated with several breeds, especially Boxers, but also Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, and Dobermans. These high energy requirements mean that the heart requires a higher level of L-Carnitine than may be found in some diets. The body’s ability to synthesise L-Carnitine decreases with age and supplementation may be necessary to support good heart health. It is essential to cellular energy metabolism, and due to the myocardium’s high energy requirements, the highest levels of L-Carnitine can be found in heart muscle tissue. L-Carnitine is usually classified as an amino acid, but it’s actually a vitamin-like compound that plays a vital role in the body by transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. The amount of protein required overall ranges between 12% – 40% however some specific amino acids are may still be lacking. While some people choose to raise their dogs on a vegetarian diet for ethical reasons there are a number of important factors to consider when making the change over.ĭogs have higher protein requirements than humans, and this protein requirement can still be adequately met with legumes and other vegetarian sources. and Why our dogs may need help with Vegetarian and Vegan diets There are some technical articles in on our website that may help you to understand more about heart health. It becomes even more important if your dog is of one of those breeds more genetically pre-disposed to heart problems Controlling these latter three factors is our responsibility as ownersĭiet and specifically supplementation of the diet with key amino acids can give your dog increased support. Heart health in the modern dog is principally governed by genetics, diet, weight and exercise. Maintaining and Supporting Your Dog’s Heart Health
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