I would not even bother to reply. Did they post a link to the study to back up their statement? It sounds more like an opinion to me and you know what they say about opinions. :eyebrows:

 

I asked for a link to the so called study, haven't had a response.

 

There's no way that dogs are vegetarians. They do not have the teeth or digestive tract to be able to adequately digest unprocessed plant type foods. Dogs can survive a short time on plant matter because they are oportunistic carnivores which means it is possible for them to live on a "make do" diet for the short term but in the long run will sicken and diet without a meat food source. Activity level and hunting ability have absolutely no connection to whether an animal needs meat in their diet, biology does. Cats must have meat in their diet because they do not produce taurine which they need to stay healthy, this makes them obligated carnivores. Although push come to shove, they can survive a very short time without meat in their diet (although this can result in permanent "disabilities").
Kibble "works" because of 2 reasons, 1 processing and 2 supplements. Processing allows for better digestion of the plant matter (even BARF feeders process at least minimally) and without supplements there would be nutrional deficiencies, especially for cats. So while dogs can be fed a "vegetarian" (processed) diet and survive, it is not necessarily the best for them.

 

Thanks, I just don't understand how this doesn't make sense to most people. Must be the magic of marketing.

 

If domestic dogs have suddenly become vegetarian, their teeth would have changed with as well, to flat plant chewing teeth. It would take hundreds and hundreds of years for such a huge change to happen. I don't think this person is worth even trying to reason with.

 

I would ignore them. Sounds like an opinion from someone who doesn't know much about dogs diets.

 

Also sounds like something certain vets would tell us to get us to buy their dry foods.

 

Sounds like a nutcase to me to be quite honest. To use the same logic, the most exercise most cats get is the walk to the kitchen to eat their food so in theory cats should be vegetarian too. Unfortunately, vegetables are no longer what they use to be either. Pesticides, GMO's, preservatives (fruit/vege's out of season), irradiated are just some of the thing's I can think of off the top of my head. But to feed a dog a vegetarian diet is in my opinion, is abuse.
And, like the other's said, ask to see this study that shows dogs are vegetarians, and not carnivores, or even omnivores. This oughta be good!
But basically, there's really no point in replying becaues you won't get through to someone who's so out there in their opinion. All I feel, is seriously sorry for that persons dog(s).

 

My response: "Oh? Huh! That is really interesting!" <give the person 'you're an idiot face' along with 'fake smile' and then walk away>

I've heard some really big whoppers about feeding dogs over the last several years LOL.

Dogs can eat a MIRIAD of different things and thrive, that's the beauty of dogs. We need to stop worrying about it so much, feed what we like, (listen to the dog's body if it is agreeing with him or not) and just enjoy the dogs!
JMO

 

Ok a bit late but I would say, dogs don't hunt anymore huh? Well if I do not keep an eagle eye on Richter he might go into the neighbors and kill a sheep. Just like he did last May, and if I would have let him I am sure he would have loved to eat it.

My last basset hounds would sometimes catch rabbits and Sidney would swallow them whole because she was afraid I was going to take them away from her.

Dogs don't hunt my poster-er!

 

tell him you are going to feed the dog, to the cat.