January 31, 2010

Veganism for Companion Animals

Veganism for Companion Animals/Pets

If you have an animal you care for, sometimes you might think of what goes into the food that you buy for them. It's the same food that consists of animal slaughter. And as a vegan or vegetarian that is a dilemma, but many animals can live healthful on a vegan diet. A lot of omnivorous and herbivorous animals can lead a vegan diet. If you decide to adopt or care for an animal you might choose to feed them vegan food for some of the same reasons you choose veganism.

Some popular companion animals that vegans care for are dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, horses, and pigs. Dogs are omnivores by nature and can thrive on a vegan diet with correct nutrition. Cats are obligate carnivores, but as long as you supplement their diet with taurine and other well nutrients, having a vegan cat should be okay although it can be difficult and potentially dangerous causing harm to your cat; it is best to do your own well founded research and talk with other vegan cat caregivers. Rabbits are herbivores and eat exclusively plant foods and can live very well on a vegan diet. Birds such as hoatzin, kakapo, goose, scarlet macaw, blue and gold macaw, hyacinth macaw, and toucan are herbivores and can eat a vegan diet.

Many people who care for animals, including celebrities like Alicia Silverstone, Dennis Kucinich Shahid Kapoor, and Paul McCartney, have put their dogs or cats on vegetarian or vegan diets and have healthy pets. There is specially formulated vegan pet foods on the market as well you can cook homemade vegan meals for your animal. Below I will list information links and links to vegan pet foods and recipes below.

Information:

General:
Can My Pet Be a Vegan Like Me?
VeganPets LiveJournal Community
Vegan/Holistic Pet Resources
Vegan Pets Info & Resources
Sable's Supper
ABC on Vegan Diets for Pets
List of Herbivorous Animals
VeggiePet (UK)
Frequently Asked Questions - Animals
Veganpet

Dogs & Cats:
Meatless Meals for Dogs and Cats Factsheet
Vegetarian Dogs & Cats
Vegetarian/Vegan Dogs and Cats L-Carnitine and Taurine Supplement
Dogs & Cats Cosmo's Vegan Shoppe
Obligate Carnivore: Cats, Dogs, and What it Really Means to be Vegan
Obligate Carnivore: Cats, Dogs & What it Really Means to be Vegan 2nd Edition

Dogs:
Vegan Dog Nutrition Association
Veggie Dogs
Vegetarian Dog Health Survey (PDF)
Can You Feed A Dog A Vegan Diet?
It's A Vegan Dog's Life
Dogs Can EAT Vegan Too!
Vegan Dogs on flickr
It's A Vegan Dog's World
Simple Little Vegan Dog Book

Cats:
Vegetarian Cats Study
Veggie Cat Food? Why Not All Cats Need Meat
Vegetarian or Vegan Cat Food on Wiki
Vegan Cats: What’s for Dinner?
Vegan Canned Cat Food
Vegan Cats: The Pros and Cons for your Pet and the Environment

Food & Recipes:

General:
Vegepet
Green Leaf Vegan Distribution
People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
Poison Control - People Foods
Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula
VeggiePets
Evolution Diet Pet Foods
Veganpet
Pet Supplies
Vegan Pet Food
Support Brands That Do Not Test on Animals
VeggiePets (UK)
Vegetarian Horse Feeds
Feeding Pot Bellied Pigs
Vegetarian Chicken Feed

Cats & Dogs:
VegNews Vegan Pet Food
Vegan Cat & Dog Food
Dog and Cat Products
Vegan Friendly Treats for Cats and Dogs
Pangea Dog and Cat Products
Commercial Vegan/Vegetarian Dog and Cat Food
Natural Dog Food and Cat Health Food
Dog and Cat Food
VeganChannel Pets

Dogs:
Vegan Dog Treat Recipes
Humane Choice
Eco-Vegan Dog
Patten's Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula For Dogs
Yummy for Dogs
V-Dog Vegan Dog Food
Vegetarian Dog Food
Vegedog
Vegetarian Dog Food Recipes
. AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Adult Dog Food
Natural Life Vegetarian Dog
PetGuard Vegetarian
Tykie's Vegetarian Dog Food
Vegetarian and Vegan Products Dog Food
V-dog

Cats:
Ami Cat Vegan Cat Food
How to Make Vegan Cat Food
10 lb. Bag Dry Vegan Cat Food
Cat Food

Birds:
Vegan Suet for Wild Birds
What to Feed Birds
Bird Food
Choosing Bird Seed
Types of Birdseed

Rabbits:
Vegetarian Rabbit Food
Rabbit FAQ: Diet
Digestibility in the Rabbit Diet
Rabbit Nutrition
Rabbit Diet and Nutrition

Iguanas:
Feeding Iguanas
Iguanas Food Information Chart
Iguana Nutrition
Recommended Diet for Iguanas

Equines:
Equine nutrition
Equine Nutrition Info

Hamsters:
Feeding your Hamster
Basic Hamster Diet
Care of Pet Hamsters - Feeding

Foods That Can Be Harmful:

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Cat
What Not to Feed Dogs
What Not to Feed your Dog
What Plants Are Poisonous to Dogs?
What NOT to Feed Your Cat from the Table
Which Foods are Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Bad Rabbit Food: What NOT To Feed Your Bunny

Remember to check back here often for new post, I try to update at least once a month. Look at my past blog post for vegan information, resources, and links. E-mail me me if you have any suggestion post, questions on this blog or veganism or know any more sites relating to this post.