In light of the UK's
National Vegetarian Week
, the controversy over feeding pets vegetarian diets has come
into focus once again.
Consumers question the treatment of animals used in meaty
petfoods as well as the environmental impact of producing
petfoods with meat, according to a
recent article
, but the real question is: Are vegetarian pet diets
healthy and nutritious?
A
2006 study by Nestlé
found that the 34 vegetarian cats it examined were
healthy. However, a main concern that stems from vegetarian
feline diets is the risk of taurine deficiency, which most
meaty cat food has added back during the production
process.
Dogs may also struggle to get the nutrients they need from
vegetarian petfood. Top lacking nutrients for canines include
taurine and L-Carnitine.
Whatever route owners decide to go, the authors of the
article recommended they talk to their veterinarian first to
ensure their pets' proper nutrition.
