Should dogs be vegetarians? The answer is NO! Not ‘maybe’, but NO!
In an interview with Dr. Jane Bicks, a veterinarian and author of three national books on pet care and nutrition, Dr. Bicks had the following to say regarding the above question when posed to her:
“A dog’s diet should not be vegetarian based. While people can thrive on a vegetarian diet, dogs cannot for many reasons, which include:
“Dogs have a different gastrointestinal (GI) tract than we do. Digestion of nutrients occur during their journey down the GI tract. Vegetables and other carbohydrates are more difficult to digest than animal protein such as chicken, fish and eggs. The longer the GI tract, the more time there is for the nutrients to break up and be digested. Humans have a much longer digestive tract than dogs.
“Every animal has a unique chemical pathway that has evolved over time. When one looks at the anatomy and physiology of a dog and a human, there are distinct differences, which reflect the need for different diets.
“One such difference is readily seen by comparing a dog’s teeth to a human’s teeth. Dogs have long sharp canine teeth, which are used to tear meat, while humans do not. Human teeth are made primarily for grinding. When a human’s diet consists of a large amount of animal proteins and fats, cholesterol can rise and become a health threat. When dogs eat this sort of a diet, high cholesterol levels do not become a problem.
“There are vegetarian diets available for dogs; unfortunately for the dog, they may offer 100% nutrition but generally at a minimum level rather than optimum.”
Pet dogs shed ............ ...... Show dogs blow coat.
Pet dogs are in heat ......... Show dogs come into season.
Pet dogs trot ............ ........ Show dogs gait or move.
Pet dogs stand ............ .... Show dogs stack.
Pet dogs get a bath ......... Show dogs are groomed.
Pet dogs beg for treats .... Show dogs bait.
Pet dogs poop ............ .... Show dogs toilet or eliminate.
Pet dogs bark at other dogs ..... Show dogs spar.
Dog Show Definitions.....
1. Great stud dog ............... Mounts anything that can fog a mirror.
2. Excels in movement .......If he gets loose, run like hell.
3. Personality Plus ............ Wakes up if you put liver up his nose.
4. Good bite ..................... Missed the judge, got the steward.
5. Large boned ................. Looks like a Clydesdale.
6. Good obedience prospect ..Smart enough to come in from the rain, but ugly.
7. Quiet and good natured ..... In his kennel.
8. Excels in type and style ..... However, moves like a spider on speed".
9. Won in stiff competition ..... Beat four puppies and a 9 year old novice dog.
10. Multiple group winner ..... At two puppy matches.
11. Pointed ..................... His head is shaped like a carrot.
12. Noted Judge ............. He put up our dog.
13. Respected Judge ......He put up our dog twice.
14. Esteemed Judge ...... He puts up anything that crawls.
15. Specialty Judge ....... Puts up anything that looks like his own breeding.
16. Won in heavy competition ...The other dogs were revoltingly overweight.
17. Shown sparingly ...........Only when we had it in the bag.
18. Show Prospect ............. He has 4 legs, 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 tail.
19. Finished in 5 shows ..... And 89 where he failed to win a ribbon.
20. Well Balanced .............. Straight as a stick, front and rear.
21. Handled brilliantly by .... Nobody else can get near him.
22. At stud to "approved" bitches ...... Those bitches whose owner's check is good.
23. Linebred from famous champions....... Ch. Whoozitz appears twice 6th generation.
24. Terrific brood bitch ...... Her conformation is the pits, but she conceives big litters.
25. Wins another Best In Show ... His second, under the same judge, our uncle.