rice. He eats this only with dog biscuits. Is it OK for his health? My dog is great dane9 months old.His growth is not fast, since he was not having his mother's milk. He came to us with in 15 days of his birthWe are pure vegitarians.He also refuses to take non veg foods (which we tried)

dogs are natural carnivours, he needs meat not vegtables, those are not good for him. Just because you are a vegatarian doesnt mean you should force others to be. my wife is a vegatarian and she doesnt force me and kids to be, we she couldnt force me anyway

os buy some formula with soy base with all the vitamins and put it in a clean bottle and feed him like a baby but ask the vet or go to the pet food store and ask a manager

It's ok for now since he is puppy. when he turns an year old he will need to eat dog food with meat in it.

Of course itis not healthy for your dog! He is primarily a carnivore by nature and needs the nutrients that come from eating meat. Veggies and rice are fine IN ADDITION to some meat, but not to the exclusion. If you insist on not feeding him meat, then you need to have your veterinarian recommend a proper food alternative...if it exists. For future reference, don't buy a carnivore for a pet. It is unfair to the animal.

some vegs are not good for dogs like potatoes, beans probally not so good if dog is in the house.but unlike humans dogs are not vegs and is not a healthy diet for dogs, especially during the most important first yearof growth more so with large breeds.with you veg lifesyle it may be difficult for you but if you love your dog you will get him a large breed high protein dog food . if you are a health conscious person that chooses veg life for healthy reasons then you can check out a raw diet for your dog.in nature wolves and dogs dont eat dogfood made of corn rice whaet potatoes or even the so called meat product in the dog food the absolute best diet is a raw meat and some vegs diet. this can be exspensive but they dont eat as much quantity because their body uses every bit from it you will see adifference in the amount of poop.also i must ask why you got the dog a 15days did its mother die. it needs formula till at least 4 to 5 wks you may have bone and joint problems in the future.when you pick a dog food get one for largebreed puppies untill 1yr old.

I can't believe that your dog refuses to eat meat. My family is vegetarian but we made sure my dog had meat. We would go and buy the leanest mutton we could find, ask the butcher to mince it finely like cutlet meat, clean it well, and just boil it with some turmeric, ginger and garlic. He just loved it. Of course he also ate Spinach, dal and other veggies. A dog has different dietary needs from that of humans. I believe you should try harder to get him used to meat. He also needs fiber in his diet. As for growth, try ostocalcium vet for his bones, ABDEC vtamin drops for his macro vitamins and Sharkol for his coat and skin. Also Sharkol will give him some essential omega 3 supplements. Ask your vet of course before you try these things. And try and give him some Pedigree food too. Make sure you don't give him bones as very young dogs just swallow them and this could lead to stomach disorders. And your dog doesn't need to eat meat everyday. Three times a week should suffice.You could try introducing him to meat along with his daily food, include it with his rice and vegetables. Hopefully that should work.

Everything that I have read and been told leads me to the idea that dogs are omnivores...Stop feeding your dog biscuits with it's food. That would be like you always eating a candy bar with your meals. It's not healthy. It's meant to be a treat.Vegetables and rice is okay. But, your dog does need some type of meat product in it's diet. Go to the store and buy some chicken breast without bone, chop it up in small pieces and boil it in nothing but water. Then serve it up with rice. This is an extremely bland diet that vets reccommend when a dog has been sick. You can also give your dog veggies, but you need to make sure that the veggies you give your dog are okay. You need to go to the vet and have a talk with your vet about what they can reccommend. The internet has too much conflicting information that I can say that a vet should be the only one who you should really listen to.

Originally Posted by prerana v

I can't believe that your dog refuses to eat meat. My family is vegetarian but we made sure my dog had meat. We would go and buy the leanest mutton we could find, ask the butcher to mince it finely like cutlet meat, clean it well, and just boil it with some turmeric, ginger and garlic. He just loved it. Of course he also ate Spinach, dal and other veggies. A dog has different dietary needs from that of humans. I believe you should try harder to get him used to meat. He also needs fiber in his diet. As for growth, try ostocalcium vet for his bones, ABDEC vtamin drops for his macro vitamins and Sharkol for his coat and skin. Also Sharkol will give him some essential omega 3 supplements. Ask your vet of course before you try these things. And try and give him some Pedigree food too. Make sure you don't give him bones as very young dogs just swallow them and this could lead to stomach disorders. And your dog doesn't need to eat meat everyday. Three times a week should suffice.You could try introducing him to meat along with his daily food, include it with his rice and vegetables. Hopefully that should work.

First of all, onions and garlic are very very harmful for dogs. What are good vegetables for dogs and which should you avoid? Most vegetables, especially when cooked to improve digestibility, are safe for dogs to eat. The exceptions would be onions and garlic in any form. This is because these foods contain a chemical called thiosulphate which is known to be toxic to dogs. Dogs given this chemical develop hemolytic anemia., a condition where red blood cells circulating in the blood stream burst, reducing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Garlic and onion cloves are particularly dangerous vegetables for dogs as they contain higher quantities of this chemical. The rest sounds fine, but not the safest and dog friendly. Puppies have very sensitive stomachs, and any vegtables can cause, diareah, and vomiting. I have had experience, but I also know that it is true. Also, dogs are carnavores, and they can't eat vegtables because they are bad for them, and it's unnatural.

Madan, I noticed that you said you have tried to get your pooch to eat a non veg diet. What exactly did you mean? I also notice that you said he was 9 months old now. You must be doing fairly well to get him from 15 days old to 9 months. Have you tried boiling hamburger with rice? As was suggested with the chicken by Vetura this is a bland diet that vets advise for sick dogs but he might like it to get him started. I will also add that I think if you don't give him anything to eat EXCEPT have a good dog food out and available for him he WILL eat it when he gets hungry enough. Good Luck!

While it is possible for dogs to live and thrive on a vegetarian diet, it must be formulated with the proper amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins/minerals. What you're feeding your dog probably does not contain sufficient protein or calcium for growth and good health. His growth will be affected first, and later on his general, overall health.

If you absolutely must feed your dog a vegetarian diet, get one that's already formulated. Don't try feeding him a homemade diet unless you intend to do a lot of research and commit yourself to making sure his nutritional requirements are being met.

One more very important thing that has not been mentioned-- because not everyone knows this: vitamin B12 can ONLY be obtained from ANIMAL PRODUCTS. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the production of Red Blood Cells. If one has a B12 deficiency, the patient is likely to develop megoloblastic anemia. I learned this by personal experience. Good sources of B12 (also known as riboflavin) are milk, eggs, cheese, fish, beef, chicken.

that's nice if your dog eats vegetables however i suggest that your dog needs protein though..

Yah, a little bit protein is great for them.

[beks]

I have heard of people feeding there dogs Rice mixtures, im not sure what goes into it exactly, i would think that as long as your dog is eating, and getting all the right amounts of vitimans and the nutrition he needs, it shouldnt be a problem i think you can get supplements for dogs, maybe talk to your vet about it

OK, let's clear up a little confusion here.

Riboflavin is not vitamin B12, it's B2. And while there are no reliable vegetable sources of B12, one can find non-meat B12 supplements. Most vitamin supplements are synthetic, not natural.

Dogs need specific nutrients, not specific food sources. They use a lot more protein than humans, as that is their main source of energy. But again, it doesn't have to be animal based. There is protein in rice, corn, wheat. But it's not complete protein, so it's not sufficient for a dog.

Vegetable sources of complete protein include soy beans, dried beans, and lentils. There are problems with these sources, though. For one, they also cause dogs to develop gas. A lot of gas. And dogs can have trouble digesting them, or be allergic to them. Soy in particular is a well known allergen in dogs.

Dogs also require a certain amount of fat, and their bodies are equipped to digest animal fats better than vegetable oils. Fats provide a lot of energy, but more importantly they are sources of fat soluble vitamins. And they contain essential fatty acids, like omega 3 and 6, which are important for healthy skin and coat.

So, while it is possible to feed a dog a totally vegetarian diet, it isn't easy. Special attention must be paid to ensure the dog is getting adequate protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. It's a lot of work, and requires a lot of research. Or one must purchase a complete vegetarian diet formulated for dogs.

I would like to hear how this turns out. I was also wondering what exactl you meant by "biscuits". Did you mean doggie biscuits or people biscuits? If he will eat hard doggie biscuits I think he will eat hard dog food. If you mean people biscuits then everyone knows you can't make a decent biscuit without Lard {animal fat} and buttermilk {also animal fat} What level vegetarian exactly are you? Do you eat fish or eggs or dairy? If so mix some canned tuna or salmon or scrambled eggs and maybe a little cheese with those biscuits. I think that would go along way in covering what Vetgroomer has specified to for the dogs needs. Ok, now I'm hungry!

so what meats can you feed your dog?

Originally Posted by splinters

Do you eat fish or eggs or dairy? If so mix some canned tuna or salmon or scrambled eggs and maybe a little cheese with those biscuits. I think that would go along way in covering what Vetgroomer has specified to for the dogs needs. Ok, now I'm hungry!

Well you’re not the only one. I can't see a canine passing up that mixture.

Is there a reason you don't want to feed a good premium dog food. Great Danes HAVE to get proper nutrients in order to ensure proper growth. If not, the dog could get all sorts of growth and bone disorders.

A puppy can be raised on a proper raw diet or even a proper vegetarian diet. But it doesn't look like you've done the research you need to accomplish that.

I would start looking into good large breed puppy foods. Innova and Solid Gold carry good ones. Put the dog on something like that until you've done enough research that meeting his nutritional requirements won't be a problem.

First of all, it is possible for a dog to thrive on a totally vegetarian diet. They can get adequate protein and other nutrients from vegetable sources. But rice and vegetables are not enough. You need to find out how to provide a complete and balanced diet.

The problem being, what exactly do you need to feed to meet their requirements? This takes much study and work. Or the easier alternative is to purchase a vegetarian kibble that is complete. They do exist. You can also add yogurt and eggs if you aren't insisting on a vegan diet.