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Post by Geoff on Jul 21, 2006 0:08:34 GMT
No, she's looking guilty and singing 'I'd do anything, for you, Geoff, anything..............' ;D
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Post by lavender on Aug 18, 2006 15:33:22 GMT
I have just changed my dogs food over from Happidog (vegetarian) to Benevo (vegetarian) - and I am singing the praises of Benevo! I had good reports from a friend who fed her rescued lurcher on it, he was looking so great, like a different dog, that I decided to try it for mine. They absolutely adore it, In fact when mixing it in with the old food, to slowly move them onto it, they picked out the Benevo first!
so thumbs up from me - no running bots either!
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Post by lavender on Sept 15, 2006 12:07:55 GMT
poo bum - Ive just discovered that the Benevo is vegetarian and not Vegan, Veggiepets have added little symbols to their foods to show whether Vegan or Veggie - I assumed it was vegan, but should of checked really. They are doing so well on it! much less wind as well than on happidog. ooooeeeeeeeeeeeer what to do???
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Post by fezzarooooo on Sept 15, 2006 13:38:06 GMT
I think you have to do whatevers best for the doggies lave, even if it isn't fully within your beliefs.
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Post by Tiggerwoos on Oct 27, 2006 9:19:32 GMT
Last night I decided to order some "Burns" food for the cats and dogs as it is holistic and as natural as can be food for them. Sadly it isn't vegan, but after alot of thought I don't really want to impose my wishes on my animals without there being more evidence to back up a vegan lifestyle for them, but at least its nutritious, as battery free as possible and BUAV approved as well as being on the Good Shopping guide as an ethical company. I think if I just had the dogs though, I would try them on a veggie diet as it seems to be alot easier to feed them veggie food and good on anyone that does. I know my cats love veggie food. If anyone wants the link for future reference, it's www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/
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Post by lavender on Oct 27, 2006 10:23:16 GMT
Ive used Burns in the past, a few years back now, and didnt get on with at all, I know a lot of people do like it and recommend it, but I found that the feeding amounts recommended where way too small. They say you feed less because its such high quality and good nutrition, but.. nearly everyone I speak to finds the amounts too little, I found If I upped the amounts fed, the dogs got runny tums. See how you get on with it Tigs. I know Burns say to keep your dogs lean, but the dogs Ive seen fed according to their guidelines are too skinny. they were also taken to court recently because of the claims made that the diet could 'cure all' and found guilty. Im finding Benevo great btw. the service is amazing from veggiepets, no hassle at all.
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Post by puffin on Oct 27, 2006 14:03:31 GMT
I buy Arden Grange for my kitty. She loves it.
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Post by squirrel on Oct 31, 2006 12:47:38 GMT
I'm thinking of trying my doggie on a veggie based diet - I've sent off for the vegetarian dogs book to read up on it before doing anything.
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Post by Tiggerwoos on Nov 3, 2006 8:36:51 GMT
I've been using the Burns since Monday now and gradually changed it over and luckily both the cats and dogs seem to love it and despite it being a dry food, everyone's bms are alot more regular. Luckily they seem to have all adapted to drinking more water as I was concerned about dehydration and kidney problems.
However, I will give it some time (as I have about a month's food there )and if they don't appear to thrive on it, I would definitely give the veggiepets stuff a try.
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Post by squirrel on Nov 6, 2006 12:42:01 GMT
I have very little faith in commercial dog food and usually use a home made diet for my dogs. The younger dog has developed constipation over the last year, so I'm cutting back on the meat content of his diet and yesterday I made up a quantity of soya mince and lentils to replace some of the meat. He absolutely loved it and wolfed it down (although he does wolf down most of his food ;D). He pooped ok this morning so fingers crossed.
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Post by squirrel on Nov 7, 2006 12:27:02 GMT
I've just ordered some sample taster packs of vegan dog food from veggiepets, only 40p a pack. Thought they'd do as treats or as part of a meal. Looking forward to trying them out on Robbie
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Post by puffin on Nov 7, 2006 13:44:00 GMT
I had a veggie dog and he loved the dried food i gave him. Hope your dog takes to the food Squirrel.
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Post by squirrel on Nov 7, 2006 15:00:32 GMT
That's good to know Puffin. I certainly won't force anything he doesn't like on him.
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Post by squirrel on Nov 10, 2006 12:48:37 GMT
The sample packs from veggiepets arrived yesterday.
So far I've only tried the Ami vegan dry dog food on Robbie and he LOVED it. You could read the look on his face as he tasted it "Hmmm what's this? Mmmm it's nice. Is she going to give me another one?" ;D
My friend's dog liked it as well.
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Post by puffin on Nov 10, 2006 14:29:50 GMT
Thats good news Squirrel. Glad they like it
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Post by Limey on Nov 21, 2006 3:36:07 GMT
Don't know if I posted in here awhile back, but I feed my cat with food that has no by-products in it. He's not veggie, but he at least gets real ingredients. I don't think I could do a veggie diet for my cat. Isn't it more difficult than doing for a dog? Cats go out and hunt their mice, moles, birds, etc....
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Post by malckiera on Mar 10, 2007 18:10:39 GMT
Our lot (Malcolm and Kiera, and LGB's Sparky and Sophie) are on Ami in the morning for brekkies. They love it so much that we even use the stuff as bribing training treats! For their tea they have a vegan homecooked meal every night. Basically this means me cooking for (a generous) 6 every night; we more or less eat what the dogs eat (except for yesterday when we had chips and salad! ). Mal and Kiera have been on homecooked for 2 1/2 years now, and they're great on it. When I got Kiera I was told that she would only eat tinned dogfood and biscuits and drink water with milk in it - and I was thinking: you're gonna be in for a big change madam! The first night she looked at her bowl with a face that said: "you're feeding me WHAT???!!" But now she loves anything I shove in front of her - as long as it doesn't contain tahini! LOL! Sparks and Sophie moved in with us last summer, and Sparks took to vegan homecooked cautiously at first - like most guys take to vegetables! - but now he loves it. Sophie has been amazing though: last summer she was on "normal" dog food, as recommended by a vet, because she was allergic to everything. She would scratch herself silly, had no hair on her belly and the inside of her back legs, her skin was frequently red raw and her coat was dull. But, importantly, she didn't enjoy her food at all. The look on her face when she could smell what the others were getting while she was getting her little bowl with kibble was so sad. So one day LGB was fed up with it and said: "you know what, let's just try it, she can't get any worse than she is now!" And so Sophie got her first bowl of vegan dinner and she, or LGB, has not looked back since. She only scratches herself silly now when she's stressed out (she's a nervous little girl) and LGB isn't there, the hair's grown back, her skin has calmed down completely and her coat is shiny as anything. And she LOVES her food! Giving Sophie her tea is one of the best moments of the day, when she bounces around, and runs round in circles when it's coming, and dives in with her tail wagging. ;D ;D ;D The only thing that she really remains allergic to is soya, but it isn't hard to work round that. As for doing research, I've done a little, but there is hardly anything available about feeding dogs a vegan homecooked diet. The first few months were a bit stressful, not knowing whether I was doing them any harm. But I've found that it really isn't that hard. I've looked up what veg etc would be harmful to dogs, and so they are not having any onions, mushrooms, macadamia nuts and raisins or other vine fruits, and that is pretty much it. I use herbs and spices, but hardly any salt if any at all, and I obviously avoid chilli or other hot spices, and I take it very easy on fat/oil. But that's pretty much it really. They do get ground up seeds in their tea and regularly a (vegan) supplement called 'Missing Link' that is also available from Veggiepets They all love their food, and are doing so well on it that I'm happy that I've made the right decision - but having a vet who is totally happy with their diet helps! As for the "I don't want to impose my beliefs on the animals in my care", I don't really get that. Do yous take your dogs to the supermarket/pet shop and let them taste and choose their own dinner? Because if you don't then you're still deciding for them what they eat - and I think it is a misconception that dogs need meat to be healthy and happy. Can't comment on cats I'm 'fraid, because I've never had long term responsibility for one. From what I understand I think it's tricky though, but maybe there are members on here who have got a healthy happy cat on a vegan diet? Would be interested to hear!
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Post by littlegirlbunny on Mar 12, 2007 12:53:43 GMT
Great post above I can only agree with everything Malckiera has said. Sophie is amazingly happy and content now she is on vegan food. The ami kibble is brilliant stuff, comes from italy and is vegan and soya free (every other vegan dog food has soya in). So that, along with her favourite meal of the day (i.e. the homecooked one!) makes her so happy. It used to be awful seeing her desperate to eat sparky's veggie food and instead having james welbeloved biscuits. She hated them. She is so happy and healthy now though, its just wonderful
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Post by roslily on Mar 25, 2008 11:47:41 GMT
Our cats eat organice dry food. I wouldn't try them on vegan food as I have seen the results of one cat getting very ill. One of our cats as a bad thyroid problem that has led to an enlarged liver, so her diet is very important. For me they are carnivores, not omnivores. They would go and hunt and kill anyway.
The dry food makes it easuer for us as it isn't meat like. I would probably try a dog on veggie food, but not cats.
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Post by tabitha on Mar 25, 2008 19:39:04 GMT
Nope. Our cats arent in the least bit vegan. I feel bad about it and I have tried to give them vegan food, but they hate it, so they have whatever I can get them to eat. They are quite fussy. Soldier has a better appetite and looks like a football on four furry grey legs and Fat Pat vomits a lot. Normally on my work shoes
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