Out of personal conviction or to save the climate. Sometimes even after a simple taste. Some of us have gone vegan. A diet that, if implemented correctly, can also benefit our health. But does this also apply to the health of our dogs? Possibly, say researchers today.
You will also be interested
[EN VIDÉO] These 10 things you need to know about your dog For tens of thousands of years, he’s followed us… like a little dog. But if we sometimes feel like we know everything about our best friend, researchers haven’t taught us yet.
Some people who share the life of a dog have already taken the plunge. They chose to get their best friend to follow the same diet as them. A vegan diet. Absolutely out of conviction. Eating meat has a huge impact on the environment. Or because the processing conditions of the animals used as food leave a lot to be desired. But until then, they had no study to rely on to know whether or not such a diet could be good for these dogs’ health.
Researchers from the Universities of Winchester (UK) and Griffith (Australia) have finally answered the question. They surveyed over 2,500 people about their dogs’ eating habits. Take note of the number of visits they make to the vet, their medication use, and their health issues in general. Depending on whether these dogs were vegan or ate meat or raw meat.
Raw Meat, Really Better for Dog Health?
Result: Dogs that eat a traditional meat diet appear to be less healthy. Next come those who follow a vegan diet. And finally, those who eat raw meat. A little surprise. Because previous studies suggest that eating raw meat puts dogs at increased risk of pathogens and malnutrition.
The researchers concede that their findings should be viewed with caution. Because people of dogs who eat raw meat naturally seem to be more reluctant to visit a vet for their pet. And the vegan dogs that took part in the survey were younger than the others overall. Pending further studies, however, researchers believe a nutritionally healthy vegan diet may be the healthiest and least dangerous to the health of our four-legged friends.
Interested in what you just read?