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Vegetarian Companion Animal Diets
Vegetarian cat and dog photos:
www.VegePet.com, www.VeganCats.com
ANDREW KNIGHT ANDREW KNIGHT
DipECAWBM (WSEL), PhD, MRCVS, FOCAEDipECAWBM (WSEL), PhD, MRCVS, FOCAE
‘Little Tyke’the vegetarian lioness
Overview
Meat-based diets: health hazardsMeat-based diets: health hazards Meat-based diets: associated diseasesMeat-based diets: associated diseases Animal diets: biological requirementsAnimal diets: biological requirements Vegetarian diets: unnatural behaviour?Vegetarian diets: unnatural behaviour? Health benefits?Health benefits? Dietary transitionsDietary transitions
Meat-based diets: health hazards
US 2007 pet food recall due to melamine US 2007 pet food recall due to melamine contaminationcontamination
Affected brands: Affected brands: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/
Signs of kidney failure: increased thirst and urination, Signs of kidney failure: increased thirst and urination, dehydration, inappetence, lethargy, vomiting, deathdehydration, inappetence, lethargy, vomiting, death
Meat meal and byproducts: slaughterhouse Meat meal and byproducts: slaughterhouse waste, 4-D meat, supermarket rejects and waste, 4-D meat, supermarket rejects and rendered dogs and catsrendered dogs and cats
Premium brandsPremium brands DigestDigest Restaurant greaseRestaurant grease Fish contaminantsFish contaminants Infectious diseasesInfectious diseases
EndotoxinsEndotoxinsMycotoxinsMycotoxinsHormones and antibioticsHormones and antibioticsPreservativesPreservativesProcessingProcessing
Kidney diseaseKidney diseaseLiver diseaseLiver diseaseHeart diseaseHeart diseaseNeurologic diseaseNeurologic diseaseVisual diseaseVisual diseaseMusculoskeletal diseaseMusculoskeletal disease
Skin diseasesSkin diseasesBleeding disordersBleeding disordersBirth defects Birth defects ImmunocompromisationImmunocompromisation Infectious diseasesInfectious diseases
1.1. Bingham AK, Huebner HJ, Phillips TD, Bauer JE. Identification Bingham AK, Huebner HJ, Phillips TD, Bauer JE. Identification and reduction of urinary aflatoxin metabolites in dogs. and reduction of urinary aflatoxin metabolites in dogs. Food Food Chem Toxicol.Chem Toxicol. 2004 Nov;42(11):1851-8. 2004 Nov;42(11):1851-8.
2.2. Boyer CI Jr, Andrews EJ, deLahunta A, Bache CA, Gutenman Boyer CI Jr, Andrews EJ, deLahunta A, Bache CA, Gutenman WH, Lisk DJ. Accumulation of mercury and selenium in WH, Lisk DJ. Accumulation of mercury and selenium in tissues of kittens fed commercial cat food. tissues of kittens fed commercial cat food. Cornell Vet.Cornell Vet. 1978 1978 Jul;68(3):365-74.Jul;68(3):365-74.
3.3. Coleman WE, Tardiff RG. Contaminant levels in animal feeds Coleman WE, Tardiff RG. Contaminant levels in animal feeds used for toxicity studies. used for toxicity studies. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol.Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 1979;8(6):693-702.1979;8(6):693-702.
4.4. DiBartola SP, Buffington CA, Chew DJ, McLoughlin MA, DiBartola SP, Buffington CA, Chew DJ, McLoughlin MA, Sparks RA. Development of chronic renal disease in cats fed a Sparks RA. Development of chronic renal disease in cats fed a commercial diet. commercial diet. J Am Vet Med Assoc.J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1993 Mar 1;202(5):744- 1993 Mar 1;202(5):744-51. 51.
5.5. Dobson RLM Dobson RLM et al.et al. Identification and characterization of Identification and characterization of toxicity of contaminants in pet food leading to an outbreak of toxicity of contaminants in pet food leading to an outbreak of renal toxicity in cats and dogs. renal toxicity in cats and dogs. Toxicological SciencesToxicological Sciences 2008; 2008; 106(1): 251-262.106(1): 251-262.
6.6. Dow SW, Fettman MJ, Curtis CR, LeCouteur RA. Hypokalemia Dow SW, Fettman MJ, Curtis CR, LeCouteur RA. Hypokalemia in cats: 186 cases (1984-1987). in cats: 186 cases (1984-1987). J Am Vet Med Assoc.J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989 Jun 1989 Jun 1;194(11):1604-8.1;194(11):1604-8.
7.7. Freytag TL, Liu SM, Rogers QR, Morris JG. Teratogenic effects Freytag TL, Liu SM, Rogers QR, Morris JG. Teratogenic effects of chronic ingestion of high levels of vitamin A in cats. of chronic ingestion of high levels of vitamin A in cats. J Anim J Anim Physiol Anim NutrPhysiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2003 Feb;87(1-2):42-51. (Berl). 2003 Feb;87(1-2):42-51.
8.8. Houpt KA, Essick LA, Shaw EB, Alo DK, Gilmartin JE, Houpt KA, Essick LA, Shaw EB, Alo DK, Gilmartin JE, Gutenmann WH, Littman CB, Lisk DJ. A tuna fish diet Gutenmann WH, Littman CB, Lisk DJ. A tuna fish diet influences cat behavior. influences cat behavior. J Toxicol Environ Health.J Toxicol Environ Health. 1988;24(2):161-72.1988;24(2):161-72.
9.9. Pion PD, Kittleson MD, Rogers QR, Morris JG. Science. Pion PD, Kittleson MD, Rogers QR, Morris JG. Science. Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a reversible cardiomyopathy. reversible cardiomyopathy. ScienceScience 1987 Aug 1987 Aug 14;237(4816):764-8.14;237(4816):764-8.
10.10. Sousa CA, Stannard AA, Ihrke PJ, Reinke SI, Schmeitzel LP. Sousa CA, Stannard AA, Ihrke PJ, Reinke SI, Schmeitzel LP. Dermatosis associated with feeding generic dog food: 13 cases Dermatosis associated with feeding generic dog food: 13 cases (1981-1982). (1981-1982). J Am Vet Med Assoc.J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1988 Mar 1;192(5):676-80. 1988 Mar 1;192(5):676-80.
11.11. Strieker MJ, Morris JG, Feldman BF, Rogers QR. Vitamin K Strieker MJ, Morris JG, Feldman BF, Rogers QR. Vitamin K deficiency in cats fed commercial fish-based diets.deficiency in cats fed commercial fish-based diets. J Small J Small Anim Pract.Anim Pract. 1996 Jul;37(7):322-6.1996 Jul;37(7):322-6.
Requirements of animal diets
Nutritional soundnessNutritional soundness PalatabilityPalatability BioavailabilityBioavailability
Vegetarian diets & natural behaviour
!?
Health benefits?
Decreased ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, lice Decreased ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, lice and mites)and mites)
Improved coat conditionImproved coat condition Allergy controlAllergy control Improved weight controlImproved weight control Arthritis regressionArthritis regression Diabetes regression Diabetes regression Cataract resolutionCataract resolution
Increased overall health and vitalityIncreased overall health and vitalityDecreased incidence of cancerDecreased incidence of cancerDecreased incidence of infectionsDecreased incidence of infectionsDecreased hypothyroidismDecreased hypothyroidism
1st large-scale study of the long-term health of
vegetarian cats
Wakefield Wakefield et al.et al. J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2006; 229: 70-73 J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2006; 229: 70-73
34 cats maintained on vegetarian diets for 1+ yrs34 cats maintained on vegetarian diets for 1+ yrs 52 cats maintained on meat-based diets for 1+ yrs52 cats maintained on meat-based diets for 1+ yrs
Variable Vegetarians Carnivores P value
Age (mean +/- SD) 7.0 +/- 4.7 7.8 +/- 4.8 0.48
No. of years diet fed (mean +/- SD) 4.6 +/- 4.1 6.5 +/- 4.7 0.06
Sex distribution (spayed female; castrated male [%]) 38;62 56;44 0.13
Kept strictly indoors (%) 65 69 0.80
Reported to be in ideal body condition (%) 82 65 0.17
Reported to be healthy or generally healthy (%) 97 96 0.38
•No significant differences in age, sex, body condition, housing, or No significant differences in age, sex, body condition, housing, or perceived health status. perceived health status. •Most cats described as healthy or generally healthy.Most cats described as healthy or generally healthy.
Sprint-racing sled dogs
Brown Brown et al.et al. Brit J Nutr. Brit J Nutr. 2009; 102: 1318-232009; 102: 1318-23
12 sprint-racing Siberian huskies were fed either a 12 sprint-racing Siberian huskies were fed either a commercial diet recommended for active dogs (n 6), or a commercial diet recommended for active dogs (n 6), or a meat-free diet formulated to the same nutrient specifications meat-free diet formulated to the same nutrient specifications (n 6)(n 6)
Sole nutrient intake for 16 weeks, including 10 weeks of Sole nutrient intake for 16 weeks, including 10 weeks of competitive racingcompetitive racing
Blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 3, 8 and 16, and Blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 3, 8 and 16, and veterinary health checks were conducted at weeks 0, 8 and 16veterinary health checks were conducted at weeks 0, 8 and 16
Haematology results for all dogs, irrespective of diet, were Haematology results for all dogs, irrespective of diet, were within normal range throughout the study within normal range throughout the study
The consulting veterinarian assessed all dogs to be in The consulting veterinarian assessed all dogs to be in excellent physical conditionexcellent physical condition
Dietary change
Easing the transitionEasing the transition
Safeguarding healthSafeguarding health1.1. Use a complete and balanced nutritional Use a complete and balanced nutritional
supplement or complete dietsupplement or complete diet
2.2. Prevent urinary alkalinization and urolithiasis Prevent urinary alkalinization and urolithiasis (the formation of urinary crystals and stones)(the formation of urinary crystals and stones)
Conclusions
We choose vegan diets for ourselves for We choose vegan diets for ourselves for ethical, environmental and health reasons. The same reasons. The same benefits apply to vegan companion animal diets, benefits apply to vegan companion animal diets, which provide the best choice for both our which provide the best choice for both our companion and so-called companion and so-called ‘‘foodfood’’ animals. animals.