Should my dog be vegetarian?

Veggies are okay... in addition to meat!

It’s a dilemma many vegetarians and vegans face: If I’ve given up meat for ethical reasons, should my pet be allowed to eat it?

It’s a fair question.

After all, it’s a little hard to justify the suffering and killing of some animals in order to ensure the welfare of others. In other words, why is it okay for your dog or cat  to eat a chicken or goat or cow?

In the case of cats, the answer is easy: cats are obligate carnivores. This means that without MEAT in their diet, they will die. It’s that simple. There isn’t a single study that proves otherwise.

In the case of dogs, it’s a little trickier. But even holistic veterinarian, Dr Richard Pitcairn (who turned vegetarian himself for health and ethical reasons) says that in order to be healthy, all dogs need meat in their diet. Sure, you can monkey with proportion and add a good quantity of steamed veg (like carrots, broccoli and kale), but if you want your puppy to look and feel good, there’s got to be some meat protein in there. And ideally from a variety of sources (beef, chicken, bison, horse, lamb, etc).

We each have a line that we draw: this animal is okay to eat and that one isn’t. For example, some of us would never consider eating veal or horsemeat. Just as some of us could never munch on a dog steak (while it’s common to do so in certain cultures).

But here’s the thing: It’s okay for us to decide what we, human beings with free will, should eat. Is it okay for us to impose these choices on beings whose physiology dictates otherwise? After all, most of us have given up eating meat in order to help animals.  We don’t want to support factory farms and animal cruelty. Makes sense. But in denying a carnivore (or omnivore, in the case of dogs) his share of animal protein, we’re certainly not making the world a better place for our animals.

So what’s a vegan to do?

Well, if you find you really hate the idea of feeding meat, consider a herbivorous pet. Like a bunny. Or a fish.

But if you feed meat, here’s how to do it ethically:

* Try and source it from ethical farmers.

* When you can, opt for free range and organic.

* Offal: Remember that our pets can be a wonderful way to ensure that the animals that are killed for food are honoured by being consumed fully. To your dog, chicken feet and beef heart and sheep’s brain are all yummy treats. And nutritious to boot!

And remember, nature created these beautiful creatures. And designed them to eat other beautiful creatures. It’s difficult for those of us who work hard to live by clear rules. Nature isn’t black and white. She’s murky. And tasty…

Help your pet beat the heat

Photo by Ildar Sagdejev (Wikimedia Commons)

Wearing a fur coat in the summer is no fun at all! Especially when there’s a heat wave on.  So here are some quick, easy tips for making sure your kitty or puppy is comfortable:

* H2O: Lots of it! Make sure your animal has plenty of access to fresh, cool drinking water. This may mean you have to add extra water bowls and refill them more often in hot weather. Adding an ice cube or two is also a good idea, but you don’t want the water to become so cold that your animal won’t drink. How to judge? It should be cool enough to splash on your skin without being uncomfortable.

* Keep them indoors: This is true for both cats and dogs. As much as they might love to go out on adventures, when temperatures climb past 35 degrees Celsius, they’re much better off indoors. Preferably in a room with a fan to move the air about. Air conditioning can help, but most short-haired animals find it difficult to regulate body temperature with artificially cooled air, so be careful not to overdo it.

* Watch for signs of heat stroke: Cats and dogs can’t really sweat except through the pads of their paws. They generally regulate body temperature by panting or seeking shade. Any excessive panting, lethargy, drooling or anxiety (demonstrated by restless pacing) could be a sign of potentially life-threatening heat stroke. Ditto a fever (more than 103°F for both dogs and cats) or dark red gums.

If you see any of these signs, get a tub of cool water and use a washcloth to wipe your pet down. It is useful to have a fan in the room (but don’t point it directly at your pet or they might catch a chill). Then take your animal to the vet as soon as possible. Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated early.

* If your pet is white: You should know that white pets (or those with ears and faces that are very pale) are particularly prone to sunburn! Do NOT use sunblock on your pet (it’s toxic). Instead, encourage your animal to stay out of direct sunlight (which may mean you keep them indoors or walk them on the shady side of the street). Try and limit outdoor time to the early morning or late evenings.

* If your pet is black: They may not be prone to sunburn, but they will overheat faster than lighter coloured animals. So make sure they’re hydrated and stay away from direct sunlight.

* If your pet won’t drink: Sometimes, if an animal is seriously dehydrated or overheated, they lose the urge to drink. This is especially true of cats. In this case, use a needle-free syringe or dropper to dribble cool water into their mouth. You want to do this very slowly and not risk choking your pet. Go droplet by droplet and give them time to swallow. Usually your animal will drink a little this way and then walk over to their bowl.

* Don’t leave dogs in cars: C’mon people, you know this. It doesn’t matter if the windows are down. Cars and dogs can overheat surprisingly quickly and it’s a horrible way to die. So don’t. If you’re going somewhere your puppy is not welcome, just leave him at home.

*Create a cooling spa: For cats and dogs that don’t like to be wet, you can create a nice, cool sleeping area. Simply take a pillow case and stuff  it about half full of rice. Sew it shut by hand, leaving enough room for the rice to move around a little. Then put it in the freezer for about 5 hours. Once it’s cold, wrap it in a towel and place it near your pet’s favourite sleeping spot. The rice will mold to your pet’s shape and allow them to get cool. Don’t skip the towel or your pet will get too cold!

Don’t have rice or forgot to freeze your pet spa? Just use a package of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. The benefit of making the rice bag is that it can also be used as a hot compress for the winter (just microwave it for 1-2 minutes!). That, and you won’t be wasting peas!

Additional reading: Here is some species-specific info on heat stroke for dogs and cats.

So there you go. Just some ideas for keeping our furry friends cool this summer. Do you have your own tips to share? We’d love to hear from you. Just leave us a comment or send us photos! info@evive.ca

What kind of pet person are you?

A girl and her cat. Photo from Wikimedia Commons by Joaquim Alves Gaspar, Porto Covo, Portugal, December 2005

Most pet people fall into one of two categories. The ones who think of their animals as a sort of hybrid of companion, child, soulmate and boss. And those that don’t think about their pets much at all.

This blog is meant for people who fall into the former category. We hope that means you.

Sure, there’s plenty of heated debate to be had around the notion of whether pets are people and how many human characteristics we can actually assign them. But the underlying premise true animals lovers share is that their pets are fully formed, deeply interesting individuals, filled with their own special quirks. While we may not process the world in quite the same way, we share more with our pets than most non-animal lovers would be comfortable admitting.

And just what lies at the root of this discomfort?

Perhaps it’s because admitting that animals can love and feel and fear just like we can means we have to think long and hard about how we treat them. Not just the puppy on our lap, but the steak in our plate. The leather bag we bought yesterday and of course the biggest and hairiest question of them all: that of human population in a world where we see ourselves as consumers first and citizens second.

Yikes!

But relax, this blog isn’t just about the heavy stuff. We just wanted you to know that although there will be lots here about the lighter side of pet guardianship– the cuddling, the antics, the poignant moments– this isn’t just another cutesy kitty-puppy blog. We will certainly celebrate the joys and rewards of living with animals, but we also won’t shy away from some of the deeper questions.

And this blog isn’t just about food and pet recipes either. We’re here to explore the ethics of animal guardianship, training methods, living with allergies, managing a multi-pet household and finding the money, time and energy to do it all. And do it right.

We hope that you’ve read this far because these are all questions that are important to you. Do you have others? We’d love to hear them! Ditto stories about your pets–how did you meet? Are they some sort of  fur-clad superhero? Are they currently conducting a sleep study (make that sleep deprivation study) on you? And yes, we’d love to see photos.

Just email us at info@evive.ca

We’ll pick a winner every month who will get delicious free treats, access to our workshops and all sorts of other goodies.

In the mean time, thanks for stopping by. We’re going to be posting fresh content here every Thursday, so don’t forget to subscribe to the blog via RSS.