Neither is a vegan by nature -- dogs are omnivores, and cats are carnivores. While both dogs and cats belong to the class carnivora, this doesn't mean a lot, so does the panda bear and they are near vegan. By nature cats and dogs wouldn't eat anything like what is commonly found in a can of pet food either. Special diets must be provided for cats, as they require an amino acid called taurine -- found in the muscles of animals.

Both animals can be fed a vegetarian diet, although neither is a vegan by nature -- dogs are omnivores, and cats are carnivores. While both dogs and cats belong to the class carnivora, this doesn't mean a lot, so does the panda bear and their diet is basically vegan. By nature cats and dogs wouldn't eat anything like what is commonly found in a can of pet food either. Special diets must be provided for cats, as they require an amino acid called taurine -- found in the muscles of animals.

Make food changes slowly for your dog to adapt. It is always a good idea to mix new foods in with the old diet to decrease the chances for some initial upset--usually just some loose stools that tend to correct with a little time and patience. A general rule of thumb is to add between 25-50% of the new diet to the same diet you have been feeding for the first week or two.

The data on B12 is still coming in, so it is impossible to say "It's no problem....", however, the latest information suggests that acquiring enough B12 is not as problematic as it was once thought. If you are concerned about inadequate B12, there are many foods which are fortified with B12, in addition to vitamin pills. Here is the most recent information: From the book: Simply Vegan: Quick Vegetarian Meals, by Debra Wasserman and Nutrition Section by Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.

quot;Iron deficiency, unlike protein deficiency, sometimes is a real problem, but meat is not the answer. The American Dietetic Association said in 1988 that vegetarians don't have a higher incidence of iron deficiency than nonvegetarians. If you are concerned about getting enough iron, avoid eating iron- rich foods along with substances that inhibit iron absorption: phyates (found in high-bran and unmilled cereals), polyphenols (such as tannins in tea) and calcium.

Absolutely ? as long as you provide us with portioned meals and instructions for each day, we would be more than happy to provide your fur baby with their raw diet. If you feed raw but do not want to prepare it, we also have Healthy Paws or Pets 4 Life raw food that we can give your pup at an additional charge.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Often, cats first switched to raw will eat voraciously for a few weeks when they're first transitioned and then they level off. As a very rough guide, start with feeding about ? cup to ? cup of food per cat per day, split among two or three meals. Bear in mind that the weather, your cat's activity level, and mood all affect appetite. I find that when the weather gets cold, for example, my little female can easily eat almost twice as much as my bigger cat.

Often you will see brands with a number of "formulas" designed according to the age of your pet. We commonly find these in feline or canine type foods. They may be labeled "Puppy", "Growth", "Adult", "Maintenance" "Senior" or "Performance". These foods do hold an advantage of many of the common types, but be advised the difference may be minimal.

Cats need taurine for good vision, which is one good reason you should not feed your cat dog food. A cat fed exclusively with dog food can go blind.

No, not as long as you're taking in enough calories. Official recommendations suggest that eating 8% of our daily energy as protein will provide an adequate amount. National and international recommendations for protein intake are based on animal sources of protein such as meat, cow's milk and eggs.

Frances Moore Lappe popularised the idea of protein combining in her book "Diet for a Small Planet" in the '70s, however in her revised edition: "Diet for a Small Planet 10th Anniversary Revised Edition" she has since renounced it. The 1988 position paper of the American Dietetic Association emphasized that, because amino acids obtained from food can combine with amino acids made in the body it is not necessary to combine protein foods at each meal.

A well balanced whole food vegan diet is up there with the healthiest of diets. It can improve your quality of life and decrease your chances of succumbing to many significant diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers.

The calories listed on our meal plans are averages based on recommended feeding guidelines for a range of body weights. Your dog’s actual food requirement can vary 25-50% from these guidelines! Factors such as age, activity level, and your dog’s own metabolism can cause a wide variation in the amount of calories needed to maintain an ideal body weight.

Adult dogs can be fed between 2-3% of the their body weight. We recommend starting with 1/2 pound of food per 25 lbs of body weight daily and make adjustments according to your dog's age and activity. We also suggest that the daily ration be split to feed morning and night. Remember that a healthy dog is not overweight.

If ingested, make sure the pieces pass in the pet's bowel movement. If nothing passes within 24-48 hours or the animal seems uncomfortable, contact your vet and let them know of the incident.

Yes - Although rare cats have been infected by the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Dogs at this time have not been found infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, however other mammals have become infected and it is thought dogs could also become infected.

Please refer to the list provided on Metro Animal Services website). An application can also be downloaded from the Metro website.