Is Meat Required? Dogs can thrive without meat, but only if they are fed a properly balanced vegetarian diet. As is true with people who prefer vegetarian diets, protein or vitamin deficiency can occur in dogs who eat strictly vegetarian diets if they are not properly supplemented.
What happens if a dog doesn't eat meat?
Removing meat from a dog's diet makes it difficult for them to get enough protein. Dogs require more protein in their diet than humans, and without it, dogs can become very ill. The essential fatty acids in meat proteins are hard to replicate as well.
Can a dog survive on vegetarian diet?
“By their genetic pedigree, dogs do demonstrate carnivorous traits like wolves. But, with thousands of years of domestication, they can also lead normal lives if they are put on a vegetarian or vegan diet as long as the food is balanced,” she says.
How long can a dog last without meat?
Healthy dogs can typically survive up to five days without eating, but only if they have access to drinking water. In extreme situations, dogs have been known to survive without sustenance for much longer, but not without any severe health consequences.
