We tend to feed our pets on the foods that we like – yes we are all guilty of it! I feel far less guilty now that I am vegan and have chosen to feed Ruff only on healthy vegan nutritious options rather than on the pizza crusts, sausages and ham that as a family we all used to treat him with!
The gut microbiome (the new term for our intestinal flora genetic material) has a big influence on the physical and mental health of all of us – our pets included. There are several complex factors that can alter an animal’s microbiome, for instance diet, stress and who they live with (a bit like us humans!)
Luis Pedro Coelho and his colleagues at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, in collaboration with Nestlé Research, studied the gut microbiome of beagles and retrievers. They found not only many similarities with other dog breeds but also with the human gut microbiome. Furthermore, he found out that our gut microbiome is more similar to the dog gut microbiome than those of pigs or mice – two organisms used frequently in model studies.
Speaking of the discovery, Luis Pedro Coelho says: “The results of this comparison suggest that we are more similar to man’s best friend than we originally thought.”
Dogs were the first animals to be domesticated by humans, and we have frequently shared food resources and living quarters with our ‘best friends’ throughout history – in fact for the 25 000 years or more.
There are important implications and applications that extend from the discoveries of Dr Coelho and his colleagues. One of which is using the dog as a model for human gut microbiome studies and vice versa, as Dr Coelho explains: “These findings suggest that dogs could be a better model for nutrition studies than pigs or mice and we could potentially use data from dogs to study the impact of diet on gut microbiome in humans, and humans could be a good model to study the nutrition of dogs.”
Amazing isn’t it that we can be used as models to help our dogs rather than animals being used to benefit us!! There are research models underway where humans and dogs are treated for certain diseases with ‘donor samples of faeces’ from healthy individuals as shown in this article Stool Substitute Transplant Therapy.
It is well known that high fibre natural unprocessed foods carry far more of these healthy ‘good’ gut bacteria, so yet again, more proof that a vegetable-based diet is healthier for our pets….and for us!
Dogs CAN digest starches
Calculations have revealed that dogs can digest about 99 % of plant-based starch if provided to them in a suitable form
Vegdog All-In-Veluxe Supplement and Recipes COMING SOON!
We are so excited to not only be the importers of Vegdog Green Crunch to the UK, but we are working with their vet nutritionist Lisa Walther who formulated VEGDOG”s All-In-Veluxe Supplement to produce UK easy and 100% balanced delicious recipes
We just need to stop eating animals
As a small business, we will do all we can to continue to promote the nourishment of our pets with wholesome, clean and nutritious plant-based foods that hold no dangers of causing a second pandemic.
Interview with Dr Ernie Ward
So if you’re concerned about your pet food safety, let’s go plant-based. If you’re concerned about the carbon pawprint of your pet, then let’s go plant-based. If you’re concerned about your pet….
But aren’t dogs carnivores?
The maned wolf really blows the theory of our pet dogs needing meat in their diet completely out the water
Barney loves his snuffle blanket
This snuffle blanket is ideal mental stimulation for dogs
Bea climbed onto the sofa for the first time in over a year!
When we read this review, we felt quite emotional as the difference in Bea after only a month on a plant-based diet is remarkable
5 top reasons to choose a plant-based diet for your dog
There is evidence to prove that a plant-based diet that is properly balanced whether dry or homemade is kinder for your dog
We are so excited about our new ingredients!
Until we get our new recipe up and the new packs made, we are offering a 40% discount on all our current Umami protein packs
What no one tells you about wearing a face mask!
We are now told that when dealing with the public we have to wear a mask and here are some things that I experienced while doing vet work yesterday
See how much Marvin and Pedro like their food
Marvin was picked up as a stray by a local dog pound and the front leg was badly injured, they think he had been hit by a car
We support Donn and Río
Donn has pulled the pack off the counter before I could even start preparing them, and ate half of it as is!
