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!
How life has changed for vets since the pandemic
Here is a day in my life to share what it is like to be a vet coping with the changes of how the pandemic has shaped a new way of being a small animal vet
Our Gamechangers Connection
We are so proud to say that our little unit that we hire to hold all the wonderful VEGDOG food and supplement that we import, is owned by none other than the wonderful and very dignified Gary Wilks
What about homecooking for my giant dog?
We have a simple solution when home-cooking for giant breed dogs
Help my dog has itchy ears!
Itchy, painful ears can affect your dog’s quality of life quite significantly
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
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….
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
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!
The benefits of coconut oil
Lauric acid is responsible for many of coconut oil’s health benefits including its immune-supporting, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties
