New Vegan Dog Nutrition Book

Just stopping in to alert you guys to a great new resource. Vegan Dogs: Compassionate Nutrition by James O'Heare, is now available as a downloadable pdf file. The book contains in-depth information on nutrition for vegan dogs, as well as a balanced vegan recipe. It is a free download, however they ask that if you find it useful, that you consider donating to the association. Get it here.

Patience is a Virtue.

Hello, loyal readers!

Expect a break in posts for a little while. I do have some things coming up. Sable's 8th birthday is June 1st (she has been veg for 5 years now)! There will be cupcakes this year, I think, instead of a big cake. Sable is a lucky dog.

Also, I have purchased some VegeDog, and am trying out a few of the recipes. I'll try to get some pics for you, and let you know how Sable likes them (she likes everything, though, so there shouldn't be any problems!).

Thanks for reading, and remember, there are lots of interesting articles and websites in the links on the side of this blog.

(It's vegan. I say so.)

FYI

As I receive new info on subjects of older posts, I go back and update them with the new information and links. It's a good idea to skim through past posts every once in a while, to keep up-to-date! As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or suggested topics.

Meanwhile, let me introduce you to my other vegan pets, and Sable's best buddies, Karma and Kismet:
Pretty cute, huh? If would like a bunny buddy (or two!), animal shelters are overflowing with these little guys who are looking for responsible homes.

Joint Supplements for Vegan Dogs

As dogs age, they can begin to experience stiffness and pain in their joints. There are many canine "joint supplements" on the market today, but unfortunately most of them are animal-derived. Luckily, there are alternatives.

Glucosamine is one of the most widely used joint supplements for dogs. It is usually made from shellfish, but in recent years, companies have found a way to make grain-derived glucosamine.

Vegancats.com carries Prescription 2000 Glucosamine HCL, in an easy to use powder form.

Deva Glucosamine with MSM & CMO comes in tablets. MSM helps produce collagen, and CMO reduces inflammation.

Both the Deva and Prescription 2000 glucosamine formulas are marketed for humans, so you just have to figure out the dosage for your dog. The average dog dosage according to a vet is 250 mg per 10lbs given twice daily.

UPDATE: I have found a third vegan glucosamine supplement, made specifically for dogs. ActiPet Vegan HA Supplement contains plant sourced glucosamine, MSM, Hyaluronic acid, Vit C, organic alfalfa leaf, and manganese. It is available for purchase from Vegan Essentials here.

Vitamin C is suggested as possibly helpful for arthritis. It is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, and also in supplement form.

Omega fatty acids might also be beneficial. Good vegan sources for omega fatty acids are flax seed oil, hemp seed oil, canola oil, olive oil, and soybeans, among others.

Acupuncture, massage, swimming, mild exercise, and physical therapy can be very helpful to arthritic dogs, as can keeping them from becoming overweight.

Please remember to check with your veterinarian before putting your dog on any supplements or exercise programs.