VONDI'S
VEGAN DIET: THE HEALTHY NATURAL ALTERNATIVE
This vegan
diet for your dog is a first in South Africa. Vegans and vegetarians
are often faced with the dilemma of choosing the best diet to
feed their dogs, taking into consideration their ethics and the
best interests of their pets.
The
domestic dog is classified as an omnivore. The classification
in the Order Carnivora does not necessarily mean that a dog's
diet must be restricted to meat. Unlike an obligate carnivore,
a dog is neither dependent on meat-specific protein nor a very
high level of protein in order to fulfil its basic dietary requirements.
They are able to healthily digest a variety of foods including
vegetables and grains and, in fact, dogs can consume a large proportion
of these in their diet. In the wild, canines often eat available
plants and fruits.
The Chow Chow
was a vegetarian. It originated in China and Tibet, where it was
raised as a meat source for human consumption. It was fed a diet
of grains and vegetables to produce a tender, marbled meat. Most
commercial pet food is made from meats that are not fit for human
consumption and would otherwise be thrown away. These foods are
filled with preservatives and other additives that can be detrimental
to the health of your pet. Studies conducted on pets fed commercial
meat pet food revealed diet-related complications such as "kidney,
liver, heart, neurological, visual, neuromuscular and skin disease,
bleeding disorders, birth defects, compromised immune system and
infectious disease".
In Europe,
there are many commercially available vegan diets for dogs. Now
vegan or vegetarian pet lovers in South Africa have the same choice.
Vondi's Holistic Pet Nutrition has developed a well-researched,
balanced vegan diet for dogs. There are two important considerations
- cooking method and quality and choice of ingredients. Vondi's
has adopted scientific procedures to prepare the food, so some
ingredients are left to simmer on a low heat and some are raw.
Vondi's has
used scientific and nutritional data to formulate its recipe that
includes brown rice, millet, lentils, peas, barley, wheat germ,
rolled oats, beetroot, butternut, sweet potato, carrots and freshly
picked herbs. They supplement with preservative-free calcium gluconate,
zinc gluconate, taurine, yeast, lecithin, kelp, dandelion and
Vitamin C. o Vondi's petfood is available from selected stockists
in Cape Town and Gauteng.
Contact
Vondi's at 021 439 1784 or 59 Regent Road, Sea Point,
or through their website, www.vondis.co.za
