The diets of pets are generally determined by the owner’s culture, religious belief and other parameters. And these determine whether the pet cats and dogs turn vegetarians or not. Experts say a vegetarian diet for pets can be a risky business.

The systems in cats and dogs need certain nutrients which cannot be provided through vegetarian food. Lack of these nutrients like vitamins, taurine etc will create health problems which include reproduction failure and growth issues.

Every animal has its own diet styles. One cannot change it. Especially for the carnivorous, there should be meat in their diet. A dog grows to 50kg in one year unlike human who takes years. For a dog or a cat, feeding it only vegetarian dishes does not mean it has turned vegan, say experts.

“Giving meat to your dog or cat is important and it should include bones as they act as a brush. When the pets chew, more saliva will get produced in their mouth. It is equivalent to brushing and gargling,” says Dr. S Venkateswaran, of Cotton City Pet’s Poly Clinic who has 32 years of experience in the field.

Or else, the owner should provide a chew stick or brush the teeth of the pet manually, or else there could develop infection, he adds.

Obesity in animals creates issues like weakness and pain in joints, heart problems like strokes, diabetes. If they have diabetes, they need to inject insulin. The insulin is same one which given to humans.

Dogs and cats eat grass at times when there are issues of indigestion. They then starve for a day.

Obesity is more prevalent among pets on vegetarian diet, says the veterinarian.