VeggieAnimalsExperience with Ben, Ginno and Mario

Today we have with us Mario, he is vegan, but his human family is not, he lives with Ginno and Ben, and he will tell us his experience by introducing a 100% vegetable food in a non-vegan home. 

In addition, Ben had arrhythmias, weight problems, and episodes of epilepsy/seizures. 

VeggieAnimals: What was your family’s reaction to the proposal that the animals be fed 100% vegetable and what arguments did you use to explain it to them?

My first order with VeggieAnimals came with the pandemic, in March 2020. 

For some months I did research on the subject. I had been dragging the dissonance of contributing to the suffering and death of some animals to feed mine. In addition, after having worked for some time in a feed store, and having tried a wide variety of premium feed, I realized that the quality of life of my dogs did not improve or worsen. Over time, I realised that most feedingstuffs invested more in advertising than in product quality.

Ben had been dragging certain heart problems (arrhythmia), weight problems and epilepsy/seizures since we found him. The fact that VeggieAnimals was a more natural feed and free of dyes and flavors, helped me take the step.

What gave me more peace of mind was having a veterinarian (María González) clarify my doubts and know that, being a team of vegan philosophy, would never impose health benefits on my animals. He was also very impartial in his treatment and put the health of my dogs first, before the feed itself. That gave me a lot of confidence to take the step. 

For the first few months, I must admit that I did not tell my family that the new feed was of vegetable origin. Simply that I had found a new formula that could work very well. So, to avoid any trouble, I hid the bags and set out to test the experiment for a few months and see how they were going. It was a year later when I told them that it was of vegetable type and seeing that they were in good health, equally active and without convulsions, they gave me the approval.

VeggieAnimals: How was the adaptation process for both animals and humans?

First I gradually introduced the feed with which they currently had. Both Ben and Ginno liked the taste very much, and it seems that digestibility was going very well. It looks like they were going to the bathroom a little bit more than normal, but the poop was solid, although slightly lighter than normal.

Even so, Ben and Ginno are not totally vegan because occasionally, when the family comes they take some non-veg prize from the table.

VeggieAnimals: Now that it’s been a while, what do you think about it?

It seems that everyone is happy, or at least not too unhappy with the issue, although perhaps they think it is not a decision that I should have made alone. ¡ In that I agree, but I must say that until I tried the plant-based everyone had trusted my judgment! It was an experiment that worked well, but if I had seen that it was not going well I would have backed down.

VeggieAnimals: Did you feel judged during the process? Did you have doubts about whether it was the right thing to do? Have you leaned on someone or something to cope with?

Yes, especially because it is still a very controversial topic, most veterinarians do not even want to hear about it. My family trusts me and even though they didn’t always back my decision, they know I want the best for my dogs. But it is a subject in which you are categorized as selfish, for imposing your diet on animals. The issue of omnivores/carnivores remains controversial, and I am aware that it is not a free-for-criticism decision. I just hope it gradually gets back to normal.

VeggieAnimals: Since when does Ben have seizures?

Ben has had seizures approximately every two- three months since we found him when he was just two years old. Now perhaps the episodes have been reduced to one per year. The last one we have on record is February 2021. Although he hasn’t had it for a while, the last one he had was strong. Whether it’s food or not, we don’t know. But VeggieAnimals has certainly not fared badly. My first sign of joy was to see that the episodes have been drastically reduced in frequency. He is still very active at almost 12 years old, eager to run and walk. He keeps barking at me so I can take him for a walk several times a day.

VeggieAnimals: What changes did you notice when changing your diet?

The one I’m most happy about is that his physical activity seems to have increased, especially in Ben, because Ginno has always been a whirlwind (O Torbeginno). Also the issue of weight seems to have improved, at least in its fat index, Ginno is pure muscle, although it has always been. But he hasn’t lost any of his activity and passion for ball sport.

The only thing that worried me was the color of the poop, now more yellowish. Why it is still unknown to me, but it seems that it is nothing worrying and that it may have to do with the color of the feed.

The two dogs are healthy, active and just as beautiful as you can see. I’m glad to think your joints are benefiting from the anti-inflammatory properties of your diet.

What do your vetoes say?

The veterinarian has told us that vegan feed does not recommend it at all. That dogs need animal protein for having special enzymes that are prepared to digest animal proteins. He also says it’s worse in the long run because they’re not getting all the vitamins. I was told to mix meat feed with their normal feed to keep us from freaking out. In principle he told me that you can not see improvement and deterioration with the feed as even veterinarians can not check it unless they do tests, what can affect the dog is its future in their bone levels, in the liver, kidneys, or other parts if enzymes in your digestive system do not adapt to plant protein. She told me that she has had several cases of dogs that have vegan feed and have come up with problems. Personally he thinks that to put the vegan feed to a dog has to be with tracking nutrients because you risk it to go wrong.

Obviously, and as is usually also the case with animals, the diet of those who have had problems with a plant diet is always questioned, but the hundreds of patients who follow a diet based on animal by-products are ignored. 

WHO IS BEN?

Ben appeared in my life in November 2011, I was in the cottage when I heard a dog barking outside. He was very dirty, and with a coat that made him look like a sheep and could not bend one of his hind legs. As I approached him, he ran away and got stuck in a corner. As I approached, he growled at me. But I started to tell him: Relax, it’s okay, come, come. I spent some time with him until I finally earned his trust. Strangely enough, after telling him come so many times, he answered that word as if it were his name, and from there he kept Ben’s name.

Ben is a dog who probably lived off what he found in the field for quite some time. It is not surprising that at the beginning we also gave it the nickname of Mandarin-eating, because as soon as I saw myself taking one from the tree it sat at my feet, waiting for me to give it some segments. 

He is an extremely affectionate and grateful dog. He distrusts men, but he feels safe with the female gender. She loves to take walks to the extreme of finding a way to sneak out when the door is open and take a good walk through the countryside. 

He is very clever and knows some tricks, such as lying down, sitting down, giving the paw and knows some words like "stick" (for some prize) and "Do we go?" (then begins to bark of emotion at the purpose of a walk).

WHO IS GINNO?

Ben had a friend during his first months in the field. An old and small dog with the name of Chica, appeared one day pregnant despite her advanced age. Girl was from our neighbors, but one day I found her inside Ben’s booth. To my surprise, Girl had decided to have her puppies there. Ben was really confused and he looked at me like he was saying, "Now where do I sleep?

But Chica was too old and unfortunately her cubs were dying one after the other. Not knowing what to do, I grabbed the last one left and fed him with a bottle. That’s how Ginno came into our lives.

Girl came every day to see her puppy grow and stayed with us. Unfortunately, a few months later Girl died. 

Ben became Ginno’s adoptive father. Now they are inseparable, although they have some disputes. Interestingly, Ginno has not been able to befriend another dog and Ben became super protective, to the point of attacking any dog that Ginno barked at (which used to translate into ALL dogs), Ginno is a ball addict. In fact, he has tennis ball syndrome, and we have to take it away because he gets too obsessed. He lives trapped in the eternal dilemma: He cannot live without his ball, but neither can he live without you throwing it at him.  Such is his obsession that sometimes he is able to forget other vital functions. In fact, he usually waits until we give him the ball to take it to his feeder and then eat knowing that he has it safe. He is an elite athlete, with an enviable musculature despite his size. He is able to run after his ball for miles without getting tired, but never take him for a walk because soon he will want to return. He climbs trees, jumps acrobatics and sometimes we think he’s a cat trapped in a dog’s body. It is also extremely clean and is licked several times a day.

For lack of a ball, he is able to climb on lemon trees to catch a lemon that does the trick. He is definitely a character. And very dramatic, it always forms you a few laments worthy of tragedy so that you listen to him and give him the ball.

No wonder the few phrases he knows are all applicable to his ball: "Do you want it?" "Where is it?" "Go get it!" "Shall I take it from you?"