Meet Bramble - A Dog who lived to be 25 years old - And was on a VEGAN Diet!??
Many years ago, Monica told me about a vegan dog who lived to be old enough to make it into the Guiness Book of World's Records. I couldn't believe it! I thought there was NO way dogs could survive on a vegetarian diet. I looked it up, and what do you know? Bramble was a REAL DOG who really did live to be 25! I'm not saying anyone else should put their dogs on a vegetarian diet, but I think it's worth noting here because clearly this dog's owner was doing SOMETHING right!
(Click on this picture to the left to see the book on Amazon)
Bramble; The dog who wanted to live forever. The Somerset notes. Paperback – 24 April 2013
There are so many health benefits in veggies - fiber, phytochemicals, probiotics. Even for those of us who don't necessarily want to give our dogs a strictly vegetarian or vegan diet, it might be worth figuring out how we can incorporate some more veggies into our dog's diets.
It's also worth noting that Bramble only ate once a day. So many of us are taught that we should feed our dogs twice a day (which I have done with my shepherds since I got them), to the point where it seems like it would be cruel to only eat once a day.
We live in a culture that has been trained to believe a slow metabolism is a BAD thing. But I truly believe a slow metabolism is a BLESSING. It's a good thing, that makes our bodies incredibly amazing and efficient! How is it not a GOOD THING to be able to get by with eating less? The more food we eat, the more we increase our carbon footprint, use more resources, and the more (less fortunate) animals have to be slaughtered to become food. FAST metabolisms only became "good things" as we humans got more and more food all over the place, and we want to eat like gluttons : D.
Bramble – 25 years 89 days
Breed
Border Collie
Age
25 Years 89 Days
Location
United Kingdom
Bramble was fed a vegan diet throughout its life. Its human parents claim that they offered their pooch a diet of lentils, rice, organic vegetables, and soy-based vegan foods.The dog also ate just once daily. Interestingly, there are vegan foods that were named after bramble. The Border Collie ended living for over 25 years which is way longer than its breed’s average lifespan of 14 to 17 years. He passed away in 2003.
Yes, a slow metabolism is associated with a longer lifespan:
Metabolic rate theory of aging
This theory suggests that species with slower metabolic rates live longer, while species with faster metabolic rates die younger. The theory was first proposed by Max Rubner in 1908, and later supported by Raymond Pearl's experiments.
Primate study
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that primates have long lives because of their slow metabolisms. Primates burn 50% fewer calories each day than other mammals, and have relatively long childhoods and don't reproduce as frequently.
Energy metabolism and aging
Restricting energy intake and reducing metabolic rate can slow the rate of aging and extend longevity. However, increasing energy expenditure has also been associated with improved health and longer life.
Please note, I am NOT saying you should starve your dog!! Please don't. Especially if they get a lot of exercise, and shepherds DO need a lot of exercise! If you're not sure if your shepherd is at a healthy weight, check with your vet. I also found this information online (click on the blue link to see more).
In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get.
I am just trying to point out that a slightly slower metabolism isn't necessarily the BAD thing that we've been thought to think it is. Just think about it. The animals that live the LONGEST are the ones that have SLOW metabolisms (and eating one meal a day - instead of splitting it into 2 meals - gives you a slower metabolism).
Tortoises, elephants and sloths can live over 50 years in good living conditions. Greenland sharks can live to be 500 years old! What do all these animals have in comon? They have slow metabolisms!
For those of us who wish our dogs could live forever, I thought you might want to know some of this information. I will continue to add some form of meat into my dog's diets, but I am also making an effort to add more healthy, detoxifying, energy-boosting veggies into my dog's food, in a way that we are all happy with!
My Dog Poppy CHOWING down her food with probiotic cabbage
Calorie Diets Could Extend Life Span And Delay Disease, Researchers Say | NBC Nightly News
The Inspiration of Bramble the Vegan Dog | Wild Earth Dog Food Founder's Story with Ryan Bethencourt
Why I Stopped Feeding This To My Dogs
Your Vegan Dog is HOW OLD?!
Meet My Vegan Dog | Vegan For 8 Years
How calorie restriction could improve lifespan | Peter Attia & Steven Austad
If you're still not convinced a vegetarian diet could be good for dogs, please click on this link. I am still feeding meat to my dogs, but am definitely adding more veggies to their diet because of their health benefits.
I'm pasting some of the iinformation from the page, below:
A balanced vegan diet is one of the best diets that you can feed to your elderly dog
I wish that I knew this 7 years ago. My biggest regret as a vet, is not feeding our previous family Labrador, 'Slick', a plant-based diet.
I now know that she would have lived so much longer. She would have not suffered from as much arthritic pain as she did in her latter years. I am so thankful that I can feed Ruff a balanced and healthy vegan diet.
He is turning 11 this year and needs all the support he can get with his little bent front legs and heart murmur so common in small elderly breeds. We all want our elderly dogs to stay as healthy, happy and as comfortable as possible so that they live as long as possible. None of us want our elderly pets to be in any form of discomfort or pain!
How does a plant-based diet benefit elderly dogs?
💚 1. Elderly dogs need high quality proteins that contain all 10 essential amino acids. The proteins must be readily available and pure plant-based proteins. Animal-based protein diets are high in Phosphorus which can hasten kidney disease if your dog is predisposed (read about how ALL my family dogs died of kidney failure here). Healthy older dogs can tolerate higher levels of plant-based protein which are naturally pure amino acids with none of the toxic build up found in fish and animal organ meats (as I exposed when speaking at the London Vet Show just how many toxins were in Royal Canin, Hills and Purina dog foods).
💚 2. Even more important than protein levels, plant-based diets contain anti-oxidants that protect the ageing cells in your dog's body. Beta-carotene is a natural anti-oxidant found in bright orange sweet potato, blueberries and fresh carrots for example. The highest level of antioxidant is found in the bright pink microalgae called Astaxanthin that quite literally delays the ageing process in dogs! We will be stocking this superfood very soon so watch this space!!!
💚 3. Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient that helps to keep the body’s nerve and blood cells functioning. This MUST be supplemented in any age of dog on a vegan diet, but even more importantly in our elderly dogs to delay doggy dementia. Some dogs such as German Shepherds may begin to show signs of dragging of their hindlimbs with spinal nerve dysfunction. This vital vitamin is found in nutritional yeast (with added Vit B12 which is even better such as found here), as well as in beans, sweet potatoes, cauliflower and added to our JUST BE KIND supplement.
💚 4. A healthy gut is key to your dog’s overall health and longevity. 70% of the immune system is found in the intestines. Plant-based diets made with natural prebiotics and high in fibre are ideal. They provide all the elements to feed your elderly dog’s immune system and produce a functioning and balanced gut microbiome. Our 4 homemade recipes that you can make for your dog, contain 30 different colours and varieties of plant proteins to naturally feed your dog's good gut bacteria.
💚 5. Always supplement a home cooked diet for dogs of all ages. One important amino acid addition in the supplement - Methionine - is needed in our elderly dogs. It helps to acidify the digestive tract environment. Vegan diets tend to be alkaline promoting diets and with age, a dog’s digestive tract also becomes more alkaline. This can reduce the amount of important nutrients absorbed such as Iron, Zinc and Vitamins. Adding Methionine helps to neutralise this alkalinisation. Asparagus, peas, brown rice, lentils and bright pink natural cranberry powder added to any homemade food for your dog also help to acidify the intestinal environment.
💚 6. I advise that a homemade plant-based diet is fully mashed or blended. Peas, beans or seeds are completely softened and broken down to allow for maximum intestinal absorption. This is even more important in our elderly dogs who may not chew as well as they used to, due to loss of teeth. Give A Dog A Bean is an ideal food to feed elderly dogs due to its palatability and it is full of pure plant proteins without any soya or wheat that is usually genetically modified and may contain pesticides. ALL of the ingredients in Give A Dog A Bean are free of GMO's which means no extra toxins, just pure proteins to enhance the health of your elderly dog.
💚 7. You can select natural anti-inflammatories such as herbs like basil and oregano. Natural spices are also so beneficial such as boswellia (Boswellia is added to GOLD DUST Joint and Supplement)
The kindest plant-based anti-inflammatory is Algae oil Omega 3 oil. This is the purest form of Omega 3 with none of the heavy metals or high levels of Vit A as sometimes found in cod liver oil and salmon oil. Omega 3 is so beneficial for ailing joints and nerves. Our elderly pets also need the addition of the immune boosting pure Vit D3. This is also found in Omega 3 Daily or from UV radiated mushrooms (chop raw mushroom and leave in sun for 10 minutes before cooking). Older dogs may not get out for long walks as much as they used to and be exposed to as much natural sunlight as usual, so would need this extra Vit D3. This article shows how Omega 3 levels in the blood can extend the lifespan of our dogs just as it does with us.
💚 8. A plant-based diet contains no hidden saturated fat that we find in high meat diets. These are detrimental in humans to heart health, and in dogs can predispose them to carrying extra weight or the very painful condition pancreatitis. Plant-based diets offer one of the best diets for heart health, especially if they are balanced with added pure Omega 3, Taurine and Vit B12 for heart muscle function.
💚 9. Cataracts are a dull cloudiness that forms over our elderly pets’ eyes. It affects their sight and quality of life. Feeding a folate-rich diet such as bright green cooked kale, red cabbage, spirulina and beetroot, can actually reverse the onset of cataracts quite dramatically. The word folate actually comes from the word foliage (plants)!
💚 10. Carrying extra weight is common in elderly dogs. It puts extra strain on their already painful joints. It also affects their breathing, heart and energy levels and makes them more predisposed to cancer and diabetes. Plant-based diets are low in fats and high in fibre. You can see the excess weight literally drop off and energy levels return when switching to a plant-based diet.
Studies show how a small amount of weight loss in elderly dogs amounts to a 6% reduction improvement in mobility and pain!
💚 11. Where your dog displays signs of cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia), it is best to feed them a plant-based diet. They do better on a diet that is high in medium chain triglycerides. They use this as their energy source when older rather than glucose. Coconut oil has the highest source of medium chain triglycerides, so include desiccated coconut in your homemade cooking, or add coconut oil to their food (can be added into Gold Dust Joint Supplement instead of Algae oil, although as it is a saturated fat, it goes quite solid in the jar and can be difficult to mix to a paste compared to Omega 3 Algae oil). This means that your elderly dog can stay bonded to you and recognise you for longer by delaying the onset of any doggy dementia.
💚 12.Plant-based means no animal products. Many meats contain added hormones, growth promoters or zoonotic bacteria (as found on and in raw meat). These toxins would all need to be processed and excreted in your dog’s ageing liver and kidneys. A fresh plant-based diet contains nothing but goodness, and the results are remarkable. There is no need for their bodies to work hard to remove these toxins.
💚 13. Processed diets and treats filled with preservatives and food colourants can increase the chances of obesity and cancer in your pet. This is especially true if they are overweight. A healthier diet filled with anti-oxidants lessens the chances of cancer and ensures that your loyal dog lives to a good old age. Read about darling brave Breta who survived cancer...and is still going strong!
