More than one third of pet owners open to vegan pet dietsMarch 29, 2019A study by Canada's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) has found 35 percent of pet owners are interested in feeding their pets vegan diets. Conducted in collaboration with researchers in New Zealand, the international online survey of 3,673 dog and cat owners looked at what kind of food they fed themselves and their pets. Of the 35 percent of owners, 55 percent said they would require proof a vegan diet would meet their pets' nutritional needs, would want endorsement from their veterinarian, and would want the pet food to be easily available. "While only a small proportion of pet owners are currently feeding plant-based diets to their pets, it is safe to say interest in the diets is likely to grow," says lead author, Sarah Dodd, currently a PhD candidate at OVC's department of population medicine. "People have been hearing about how vegan diets are linked to lowered risks of cancer and other health benefits in humans." The survey also found the following: • A little under six percent of owners were vegan and more than 27 percent of them already fed their pets a vegan diet; and • Seventy-eight percent of vegan pet owners were interested in …
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Celebrity pig Esther helps campaign for large animal CT scannerApril 17, 2018Canadian social media starlet Esther the Wonder Pig has ignited a campaign to raise money for a large animal CT scanner for the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). The first of its kind Canada, the Pegaso CT scanner will provide diagnostic imaging for pigs, standing horses, and other large animals. Last fall, Esther, the 650-pound pig from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, started experiencing health complications that caused her to seizure and hyperventilate. Veterinarians at OVC recommended a CT scan to better diagnose her condition, but told owners Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter a scanner able to accommodate an animal of her size was not available in Canada. Further, transporting Esther to the U.S. would involve a three-week quarantine upon her return. Fortunately, the pig recovered on her own and was able to forgo the scan, but Jenkins and Walter decided to ignite a fundraiser to save other large animal owners future distress. "We wanted to give large animals the same opportunities that we give to our typical companion animals," said Jenkins. "As soon as we realized there was nothing there for Esther, we started working to get a large-scale scanner in place. …
