Over the last 20 years, more and more of us have adopted a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle due to the published health benefits, environmental concerns, and animal welfare. This has sparked an ongoing hot topic - can dogs be vegan or vegetarian too? The answer is a little complex.
Conversations around vegan or vegetarian dog diets have become commonplace with social media promoting veganism for pets, and studies finding that pet owners believe their dogs are healthier and happier on plant-based diets.
Modern domestic dogs, like humans, are omnivores, and have specific nutritional needs to avoid dietary deficiencies and possible diseases.
But, can dogs be vegan or vegetarian? Theoretically, yes, dogs can get the nutrition they need from such a diet, but this depends on the exact ingredients found in the food.
Read on as we explore ‘can dogs be vegetarian or vegan?’ and whether vegan or vegetarian diets are safe for dogs. We will also study the potential risks associated with plant-based diets and some reasons why dogs should not be vegan.
Can a vegan diet meet a dog’s dietary needs?
A dog’s dietary needs depend on various factors, including its breed, age, and activity level. Like humans, a dog’s diet requires adequate levels of nutrients to support overall health, such as amino acids, protein, fats, fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
As we said, dogs are omnivores, enjoying both animal and plant-based food. Interestingly, canines are able to transform some amino acids into others inside their bodies. Therefore, they can achieve all the amino acids needed without consuming meat. The key is getting the right balance of different plant-based foods with sources of protein, such as soy, whole grains, beans, and corn.
Whilst a vegan diet is possible for dogs, careful planning is needed to ensure the dog is getting all the nutrients it needs for a healthy life. You should talk to your veterinarian for further advice on whether a vegan or vegetarian diet is suitable specifically for your dog.
Vegetarian or vegan diet for dogs?
‘Can dogs be vegetarian?’ and ‘can dogs be vegan?’ are two distinct questions with unique answers. There is a stark difference between a vegetarian and a vegan diet for dogs. Vegetarian dog food is free from meat, fish, and poultry, but can include other animal products, like eggs. Through a mix of plant-based and non-meat ingredients, commercial vegetarian dog food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of a dog.
Vegan dog food is completely free of any animal product or by-product, only relying on plant-based sources to meet a dog’s nutritional needs. Vegan dog-food typically contains a variety of vitamins, plant proteins, and minerals to make up for the lack of animal nutrients. Common ingredients tend to be chickpeas, peas, lentils, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.
Yes, dogs are omnivores, but they can adapt. That being said, certain nutrients can only be found in animal-based products, including taurine, L-carnitine, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. Therefore, these nutrients can only be added to vegan and vegetarian diets synthetically.
The key is that a dog’s diet is nutritionally balanced and complete, which can be more challenging with a vegan diet.
Always look for foods that have been formulated to meet FEDIAF (EuropeanPetFood) guidelines and consult with your vet before changing your dog’s diet.
Potential benefits
Some evidence points towards potential benefits for dogs that eat a vegan or vegetarian diet. For instance, these diets can sometimes be advised as an alternative for pets that suffer from food allergies, particularly animal-protein allergies.
When changing a dog’s diet, you must do so gradually, over a few weeks. If you switch your dog’s usual food too suddenly, it can cause digestive issues and your dog may reuse to eat. It is important to talk to your vet before switching up your dog’s diet to get guidance tailored to your pet.
One study also found that a lower red meat consumption, such as cow and pig meat, reduced the risk of mammary cancer. However, the same study also discovered that the overall risk of this type of cancer was lower in dogs that ate diets that included poultry.
Vegan and vegetarian dog diets may also benefit certain health conditions, according to one study. These diets may also benefit a dog’s scent and coat condition, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Potential risks
There are some reasons why dogs should not be vegan. For instance, a meat-free diet poses some possible health risks for dogs. Whilst humans can get enough nutrients from plant-based sources, dogs cannot. For instance, taurine, an essential amino acid for proper heart function, is best sourced from animal protein, such as fish, meat, and eggs. Some dog breeds may require additional taurine, which would be hard to source from a plant-based diet.
Dogs are also at risk of vitamin D deficiencies when eating vegan or vegetarian diets, leading to weakened muscles and bones, as well as other dangerous health conditions. Whilst humans can make vitamin D naturally, dogs cannot and typically source it from animal products.
Other risks include an imbalance of essential fatty acids and amino acids, and lower protein levels that can lead to a poorer quality of life.
Vegan diet for dogs - essential considerations
The verdict is still very much out on whether a vegetarian or vegan diet for dogs is appropriate. Yes, we know dogs need a balanced diet, but this varies based on their age, weight, lifestyle, and overall health.
Remember, dogs are omnivores. They can generally digest most of the carbohydrates they eat and create vitamin A from beta-carotene present in plants. Nevertheless, meat is still regarded as a key source of protein for dogs, even though they are able to get essential nutrients from plant proteins too.
Plant-based diets must be formulated, so dogs get all their essential nutrients, including vitamin D3, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and taurine. On a vegan or vegetarian diet, supplements may be required to avoid deficiencies.
Always talk to your vet before changing your dog’s diet and ask advice on what your dog can and can’t eat.
When it comes to answering, “can dogs be vegan or vegetarian?,” the answer is a loose yes, but careful planning to ensure your pet gets the right nutritional balance is crucial.
Ultimately, to ensure that your dog consumes all the essential nutrients in the correct amounts and ratios, you should feed complete and balanced, tailored to the life-stage and life-style of your dog.
If you’re still wondering why dogs should not be vegan, we need to be honest - dogs love meat! If you have a plate of chicken and a plate of carrots, you know which one most dogs would jump at right away!
FAQs
Can dogs survive on a vegetarian diet?
Dogs can survive a vegetarian diet, but it requires very careful consideration and monitoring. Can dogs be vegan? Yes, but it is more difficult to find all the nutrients a dog needs solely from plant-based sources. For some dogs with underlying health conditions, a vegetarian lifestyle would not be possible, as they may lack vital nutrients that can only be found in meat and poultry.
Can dogs live without eating meat?
Dogs can live without eating meat, but this is only possible when their diet is well-balanced with all the essential nutrients needed for optimal health. Whilst dogs can be vegetarian, they require two amino acids, taurine and L-carnitine, which can be lacking in plant-based diets and without meat, there is a risk of nutrient deficiencies leading to serious health concerns.
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