Vegan Diet for Dogs

More and more humans are going vegan in recognition of the benefits to animals, the planet, and their own health. And since dogs’ health is a major factor in deciding what to feed them, guardians are looking more closely at the benefits of vegan dog foods.

Dogs Thrive on a Vegan Diet

It’s not new for dogs to eat plants. Vegans and vegetarians have long fed dogs meat-free food for the same reasons they don’t eat animals themselves – for their health, the environment, and ethical reasons. Much like humans, dogs can get all the nutrients they need from a well-planned vegan diet. Like all species, they have nutrient requirements, not ingredient requirements, and there are numerous vegan dog foods formulated by veterinarians and nutritionists that make it easier than ever to ensure your companion gets everything they need.

Guardians of dogs who suffer from allergies and obesity are often recommended to transition to a vegan dog food, because the most common food allergens for dogs are meat and dairy and plant proteins have been shown to help overweight dogs shed pounds, just like they do humans.

One famous vegan dog includes Roscoe, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton’s dog companion.

Roscoe is a great example of how dogs can thrive on a well-balanced and complete vegan diet, reported to be benefitting from an improved coat and skin as well as reduced health issues.

Vegan Dogs May Live Longer

According to a study published in the journal Research in Veterinary Science in 2022, dogs fed vegan diets could live up to 18 months longer than those fed on meat-based foods. The study by the University of Guelph also recorded fewer instances of skin, endocrine, gastrointestinal, liver and kidney diseases, and other conditions in dogs on a vegan diet.

Another famous plant-powered pup, Bramble, who was born in 1975, broke the world record at the time for being the oldest female dog at 25, and her guardian, animal advocate Anne Heritage, who wrote a book about Bramble’s life and diet, had two other dogs who lived to be 19 and 20 on a vegan diet.

Vegan Dog Food Diets Are Healthy

Another 2022 study found that fewer dogs on vegan diets suffered from health disorders such as allergies and gastrointestinal problems than those fed conventional meat or raw meat diets. The authors concluded, “Accordingly, the pooled evidence to date indicates that the healthiest and least hazardous dietary choices for dogs, are nutritionally sound vegan diets.”

Meat-based commercial dog foods contain all sorts of animal-derived products scraped up from slaughterhouse floors, including wool, feathers, hair, horns, hoof cuts, feet, blood, and placenta, as well as tissues deemed unfit for human consumption, like liver with fluke (parasitic worms). And the study warned that raw meat diets are associated with dietary hazards, such as nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, and pathogens.

So, is it any wonder guardians are increasingly cleaning up their dogs’ diet and marvelling at the results?

Vegan Is the Kindest Diet

As well as being healthy for the dog, feeding dogs vegan food helps save other animals’ lives. Pigs, for instance, are social, playful animals who can dream, recognise their own names, and learn to sit for a treat. Some love to cuddle and relax in the sun – not much different from dogs then.

But humans cuddle dogs while condemning pigs to slaughter because of speciesism, the misguided belief that some individuals are inferior to others because they are members of a different species. Speciesism underpins all the most widespread forms of animal abuse.

Chickens, cows, sheep, pigs, fish, and all other animals have the same will to live and are every bit as deserving of respect as our beloved dog companions. They all feel love, joy, fear, and pain and have individual personalities, just like dogs. We don’t need to subject them to a life of misery and a violent death to feed our dogs a healthy diet, so why would we?

Vegan Dog Food Is Better for the Planet

And yes, you’ve heard it before but it bears repeating: eating vegan is better for the planet because raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water. And the industry’s byproducts pollute our air and waterways. Animal agriculture causes almost a fifth of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and is a major driver of the climate catastrophe, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Even if we stopped using fossil fuels immediately, without changing to a plant-based food system, we’d still face irreversible climate heating.

Researchers at the University of Oxford found that going vegan can reduce an individual’s food-related carbon footprint by up to 73%, resulting in a significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions. And vegan dog food can have up to 85% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than beef.

So vegan food – for humans and dogs – is always a better choice for the planet.

What About Other Alternatives?

Cultured meat is becoming a reality and will soon be available as a companion animal food. Cultivating meat in a laboratory is certainly kinder, cleaner, and more sustainable than current commercial options. But since billions of animals are still being killed every year for food, animal agriculture is fuelling the climate catastrophe, and delicious, nutritionally balanced vegan dog food is already widely available, there’s no reason to wait.

Making dog food from insects is a terrible idea. Insects are sentient beings, too – and all animals, whether they have four legs or six, value their lives and deserve to live free from exploitation. It’s also inefficient, unsustainable, and expensive, as trillions of insects would have to be raised on farms to meet demand.

Healthy, sustainable dog food already exists – and it’s vegan.

How to Feed Your Dog a Vegan Diet

Vegan dog food brands are on the rise, making it easier than ever for guardians to feed their dogs a balanced and complete plant-based diet.

It’s also possible to plan home-made vegan meals for your dog, but dogs’ nutritional requirements are different to humans’, so you’ll need to do your research. It’s guardians’ responsibility to ensure their animal companions are getting the nutrients they need regardless of the diet they’re fed.

It is recommended to speak with a veterinarian with knowledge in the subject before making changes to your dog’s diet and to continue to monitor the dog’s health. Just Be Kind is a great place to start, as it offers veterinary advice and consultations, vegan dog food recipes and supplements, and ready-made vegan dog food all in one place. Vegan dog food brand Omni also offers a free online vet consultation to discuss your dog’s nutritional needs.

New brands are popping up all the time offering specially formulated complete vegan wet and dry food for dogs, and conventional dog food manufacturers are adding vegan foods to their range. Here are a few chop-licking meals to choose from:

Best Vegan Dog Food in the UK

So Give It a Try!

More and more people are choosing a diet that is kinder to all animals, the planet, their dog companions, and themselves – and there’s no reason not to start immediately.

Now you know about the benefits of feeding your dog vegan meals, why not claim them for yourself, too? Every person who goes vegan spares up to 200 animals a year a violent death, drastically reduces their carbon footprint, and can improve their health. Take our vegan pledge and we’ll support you with meal plans, recipes, tips, and more.

Take the Vegan Pledge

Check out other ways to protect the animals you share your home with:

Keep Companions Safe From Fireworks

Keep Animals Safe During Cold Winter Weather

How to Protect Dogs During a Heatwave

Why You Should Spay and Neuter Your Dog