Can Dogs Be Vegan or Vegetarian?

On a very technical level, dogs don’t necessarily need meat in their diet. They can survive without animal protein, but they still do need a source of protein. Just like humans, dogs are omnivorous, and we can choose to make changes to our own diets to avoid meat proteins. Dogs can do the same thing in that they are able to eat plant proteins like pulses and tofu.

The long-term effects of feeding your dog a vegan diet is still not entirely known. Getting their diet right can be made more difficult as plant protein is harder for them to digest and get the same amount of sustenance from but there is very limited research out there to tell us what the implications are. Without the data to back it up, it is generally assumed that if you get a nutritionally balanced diet with highly digestible ingredients then they should thrive no matter the source of protein however it’s hard to find a protein source that isn’t animal based that is as digestible.

When you’re planning on making any changes to your pup’s diet, be sure to notify your vet. Some dogs may not be suitable for a vegan diet and your vet will be able to advise if you should try it.

A fully vegan diet can be quite difficult to sustain so a vegetarian diet might be a better option. Being able to include dairy products and eggs can help to nutritionally balance a meal a lot easier and one large egg can contain six grams of protein.

While they may be able to derive more nutrients from a vegetarian diet than a vegan diet, making any meal as nutritionally valuable as one containing animal products is difficult, even with the addition of eggs and dairy. It is however possible since you have the added benefit of eggs that are very easy to digest for our canine companions. UK Pet Food points out that dogs can adapt to a carefully balanced and well formulated vegetarian diet. However, there is a difference between adapting and thriving on it and every dog is different when it comes to what suits them.

The major risk of feeding your pup a vegan or vegetarian diet is namely the lack of research in regarding how dogs cope long term with these meals. Dogs have evolved to digest meat protein, however the amino acids they can break down out of plant protein are significantly less.

A major risk of a meat free diet simply comes down to it not being properly balanced. While you might find a diet that contains the same amount of protein as a commercially made diet that contains meat, that doesn’t mean all those nutrients are digestible to your dog. If any nutrients are not available when they digest their food, you can find that over time they might develop a deficiency that impacts their overall health.

One of the biggest benefits of choosing a plant-based diet for your pooch is the environmental impact large scale farming has on the environment. In 2020, 12% of greenhouse gas emissions were as a result of agriculture. Meat is often transported as well which ties back in with the 24% of greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by transport. Overall, plant-based products have a smaller carbon footprint than animal products so by feeding a meat free diet, your own carbon footprint is reduced significantly.

As far as benefits are concerned, by avoiding meat you can lower the chances of some health issues. Too much protein can cause weight management issues, so a plant diet is often great for helping our pups lose a little weight. There is also a parasitic risk involved with feeding meat, especially raw meat and vegan or vegetarian diets don’t carry this risk.

As with changing any dogs diet, transitioning onto a vegan or vegetarian diet should be a gradual process. Over the course of a few weeks, you should be feeding less of their current diet and replacing it with increasing amounts of their new diet to avoid any stomach upsets. After two weeks or so, they should be on their new diet.

During this whole process, your canine companion needs to be closely monitored to make sure the change is only benefiting them and not having any adverse effects. If you notice their coat becoming dull, loose stools or even a lot of flatulence, it could be a sign that the new diet isn’t sitting well with them.

You should always consult a vet before making any changes, The Community Pet Clinic is always on hand to help owners find the perfect diet for their beloved pets.

If you’re looking to move towards a meat free diet for your pup, it might be difficult to find a good, nutritionally valuable diet but you can start small. Sometimes making small changes can really help with what you’re trying to achieve and swapping our their usual dog treats for vegan and vegetarian treats is one thing you can do to get started.

The Whimzees Veggie Sausage Dog Chew are great for dogs who love to chew but contain no animal derived ingredients. There are no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives along with no GMO, gluten or meat so this tasty chew is suitable for almost all dogs with any intolerances.

You can help keep those teeth nice and shiny by giving them an outlet to chew without any of the less healthy ingredients some chews may contain. Incorporating veggie treats, such as Whimzees Veggie Ears Singles, into their diet has never been easier – the perfect alternative for pigs ears and meat based chew sticks.

While making changes to your dog’s diet can benefit the environment, you should always put your pup’s needs first. If you don’t want to take the risk and fully commit to feeding a vegetarian or vegan diet, there are other options that can be easier to maintain a good balance with. You can steer away from red and white meats by offering your pooch a diet of sustainably sourced fish. Burns Original Fish is a balanced diet packed full of nutrients that are easily digestible, so you get the best of both worlds while making a small difference. The most important thing should always be your dog’s health.

If you want to find ways to make your beloved pet’s diet more sustainable or environmentally friendly, discover more dog staples, in-store and online.