Can dogs be fed vegan?

For many dogs, a plant-based diet succeeds. Care must be taken to ensure that the animal receives all the necessary nutrients. Vegan complete food is a good solution.

The dog is descended from the wolf, which eats only meat. But does that mean that dogs also need only meat? That would not be beneficial for their health at all.

Dogs can live vegan

Dogs still have the same ripping teeth and the same digestive tract as wolves. However, the plant-based diet has a higher percentage of carbohydrates and a lower percentage of protein. Is this suitable for dogs?

One study looked at how the genetic makeup of dogs has changed since they were domesticated by humans. The result: two genes differ from the wolf, the one for behavior and the one responsible for starch digestion. So dogs have evolved to digest carbohydrates from plants as well as we humans do.

Another important difference from the carnivorous diet is cellulose. This fiber is found in plants, but not in animal products. The enzyme cellulase would be responsible for breaking it down, but neither animals nor humans produce it. Cellulose is therefore excreted after digestion and is an important plant fiber in the human diet. It is also sometimes used in dogs to help the animal lose weight or to combat diabetes. However, since cellulose does not contain nutrients, it should not be given in excess. Grains, vegetables and fruits do not contain enough cellulose to cause problems in dogs.

Should the dog be fed a vegetarian or vegan diet?

A vegetarian diet is not necessary; the dog benefits more from a vegan diet. The biggest difference between the vegetarian and vegan diets are eggs and dairy products.

If you talk about milk, you mean cow’s milk, which the cow produced for her calf. This milk is perfectly adapted to the calf and its needs (e.g. rapid growth). The dog, as a puppy, gets milk from its mother as long as it needs it. In fact, there are supplementary feeds for dogs, some of which contain dairy products, which can probably be considered a consequence of the transfer of human production to animals.

With eggs it is the same: the liquid in the egg shell, that is the yolk and the egg white, represents the nutrient solution for the chick. This is optimally adapted to the young chicken – and not the adult dog. Accordingly, the question is not whether to feed the dog vegan, vegetarian or omnivorous, but the choice is between an omnivorous and a vegan diet.

What are the advantages of vegan dog diet?

It makes little sense to want only the best for your own dog and at the same time sacrifice so-called farm animals for its food. Vegans are the opinion that all animals have the right to life – thus not only the dog, but also chickens, cows and pigs.
Also ecologically regarded the vegane nutrition wins. A 2009 study by the World Watch Institute concluded that animal products are responsible for 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So our daily food choices have an immense impact on climate change.
Last but not least, the dog itself benefits from a well-planned vegan diet, even when it is performing at its athletic best (e.g., in a husky race, as this experiment found out).
The vegan diet has been associated with benefits in various studies: improved grooming, weight control, better overall health and vitality, regression of arthritis, regression of diabetes, resolution of cataracts and lower incidence of cancer, infections, hypothyroidism and ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, lice and mites).

What about BARF?

Barf is a dietary method developed several decades ago specifically for domestic dogs. The term stands for “bones and raw foods” and translates into German as “biologically-artgerechte Roh-Fütterung”. It involves giving the dog raw meat, offal, bones and fish. The food is supplemented with raw vegetables and fruits and as needed with grains and additives.
Veterinary organizations advise against BARF, as raw feeding poses microbiological risks for both the dog and the owner. In addition, there are no nutritional studies that prove an advantage over complete feeds. It is simply not necessary to feed your own dog meat – and a vegan diet is additionally safer.

I would like to feed my dog vegan, how should I proceed?

For all dog owners it is essential to discuss the dog’s vegan diet with a veterinarian. Competent veterinarians may even be able to provide recipes that ensure a balanced diet for the dog.

Possibly the search for a suitable veterinary surgeon lasts somewhat longer, since many do not know themselves with a vegan nutrition, do not know current studies or do not want to take a risk and therefore remain with the conventional recommendation. However, it is worth finding a veterinarian who has experience with vegan dog nutrition. Together, the dog’s needs can then be discussed to develop a suitable diet plan in the next step.

What should you feed a vegan dog?

The majority of dog owners feed the dog complete food. This is food that covers 100% of the animal’s needs. So, complete food is a good solution for those who have little time and possibilities to develop recipes and prepare vegan food at home.

It is quite possible that at the beginning the dog refuses and shows no interest in the food. There are now many manufacturers who have jumped on the bandwagon and also sell food without animal products. The best thing to do is to try out what your dog likes.

If you do not find a complete food that the dog likes, you can also make the food yourself. There are various online stores that sell plant-based dog food bases, vitamins and supplements. These make it easier to create simple and balanced recipes.

However, food that you already have at home can also be fed to the dog. A mix of legumes, grains and vegetables represents a balanced meal – , for example, lentils with oatmeal and carrots. However, it is important to give the dog appropriate supplements.

What can be problematic points if you want to feed the dog vegan?

If one simply omits the meat and otherwise continues to feed as before, there is a risk for a deficiency of the following nutrients: Arginine, Lysine, Methionine, Tryptophan, Taurine, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Vitamin A and some B vitamins. Therefore, it is important to look at the diet with a veterinarian and have the dog checked regularly.

The veterinarian may notice subtle changes in weight, coat, as well as general health that can indicate how well the dog is doing on the vegan diet. It is recommended to visit the veterinarian annually and every few months at the beginning to make sure everything is in order. This way, changes can be detected and any negative effects can be treated before serious consequences develop.

Where can I find inspiration for a vegan dog diet?

It is worthwhile to continuously educate yourself and seek exchange with like-minded people. Vegan dogs still make up the minority, so it may be difficult to find people in the area. For this, there are various places online where you can wonderfully exchange about all topics related to the vegan dog: For example, in an online forum that is about veganism, an online forum that is about dogs, or Facebook groups like “Vegan Dog Nutrition”, where there are thousands of people.

There you can informally exchange recipes, talk about experiences, breeds and different vegan food (supplements). This strengthens one’s will and one realizes that one is not alone with the desire to feed one’s four-legged family member vegan.

Other questions that might arise:

How do I deal with remarks of people, who reject the vegan nutrition of dogs?

It is important that one argues here rationally instead of emotionally, because finally one informed oneself as owner*in in the best way, before one began to nourish the dog vegan. One should have thus already good arguments in the back of the head, which one can bring forward now objectively. In addition one should point out in any case that the nourishing way was agreed upon with the veterinary surgeon and the dog contains all necessary nutrients. Nothing is a better proof than a healthy, vital dog by your side.

Are dogs carnivores?

Wolves are carnivores, but the related dogs have evolved. Compared to true carnivores, dogs today produce more enzymes for starch digestion, have lower protein requirements, and can easily utilize vitamins A and D from plant sources, just like humans. These factors make them omnivores rather than carnivores.