Vegetarian and vegan dog food is a topic that generates curiosity, debate, and strong opinions among pet owners. Unlike cats, which are obligate carnivores and require meat and animal protein for survival, dogs are biologically classified as omnivores. This means that their digestive systems can handle a variety of foods, including plant-based ingredients.
Dogs have evolved to extract nutrients from both animal and non-animal sources. Because of this flexibility, commercially available vegetarian and vegan dog diets are formulated to meet a dogโs nutritional requirements.
Despite the availability of these foods, deciding whether a dog should be vegan or vegetarian is not a simple yes-or-no answer. It requires careful consideration of nutritional requirements, what the individual tolerates, palatability, and a thoughtful selection of foods that provide complete and balanced nutrition.
In this article, we explain what you need to be concerned about and share brands of vegan and vegetarian dog food we think are top choices if you choose to feed these foods.
What Is Vegetarian Dog Food?
A vegetarian dog food contains no meat but may contain other animal-derived ingredients such as eggs or dairy, depending on the recipe. Vegan dog food, by contrast, contains no animal products and relies solely on plant-based proteins and nutrient sources to meet a dogโs dietary needs. Both categories aim to provide all the essential nutrients a dog needs, which include amino acids (protein), fatty acids (fats), and vitamins and minerals, without relying on meat.
Many manufacturers produce these foods to meet the standards set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which helps ensure that the diet is complete and balanced for a dogโs life stage, whether that be adult maintenance or for growth and reproduction. Dogs fed vegetarian or vegan diets should be on foods that have been formulated with attention to these standards, as homemade or imbalanced diets can easily lead to nutrient deficiencies or toxicities over time.
Is Vegan Dog Food Safe?
One of the primary concerns with vegetarian or vegan diets is whether a dog can get enough digestible nutrients without meat. Dogs require certain amino acids that are abundant in meat or eggs but tend to be present in lower, or in incomplete profiles, in plant proteins. Because of this, without careful recipe design, plant-only diets can fall short. Modern plant-based dog foods address this by combining a variety of plant sources, each with a unique amino acid profile, along with synthetic vitamins and minerals to achieve a complete and balanced formula.
Can a Plant-Based Diet Help My Dog with Allergies?
Dogs with specific allergies or intolerances to meat proteins, such as beef, chicken, or lamb, may benefit from a vegetarian diet that avoids these proteins entirely. Environmental advocates note that plant-based dog foods may require fewer natural resources and produce a lower carbon emission than traditional meat-based diets, though the implications for canine health are less clear. Despite these potential advantages, a vegetarian or vegan diet is not inherently healthier for your dog simply because it contains no meat. Dog nutrition is complex, and some dogs may tolerate a plant-based diet well while others may struggle with a plant-based formula.
Are There Risks of Disease with a Vegetarian Dog Diet?
Some critics argue that even AAFCO-approved plant-based diets may pose risks if not carefully balanced or if they become overly reliant on certain ingredients that could contribute to nutrient imbalances. An ongoing debate in the veterinary nutrition community raises concerns between an association between grain-free or legume-heavy diets and heart disease in dogs. While this issue is not specific to vegetarian or vegan diets, these plant-based formulas do rely heavily on legumes as a protein source, which highlights the importance of regular nutritional monitoring and veterinary involvement when feeding non-meat diets.
What Are the Best Vegetarian Foods for Dogs?
When exploring vegetarian or vegan dog foods on the market, several well-known and respected options exist that are formulated to offer complete nutrition without animal products. Royal Canin offers a vegetarian formula under their veterinary line. The benefit of this formula is that Royal Canin does perform numerous feeding trials to ensure the diet is digestible and complete for dogs, which is a luxury many smaller brands cannot afford.
Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Foods
Another strong choice is theย Natural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog Foodย and its companionย Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Small Breed Dry Dog Food, which are vegetarian formulas that provide balanced nutrition for adult dogs, including small breeds. For those who prefer a wet food option, theย Natural Balance Vegetarian Canned Dog Foodย gives plant-based nutritive support in a different texture that some dogs find more palatable.
Evanger’s Vegetarian Dog Food
Evangerโs also offers a canned vegetarian food for all life stages, including the growth of large-breed dogs. This formula is also marketed as being low in fat for dogs who suffer from issues with higher-fat diets.
Halo Holistic Vegan Dog Food
Many brands have expanded into holistic or plant-based recipes as well. Theย Halo Holistic Vegan PlantโBased Recipe with Superfoods Adultย food is formulated with superfood ingredients and probiotics to support digestive health alongside complete nutrition.
Gradual Switch to Vegetarian Dog Food
Veterinarians generally recommend that any significant diet change, including switching to plant-based food, be done gradually and with professional oversight. Before transitioning, a pet parent should ensure that the chosen food is specifically labeled as complete and balanced and for their dogโs specific life-stage and has, ideally, gone through feeding trials rather than merely meeting nutritional profiles on paper.
Remember, just because a nutrient is present on paper does not necessarily mean it is digestible, and if it is not digestible, your dogโs body cannot utilize it. Regular health checks, including monitoring body condition, coat quality, and having regular blood work performed, are important for detecting potential nutrient imbalances early. For most dogs with pre-existing health conditions, specialized diets or supplementation may be necessary to support long-term health.
Is Vegetarian Dog Food Healthy?
Biologically, dogs technically can be fed vegetarian and even vegan diets when they are formulated to provide complete, balanced nutrition appropriate for their specific life stage. A plant-based diet involves careful planning and veterinary guidance, particularly to ensure that essential nutrients, such as amino acid profiles and micronutrients, are present in the correct quantities.
While some dogs may thrive on plant-based diets, others may require or prefer diets containing animal proteins. Individual health, lifestyle, and ethical considerations all play a role in choosing the correct diet for your dog. With thoughtful selection of high-quality vegetarian or vegan dog foods and close monitoring of their dogโs health, many pet parents can provide plant-based nutrition while maintaining their dogโs wellbeing.
Thanks for this article. However, I wish you hadn’t posted a picture of a dog with an ear of corn, which can be really dangerous for a dog to consume!
just sayin,
My 13 yr old Chihuahua/Terrier Mix is doing very well on Bramble (Cowbell and Roost varieties), which is fully plant-based and is purchased online by subscription (www.bramblepets.com). The switch occurred because of suspected pancreatitis 2 years ago, and the vet asked that I switch out her protein to a lower fat option. She is thriving and no one believes her age. Thank you, Bramble!