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Yes, of course we can choose to feed our dogs a vegan diet, but can or dogs THRIVE on a vegan diet?

There is a faction in the pet food industry and pet lover community that will have you believe that dogs are not carnivores.  They believe that dogs are omnivores and this allows them to get away with feed a high carb, kibble diet to their dog while satisfying their own moral compass with regard to the death of animals.

I've actually had people say they can't feed meat to their dog, a facultative carnivore, because it makes them vomit.  To me, this is not a reason to deny a carnivore a biologically appropriate diet.  It sounds like this person needs a rabbit as a pet, not a dog.

I have strong feelings about changing a carnivore's diet to that of a vegetarian or vegan, but feelings aren't enough, so I reached out and asked professionals.

There was a time when feeding a vegan diet to dogs was a popular topic. It began when I learned about vegan activists in southern California who wanted local shelters to feed the dogs plant-based kibble. Initially, I laughed, thinking it was a joke. When I realized they were serious, I didn't think they had a snowball's chance in hell to make this happen. And then someone contributed something to the discussion that blew my mind: if the shelters are feeding very cheap kibble, it may be very low in animal protein and high in vegetation and carbs. She went on to state that the vegan kibble recommended might be better than the cheap kibble the dogs were being fed. #mindblown

What is a Vegan Diet for Dogs?

The pet food industry is trying to convince us dogs are omnivores; they've evolved to be able to consume a high-carb diet; this is false. Dogs are facultative carnivores, and I can't imagine what a vegan diet looks like for a carnivore.

A vegan diet for dogs is a diet that excludes all animal-based products and instead relies on plant-based foods to meet their nutritional needs. In a vegan dog diet, the primary sources of nutrition come from plant-based ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and synthetic vitamins. This means that the diet omits animal proteins (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy) and animal-derived ingredients like gelatin or animal fats. The aim is to provide dogs with a nutritionally balanced diet through carefully selected plant-based alternatives that meet their dietary requirements for protein, amino acids, synthetic vitamins and minerals.

 Why Would Someone Feed a Vegan Diet?

Of course, this is speculation, but I guess that people are interested in a vegan diet for two reasons:

  • Dog parents don't want to support the factory farming industry.
  • A dog is allergic to every protein available, and a plant-based diet is the only option.

Should Dogs Eat a Plant-Based Diet?

I completely understand that if a dog can't eat any protein available, a plant-based diet may be the only thing left to consider. But before we run to the organic vegetable aisle of the grocery store, let's consider a few things:

  • Dogs are carnivores – look at their teeth.  They're sharp and pointy, meant to tear and rip muscle meat.
  • Dogs have shorter digestive systems, perfect for a species-appropriate raw food diet. Vegetables take longer to process, and dogs may not get the nutrients they need before they pass through their digestive tract.
  • Dogs may have trouble digesting vegetables.  Pureeing, blanching, freezing, and fermentation break the cellular wall, making nutrients more bioavailable. I prefer pureeing and fermentation to protect the nutrients.
  • Dogs need 22 crucial amino acids to meet their metabolic and energy needs, but their bodies can only produce 12. The remaining ten must be obtained through their diet. Unlike herbivores, which can produce amino acids in large quantities due to their lengthy GI tracts and multiple stomachs, dogs cannot do so with their simple and short digestive tracts. Therefore, they must acquire preformed amino acids directly from their food.

Holistic Veterinarians on Vegan Diets for Dogs

“The amino acid deprivation, as well as the mineral deprivation, which is common in most dogs generally translates to a dog that wants to eat everything! Toilet paper, metal objects, clothes or anything to satisfy that deficiency. These dogs do not live very long and do have a variety of strange health problems. Even with synthetic amino acid supplements, there are still problems and I do not recommend this diet.”

~ Dr. Donna Kelleher, Whole Pet Vet

Benefits of Feeding a Vegan Diet to Dogs

There are no benefits to feeding a vegan diet to dogs. However, I understand why dog owners might be attracted to feeding a plant-based diet:

  • some pet parents feed a plant-based diet temporarily to help their dog lose weight, as the start of an elimination diet to identify sensitivities, or as a detox.
  • some pet parents feed a plant-based diet because they eat the same diet and believe it's a healthier choice; they also believe their dogs are omnivores and have evolved to consume this diet.
  • there is a raw feeding model that approves feeding dogs a large amount of vegetables (sometimes more than animal protein), although it's questionable if Rotational MonoFeeding is safe for dogs.

I would first test their gut microbiome or for leaky gut syndrome before switching my dogs to a plant-based diet,

Risks of Feeding a Vegan Diet to Dogs

Dogs fed a vegan diet are at risk of the following health conditions:

  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • urinary and kidney issues
  • increased allergy systems due to the reliance on grains in the diet
  • poor weight gain
  • muscle loss
  • adrenal issues

Source: Dr. Donna Kelleher, Whole Pet Vet

Additionally, plant-based pet diets utilize synthetic vitamin blends to balance the diet to AAFCO standards. It's important to note that synthetic vitamins and minerals have a different structure than their natural counterparts, making them less bioavailable and difficult for your dog's body to process. The synthetic compounds mimic the natural ones, but they are actually mirror images of each other.

The production process of synthetic nutrients in the laboratory differs significantly from how they are created in plants and animals. Therefore, even though they have a similar structure, your dog's body may react differently to synthetic nutrients.

Over-reliance on synthetic vitamins can have adverse effects on health, including negative impacts on cognitive functions, weakened immune systems, disruptions in bone development, higher toxicity levels, liver and kidney disease, digestive issues, and accelerated aging.

So, Should We Feed Our Dogs a Vegan Diet?

Unless we're under strict orders and the guidance of a holistic veterinary nutritionist, I don't believe a vegan or plant-based diet is appropriate for dogs.  Raw feeding is a superior option for dogs with digestive issues, food sensitivities, and it's humane. If a dog owner is attracted to plant-based pet diets due to farming practices, feeding food sourced from humane farmers is an excellent choice. I source meat through a reputable co-op from local farms that use humane practices. And dog owners can order raw food from reputable food brands.

If you have a dog with protein sensitivities and it appears that a vegan diet is your only hope, consider testing your dog's gut microbiome. Or you can try a leaky gut test, which is a condition that can result in food sensitivities.

Read More About Raw Feeding for Dogs

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