what to feed vegan dog

Best Vegan Dog Food: Our 6 Favorite Formulas

• Halo Garden of Vegan Recipe. Consisting of protein-rich ingredients such as ground peas, chickpeas, pearled barley,...
• Natural Balance Vegetarian Dry and Wet Dog Formulas. This tasty vegan chow is designed for adult dogs of all breeds and...
• Wild Earth Complete Protein Dog Food. Wild Earth’s Complete Protein Dog Food kibble is...

Full Answer

How to make homemade vegan dog food?

• Cook dried beans and rice according to package directions.
• Add beans, potatoes, carrots, and flax seeds to a large pot and boil until potatoes and carrots are soft. Let cool.
• Add all ingredients to a food processor and puree.
• Grease a baking sheet with coconut oil and spread mixture over it in a thin layer. Bake at 350º F for 45 min. ...

Is vegan dog food healthy or harmful?

Yes, a vegan diet is very healthy for your dog. Not only is a vegan diet all-natural without any of the artificial ingredients, fillers, and additives you’ll find in your typical commercial dog food, but it also helps to meet your pup’s nutritional needs.

Why do people feed their dogs vegan food?

While the canine digestive system can get nutrition from plant matter, it has a much easier time processing animal matter. Fruits and vegetables are great for providing vitamins and antioxidants that can help your dog thrive, but they lack the necessary amounts of fat and protein.

Do vegans tend to feed their dogs a vegan diet?

The short answer is that yes, technically speaking, dogs can survive and even do well on a vegan or vegetarian regimen, says Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University. While it's commonly believed that dogs are carnivores like their wolf ancestors, meaning that they must eat meat to survive, this is incorrect.

Can dogs be healthy on a vegan diet?

Vegan diets are healthier and safer for dogs than conventional meat-based diets, according to the largest study to date, as long as they are nutritionally complete. The diet and health of more than 2,500 dogs were followed over a year using surveys completed by their owners.

What do vegan feed their pets?

Regardless, dogs can and do easily thrive on a properly formulated vegan diet, and this can be accomplished by feeding them a ready-made vegan dog food, of which several brands exist, or preparing a whole foods vegetable diet for them that includes things like rice, sweet potatoes or carrots, lentils, and other veggies ...

Is it cruel to make a dog vegan?

Recent research into the evolutionary history and gastrointestinal tracts of both dogs and cats proves that it is unwise, if not outright cruel, to feed them a truly vegan diet.

Do vegan dogs live longer?

Not only are these diets beneficial for senior dogs (they have natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help with conditions such as arthritis), but dogs who switch to a vegan diet often go on to live into their late teens and early twenties -- even in breeds with a much shorter life expectancy.

What do vegans feed their cats?

The best cat food is size appropriate So don't feed her beef. Feed your cat animals that would be better aligned for her size: chicken, fish, maybe even rabbit. Not only is this better for your cat's digestive system, but it also helps steer away from the largest methane-producing livestock: cows, sheep, and pigs.

Do vegans feed their animals meat?

While a third of the vegans said they presently fed their pets exclusively on plant-based food, 78% of them indicated they would shift their dogs and cats to a vegan diet if they were convinced it would meet their dietary needs.

What do vegan cats eat?

Here are some of the vegan cat food brands available.4 Vegan Cat Food Brands. Benevo is approved by The Vegan Society.Benevo. According to Hampshire-based vegan pet food brand Benevo, its cat food is nutritionally complete, with added taurine and spirulina. ... Amì ... Wysong. ... Evolution Diet.

Why do vegans eat pet food?

Switching your dog to a vegan diet can help them regain puppy-like energy due to the clean, readily-available nutrition (without the negative effects from meat-based and byproduct-heavy food). Plant-based pups often find boundless energy on their new diets, which contributes to a higher quality of life.

What Are the Risks of a Vegan Diet for Dogs?

Are vegan diets dangerous for dogs? No. However, there are a few risks that come with a meat-free diet. Without ingesting some animal matter, your dog may not get enough protein, which is essential for healthy tissues and organs, skin, coat, muscles, and tendons.

Is a Vegan Diet Healthy for Dogs?

Can a plant-based diet for dogs be healthy? What about dogs suffering from health issues?

What Is A Vegan Dog Diet?

A vegan dog diet means that your dog refrains from eating meat or other food products derived from animals, such as dairy products, eggs, and honey . Additionally, vegan dog food never contains any byproducts of animal agriculture.

What Vegan Foods Should Your Dogs Never Eat?

Stone fruits such as cherries and peaches contain seeds that can cause cyanide poisoning. Similarly, grapes and raisins may cause kidney failure, and too many onions and garlic can cause hemolytic anemia, among other problems.

Giving Vegan Dog Food A Try

Finally, a zillion articles and conversations later, comforted by my research and now also acutely aware of the horrors of the commercial dog food industry, I ordered some vegan dog food. I figured, may as well give it a try! Would Chance even eat it? Like it? Thrive on it? Only time would tell.

Skepticism Turns To Confidence

Fast-forward 10+ years to now. Chance is sleeping beside me, paws twitching in total dreamland (chasing butterflies, I presume?). He has more grey in his face, he’s got some fatty lumps (all benign), and his joints are getting a little creaky. In dog years, he’s an old man. But my-oh-my has he retained his youthful energy and lust for life.

Thriving On A Vegan Diet

Needless to say, Chance is doing great, he loves his food and his treats, and I’m so glad I questioned my doubts and gave vegan dog food a try.

Vegan Dog Food Brands

The vegan dog food space is rapidly evolving as growing bodies of evidence show that dogs certainly don’t need meat to thrive and live their best life.

Problems With Commercial Pet Food

Recently, I met up with Ryan Bethencourt, founder of the new koji -based dog food company Wild Earth, and I learned some horrifying things about the commercial dog food industry. What I learned blew my mind, and made me extra-glad I’ve been feeding Chance vegan dog food for the past decade.

What is the best vegan dog food?

Halo focuses on utilizing only the best and most nutritious whole ingredients in dog food recipes. This vegan dog food can be a little pricey compared to the other options, but if budget isn’t a concern, this is one of the best vegan dog foods you can buy. This holistic diet is a wholesome blend of vegan ingredients, including non-GMO vegetables, chickpeas, and nourishing oils to offer complete and balanced nutrition to your beloved pooch. It is highly digestible, making it a great option for dogs with tummy sensitivities. It also includes a blend of essential minerals, vitamins, and trace nutrients to ensure your dog gets only the best.

What exactly is a vegan diet for dogs?

Vegan dog food will also be free from gelatin (often sourced from pork bones), dairy products, and eggs. It is important to note that a vegetarian diet is different from a vegan diet. A vegetarian diet will eliminate meat but may contain other animal products such as eggs or dairy.

What Makes A Vegan Diet Option Better Than Another?

Finding the best vegan dog food can be a little challenging, especially with all the readily available options you have today. But since your dog deserves only the best, it is important to compare your options and determine if one food is better than others and why.

Is it even possible for dogs to thrive on a meatless diet?

The right diet for your dog is the one that offers adequate nutrition as per their specific requirement. If the vegan food is fulfilling your dog’snutritional needs and keeps them healthy, active, and happy, you’re good to go.

How much should I feed my vegan dog?

Stick to your dog’s daily dietary requirements based on their age, gender, size, breed, and activity level . Readjust the amount of food you’re feeding your pal according to the new vegan diet’s calorie count. Check out the packaging for more details.

How do I figure out if my dog has food allergies?

Food-related allergies in dogs can be determined from the following symptoms:

Is the vegan diet also grain-free?

If you have a sensitive stomach that cannot tolerate meat, meat by-products, as well as grains, you should look for a diet that’s both vegan and grain-free. However, if going vegan, the only concern you have for your pup, then a regular vegan and grain-inclusive diet will work just fine.

What to do if my dog's food is getting digested?

If you notice any changes, talk to your vet. At your dog’s annual wellness exam, your vet will do blood work and a urinalysis to make sure the food is getting digested and absorbed the way it should, she says.

How to ensure a dog's diet meets strict quality control and nutritional standards?

Bartges. “It should contain a nutritionally adequate statement, as well as how the nutritional adequacy of the food was substantiated.

How do experienced vets answer your pet questions?

Experienced vets answer all your pet questions via chat or video.

Can dogs eat vegan food?

Given that diets for dogs need to be carefully balanced, vets recommend against homemade vegan diets. Talk to your vet before transitioning your pet’s dog food to a vegan dog food brand. The most important factor of any diet—whether vegan or traditional—is that it’s balanced and fulfills your dog’s nutritional needs.

Is vegan dog food good for IBD?

Some dogs are very reactive to animal proteins—more so than they are to plant proteins—so transitioning them to a vegan dog food (or vegetarian dog food) could be useful for IBD, says Dr. Weeth. “That’s not to say vegan and vegetarian diets are better for all IBD cases.

Can I feed vegan dog food to my dog?

Like Dr. Weeth, Dr. Jeffrey doesn’t typically recommend feeding vegan dog foods. “If the vegan diet is AAFCO-approved, however, I'm okay with an owner feeding it to the dog. These diets should have undergone clinical food trials with dogs before I will recommend them.”

Is a dog omnivore?

Although our dogs are closely related to the carnivorous wolf, over time, they evolved into omnivores, which means they can get nutrients from both plants and meat. As a general rule, Dr. Lisa Weeth, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and founder of Weeth Nutrition Services, says she typically doesn’t recommend vegan diets.

A Quick Note on Nutrition

In the wild, your dog’s ancestors were mostly carnivores, eating meat and the occasional vegetable. So if you decide to transition your dogs to a vegetarian diet, you’ll need to make sure you’re still providing all of the nutrients they need.

1. Peanut Butter Vegetable Vegan Dog Food Recipe

This dog food recipe is easy to make and free of animal products! Peanut butter provides plenty of protein, and your pup will enjoy a variety of vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchinis. Get the recipe here.

2. Spiced Chickpea Vegetarian Dog Food

Want to spice up your dog’s food? Add turmeric to the vegetable mix for a healthy and tasty vegetarian dog food. Get the recipe here.

3. Gourmet Lentil & Vegetable Dog Food

Lentils, applesauce, and classic vegetables like kale come together with unusual ingredients like seaweed, flax seeds, and nutritional yeast to form an unusual — but tasty — vegetarian dog food! Get the recipe here.

4. Tofu & Black-Eyed Pea Dog Food

This recipe uses protein-heavy tofu, along with vitamin supplements, sunflower oil, rice, and black-eyed peas. An unusual dog-friendly recipe! Get the recipe here.

5. Customizable Vegetable & Grain Dog Food

Here’s a vegetarian dog food recipe that’s easy to customize depending on which vegetables and grains you have in your kitchen. Choose your pup’s favorite vegetables (beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, or zucchinis) and combine them with grains like buckwheat, barley, or lentils! Get the recipe here.

6. Easy Vegetable & Brown Rice Dog Food

This vegetarian dog food recipe comes together quickly using simple ingredients. But what we really love is how easy it is to freeze for later! Get the recipe here.