Are you considering a vegan diet for your pet? Or, like many pet parents, are you skeptical of the idea that dogs and cats can go meat-free?

While dogs and cats are historically meat-eaters, emerging anecdotal and scientific data suggests that vegan and vegetarian diets could actually be a healthy alternative to traditional pet foods.

In celebration of World Vegetarian Day on October 1, learn about vegan food for pets, how dogs and cats could benefit, and what we are still learning about plant-based diets for pets.
 

Aren’t Dogs and Cats Carnivores?

It’s true that, in the wild, dogs and cats are meat-eaters. That may be why it’s so hard for many pet parents and veterinary professionals to warm up to the idea of feeding a plant-based diet.

Like their wild ancestors, dogs and cats have sharp, meat-tearing teeth and claws and a short, highly acidic digestive tract, all traits that are only seen in animals that eat meat. Meanwhile, herbivores have flat, broad teeth for crushing plants and a longer, more complex digestive system that allows fibrous plant-based foods to ferment and break down in the gut.

But even wild carnivores occasionally consume plant matter, whether it’s through foraging or by consuming the predigested plant matter in the gut of their prey.

Through domestication, dogs and cats have adapted to eating more plant-based foods over thousands of years. From table scraps to the very first commercial pet foods, a diet made up of more plants and less meat is what brought dogs and cats from the wild into our homes.

Vegetarian and vegan pet foods are processed so they’re much easier to digest than raw plant matter. They’re formulated to match your pet’s daily nutritional needs, supplemented with vitamins and minerals to meet or exceed the same AAFCO guidelines as traditional pet foods.

Skeptics of vegan pet diets are understandably concerned that they may be a fad or a way to impose human values onto our pets. But we can’t ignore the emerging evidence that suggests plant-based pet food is not only safe, but may even be a healthier way to feed dogs and cats than meat-based diets.
 

What Are The Benefits of Feeding Vegan Pet Food?

Relief from food intolerances. Many pets experience food intolerances, which may manifest as itchy skin, recurring ear infections, and gastric upset. The most common ingredients that trigger food intolerances in dogs and cats are animal-based protein sources like beef, chicken, eggs, dairy, and fish. Some pet parents notice reduced or even complete relief of allergy symptoms after switching to a vegan pet food. In fact, some meat-free pet foods, including Purina Pro Plan Hydrolyzed Vegetarian Formula are only sold with a prescription from a veterinarian.

Reduced gastric issues. In a 2022 UK-based study by Omni Vegan Dog Food, which included 100 dogs that switched to a vegan diet for 12 months, dog owners reported improvements in stool consistency, fewer stools per day, less passing of gas, and less foul-smelling gas.

Improved skin and coat health. In the same 2022 study, dog owners reported less dandruff and a shinier coat after switching to vegan dog food. It should be noted, however, that this small, short-term study was based on self-reported data from pet parents. More research is needed to confirm these potential health benefits.

Longer lifespan. One of the world’s longest-living dogs, a Border Collie named Bramble who lived in the UK, lived to be 27 years old on an exclusively vegan diet, consisting mainly of lentils, soy protein, and brown rice. While Bramble’s case could be an anomaly, it’s one of many anecdotal cases of pets thriving on a meat-free diet.
 

What Are The Drawbacks of Feeding Vegan Pet Food?

Some essential nutrients are only found in meat. Vitamin B12, an essential vitamin for energy metabolism, is only naturally found in meat, fish, and eggs. Omega-3 fatty acids, crucial for protecting the skin and coat, heart, immune system, and hips and joints, is abundant in fish in eggs, though it can be sourced from kelp. Taurine, primarily found in meat and fish, is essential for vision and heart health. Vegan pet foods, like many traditional pet foods, are fortified with synthetic forms of vitamins and minerals to be complete and balanced in accordance with AAFCO guidelines.

Homemade vegan diets have caused illness and death of pets. While commercial vegan pet foods are complete and balanced, homemade diets may put pets at a greater risk of sickness and death. There have been several reports of dogs and cats becoming seriously ill or dying as a direct result of nutritional deficiencies from eating an unbalanced, homemade vegan diet, though these risks may be avoided by feeding balanced, commercially produced vegan pet food from a trusted brand like Halo Holistic, Petcurean, or Natural Balance.

Vegan ingredients may not be as bioavailable. While vegan pet foods may contain all of the nutrients found in conventional pet foods, that does not necessarily mean that your pet will absorb those nutrients in the same way. High fiber plant-based foods may take longer for your pet to digest. Dogs and cats, in comparison to humans, have a short digestive system that’s designed to break down animal proteins. Plant-based foods may exit the body before nutrients can be broken down and absorbed. In the same vein, some pet parents report that their pet’s stools are stinkier and more voluminous after switching to a vegan diet due to its higher fiber content.

Long-term health effects may not manifest right away. While there are research studies emerging on the effects and potential benefits of feeding your pet a vegan diet, more data is needed to conclude whether it’s safe and healthy for pets to eat plant-based for their entire lives. It’s possible to check for many nutritional deficiencies through bloodwork, others are only detectable once the pet has shown symptoms, which may not be reversible.

Research is still limited. Research studies have not reported major adverse effects of feeding a commercial vegan diet to dogs and cats. However, these research studies are few and far between. Most rely on owner-reported surveys, which are not reliable and may be biased. Small sample sizes and short research periods further drive the limitations of available research. In comparison, many trusted meat-based pet foods are backed by years, even decades of scientific data.
 

Feeding Your Pet A Vegan Diet

Always feed a commercial vegan pet food that’s indicated for your pet’s species and stage of life. Homemade vegan foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies, which can be life-threatening.

Your veterinarian may recommend or prescribe a vegan pet food, particularly for pets that struggle with symptoms of food intolerances. Or, you may consult your vet after learning about the potential benefits of feeding your pet meat-free. Either way, at-home monitoring and regular wellness visits are key to making sure your pet’s diet is working for them.

You may decide to try vegan pet food as a temporary measure to get food intolerance symptoms under control. Feeding vegan can mean committing to meat-free every day, or you may decide to reduce your pet’s meat consumption by adding a vegan food to a rotational diet. As with any other pet food, switch gradually to reduce gastrointestinal upset and make sure your pet always has access to fresh, clean water.