Plant-based diets have become hugely popular all across the world— that is, for humans. But what about our four-legged friends? Is it possible that they can (or even should) be plant-based too? Recent studies have reported promising results for dogs consuming meat-free and/or vegan diets. Having a better understanding of the pet food industry and dog health, combined with these studies and the emergence of companies such as V-Dog, which offers 100% plant-based dog food (scroll down for a special abillionVeg coupon offer!), provide compelling reasons to feed not only ourselves, but also our pets, delicious and healthy vegan food!
The ingredients used in V-dog’s products are whole food, plant-based. Source: V-dog
Let’s first take a look at some of the most recent studies exploring how plant-based diets affect dogs. A recent report in the British Journal of Nutrition involved feeding athletic Siberian huskies either meat-based commercial diets or meat-free nutritionally balanced diets for 16 weeks (including 10 weeks spent racing competitively). And while it’s often thought that meatless diets lead to iron and other deficiencies in the blood, this study revealed that all dogs, regardless of diet, had normal and healthy blood test results after the 16 weeks.
Another study in the American Veterinarian examining how dogs have adapted over the years from carnivorous to more plant-based diets, suggests that as dogs have become domesticated, human food scraps— which contributed to a more varied, plant-based diet— made up a larger and larger portion of their consumption. In other words, this means that nowadays, our dogs are more efficient at processing carbohydrates and require less protein— better enabling them to handle a plant-based diet in the first place.
A more comprehensive, analytical report in Animals in 2016 investigated a variety of studies that explored both the nutrients in plant-based diets designed for dogs in addition to direct health comparisons of dogs fed either a vegetarian or meat-based diet. Thorough reviews of these reports revealed that dogs can “thrive” on vegetarian diets, so long as they are “nutritionally complete” and “reasonably balanced.”
Dogs are omnivores, thus they can thrive on a well-planned plant-based diet! Source: V-dog
But what does it mean for a dog’s diet to be nutritionally complete and reasonably balanced? As Dr. Armaiti May, DVM, describes, “animals have requirements for nutrients, but not necessarily ingredients,” meaning that what is most important is not that dogs are eating a specific food, but rather that dogs get specific nutrients like proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and certain fats. Importantly, these nutrient guidelines can be satisfied by both meat-based and meat-free meals. The question, then, becomes: what makes plant-based dog food better?
Kibble you wouldn’t nibble
It’s both the sourcing and the potential health effects of commercial dog food brands that make it inferior to meat-free options. It is first important to mention the fact that the majority of meat produced in factory farms comes from animals that both live in incredibly unsanitary, crowded conditions and that are injected with growth hormones and antibiotics. But perhaps the most concerning is that to create their pet food formula, commercial pet food companies primarily use what is known as 4D meat— that is, meat from animals that are either dead, dying, diseased, or disabled—in addition to expired supermarket meat, dogs and cats that have been euthanized in animal shelters (often still containing detectable levels of the euthanizing solution), old restaurant grease (which contains a large portion of free radicals and trans fatty acids), and damaged and spoiled fish (which contain potentially dangerous levels of mercury, PCBs, and other toxins). Not surprisingly, it is not uncommon for these meat-based mixtures to be recalled for contamination. While this of course does not apply to all commercialized pet food companies, using a plant-based formula is an effective, easy, and healthy way of reducing your pets’ exposure to these toxins. Needless to say, a good rule of thumb is that the lower your food is on the food chain, the fewer chemical contaminants and environmental pollutants it will contain.
The other intriguing aspect of meat-free dog food formulas is their health benefits. The most common food allergies among dogs are to chicken, beef, dairy, and eggs— notably, all animal proteins— that can result in a variety of symptoms ranging from irritating and itchy skin, rashes, loose stools, constipation, gas, vomiting, eye discharge, yeast infections, fur loss, to over time even weakening the immune response. A simple switch to a plant-based formula is a simple fix that avoids these allergen issues. Meat-free diets also have been shown to be gentler on digestion, helping to improve any digestive issues rather than exacerbating them— as meat-based diets can do with their acidifying and inflammatory effects. Other noted advantages of plant-based formulas include weight management, higher energy levels, softer and shinier coat, itch relief, less eye discharge, anti-inflammatory effects that both reduce joint pain and arthritis and improve mobility, strength, and endurance, as well as longer overall life. In fact, one of the oldest dogs in the world, Bramble the collie, lived to 27 (or 189 dog years) consuming an entirely vegan diet of rice, lentils, and other vegetables!
One of the world’s oldest dogs was a vegan border collie!
There is also an increasing population of vets in support of plant-based diets. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, DVM, for instance, began advocating for vegan diets for dogs after discovering notably high amounts of toxins from animal products that had accumulated in a number of his patients’ dogs. In his experience, he found that dogs could “noticeably improve in their condition” with a change in their diet alone. In her book Food Pets Die For, Ann N. Martin (2003) reveals how “despite industry claims that pets live long and healthy lives on commercial pet food, we veterinarians are routinely faced with contradictory evidence in the form of sick animals” with conditions such as “diarrhea, vomiting, and skin lesions” that are signs of “deteriorating health, diminished efficiency of bodily functions and organs, of kidneys failing in middle age due to excessive protein, of weakened immune systems and allergic reactions.” In her eyes, these are the cumulative effects of the many additives and toxins existing in the questionably sourced “natural” meat-based ingredients in commercial formulas.
Making the Transition
So now that we’ve seen the evidence — what’s the best way to help your pet transition from a meat-based to plant-based diet? First things first, be sure to choose a nutritionally complete and balanced formula that contains all the necessary nutrients. An easy way of doing this is to choose a plant-based formula that is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (“AAFCO approved”). But what’s most important is that the change is gradual— start with 25% plant-based food and 75% meat-based food, and slowly build up the proportion of plant-based food over 5-10 days until you’ve reached 100%. This approach greatly reduces any potential risk of your dog experiencing gastrointestinal problems— which the different nutrient content and in particular, higher fiber content— could cause. It’s also important that your dog stays hydrated throughout the process. If you want to be extra safe, take your pet to the vet 2-3 weeks after the switch to get their urine analyzed in the unlikely chance that there are any irregularities such as struvite crystals, which have been identified in a very small portion of dogs that changed their diet. There also are certain dog breeds (doberman pinschers, boxers, and ‘giant breeds’ like Great Danes) that should be treated with extra care, as they are predisposed to a certain type of heart disease. As the condition is associated with insufficient levels of taurine and carnitine (amino acids that occur naturally in meats), in the case of these breeds, it is advised to use supplements containing taurine and carnitine if not already present in the new, meat-free formula. While these minor and unlikely risks in switching your dog from a meat-based to plant-based diet do exist, it is clear from the aforementioned studies, sourcing of commercialized pet food formulas, and noted health improvements in many vegan and vegetarian dogs, that the benefits far outweigh them.
