Should You Feed Your Dog a Vegan Diet? Pros, Cons and Options

Vegan Dogs Diet Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Can be therapeutic for some illnesses (listed above)
• Dogs can digest nutrients from plans
• Commercial foods are available that are AAFCO approved (dog nutrition industry group)

Cons:

• Risk of feeding too little protein
• Creating a home-made diet is difficult without the help of a nutritionist
• Nutrients easily provided in fish, dairy, poultry, and meat are harder to provide in a plant-based diet

Is it Healthy for a Dog to Follow a Vegan Diet?

Dog are carnivores that can digest plant-based foods. Creating a balanced vegan diet is a challenge for dog parents since they need to ensure that dogs are getting the right requirements and essential nutrients that dogs require:

• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Iron
• B vitamins
• l-carnitine
• Taurine
• Essential amino acids

Most of these are easier to provide in a diet that contains animal proteins. Dogs have an easier time getting Vitamins D and A from plants.  Most vegan diets provide protein through legumes, other types of beans,  and tofu.

The amino acid lysine, which is essential for dogs, may not be insufficient quantities in grain-based diets alone. A compromise might be a diet with less meat.

Creating a Balanced Diet

Any new diet should be created by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to avoid any health risks and to meet the nutritional needs of your dog. These needs also vary based on your dog's age.  The nutrition will work with you on your vegan or vegetarian diet to ensure that your dog is getting the required amino acids. The nutritionist may also suggest non-essential amino acids in the form of a supplement to avoid any health problems.

Luckily, eating meat is not the only source of essential fatty acids. Pet owners can find. Like for human consumption, Essential fatty acids (such as omega 3, 6, 9)are found in both animal and plant sources.

Healthy fats and oils, such as those found in flaxseed, sunflower, and canola, are an essential part of any dog’s diet. Oils derived from plant sources provide a healthy mix of unsaturated fat (source of energy) and omega fatty acids -3, -6, -9, which are important for maintaining a radiant coat and healthy skin.

Commercial Dog Vegan Diet Options

When selecting commercial dog food, be sure to look for the AAFCO pet food statement on the bag. This statement indicates that diet formulation meets the requirements for a life state or has gone through AAFCO feeding trials to demonstrate that it is "complete and balanced."

Foods that are commercially available should indicate whether or not they are meant as a complete diet or complementary and require supplementation. 

Commercial Canine Vegan Diet Choices

Home Prepared Diets

We suggest working with a professional from the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) or the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN) if formulating a diet yourself. 

Risks of not doing this correctly include:

• Poor coat and skin due to high-fiber diets and poor absorption of essential fatty acids
• Zinc-deficient dermatosis due to  poor Zinc absorption

Take special care if feeding a growing dog, or a dog with a chronic medical condition. In practice you can feed a dog a successful vegan diet, that may include the use of synthetic supplements. 

References

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