There has long been a debate about vegan food and dogs. Is it good, is it bad, is it healthy, is it not? So many questions and far too many opinions – not factual, biased, opinions.
With this much uncertainty around the topic of vegan dog food, it is only fair that we discuss what’s myth and what is fact.
Myth 1: Dogs are carnivore so they must eat meat
Unlike other household and domesticated animals, such as cats, dogs are omnivores, not exclusively carnivore. This means that a balanced diet can substitute the presence of meat in their foods.
Should their alimentation be enriched with essential nutrients, fats and plant-based protein, their safety is not endangered. Moreover, it can also benefit the animal to try vegan alternatives, but more on that later.
There are 10 essential amino acids that a dog’s diet must contain in order to provide all the necessary nutrients to its recipient and, yes, all ten of them can be sourced from plants, yeast or other plant-based alternatives.
That being said, we can conclude that dogs can survive without meat and that their nutritious needs are also meet by plant-based diets. Moreover, vegan dog food has been specifically formulated in order to enrich the dietary needs of dogs and multiply the benefits of vegan alimentation.
Created with specific targets in mind and formulated in order to benefit your dogs in all ways, vegan food can prove to be an improving change in your pet’s diet.
Myth 2: Vegan dog food is not natural
Vegan dog food may not have been natural thousands of years ago, but centuries of evolution and existence with humans made vegan food not only entirely nutritious, but also natural.
Dogs are often associated with their much fiercer, wild comparison, the wolves, and while it is true that there are certain similarities between the two species, evolution begs to differ in what regards the ancestors of dogs.
Did you know that dogs began to phylogenetically diverge from wolves more than 15,000 years ago? It is believed that the friendlier wolves that were able to eat scraps from cavemen eventually became tamed and the following generations of animals took from these tame and friendly genes, essentially becoming what we know today as domesticated dogs.
History also shows that humans and dogs began sharing similarities in what regards their adaptation, communication, behaviour and, most importantly, diets. This led to a change in biology, both externally and internally. Studies have shown that there are certain genes that wolves do not have, or have significantly less of, that are responsible for starch digestion, essentially allowing plant-based alimentation to be digested by dogs.
Myth 3: Vegan food causes allergies
There’s a widespread belief that this type of food can cause allergies or sensitivities due to its reliance on plant-based ingredients. But the truth is that allergies are more often than not triggered by the animal proteins.
Some of the most allergy-inducing ingredients out there are:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Dairy products.
In opposition to this, plant-based alternatives such as lentils, peas or rice are less frequently associated with allergies. This makes vegan food not only safer but more indulgent, as it can exclude certain elements that are known for inducing allergies.
Myth 4: Vegan food is not suitable for long-term use
We’ve established that vegan food is safe, but is it advisable to feed your pet this kind of food for prolonged periods of time?
One of the main arguments against veganism in a dog’s diet is that even if the animal may survive on this diet, they will not thrive. However, as mentioned before, dogs are not exclusively carnivores. That means they can consume both meats and plants, and can safely process and digest both.
You will be happy to hear that this type of food is especially formulated in order to meet, even exceed, the mandatory daily nutrition needs of a dog. Under this premise, it is entirely safe to use it in your dog’s alimentation for however long you may please.
What you might want to do is check if the option you choose is AAFCO approved, in order to make sure that your dog is not missing any nutritional ingredients. If you wish to further eliminate any concern from your mind regarding your dog’s wellbeing, you could always plan routine check-ups with your veterinary to monitor your dog’s health and address potential deficiencies.
Myth 5: Feeding dogs vegan food is unethical
Critics have argued that implementing a vegan diet for animals is unethical, as it puts human ethics or owner’s ambition over canine health and its biological needs.
However, as mentioned before, vegan diets are entirely safe for dogs. Not only that, but they might also improve your pet’s general health, as it can avoid certain allergy triggers.
Dogs do not need meat in order to meet and complement their biological needs, they need certain nutrients that can be found in meat, but also in plant-based alternatives, as we have seen in the first paragraphs of this article.
Feeding your pet vegan food is ethical, as long as the alimentation you choose is not lacking in any nutrients and is accompanied by routine visits to the veterinarian.
Final thoughts
Vegan dog food is safe, healthy and can ensure your dog’s wellbeing. A dog’s biological needs do not rely on meat, but on nutrients and proteins that can be alternatively sourced.
Moreover, a vegan diet might help identify and eliminate certain allergies. If you have concerns, raise the issue with your veterinarian or with a specialised team of experts. They might also be able to help you choose the best vegan option for your dog, as not all foods are made the same.
The bottom line is if you wish to try the vegan route, go ahead and explore the options without a worry.