Can I feed my dog vegan?
A topic that has divided dog owners for years: Can you feed a →dog vegetarian or even vegan? Science confirms that a strict vegan diet and thus adequate nutrient supply for dogs is possible. However, many dog owners rely on the argument that dogs are carnivores and therefore only a meat-based diet is truly →species-appropriate.
The fact is that your four-legged friend must be supplied with all essential nutrients at the end of the day to avoid deficiencies and keep your dog healthy. The quality of the individual components in the food also plays a crucial role. So even if you are on Team "Carnivore", you should take a →look at the ingredients of the food. Things like sugar, flavorings or inferior meat by-products have no place in any high-quality pet food.
The main counterargument: "Dogs are carnivores!"
As you may know, dogs are descended from wolves. So if we take a look at the wolf's menu, it quickly becomes clear that there is a lot of meat on it. Wild animals like deer and rabbits are consumed. Bones, cartilage, organs, and even the plant remains in the stomachs of the prey are eaten by wolves. But what many people don’t realize: Wolves do not eat meat every day. They also enjoy fruits like berries or other greens. For this reason, dogs are classified as carnivores and omnivores, “carnivore-omnivore”.
So yes, dogs are carnivores, but they are also no longer wolves. Over many years, they have been domesticated. Our dogs today are strongly adapted to living with humans, including a different diet. In the past, dogs did not always receive premium pet food. Often, human food scraps were on the menu, including vegetables, fruits, and carbohydrates. This led to the digestive system of dogs adapting over time, allowing them to metabolize vegetables and carbohydrates, as well as the starch contained in foods, better than wolves.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Nicht immer muss es Fleisch sein: Viele Hunde essen sehr gern auch mal ein Stück Obst oder Gemüse als leckeren Snack zwischendurch!
A vegan diet tailored to the needs of dogs is therefore possible for our dogs today, provided that all essential nutrients are covered.
Important nutrients in a vegan dog diet
The →nutritional needs of dogs do not change just because you feed your four-legged friend with or without meat. Therefore, it should be ensured that all required nutrients are included in both a vegan and any other diet.
Here’s a list of which nutrients are needed and what suitable vegan sources there are:
- Proteins: Legumes like lentils, chickpeas, beans, shelled hemp seeds
- Essential amino acids: Legumes, →nuts, seeds, green vegetables like →broccoli
- Essential fatty acids: Algal oil, flaxseed oil, hemp oil, olive oil, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds
- Vitamins, minerals, and trace elements: various vegetables and fruits
- Carbohydrates: →sweet potatoes, →potatoes, →rice, or pseudocereals like quinoa, amaranth, millet, or buckwheat
Most of these nutrients can be well covered by feeding certain foods. However, some of them need to be added as nutritional supplements in the form of powders or oils, including: Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, arachidonic acid, iodine, L-carnitine, and taurine. In our →wet food "Green Vegan", you will find everything your four-legged friend needs. Just open the can and enjoy!
What challenges are there with a vegan dog diet?
Just like with any other dog food, you must ensure that all important nutrients are included in the composition of a vegan meal for your four-legged friend. Just because there is meat in a can of wet food, does not automatically mean that it is high-quality food. The same applies if you want to feed your dog BARF, meaning fresh ingredients.
The biggest challenge in feeding our dogs is likely to cover all important nutrients tailored to your dog. Therefore, an important step is not to buy the →cheapest supermarket food, but also to pay attention to quality**, whether it’s →wet, dry food, or BARF.
Especially with a vegan diet, it can be helpful to seek advice from nutrition experts. Even if your four-legged friend has certain →intolerances or food allergies**, prior consultation with nutritionists or veterinarians is certainly advisable.
By the way: Did you know that a vegetarian or vegan diet can be particularly well-tolerated by dogs with many intolerances and sensitive stomachs? For example, there are also dogs that are allergic to meat and can benefit greatly from a tailored meat-free diet.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Fleisch oder nicht Fleisch, das ist hier die Frage? Am Ende zählt, dass alle wichtigen Nährstoffe durch das Futter abgedeckt sind!
One vegan day a week
It is also important to mention that your dog has its own CO2 paw print. The feeding of meat has a strong impact on our environment and the climate. Are you not completely convinced of a vegan diet for your dog but want to take advantage of the benefits for our climate and the environment? Then perhaps a meat-free day a week would be a great compromise.
We at Pets Deli have calculated this for you:
With just one meat-free day a week, you reduce your dog's CO2 footprint as well as water and land consumption** and do something good for our planet! With one day a week where you feed Pets Deli Green:
- You save nearly 426 kg of CO2 per year (which is enough to fly once from Frankfurt am Main to Lisbon).
- You reduce the area for livestock farming by 1.8 square kilometers (equivalent to the area of more than 252 football fields).
- You save 128 liters of water.
Little things matter: Start slowly and try our vegetarian and vegan snacks based on insects. Even by opting for meatless treats, you can make a big difference!
Schmeckt auch ohne Fleisch - unsere Snacks auf Insektenbasis
How do I properly switch to vegan food?
Of course, vegan dog food must also be tailored to the needs and nutrient requirements of your four-legged friend. You can use a high-quality commercial pet food, such as a →wet food from our Green Line, or you can prepare the food for your dog yourself, similar to →BARFing, just without animal products. You can also get help from nutritionists and have an individual feeding plan created. Our →experts are also happy to assist you with advice and support.
Just like with any other food, you should →slowly transition to vegan food. Even if you only want to give vegan food 1-2 times a week. Gradually reduce the proportion of meat-based food in your dog's bowl and add more of the vegan food. During the transition, pay attention to changes in weight, coat, energy levels, and digestion of your dog. If you notice anything unusual, contact your nutritionists or ask your veterinarian for advice.
Feeding a dog vegan or with meat, which is better?
In the end, every dog owner must answer for themselves whether a vegan diet is suitable for their furry friend. No matter how you turn it, there are pros and cons to both a vegan diet and a meat-based food. Every dog is unique, and what works wonderfully and is well-tolerated for one dog may not apply to another furry friend—even if they both descend from wolves.
