Feeding dogs vegetarian or vegan - is that possible?

Feeding dogs vegetarian or vegan - is that possible?

Hardly any other topic is currently discussed as controversially as the →vegetarian or even →vegan diet of our four-legged friends. For years, vegetable lovers have faced off against sausage defenders and discuss the ethical, moral, and health aspects of a →species-appropriate diet for dogs.

And we believe: rightly so. What a vegetarian or vegan dog diet means, what you need to pay attention to and why you should not believe myths about how bad veggie is for your furry friend, we will explain to you now.

Vegetarian or vegan: What is the difference?

These two terms are probably familiar to everyone - but if you are still not quite aware of the difference, here comes a brief summary:

In vegetarian feeding, all feed from killed animals is avoided. In addition to meat and its by-products, this also includes fish. Dairy products and eggs come from living animals and are therefore allowed in the bowl.

Veganism fundamentally rejects the use of animals and their products. In vegan feeding, only plant-based foods are used - eggs and dairy products are taboo here, unlike in vegetarian diets.

[TRANSLATION ERROR] Egal ob vegetarisch oder vegan: Fisch und Fleisch sind bei beiden Ernährungsformen tabu.

Feeding my dog vegetarian or vegan - is that healthy?

If you, as a dog owner, decide to live vegetarian or vegan yourself, you will often come to the question: What about my dog, whose food consists almost exclusively of meat? Do I want him to be fed without meat? And isn't that unhealthy?

First of all: Dogs are omni-carnivores, so-called all-eaters with predominantly meat-based diets. Through centuries of living with humans, our domestic dogs have adapted to human carbohydrate-rich food and can, unlike wolves, utilize starch (e.g., from [→sweet potatoes](/magazin/hunde/hunde-ernaehrung/zutat-susskartoffel-fur-hund), →potatoes or quinoa) very well as an energy source.

In a vegetarian diet, various dairy products (e.g., cottage cheese) and/or cooked eggs provide valuable animal proteins and the essential amino acids your dog needs. However, tolerance varies due to lactose in dairy products, which is why you should initially give only small amounts and then slowly increase.

Legumes (e.g., lupins, →lentils or peas) are additional good protein sources that are mainly used for vegan diets. However, the digestibility of plant protein is somewhat lower, which means you need to feed your dog a bit more than animal proteins to meet his protein needs.

As additional energy sources, cooked carbohydrates from sweet potatoes, potatoes, or pseudocereals (quinoa, →amaranth) are used. Healthy fruits and vegetables, such as →apples, zucchini, →pumpkin, →spinach, beets, or →asparagus provide your beloved pet with water-soluble vitamins and the fiber essential for good intestinal function.

[TRANSLATION ERROR] Welches Gemüse dürfen Hunde essen? Wirf einen Blick in unsere Übersicht!

The fat-soluble vitamin E and the essential omega-3 and -6 fatty acids are provided through plant-based →oils like sunflower oil and →flaxseed oil. A carefully selected mixture of minerals and vitamins rounds off the meatless meal and guarantees the optimal nutrient supply for your furry friend. This way, you can be sure that there will be no deficiencies with vegetarian or vegan diets.

We at Pets Deli have developed vegetarian and vegan complete feeds that provide your four-legged friend with all the nutrients he needs - and that completely without meat! Whether for a meat-free day a week or a completely vegetarian or vegan diet. Just open the can and dig in!

Doc-Check: What do veterinarians say about it?

For a permanent vegetarian diet, there may be medical reasons, e.g., problems due to →intolerance to meat. Nature has equipped dogs, unlike cats, with a great adaptability, so it is principally possible for every dog to be fed balanced rations on a purely plant-based basis.

Tolerance and acceptance vary individually, and due to the high plant content, there may be increased stool volumes. In any case, you should slowly →acclimate your furry friend to the new diet if you want to completely switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

[TRANSLATION ERROR] Wie für uns Zweibeiner gibt es auch für Hunde Empfehlungen bei der Zusammensetzung der Mahlzeiten. Du siehst: Fleischliche Proteine können durch pflanzliche leicht ersetzt werden.

A look at the nutrition pyramid for your dog, where all nutrients are covered, makes it clear once again: A large part of the pyramid is already vegetarian in structure. There is not as much to "replace" as you might have thought at the beginning. What is important for your dog is that he receives the nutrients he needs for an active everyday life. Note that the amounts are not the same for every dog and that feeding varies depending on age. →Older dogs and also →puppies need adjusted food.