Is a Plant Based Diet a Reality for Our Dogs in 2022?

For many of us reducing the amount of meat or cutting it out completely is the easiest and most effective thing we can do to reduce our carbon emissions and help to improve the health of the planet. Veganism and vegetarianism are certainly on the rise, with some surveys showing as much as a 40% rise in uptake. In 2022 as many as 620,000 people pledged to go vegan in January as part of the Veganuary campaign.

But what about our canine companions? Is it possible for them to go vegan or vegetarian and live healthy lives? Or would we be risking their health and well-being by trying to make our precious pets more eco-friendly?

Unfortunately, due to the lack of proper long-term research, we don’t exactly know whether it is possible, but, there are encouraging signs that a plant-based diet would be possible with proper nutritional support. However, for the average dog owner, this might be risky and the best plan is to reduce the meat intake of your dogs where you can, with vegan and vegetarian dog treats and chews, and ones that use sustainable materials. 

In this post, we will be having a look at some of the research that is available on dogs consuming a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle and how this might affect the future of our canine companions. We will also be discussing a few ways you can easily reduce the meat intake of your precious pooches without having to be an expert in dog nutrition.

Vegan and Vegetarian Dogs in 2022

The first thing we will say when discussing the pros and cons of a vegan diet for your dog is that the BVA (British Veterinary Association) states that they “do not recommend giving a dog a vegetarian or vegan diet as it is much easier to get the balance of essential nutrients wrong than to get it right”. Having said this they do also state that vegan and vegetarian diets are “theoretically possible” for our four-legged friends. The reason they state this is the lack of robust scientific evidence available that would prove or disprove the long-term effects of a plant-based diet on a dog's health and well-being. 

With all that being said, the research that is being done is looking increasingly positive. The largest study to date was conducted by scientists at the University of Winchester and revealed that “the healthiest and least hazardous dietary choices for dogs are nutritionally sound vegan diets”. This study is, of course, just the first step in confirming whether or not a plant-based diet is safe enough for dogs on a commercial scale and should also be taken with a pinch of salt as it was funded by the charity ProVeg. 

There are also cases of people who feed their dogs plant-based diets and have seen no negative effects, but, again these are unsubstantiated and not necessarily to be taken as fact. It is also worth remembering that all dogs are different and will have unique dietary requirements and what would work for one dog may not be appropriate for the next. 

The easiest and safest method for reducing meat in a dog's diet is by replacing some of what they consume with vegetarian, vegan or sustainable alternatives.

Reducing Your Dogs Meat Intake

There are a few vegan and vegetarian kibbles on the market today, but, as we have mentioned above changing your dog's diet to a completely plant-based diet might not be the right thing to do until all the evidence has become available. So, with this in mind, the easiest way to reduce your four-legged friend's carbon pawprint, without potentially risking their health, is with vegetarian, vegan or sustainable dog treats and chews. 

Plant-Based Options for Dogs in 2023

At The Pets Larder, we have a great range of meat-free dog treats and chews as well as a few chew options that use sustainable materials that are much more planet friendly. 

Our vegan and vegetarian-friendly dog chews come in a range of shapes, sizes and flavours; from Peanut Butter Bones to Carrot and Pumpkin Lobsters, and everything in between. There is sure to be something planet-friendly in our plant-based dog chew selection that your dog will love to get their jaws around. 

There is also a great selection of plant-based dog treats available in our vegetarian treats section which includes, but is not limited to, an amazing range from Soopa, the superfood company for dogs. 

We also stock a great range of sustainable dog chews from the great Green & Wilds that includes antlers that are shed from deer naturally, tree roots and olivewood. These super sustainable dog chews are a great way to cut out the more common meat chews we are used to seeing on the shelves at supermarkets. 

So, although it might not be recommended for your dogs to make the switch to veganism or vegetarianism just yet. There are a few great ways you can reduce their meat intake by introducing some delicious plant-based dog chews and vegan dog treats to their daily routines with The Pets Larder.