Vegan dog food

[Entangledlife]

Anyone use a plant based diet for their dog? I'm interested in research that leans towards plant based being healthier (as long as it covers all the dog's nutritional needs) if you do, what brand do you use?

No I would never force my pet into an unnatural eating regime

A plant based diet isn’t suitable for dogs at all.

My vet recommended omni. I dont use it and I you have made me think more about it.

Bramble was fed an exclusively plant based diet, and lived to 25 years old- that’s double the average life expectancy of a border collie! Not only this, but Anne Heritage (Bramble’s doting mum) also had 2 other collies (also on plant based diets) that lived to a phenomenal 19 and 20 years old as well.

Thanks for your replies.

@Runmybathforme have you researched this? The British Veterinary Association now recognise the benefits of a plant based diet for dogs so I would be interested in any evidence supporting the opposite.

@BirchOakHawthorn Omni is one of the brands that I'm considering. I'm happy to hear your vet recommends.

I’d be wary of claims about dogs surviving to geriatric ages on vegan diets. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but there’s a strong element of survivorship bias there, e.g. “my grandad smoked 60 woodbines a day and lived to 102…”

Personally I’d speak to the vet first before making a change like this.

I wouldn't dream of it. I'd feed raw ahead of vegies.

Are you crazy?

No way dogs are carnivores they don't eat vegan! 🤣

Don’t be ridiculous. Dogs are carnivores. You’ll make them ill

Calling dogs carnivores is too simplistic - they are mainly opportunistic scavengers who will eat anything they can get their paws on. They don’t actually need a meat based diet to survive even if they’ve developed the anatomy for one.

OP - one of the dogs I walk is on a vegan diet for health reasons (allergies) and she is thriving. I think people are very quick to dismiss anything that isn’t a traditional diet for animals, sadly.

Thanks for the replies. To the people asking if I'm crazy/ridiculous are you saying that because you've researched and have evidence this is bad or are you assuming it's crazy because of tradition?

@tumblingdowntherabbithole interesting to hear about your client's dog, this is what I've been reading about. I wish I'd found out about it when my collie was alive, he suffered with allergies that no vet ever helped and I do wonder if this diet would have made a difference.

I think you're right about people dismissing anything outside of the normal going by the responses here, I'm surprised though. I thought plant based diets were more widely accepted and after the BVA changed their stance I (naively obviously) assumed there would be an interest from dog owners.

What is the benefit to the dog of a restricted diet?

@Magenta82 that's what I'm trying to find out. I've read that benefits include living longer, fewer skin issues and eye/ear infections. However, there aren't any long term studies so that's why I'm asking if people have had success with plant based diets for their dogs.
Restricted is an interesting word to use - I don't necessarily see a plant based diet as restricted as long as the dog is having all her/his nutritional needs met. Only as much as any diet is restricted to what the owner can afford/believes in anyway.

@Entangledlife she didn’t have the best start in life (puppy farm) and had lots of health issues. Originally the vet wanted her on a raw diet but she couldn’t tolerate it long term and got really sick. She’s now on hydrolysed food and vegan treats and she is thriving - no longer on any medication and you never know she’d been sick to look at her. She’s nearly five now and they didn’t think she’d make it past two.

As you can see though, people have had “dogs need meat” drummed into them for so long that they’re very quick to dismiss anything out of the ordinary. My own dog is very happy and healthy on an omnivorous diet but if he did struggle with anything I certainly wouldn’t dismiss a vegan one.

I'd try raw first OP. Not dismissing anything, but try raw properly for a good few months first.

For example my dog scratches a lot after cooked chicken but eats raw chicken absolutely fine.

Maybe check out allaboutdogfood site? I’ve found it a useful reference on deciding which brands to go for

@Entangledlife if you do it properly there’s no reason why the dog won’t live a good life. But that’s the same with any diet. Different diets work for different dogs so no matter how much you may want a vegan diet to work for your dog, there’s a v. Good chance it won’t work.

I wanted all mine on raw. Only one is able to have just raw - the others didn’t have their nutritional needs met, wouldn’t eat it, grew sick or got awful tummies. I have four dogs, all on different diets. All my dogs have outlived their breed’s expectancy - one of them would only eat Royal Canin. A healthier life, good genetics and luck are IMO the most important factors for ensuring a dog loves a good, healthy, life. Diet is but a small part of that.

I would not choose a vegan / vegetarian diet for my dog, but dogs are not carnivores. Like humans, they are omnivores. But all my BC's, and those of my parents, outlived "normal life expectancy", and the dogs simply had a healthy balanced diet, exercise and attention.

OP have you considered finding an animal naturopath for advice on the best diet for your dog? I haven’t researched vegan but I find it hard to imagine my own dog thriving on it. He has raw meat, cooked pumpkin, other vegetables plus fish and eggs and some healthy kibble. We worked with a naturopath because he had a bad health scare when he was tiny and we wanted to restore his gut health and immune system. He’s now 4 and in very good condition.

Interesting, not sure I'd go straight to vegan, I'd probably try raw/fresh food first avoiding processed dog food.

Restricted isn't a judgement just a fact, if I eat everything but wheat my nutritional needs are met but my diet is still restricted, same for a vegan diet.

Not a chance. My dogs are on raw food. Better for my dog with allergies and they love it.

Take a look at dogaware.com this is a website mainly for homemade food, there’s a lot there but you may find something that helps there.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your replies and I will look at the websites mentioned.a naturopath isn't something I've considered thanks @FuzzikinsPompombum I will look into that.
Raw is definitely a possibility but I guess I was hoping that if there are the same benefits to the dog from eating plant based to a raw diet I would rather go the plant based way because of its benefit to the planet/environment/other animals. Lots to research still and I'm grateful for all the suggestions made, thank you.

Christ alive. NO!!!
We feed raw - having come away from commercial kibble after experiance and alot of reaserch.

Vegetables have way too much carbs, and alternative sugars to be healthy. It can actually make skin conditions worse!

Our are happy and healthy on 100% raw, no more meds, no more skin issues, no digestive issues, no behavioural issues.

this is after over a year of reaserch, speaking to several vets, and several very experianced canine nutritionists.

The thing is, not every animal will thrive on wholly raw. Ours is prone to colitis and needs the fibre from cooked pumpkin and other veg. We experimented and followed advice and know what works best for him.