Vegan Dogs: Can a dog be a vegan?

The difference between vegans and vegetarians is that the former excludes absolutely all products related to animals, such as milk and eggs, while the latter do allow those foods in their diets.

Veganism is the newest fashion in food. People believe it’s healthy for the body and can allow people to live longer. Many who have chosen to live by this diet, have wanted to transmit their lifestyle to their pets as well. So continue reading to get the answer to the question in regard to providing your dog a vegan diet. Let’s see if this is possible, if so, then how can you do it.

What is a vegan?

A vegan is someone who doesn’t eat any animal products. For many years vegetarianism has been a trend, but this is a stricter form. Vegans try to eliminate not only meat and fish, but also eggs, milk, dairy, butter, gelatin, and even honey.

Any food that is made from animals or has involved animal participation in any way isn’t allowed in a vegan diet. The main ingredients that vegans eat are cereals, rice, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts.

One common question about this diet is whether your dog can obtain all the nutrients that are necessary for the proper functioning of the organism. Legumes, soybeans, and some nuts not only contain a high level of hydrates, but also proteins. They help provide the body with what is needed.

Vegetables, as well as fruits, provide fiber and vitamins. They provide an extra supply of unprocessed sugar in addition to the foods mentioned above. Therefore, everything seems to indicate that a human can live with no problems while following a vegan diet. But can you give your dog a vegan diet?

Can we have vegan dogs?

As mentioned earlier, you can have vegetarian dogs. The difference between this diet and vegans is that vegetarians do eat animal products, as long as the animal hasn’t died to produce the food. This means that eggs, butter, milk, and yogurt are all acceptable foods.

However, being a vegan is more complicated. Therefore, many people are against this method of feeding, especially when it comes to pets. Can we have vegan dogs? Cats, for example, are carnivores and need animal protein to survive. However, with dogs, it is a different story and you can find out why by see what science has to say.

There are already processed foods that use protein from vegetables and plants. Experts say that these comply with all established nutritional standards to preserve the health of animals. These foods contain soy, potatoes, peas, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, all of which are recommended for dogs.

Although veterinarians say that a balanced diet is essential in any canine’s life, some doubt whether plants can provide all the necessary nutrients.

Argument against

Several veterinarians, doctors, and scientists say that meat is necessary for dogs. According to one: “We know a lot about the nutrition of dogs, but there are also many things we don’t know. Although we want them to have a balanced diet, we can’t be sure that they have all the necessary nutrients through a vegan diet. It is already difficult to achieve this through a normal diet.”

Studies showed that out of 24 foods examined, most didn’t meet the minimum standard requirements. Therefore, good quality meat was needed to cover those gaps. “If people are feeding their pets a vegan diet because they think it’s healthier, they’re wrong,” said Freeman, one of the doctors who participated in the analysis.

Argument for

On the other hand, there are some who are in favor of vegan dogs. Studies show that some dogs are allergic to certain types of meats, as well as some dairy products. The vegan diet could be the option to solve this problem.

Even recognized vegetarians recommend following this type of diet for about 12 weeks in order to improve their allergies. Also, it’s always important to check to see if the animal is still healthy.

This is a problem that still is unable to come to have a conclusion. We’re still not sure if you can have vegan dogs because we don’t have enough long-term research.

You can always consider the case of two brothers that died at the same time from cancer. One had a conventional diet and one was vegan. This is an example that shows it may not make a difference.

In terms of whether you can have vegan dogs, the decision is up to you. Just always be aware of any changes in your pet’s body.