Mary Allen
When you think of dog food, you probably think of juicy chunks of meat first. No wonder, because the classic dog diet consists largely of meat and other animal products.
Since veganism has spread as a trend in recent years, more and more people feel the need to feed their dogs vegetarian or vegan food.
Accordingly, feed without animal products is also offered. The extent to which vegetarian and vegan foods are suitable for dogs is still a matter of scientific debate.
Dogs need a balanced diet
As with all animals, a species-appropriate diet is also the be-all and end-all for dogs. Only with the right food can you be sure that you are doing something good for the health of your four-legged friend. You can buy high-quality dog food for every requirement in pet shops or conveniently order it online. Depending on the age and general health of your dog, there can of course be a variety of different foods.
Basically, one thing can be said: Dogs are descended from wolves and are carnivores with a penchant for omnivores. This means that a large part of their diet should consist of meat. The higher the quality of the meat, the more protein it provides. Vegetables also belong in dog food. Although grain is contained in numerous types of food, it is not absolutely necessary for the dog’s organism.
Can dogs be vegan or vegetarian?
In principle, it is possible to feed a dog without meat. The necessary proteins can also be supplied through a purely vegetarian lifestyle. This means that dog food in combination with eggs and milk products can represent a species-appropriate diet because the dog’s body does not lack any important proteins in this way. However, the situation is different with purely plant-based dog food. Basically, this does not correspond to the requirements that the dog’s organism needs. The digestive tract of dogs has a comparatively low pH value, which is ideal for handling meat and animal products.
If a dog is now fed purely vegan, the pH value in the animal’s stomach will increase over time, since plant food naturally has a higher acid value and needs the same to be digested. Especially when soy is included in the food, dogs usually find it difficult to digest. Vegetable proteins cannot be optimally absorbed by the body. In addition, the increased and rather unnatural acid value often causes damage to the tooth enamel.
Research on the long-term effects of vegan dog nutrition is still pending
As of now, there is no reliable research on the long-term effects of vegan diets on dogs. Most studies were conducted over a period of six months. How a purely vegan diet affects the health of dogs in the long term has not yet been researched and is therefore highly controversial.
If you want to do something good for your dog, you should avoid a diet that does not contain any animal products. Vegetarian dog food, on the other hand, can be considered if it is balanced. By the way, an exception are dogs that have an allergy or intolerance to animal proteins: Here veterinarians often advise feeding the animal purely vegan to avoid intolerance symptoms.