Can dogs eat a plant based diet

14 May 2024 • <1 min read

Many people have transitioned to a Plant-based diet over the past few years for a myriad of reasons, whether it be for their own health or environmental reasons. As a society we are becoming more eco-conscious and looking for ways to make pet ownership more in line with our ethics. Some have turned to plant-based diets for their pets and in this article, we will discuss the implications this might have.

The most popular pet in the UK, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the dog. A simple answer to whether a dog can survive on a plant-based diet is yes. But it is important to remember that surviving is not the same as thriving.

Dogs are closely related to their wild carnivorous cousins, the wolf. However, over time and years of domestication, they have evolved into something new. They are omnivores, meaning they acquire their nutrition from both plants and meat and the vast majority of dogs do well on this mixed source diet. Dogs need protein in their diets, you can obtain protein from plants however some are better than others.

Protein that a dog obtains from meat are more easily digested by canines than plant proteins. For dogs that are routinely given proteins which are more difficult to utilise, health problems can present in the dog. More commonly in pregnant, nursing or growing dogs.

Occasionally a plant based diet may be useful for a dog if you have been specifically told by your vet that your dog needs to avoid animal proteins. This is always something you should talk to your vet about before making the transition with your dog. It is very unlikely for a dog to be allergic to an animal protein. Some intolerances do occur and you should always discuss this further with your vet as tests may be required to prove this.

Here at the Natural Dog Food Company, we produce high quality 100% natural dog food. Our food is a perfectly balanced blend of high quality human grade meat and carefully selected fruits and vegetables. Natural Dog Food is designed to give your dog precisely what it needs to maintain good health, a happy tummy and a shiny coat.

Our meat sources are higher welfare, British and human grade to ensure high standard of care are observed. Our products also use biodegradable and recyclable packaging, sustainably sourced paper, water based ink and recycled water helping to reduce our footprint on the environment.

For more information about our products head to our shop page to take a look.