It’s in the news constantly the last few years: vegan diets for pets like dogs and cats. As more and more people choose to adopt healthier vegan or vegetarian diets, they begin to consider whether or not their pets can benefit from eating plant-based diets, too.
Add to that the tremendous amount of soapboxing, pseudo-science, and false information surrounding the topic online.
That’s a recipe that encourages unsuspecting, trusting pet owners to make some pretty bad decisions.
The Short Answer
Before we break this topic down further, we want to give you the short answer to this complex and confusing question. The simplest response to this question, in nearly all situations, is no.
Dogs just aren’t aren’t designed to survive off plants alone, and while it is possible to cultivate vegetarian diet options, it requires an intense level of micromanagement and nutritionist guidance – far beyond what most pet parents can afford and/or tolerate.
The bigger issue, however, isn’t affordability or tolerance – it’s suitability. We mentioned that dogs aren’t designed to survive off plants; this is based on their evolutionary development and natural biochemistry. Eating only plants provides sub-par nutrition, and that can lead to many different health problems throughout their lives. Think about feeding a horse meat – it wouldn’t make sense, would it?
Next, we’ll discuss exactly what makes dogs so unsuitable for vegan diets, including the science behind dogs and how it should influence your food decisions. Then, we’ll talk a bit about how you can introduce vegetarian food options without risking your dog’s health, and what you can do if you
Evolutionary Differences
Dogs fall under the classification Canis lupus, the same classification containing grey wolves, the dingo, and many other wild dogs. Every animal within this family falls under the classification carnivora classification, meaning they are carnivores who are evolutionarily developed to eat and thrive on meat. In contrast, humans are omnivores, meaning we evolved to survive or thrive on both plant matter and meat depending on what foods are available to us at any given time.
Dogs are also scavengers by nature, meaning they are adaptable enough to survive on certain foods outside their carnivorous nature – including plants. If they’re hungry enough, they will turn to berries, plant matter, and yes, your pan of muffins, too. In a situation where dogs are forced (either by humans or by situation) to survive off non-meat products, they can survive, but they will almost certainly not thrive.
Unfortunately, the fact that dogs do sometimes survive inappropriate vegan diets has done more to cause confusion around this issue than anything else. That survivability factor is related to their evolutionary adaptability, not a true omnivorous status.
Simply put, your dog developed as a meat-eater and remains a meat-eater to this day. Although this may change slowly over the next several thousand years, your dog’s scientific classification should be all you need to avoid fully vegan diets.
Proof of Your Dog’s Carnivorous Status
Animals evolve over time; is it possible that your dog has simply evolved out of being carnivorous? Absolutely – and that may yet happen – but scientists know it hasn’t happened just yet. Dogs still maintain most of their original carnivorous features, including specialized teeth for ripping and tearing flesh away from bone.
Furthermore, dogs don’t chew their food thoroughly before they swallow (called masticating in science circles). Instead, they rip off swallow-size pieces and swallow them whole, where the stomach and G.I. tract rapidly process them and “discharge” bones, cartilage, and other excess waste products. This rapid transit and lack of chewing is inherent to carnivorous animals.
In contrast, plant-eaters must spend more time chewing and digesting their food. Chewing is much more important because plants must be broken down much further in order for uptake in the body, demanding more time for digestion.
If you feed your dog whole vegetables, seeds, or nuts, you may see this rapid transit in process; just look to your pup’s poop. Plant matter that remains whole and intact in feces intact is a sign of your dog’s carnivorous gastrointestinal tract in action.
But Wait…Dogs Eat Grains, Don’t They?
Many of us feed our dogs foods containing starches, and vets often recommend fresh fruits and vegetables for dogs. Why would they make these recommendations if dogs should only eat meat?
The truth is that canis lupus familiaris (the domestic dog) has uniquely developed to suit life beside humans. This includes a specialized evolutionary adaptation that allows the dog to process starchy foods like grains and vegetables on an as-needed basis. Your dog even gains some nutritional benefit from these items, so they should be a part of his overall diet whenever possible.
Now, here’s the catch: too many starchy foods can cause serious health problems. Dogs who feast on only plant-based foods experience a high volume of stress on the pancreas, and over time, that can cause the pancreas to malfunction or even fail. When this happens, it produces symptoms similar to diabetes in humans.
Exactly how much is too much? Most vets and researchers feel that starchy foods shouldn’t exceed more than 20 percent of your dog’s diet at any given time. This keeps the volume low enough to make it easier for your dog’s pancreas to cope with the processing load. And yes, that means it’s fine to give your dog fresh carrots, peas, and other healthy fruits and vegetables now and again.
If You Insist
Despite the sheer volume of information available telling us that dogs shouldn’t eat vegan diets, some pet parents insist on feeding vegan. We respect every pet owner’s right to make choices for their pet, but if you’re still considering it, please at least contact a registered veterinary nutritionist for guidance. The average pet parent just isn’t going to have the in-depth knowledge into food specifics needed to craft a reasonably healthy doggie diet. This isn’t an insult; canine nutrition is incredibly complex, and it often takes years of schooling to master or understand it.
By working with a nutritionist, you stand the best chance of achieving your goals while minimizing the harm or risk to your dog. More importantly, you ensure that your dog’s health and development is monitored at every step. If his diet does negatively influence his health, your nutritionist will let you know and work with you to adjust his diet to fix the problem – before it causes chronic health issues.
One final note: dogs are carnivores, but that doesn’t mean every commercial dog food is healthy and nutritious. Truthfully, cheap kibbles can be almost as bad for your dog as a vegan diet depending on what they contain. Protein quality, ingredients, ingredient order, caloric load – all of these are important commercial food qualities you should investigate before you choose a food.
Ultimately, you should do everything you can to ensure you feed your dog only the best in quality and nutrition. This include seeking a vet’s advice about food and choosing high-quality foods every time you shop. Your precious pup will thank you for it in additional years of life spent happily by your side.