If you are vegan, then you might have an ethical dilemma in feeding your companion animal conventional dog food made from meat and animal ingredients. It is completely possible to feed a dog an all-vegan diet, and there are many vegan dog food brands. However, it will take a bit more planning and consideration to keep your dog healthy on a vegan diet. Here is what you need to know about vegan nutrition for dogs and the top vegan dog food brands.

But Dogs Are Carnivores!

Dogs are classified as carnivores and will almost always choose meat over plant foods. However, the classification as carnivore is a bit misleading. Unlike cats (who are true carnivores), dogs are perfectly capable of getting nutrients from plant foods. In fact, in the 40,000 years of their domestication, dogs have evolved to eat a starch-rich diet. Research in the journal Nature which looks at the differences between dogs and wolves confirms this.

In fact, dogs are unable to survive on an all meat diet! About 30 years ago, dogs were still considered to be true carnivores and there was a push towards All Meat Dogs and brands of dog food began making All Meat canned dog food. The result? Dogs began to get weak, thin, sick, develop metabolic disorder and lose their hair.

Yes, it may be natural for dogs to eat meat. But, as James OHeare says, this is irrelevant.

Dogs are capable physically of meeting their nutritional requirements without the need for animal products. Natural must not be confused with sufficient or optimal. Invoking the term natural does not tell us whether a particular diet is sufficient or optimal to meet the dogs daily nutrient requirements. The diet composed of meat and other ingredients, if formulated to be balanced and complete, is usually sufficient and often optimal. This cannot be denied. Diets without animal products can also be formulated to be balanced and complete, easily meeting the sufficiency criterion and the optimum criterion as well, if formulated with careThe better approach is to look at the nutritional requirements of a species and identify ingredients that can meet those requirements.

The most important principles to understand here is that dogs do not have specific ingredient requirements; they have specific nutrient requirements.

Nutritional Requirements for Dogs

If you are switching your dog to a vegan diet, the most important thing to realize is that dogs have different digestion systems and nutritional needs than humans. What works for you on a vegan diet isnt necessarily going to work for your dog. Don’t give your dog your food scraps and expect it to thrive. Sure, it might survive, but there is a big difference between surviving and thriving.

Here are the most important nutrients you will need to know about when feeding your dog a vegan diet.

Protein:

It may not be difficult for you to get enough protein on a vegan diet, but this isnt necessarily the case for your dog. The AAFCO, which sets the standards for pet food, has set the minimum protein requirement per dry weight at 18% (and 22% for puppy food). Some low-active dogs might be find with 18% protein, but experts generally recommend around 25-30% protein for active and growing dogs.

But here is the problem: dogs dont assimilate vegan protein as well as meat protein. Below is a list of foods and their protein digestibility. Egg whites are used as a benchmark and given the value of 1 because they are so easy for dogs to digest. All other foods are given in comparison:

Egg whites 1.00 Muscle meats (chicken, beef, lamb) .92 Organ meats (kidney, liver, heart) .90 Milk, cheese .89 Fish .75 Soy .75 Rice .72 Oats .66 Yeast .63 Wheat .60 Corn .54

A dog food which consists of 18% protein from meat may be adequate to meet your dogs protein requirements, whereas a dog food which has 18% protein from corn may not be adequate. When choosing vegan dog food, choose options with higher protein percentages to compensate for the lower assimilation of vegetable proteins.

*About 30% of protein goes towards maintaining skin and coat, so the first sign of protein deficiency will probably be a poor coat.

Amino Acids

It isnt just the percentage of protein which you need to worry about when feeding your dog a vegan diet. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and you need to make sure you dog gets all the necessary amino acids.

There are 23 amino acids which dogs need. Of these, 10 are essential amino acids, meaning the dog must obtain them through food. The other 13 amino acids are non-essential for dogs. This doesnt mean the dog doesnt need them. It just means that the dog can manufacture them out of the essential amino acids.

The 10 essential amino acids are: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.

All of these essential amino acids for dogs can be found in vegan foods. However, some arent as readily available as others. If making your own vegan dog food, you will likely need to combine proteins to make sure your dog is getting enough of each type of essential amino acid. Commercial vegan dog foods are usually formulated to provide the right amino acids.

Taurine and L-Carnitine

These amino acids deserve special attention. They are not considered essential because dogs can synthesize them in their livers. However, some dogs may have trouble synthesizing enough taurine and L-carnitine to meet their nutritional needs. These amino acids are not found naturally in any vegan foods. It is recommended that you supplement your dog with these amino acids, or be sure to choose a vegan dog food brand which contains them. Deficiency can lead to serious heart problems.

Carbohydrates

Dogs technically do not need carbohydrates because they can use protein and fat for energy. However, carbohydrates are still an important source of energy and can also provide fiber, minerals like iron, and antioxidants (such as when carbs come from whole grains or fruit). If the dog doesnt get enough carbohydrates for energy, it can start to use protein (and muscle!) as an energy source.

Note that starches need to be thoroughly cooked in order for the dog to utilize them. Otherwise the starches can start to ferment in the large intestine and cause health issues. Any starches you give your dog (such as lentils) need to be cooked until very soft and ideally mashed.

Vitamin D

Unlike humans, dogs are unable to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. If making your own vegan dog food, you will need to supplement your dogs feed with vitamin D. Make sure any commercial vegan dog food you choose contains vitamin D. Note that too much vitamin D is toxic to dogs. More on this below in the Supplements section.

B Vitamins and B12

There is no vegan source of vitamin B12. Other B vitamins can be found in plants, but there may not be adequate amounts to meet nutritional requirements. When making your own vegan dog food, you will need to supplement with B12 and probably also B complex. Many dogs like nutritional yeast, which is fortified with B12.

Transitioning Your Dog to a Vegan Diet

Whenever you change your dogs diet, you need to go slowly. Don’t immediately dump out your dogs non-vegan food. Slowly mix in the vegan dog food, gradually increasing the percentage until your dog is eating the vegan food. In addition to this, you will need to keep these things in mind when switching your dog to a vegan diet:

Vegan Dog Food and Allergies

It is common for dogs to develop allergies or food intolerances to ingredients like: corn, soy, and wheat. Note that you it can take a while for food intolerances to develop, so you might not see symptoms right away. Some symptoms include dry, red, and itchy skin, swollen ears, and frequently licking paws. You might also see vomiting and diarrhea. Diagnosing food intolerances and allergies can be difficult. To do so, you will probably need to put your dog on an elimination diet (meaning a diet with absolutely no common food allergies/intolerances) and then gradually add back foods and see if any cause a reaction.

Symptoms of Deficiencies Take Time to Develop

If your dog is lacking an important nutrient, you probably arent going to see the symptoms right away. In fact, it could take more than 6 months before any symptoms are obvious. During the transition to a vegan diet, you should take your dog for more frequent vet checkups and bloodwork.

Vegan Dogs and Urine pH

As with vegan cats, vegan dogs should have their urine pH regularly tested. Protein naturally acidifies urine and a low-protein diet (which can be a problem with vegan dogs because of poor protein assimilation) can result in urine which isnt acidic enough and kidney problems can develop. Dog urine should be between 5.5 and 7. If urine is not acidic enough, you can supplement with cranberry (such as Cranimals) to increase urine acidity. You can have your vet test the urine pH or do it at home. One option is Solid Gold Pet pH testing strips and you can buy them here.

Some Foods Are Toxic to Dogs!

If you make your own vegan dog food or give your dog table scraps, remember that some foods are toxic to dogs, including: onions, garlic, chocolate, coffee, tea, grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, avocado, raw dough, hops, and xylitol. Also remember that starches need to be thoroughly cooked or they can ferment in your dogs gut.

Choosing Vegan Dog Food

There are numerous brands of vegan dog food. But, just because the brand claims to be complete or balanced on the label, it doesnt mean that it will necessarily meet all of your dogs nutritional requirements. Here are some tips for choosing vegan dog food:

Choose AAFCO Certified Vegan Dog Food

The AAFCO is the organization which sets the standards for pet food. Make sure any vegan dog food you buy is certified by the AAFCO.

Best Ingredients for Vegan Dog Food:

The Vegan Dog Nutrition Association recommends that the base of vegan dog food be comprised of soybeans, lentils, rice, oats, and sweet potatoes. If you are worried about allergies, then pinto beans and sweet potatoes are especially good choices. You should also look for these superfood ingredients for vegan dogs:

Chia

Wheat germ

Soy protein isolate

Parsley

Blackstrap molasses

Quinoa

Make Sure It Contains the Right Nutrients

Commercial vegan dog food brands should contain:

Taurine

L-Carnitine

B vitamins (especially B12)

Vitamin D.

Avoid:

Avoid artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, and propylene glycol. Look for dog food which uses natural preservatives like Vitamin E (tocopherols), vitamin C, or rosemary extract.

Calculate Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs:

Realize that each dog has different nutritional needs. Before switching your dog to a vegan diet, it is a good idea to discuss nutrition with your vet so you can better understand food labels. In Vegan Dogs: Compassionate Nutrition, James O Heare lists these amounts of nutrients (amount per kilo of body weight)

Arginine: 5g/kg DM

5g/kg DM Lysine: 5g/kg DM

5g/kg DM Methionine: 3g/kg DM

3g/kg DM Tryptophan: 4g/kg DM

4g/kg DM Taurine: Not listed as essential but probably useful and maybe essential.

Not listed as essential but probably useful and maybe essential. Iron: 30mg/kg DM

30mg/kg DM Calcium: 3g/kg DM

3g/kg DM Zinc: 60mg/kg DM

60mg/kg DM Vitamin A: 121RE/kg DM

121RE/kg DM B-6: 2mg/kg DM

2mg/kg DM B-12: 28?g/kg DM

Because Vitamin D is toxic to dogs in high dosages, talk to your vet to calculate RDAs. More on this below.

A Note about Cheap Dog Food

Vegan dog food brands arent cheap. But, choosing the cheapest dog food option isnt necessarily going to save you money. When dogs eat high-quality food, they will need to eat less of it per day, so you dont have to buy as much. Don’t skimp on vegan dog food. Your dogs health is in your hands! If you want to save money, then consider making your own vegan dog food or supplementing with homemade dog food.

Recommended Supplements for Vegan Dogs

Again, I want to emphasize that dogs can survive on a vegan diet, but a diet which contains meat is going to be closer to optimum for them. To make sure your dog thrives on the vegan diet, you may need to supplement to ensure all nutritional needs are met (especially if your dog is mostly eating homemade food or table scraps).

Taurine

L-Carnitine

B Complex, especially B12: Nutritional yeast is a good option for this

Iron: About 30mg/kg body weight is required.

Zinc: Soy can inhibit zinc absorption, so it may be necessary to supplement with zinc. Wheat germ is a good source of zinc.

Harbingers of a New Age makes a dog supplement called VegeDog which contains B12 and taurine. For iron and L-carnitine, you can use human supplementsjust make sure you adjust the serving accordingly! You can find a chart of vegan vitamins here.

According to Petmd and Doctor Mercola, dogs cant produce vitamin D in their skin like humans do (note that a lot of websites give the conflicting information that dogs can produce vitamin D from sunlight!), so dogs must get vitamin D from food. But be very careful when supplementing your dog with vitamin D. Too much vitamin D can be toxic to dogs.

Peteducation lists these RDIs for vitamin D for dogs:

Recommended Minimum Daily Dosage for Dogs: 227 IU/lb food consumed on a dry matter basis

227 IU/lb food consumed on a dry matter basis Toxic Dose: 2272 IU/lb food consumed on a dry matter basis

One IU of vitamin D 3 is the equivalent of 0.025 mcg or 0.000025 mg of Vitamin D3. At dosages as low as 0.1 mg/kg, we can start to see signs of vitamin D poisoning. The math is a bit complicated. Rather than stress about dosage amounts, talk to your vet before supplementing with vitamin D!

Vegan Dog Food Brands

*At the bottom of this page, you will find the AAFCO nutrition table for dog food.

Notes about choosing vegan dog food:

Make Sure It Contains the Right Nutrients: Commercial vegan dog food brands should contain Taurine, L-Carnitine, B vitamins (especially B12), vitamin D.

Protein Type: Not all sources of protein are the same! Look for vegan dog food brands that contain a highly-digestible form of protein as the main ingredient, such as soybeans, rice, oats, yeast, lentils, quinoa, and soy protein isolate. Avoid vegan dog food which has corn as its main ingredient. It is often better to choose a vegan dog food brand with a lower percentage of protein but from a source which is more digestible.

Protein requirements: the minimum amount of protein set by AAFCO standards is 18%. This may be okay for low-active dogs, but active and growing dogs will need higher protein amounts. Also bear in mind that most vegan protein sources arent assimilated as well as meat/animal protein, so you will need a higher protein amount.

Crude Protein: 24%

24% Crude Fat: 9%

9% Crude Fiber: 7%

7% Notes: Free of wheat, gluten, corn, and soy; contains cranberry which can help regulate urine pH

Free of wheat, gluten, corn, and soy; contains cranberry which can help regulate urine pH Buy Here

Ingredients:

Dried Peas, Brown Rice, Pea Protein Concentrate, Oats, Sorghum, Lentils, Canola Oil, Peanuts, Sunflower Hearts, Potato Protein, Brewers Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal, Flaxseeds, Natural Vegetable Flavor, Quinoa, Millet, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Vegetable Pomace (Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress & Spinach), Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite & Calcium Iodate), DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, L-Carnitine, Parsley Flakes, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Preserved With Citric Acid and Mixed Tocopherols (Form of Vitamin E).

Crude Protein: 28%

28% Crude Fat: 14%

14% Crude Fiber: 5%

5% Notes: Mix with water to create wet food

Mix with water to create wet food Buy Here

Ingredients (Veggie Burger Flavor):

NON-GMO Whole Oats, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Carrots, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Potato Product, Dried Molasses, Deflourinated Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Nutritional Yeast, Arginine, DL-Methionine, Kelp Meal, Taurine, Garlic, Enzyme Bromelain from Pineapple Stem and Fruit, Enzyme Papain from Papaya, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Bifidum fermentation product, Lysine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamin Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite complex, Folic acid, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Inositol, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Zinc Methionine Complex, Copper Lysine Complex, Manganese, Methionine Complex, L-Carnitine, Arachidonic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Cobalt Glucoheptonate.

Halo Vegan Garden Medley (Wet and Dry)

Crude Protein: 20%

20% Crude Fat: 10%

10% Crude Fiber: 5%

5% Notes: No corn, wheat, or wheat gluten

No corn, wheat, or wheat gluten Buy Here

Ingredients (for dry food):

Green Peas, Chickpeas, Pearled Barley, Oat Groats, Pea Protein, Whole Flaxseed, Sunflower Oil, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Potato, Sweet Potato, Alfalfa Meal, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dried Kelp, Natural Vegetable Flavors, Flaxseed Oil, Carrots, Dried Apple, Dried Blueberry, Dried Cranberry, Chicory Root, Taurine, Rosemary Extract, L-Carnitine, Potassium Chloride, DL Methionine, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D-2 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Cobalt Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Ethylene Diamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite).

Crude Protein: 18%

18% Crude Fat: 8%

8% Crude Fiber: 4%

4% Buy Here

Ingredients:

Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Peas, Potato Protein, Canola Oil, Potatoes, Tomato Pomace, Vegetable Flavoring, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Spinach, Parsley Flakes, Cranberries, L-Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D-2 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Crude Protein: 26%

26% Crude Fat: 10%

10% Crude Fiber: 5%

5% Buy Here

Ingredients:

Brown rice, corn protein, extruded soybeans, potato protein, soybean oil, flaxseeds, molasses, peas, dicalcium phosphate, montmorillonite clay, sesame seeds, salt, coconut oil, taurine, lysine, L-tryptophan, choline chloride, L-carnitine, chia seeds, rice bran oil, calcium propionate, dried kelp, organic barley grass, blueberry, citric acid, apple pectic, yeast extract, mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract, chicory root, hemicelluloses extract, yeast culture, carrots, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach, minerals (potassium chloride, zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), calcium carbonate, vitamins (ascorbic acidsource of vitamin Cvitamin E supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, Vitamin D2, biotin, vitamin B12, folic acid), dried bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, dried aspergillus niger fermentation product, dired enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried lactobacillus lactis fermentation product, pepper.

Am i Vegan Dog Food (wet and dry)

Crude Protein: 27%

27% Crude Fat: 14%

14% Crude Fiber: 9%

9% Notes: Does NOT contain taurine, L-carntine, Vitamin D, or B12you will probably need to supplement with these!

Does NOT contain taurine, L-carntine, Vitamin D, or B12you will probably need to supplement with these! Buy Here

Ingredients (for dry food):

corn, corn gluten, corn oil, rice protein, whole peas, beet pulp, linseed, bicalcium phosphate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, potato protein, brewers yeast, calcium, carbonate, sodium chloride, rapeseed oil. It also contains linoleic acid.

AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Requirements

Recommended Reading for Vegan Dog Owners:

Free ebook download link http://www.behavetech.com/vegandogs.html

Image credit:

carrots oh yum by canopener sally (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)