Recent years has shown more and more Australians embrace vegetarian and vegan lifestyles.
Some turn to vegetarian and vegan diets for their dogs (and cats) as well, but how do you know which to choose and which to avoid?
Please note as a certified pet nutritionist with many years exposure to the Australian pet food industry I must state I consider dogs as carnivores as well as cats. I therefore would not recommend feeding a dog a vegetarian or vegan pet food. However, I will admit the possibility of a vegetarian/vegan pet foods being better than numerous carbohydrate-based kibbles (often misrepresented as “meat-based”).
Let’s take a look at the vegetarian and vegan dog foods available in Australia:
Research of Vegetarian & Vegan Nutrition
You will find research available which suggests vegan pet foods can be better than “meat-based” pet foods.
One such 2023 study from Griffith University in Queensland has suggested this, but on closer inspection appears fundamentally flawed. The study compares cats fed a vegan diet compared to cats fed a “meat-based” diet, without any consideration to those meat-based cat foods not actually being meat based.
This is the trouble with research in the field of pet nutrition, and a cause for harmful misinformation.
To reiterate, this means studies such as this are not a true representation of plant-based versus real meat-based pet foods.
I often find studies in pet nutrition are often funded by industry. This means a conflict of interest, and the most likely purpose being to convince you to buy a product.
Vegetarian & Vegan Dog Foods in Australia
Below are the leading vegetarian and vegan dog foods in Australia:
Country of origin:America (California)
I aim not to be biased when reviewing pet foods, but from a nutritionist perspective dogs are essentially carnivores and shouldn’t be fed a vegan diet. It’s possible for a dog to live a healthy life on a …
This vegan food is predominantly corn, soya, and rice. Is it a good dry food to feed your dog? No, not really.
Final thoughts on vegetarian and vegan dog foods
Remember to consult with your veterinarian before making any significant changes to your dog’s diet, especially if you’re considering transitioning to a vegetarian or vegan dog food.
It is important to understand nutritional deficiencies and health conditions can take a long time before symptoms are visible. Any veterinarian will tell you how often symptoms of illness are missed. For this reason we must have confidence we are feeding our pets all the nutrition they require.
If your dog displays any symptoms whatsoever, or you have the slightest concerns, I advise booking a check-up with your veterinarian. Inform them of the diet and request blood tests – this is the best way forward to address any possible issues with a vegetarian or vegan diet, and allow you to research available supplements or solutions.
