Vegetarian Diet for Dogs

Is a vegetarian diet for dogs appropriate for our canine friends? This page looks at the pros and cons of feeding a vegetarian diet to dogs, and the food items that can be used in a vegetarian dog diet.

More and more dog parents, especially those who are vegetarians themselves, are thinking of switching their dog's meat-based diet into a vegetarian diet.

Some people still have the notion that dogs are carnivores and require meat for optimal health. However, that notion is no longer true - Dogs originally were carnivores, but while being domesticated, over time we have evolved them to be omnivores, and it is possible for a dog to be a vegetarian. (The same cannot be said of cats, who are true obligate carnivores.)

But is a vegetarian dog diet good for our dog's health? What are the pros and cons of feeding vegetarian dog food to our dogs? Read on and find out...

This page looks at the following topics:

What are the pros and cons of a vegetarian diet for dogs?
What are the things to remember when feeding our dogs a vegetarian diet?
What kind of foods can we include in a vegetarian dog diet?
Can we find vegetarian dog food in a package?

Pros and Cons of a Vegetarian Diet for Dogs

The main advantages of feeding a vegetarian diet to dogs include:

A vegetarian diet for dogs is arguably more environmentally-friendly considering the fact that growing vegetables causes much less damage to the environment than raising livestock.
It is also believed that meat is now the most polluted food source which contains trace amounts of hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics. In particular, some lower-quality processed dog foods may contain meat from animals that are known as "four D" - dead, dying, diseased, or disabled animal unfit for human consumption.
For today's city dogs who lead mostly a sedentary lifestyle, a high-fat, high-protein diet consisting mainly of meat and bones may not be suitable. A vegetarian diet can put less stress on the dogs' liver. It can also prevent obesity.
For dogs who are allergic to meat or other problems with a meat-based diet, a vegetarian diet can be the best way to go.

The main disadvantages of feeding a vegetarian diet to dogs include:

Bones provide key nutrients that are difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities in a completely meat-free diet. For young growing puppies, nutrients from bones are particularly important. (As a compromise, some dog parents add supplements or feed their dogs a mainly vegetarian diet but include raw, meaty bones.)
It is difficult to prepare well-balanced vegetarian dog foods that contain all the vitamins and nutrients needed for the optimal health of dogs. Supplements are therefore extremely important. If you feed your dog a vegetarian diet without supplements, chances are your dog will not have enough minerals and nutrients to keep his bones strong.
Some vets have raised concerns that a vegetarian diet, even coupled with dietary supplements, will fall short. And here is the problem - Dogs can adapt very well to a poor diet; therefore, it may take years before we can see any adverse effects on the dog's health, by which time serious damage may already have been done.

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Things to Remember When Feeding Our Dogs a Vegetarian Diet

If you do want to give vegetarian dog foods a try, here are some important things to remember:

The key words are "variety" and "rotation". Include plenty of variety of foods and rotate the protein sources to avoid nutrient deficiencies.
While a vegetarian diet is good for dogs, a vegan diet (a diet with no animal products at all) is not that suitable for dogs. Animal products such as milk, eggs, cheese, etc. are important sources of protein and other nutrients for dogs.
Dogs have a shorter digestive tract than we do, so they cannot cope with large quantities of fibrous foods. Remember to cook fibrous vegetables (15 minutes at boiling) to break down the fibers, so they are more digestible for your dog.
Hard foods (e.g. raw carrots, apples, hard wholemeal dog biscuits) should be given to your dog to chew on to keep her teeth and gums in good shape.
A vegetarian diet for dogs can make the dog's urine more alkaline, making the dog more prone to urinary tract infections. Dogs on a vegetarian diet should therefore have their urine tested regularly to make sure that they do not develop UTI.
It is important to consult with your vet before switching your dog's diet to one based on vegetables. Get your vet's advice and assistance in formulating appropriate supplements so that your dog gets all the necessary vitamins and nutrients he needs.

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Foods to Include in a Vegetarian Diet for Dogs

Protein: For non-vegetarian dog diets, meat is the main source of protein.
For a vegetarian diet for dogs, some protein sources are cheese, eggs, black-eyed peas, split peas, lentils, beans, nuts, whole grains such as rice.
Carbohydrates: Foods rich in carbohydrates include cereals, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, oatmeal, peas.
Fat: "Good" fat sources rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids include flaxseed oil, sunflower seed oil, fish oil such as salmon oil.
Vegetables: Fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, as well as cooked pumpkins and sweet potatoes are good sources of fiber.

As mentioned above, a variety of foods can provide a nice, well-round balance of proteins (amino acids) and other nutrients, so it is important to have more than one protein source in one meal, and food sources should be rotated on a regular basis.

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A Natural Vegetarian Diet for Dogs

Preparing a vegetarian diet for dogs that is well-balanced and contains all necessary nutrients is not easy. If you really need to introduce a vegetarian diet to your dog due to some health reason (e.g. if your dog is allergic to meat), then it may be easier to get a high-quality commercial product.

Here is one that you may want to consider: Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food Allergy Formula