Veterinary groups caution on vegan or vegetarian diets for dogs

The British Veterinary Association has published guidance on its website for owners considering vegetarian or vegan diets for their pets. According to the BVA, it is possible for dogs to have a vegan or vegetarian diet, but it can be challenging to get the balance of essential nutrients right. Veterinary professionals are cautious about vegan or vegetarian diets for dogs and would like to see more long-term, controlled trials proving they can meet a dog’s nutritional needs throughout their life.

The Blue Cross notes that dogs are omnivores, able to eat both meat and plant-based foods. A vegan diet may not fully meet a dog’s nutritional needs at every life stage or for certain medical conditions, the organization says. Owners should not home-produce a vegan diet for dogs because there’s a high risk it will not consistently give the dog what they need, according to the Blue Cross.

It remains unclear what specific essential nutrients are most challenging to balance in vegan or vegetarian diets for dogs, and how many long-term, controlled trials have been conducted on such diets with their findings. The Blue Cross advises that if you're thinking about feeding your dog an exclusively vegetarian or vegan diet, the most important thing to do is speak to your vet and a qualified veterinary nutritionist. Not all dogs are the same, and some dogs won't tolerate a vegan or vegetarian diet, the organization adds.

It can be hard to ensure they get the right nutrients in the correct amounts on a vegan or vegetarian diet, according to the Blue Cross. The organization also recommends always checking that the manufacturer is reputable when choosing commercial vegan dog food, though it is unknown which brands are considered nutritionally complete by veterinary professionals.