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Studies Suggest Plant-Based Diet Could Be Better for Your Pets

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The idea of feeding pets a plant-based diet has sparked considerable debate among pet owners, veterinarians, and animal nutrition experts. Traditionally, pet food has relied heavily on animal products, with many assuming that meat is essential for the health of dogs and cats. However, a growing body of research challenges this notion, suggesting that nutritionally complete vegan diets can support the health of pets while offering significant environmental and ethical benefits.

Globally, pet food production contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Around 9% of all farmed animals are slaughtered annually to feed pets, a number that rises to 20% in wealthier nations like the U.S. According to a 2017 paper, pet food releases 64 million tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere every single year in the United States alone (give or take 16 million tons). If the world’s pets adopted plant-based diets, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would exceed the combined emissions of the UK and New Zealand.

In any discussion about plant-based food for pets, you’re bound to find people claiming it’s unnatural to deny “meat-loving” dogs and cats the animal protein they supposedly need to survive. But here’s the truth: domestic dogs aren’t strict carnivores. Like humans, they’re omnivores—perfectly capable of thriving on a plant-based diet. Over thousands of years, dogs have adapted to digest plant-based foods and obtain all the essential nutrients they need, even without meat.

Researchers have identified specific genetic adaptations that enable dogs to efficiently break down and utilize starches found in plants. These genetic mutations allowed early dogs to flourish on diets rich in plants, making it clear that today’s dogs aren’t tied to their carnivorous ancestry. Instead, they’ve evolved into omnivores, perfectly suited for a more flexible, plant-based diet.

Cats, on the other hand, are obligate carnivores, meaning they require specific nutrients—such as taurine and vitamin A—that aren’t naturally present in plant-based foods. However, cats don’t need meat itself; they need the nutrients found in it. With proper synthetic supplementation, vegan cat food can meet all their nutritional needs.

Studies published in peer-reviewed journals have shown that cats on nutritionally complete vegan diets can experience health outcomes as good as or better than those fed traditional meat-based diets. Critics often argue that synthetic supplementation is unnatural, but it is important to note that synthetic supplementation isn’t unique to plant-based pet foods. Meat-based cat foods also rely on synthetic nutrients, as the high temperatures and pressures used in processing degrade natural nutrients like taurine. This standard practice ensures that all pets, including cats, receive the essential nutrients they need, regardless of the diet’s source.

Several studies have indicated that dogs and cats can thrive on a nutritionally complete meat-free diet.

Image credit: Fenne from Getty Images Signature

A 2009 study examined the diets of highly exercised dogs to determine whether they could remain healthy on a meat-free diet. The 16-week study involved sprint-racing Siberian huskies, including 10 weeks of competitive racing. The dogs on a plant-based diet remained in excellent physical condition.

Research led by Professor Andrew Knight in 2016 concluded that plant-based diets could offer benefits such as improved coat condition, allergy control, weight management, increased overall health, and vitality. The study also noted decreased incidences of cancer, infections, hypothyroidism, and ectoparasites (e.g., fleas, ticks, lice, and mites).

A 2021 Canadian study of 1,026 cats found that fewer of the 187 cats fed plant-based diets were reported to have gastrointestinal and hepatic (liver) disorders.

A University of Illinois study, published in the Journal of Animal Science, compared two vegan dog food formulas from Bramble to a popular chicken-based kibble diet. Over three weeks, beagles were fed these diets, and researchers analyzed their blood chemistry, stool quality, and microbiome. The study found that all diets met AAFCO’s “complete and balanced” nutrition standards. Dogs on vegan diets showed lower blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which could aid in weight management, and exhibited beneficial changes in their gut microbiome, with no differences in stool production compared to the chicken diet.

Another study by Professor Knight, published in 2022 in PLOS ONE, involved over 2,600 dogs and examined seven health factors, including veterinary visits, medication use, therapeutic diets, and 22 specific health conditions. Dogs on conventional diets had the worst health outcomes, while those on vegan diets performed better. Although raw meat diets appeared marginally healthier, the study noted that raw meat-fed dogs were younger and that their owners were less likely to seek veterinary advice, potentially skewing the results.

Dogs on plant-based diets can be healthy and strong. Anecdotal evidence includes Bramble, a dog who lived for 25 years on a vegan diet and once held the Guinness World Record for the oldest living dog.

Recently, The Times highlighted the various benefits of feeding dogs a healthy, climate-friendly diet. In response, Veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare Andrew Knight took to LinkedIn to emphasize the importance of these discussions. He pointed out that while the articles correctly addressed the environmental and health advantages of vegan diets for dogs, they missed a crucial detail: vegan diets can also be safe for cats when properly formulated. Professor Knight criticized the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) stance, noting that recent scientific studies, such as a 2023 publication, demonstrate that well-balanced vegan diets can meet the nutritional needs of cats. He added that the BVA had only recently dropped its opposition to vegan diets for dogs, calling for more evidence-based approaches to these issues.

As pet food companies innovate with sustainable and ethical alternatives, more pet owners are considering plant-based diets for their companions. With proper planning and veterinary guidance, these diets can support pet health while reducing environmental harm, making them a viable choice for conscientious pet owners.

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