Veggie Dogs: Can Dogs be Vegans?

Making the transition to a plant-based lifestyle was the best thing I could have done for myself and my family - this is an understatement, but it has changed our lives. I'll never forget the day, as I was going about my regular morning routine - feeding Jack, making smoothies, feeding the dogs... Feeding the dogs what? I looked down at the bowl full of kibble and with shock of realization and an overwhelming amount of shame - I became conscious of the fact that I was feeding my four-legged babies the very things I was against. I immediatly dumped the kibble into the compost and raced off to the pet store.

Dogs are omnivores - which means they can digest animal and plant products. The short answer is yes, they can be vegan because their body is capable of getting all the amino acids (building blocks of protein) they need, while avoiding meat. Note: the right balance and variety of plant-based protein sources for dogs, will provide the necessary amino acids for your pooch.

My background in the world of veterinary medicine (Veterinary Technician) often comes in handy in my daily life, being a dog owner. But, when you suddenly become aware of something you already knew and put it into context with something your are trying to incorporate into your life - its quite a funny feeling of self-actualization. Interestingly, many commercially fed dogs of today are developing allergies (the thing I already knew) - environmental but also dietary. What are they allergic too? Sorry folks, it's NOT gluten - only one breed (Irish Setter) has been known to be capable of developing Celiac Disease. Here's the shocker - dogs are developing allergies and sensitivities to the protein found in MEAT (the thing I knew but was trying to incorporate into my life).

So, the pet food industry has caught on to this and has started to fancy up their labels with captions like: GI sensitive, hypoallergenic, organic, gluten free, no by-products, all natural... kangaroo meat... you get the point. I'm not saying this because you need to switch your dog to a homemade vegetarian or vegan diet. What I am saying is, that with labels and marketing like this, the food companies are able to jack up their prices - and you buy it! I buy it!

My dogs eat a commercial vegan dog food brand. This is because balancing a homemade diet for your pet is not only time consuming, but it can be difficult to do. Quality brand pet food is, at least, a balanced diet for your pet.

As we all know, specialty food comes with a price tag. So I use a few tricks to make the bag of kibble I buy go further and to satisfy my fur babies' empty-belly-grumbles.

I add oatmeal, banana, steamed sweet potato, blueberries, ground flax, chia, hauled hemp seeds, apples, avocado (if there are actually any avocados I haven't already eaten), broccoli, sweet peas, beans, lentils - basically anything I have left over or odds and ends in the fridge (please make sure to educate yourself on human foods for pets - there are toxicities and too much or too fast of any transition can cause GI upset). Everything gets mixed up bowl with about two cups of hot water, then it sits for about 15 minutes while the kibble and oatmeal soak up the water, adding bulk. Note: I may not do this every meal or even every day but as much as I can - life gets busy for all of us - you do the best you can and don't feel guilty if you aren't always perfect. ;)

The extra ingredients add flavour, nutrients and lots of fibre to fill up your little floor monsters - or big ones. Remember, adding foods, adds calories and obesity is the leading cause of disease in our pets today. Always keep track of your pets caloric intake and physical activity level. Walker is quite active, but Tiki isn't, so I feed them individually. Note: Acceptance may be an issue. Dogs who have developed a taste for their meaty food - may not readily accept their new dog bowl full of "salad". Try adding a few, plant-friendly treats on top!

Plant or animal based, always do your research - pick a brand of pet food that is trustworthy. Purchase it from a place where there are knowledgable people around to discuss it with you before you buy it, like at your veterinary clinic or a speciality pet food store. What we put into our pets bodies weighs heavily on their happiness and the longevity of their lives.