It has been well documented that dogs thrive on a well-balanced vegan diet. Coincidentally so do humans!
Don't ya worry little chick – I'm vegan!
But dogs are carnivores? Are they? I think dogs are omnivores and are more accurately called opportunity carnivores. Actually my dogs are opportunity anything. Why is cancer in dogs on the rise? Take a look at what’s in the meat based dog foods. Meat by products, slaughterhouse waste, toxins, spoiled meat from grocery stores, meat from diseased animals that isn’t fit for human consumption. Even rendered dogs and cats are sometimes used in dog food. If it isn’t fit for you to eat why would you feed it to your dog? Many dogs are actually allergic to the meat from a cow, chicken, lamb etc.
I’ve tried numerous vegan dog foods and the best is V-dog. It’s a great company that is vegan owned and operated. Compostable bags too!
Any time you switch foods you should introduce 1/4 of the new food to 3/4 of your current food and then slowly transition over a 5 – 7 day period. When I prepare my dinner I sit aside a few steamed vegetables to add to their V-dog. They love steamed kale, steamed carrots, steamed broccoli and even frozen broccoli. Be sure you’re not adding any human food that could be harmful to them (Click here for a list of harmful foods).
Would a chicken eat your dog? No they would care for your dog!
Feed your dogs an ethical and healthy food the way you feed yourself. If you’re not completely certain of a vegan diet for your dog then at least feed them 75% V-dog and 25% of a meat based food (be sure to choose a company that doesn’t test on animals such as Natural Balance).
What about vegan cats? Making cats vegan is tricky because cats are obligate carnivores. A lot of cats are healthy on vegan cat food and some get sick. It’s definitely an ethical dilemma. I have a cat named Vegan but no, she’s not vegan. I mix vegan cat food with a Natural Balance meat based food. I struggle for about 15 minutes every time before purchasing it. The fact that they are carnivores and that I have the responsibility to feed and care for them doesn’t really help. Depending on how much vegan cat food I have on hand I feed my cats 25% – 50% vegan food. Vegan cat food is also very expensive. Hopefully someone will come out with a vegan cat food that all cats will thrive on soon!
You can't go wrong feeding your dog this! (Click image to view larger.)
For further information on the health benefits of a vegan diet for your dog click here and here.
Please watch this excellent interview with a vet regarding the benefits of a vegan diet for dogs.
Ryan…both my dogs are vegan…I make a big vat of lentil stew and mix it in with V-dog..I too struggle with the fact that my cats can’t be vegan
Sounds delicious.
Cats ARE carnivores. Without meat, they die. Don’t try to change them, you’ll be sorry.
Exactly what I’ve been told every time I’ve asked. Still, I think it comes down to some amino acids, and I bet that these could be synthesized in a lab and added to non-meat fare. But until that day, feed your cats a vet-approved diet, which of course will include meat or ask your vet 1) whteher it’s true that it comes donw to some amino acids which you can add to their diet, 2) which those acids are are and where to get them, if it’s even possible. But if that’s not possible, don’t screw up their lives. You have a responsibility to them too.
My dog Chloe is a 80lb Golden female ( She is tall for a golden, not AKC standards) She has been on high quality non vegan dog food for her first two years of life and did well, but when we switched her to V Dog and some other vegan dog alternatives, Dr. Harveys does well for vegan foods for our furry babies and she is thriving and doing so well. She loves her V Dog. My husband and I are vegan and sadly our kitten is not because we havent found evidence it can be done safely but we did find a high quality Vegetarian cat food that he loves so it all works out.
Watch out, as you’re endangering the kitten’s health and life. The fact that s/he loves it doesn’t mean the food’s safe for him/her. Please be careful and ask a reputable vet right away; the kitten might already have deficiencies which will lower resistance increase susceptibility to disease or .
Sorry about the last sentence. It should read “lower resistance and/or increase susceptibility to disease.”
I feed my dogs a vegan diet, mostly organic as well. I wish V-dog were organic.
There is a new brand that is now being sold in California called Wenaewe that has an organic vegan choice. I will be trying it out as well.
Here is their website:
http://www.wenaewe.com.uy/en_vegetarian.html
Thanks. I know V-dog is mostly organic. It’s prohibitively expensive to be 100% organic. I like V-dog because you’re supporting a vegan company. Their new formula has no soy, wheat, corn, gluten or GMO’s.
Hi Ryan,
Yes! My dogs love V-dog and they are very conscious about the ingredients they use. I’m glad there is an increasing number of people choosing this brand. I will keep on feeding my dogs V-dog and fresh juice pulp from carrots, apples and greens, besides the morning oatmeal
Also, I work at the Gerson Institute where we educate the public on the Gerson Therapy and we receive MANY calls and emails seeking help for their dogs and cats diagnosed with cancer.
Thank you for your post, Ryan!
Silvana,
The Wenaewe brand is not a vegan brand. It looks like a good vegetarian alternative, but due to the vitamin D3, it isn’t vegan. So if you were looking for a strictly vegan feed, that’s not it.
Hi Stephanie,
How sad, thank you for that info! I didn’t pay attention to it. Thank you again.
Thanks for the info on this vegan dog food. I just thought I’d mention that D3 can sometimes be vegan, depending on where it’s sourced! Rice bran synthesised D3 and mushroom synthesised D3 are available so it depends on the source used by the manufacturer. I might send them an email to find out if their D3 is from lanolin (sheep) or fish or a vegan-friendly source – let’s hope I’m pleasantly surprised!
My two rescued pitties LOVE the V-dog, the packaging and I love knowing they are not hurting any animals and that they are getting all the nutrients they need to thrive. I have had so many of my friends’ dogs die early from cancer eating the so called High End meat based dog food! So glad to have v-dog!!!
Both of my dogs are vegan, and are currently thriving on Natural Balance vegan dog food. I have noticed many positive results regarding their overall health and vitality. Both dogs are 7 years old and have seemed to bounce back from some vague minor illnesses that I just assumed were from age. They used to limp occasionally and now, nothing. Their coats are shiny and their disposition seems healthier too!. I am glad that just like their mommy, they do not contribute to animal suffering. Just to try it I have ordered V-dog and can’t wait to try it. Cheers to all animal lovers!
Our little english cream doxie has been vegan now for almost a year!
We have been feeding him Nature’s Balance Vegan formula but now he will eat V-dog, as we ordered it last week and are waiting for it 
Me and my girlfriend are thinking of turning vegan and also our dogs-is the transition dificult We have 4 dogs 5 cats and us – just looking for a better way of life.
Hi Angel,
It’s more simple than you could imagine. My two dogs are vegans and so are we. It’s the most satisfying change that you could make. Anything can be made vegan nowadays, so go for it!
I encourage you to read about Gary Francione’s work to get a true understanding of veganism: http://www.abolitionistapproach.com
Wishing you the best of health,
Silvana.
My dogs have been on a raw food diet for years now (I’m vegetarian). I thought that I was doing the best thing for them with high quality, unprocessed meat. However, when both of them developed mass cell tumors I decided to take a look at their environment & their diet (2 different dog breeds). I received a sample of v-dog & was skeptical that my meat loving buddies coul turn over a new leaf. They absolutely love it and are thriving on it! I am absolutely thrilled with their energy & enthusiasm too.
There is a wonderful vegan cat food called Evolution. My cats have thrived on it. But it is very expensive.
The dogs I now have, plus the three before them have been vegan most of their lives (most were rescues already out of the puppy stage when I got them, so I had no say before that). I’ve never had a problem changing them over to a vegan diet–in fact I can brag about how healthy they are. I’ve used V-Dog food for years now and feel it’s the best dog food for them–plus it’s an all-vegan company. My dogs are vegan for the same reason I am, because it’s the right thing to do (and the healthiest too)!