The pet food industry has a significant environmental impact, consuming at least 9% of all livestock resources worldwide, and up to 20% in countries with high pet ownership like the U.S. Recent research highlights the substantial environmental benefits of vegan diets for pets, particularly dogs. But can dogs thrive without meat?
Dogs are omnivores by nature, and many modern pet food companies now offer vegan options that combine plant-based, mineral, and synthetic ingredients to meet all necessary nutritional needs. By 2024, multiple scientific studies have confirmed that vegan and vegetarian diets can be nutritionally adequate for dogs. The British Veterinary Association also supports the use of well-formulated vegan dog food.
Despite this, previous research had not fully assessed how these diets impact health across various factors like age, sex, neutering status, breed size, and exercise level. To address this, veterinary Professor Andrew Knight and his team conducted a comprehensive study analyzing health outcomes in 2,536 dogs, including 336 that had been on a vegan diet for at least one year. Their findings, published in Heliyon, reveal significant health advantages for dogs on vegan diets.
The study reported that dogs on vegan diets showed marked improvements in health compared to those on traditional meat-based diets. Specifically, these dogs experienced reductions in medication needs, fewer veterinary visits, and lower incidences of illnesses. The study observed a 14%–51% decrease in general health issues among vegan-fed dogs. Furthermore, the likelihood of suffering from six specific health disorders, including weight problems, ear infections, and musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal issues, was reduced by 50%–61%.
In a 2022 study of the same cohort, 22 common health disorders were identified. Among these, dogs fed conventional meat had the highest rates of 11 disorders, followed by eight disorders in dogs fed raw meat, and three in those fed vegan diets. Overall, 49% of dogs on meat-based diets were unwell, compared to 43% on raw meat and just 36% on vegan diets.
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