As veganism continues to grow in popularity, many pet owners wonder if their dogs and cats can be vegan too. Read everything you need to know about a vegan pet diet here.
Feeding your pet a nutritionally balanced diet is crucial for their health. With vegetarianism and veganism on the rise in the UK for people, some pet owners might wonder if it is safe to feed their pets a meat-free diet. We look at whether that’s possible.
What’s the difference between vegetarian and vegan pet food?
Vegetarian pet food doesn’t contain meat but may contain other animal products such as eggs, dairy and animal-based additives.
Vegan pet food is made solely from plant-based ingredients. It may include nutritional supplements like synthetic taurine and vitamin A.
Even though vegan pet food is available, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) doesn’t currently recommend feeding dogs or cats a vegan diet.
Can dogs be vegan?
Dogs are omnivores, meaning they can acquire essential nutrients from animal and plant-based ingredients. This means dogs can be fed a vegan diet. However, this PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report found that fewer than 1% of pet owners in the UK feed their dogs a commercially prepared vegan or vegetarian diet.
Even though feeding your dog a vegan diet is theoretically possible, it’s very difficult to get the right balance of essential nutrients. If you’re interested in feeding your dog a vegan diet, speak to your vet for advice, and choose a commercially available, complete dog food. It’s best to avoid homemade dog food unless you’re working with a veterinary nutritionist.
“The problem with feeding an unbalanced diet is that the consequences of doing so take a long time to show up, by which time some of the damage caused to the body may become irreversible,” says Petplan’s veterinary expert, Brian Faulkner.
One of the more common reasons that dogs are fed the equivalent of a vegan diet is when they’re allergic to animal proteins. In these cases, vets may recommend a hypoallergenic diet which contains protein derived from soya instead of animal products. While these aren’t usually marketed as vegan, they don’t usually contain any animal products such as meat or eggs.
Can cats be vegan?
No, cats cannot be vegan. This is because cats are obligate carnivores, which means they can only acquire certain essential nutrients such as taurine, preformed vitamin A, arginine, and arachidonic acid from animal-based ingredients. This means cats can’t be fed a vegan diet without compromising their health. “Although feline vegan diets are available on the market that contain supplements of these essential nutrients, it is not entirely clear where these supplements are derived from and whether they are effective,” explains Brian.
Because a cat’s digestive system is designed for a meat-based diet, intolerances to animal proteins in cats are rare. If you suspect your cat has a food allergy, your vet will usually carry out food trials to find out which protein they’re allergic to. They may recommend a diet containing hydrolysed protein, which means that they contain the essential nutrient in a form that doesn’t cause a reaction. If your cat is intolerant to one form of protein, another option is feeding what’s known as a novel protein diet, containing a new type of animal protein that your cat hasn’t eaten before.
Is vegan pet food healthy?
Vegan pet food is relatively new to the market, so there hasn’t been a lot of scientific research to check whether it’s safe or not. That means it’s not yet possible to evaluate the long-term effect of this diet on the health of dogs and cats. This is one of the reasons vegan pet food isn’t recommended by the BVA.
Until more research has been carried out, or the BVA approves of this type of diet, it’s best to stick to traditional, meat-based pet food.
Potential health risks of a vegan diet
If you’ve been considering a vegan diet for your dog or cat, it’s important to consider the potential health risks. The main issue with vegan or vegetarian diets for dogs and cats is that they don’t always contain the right balance of protein, fats and nutrients to keep your dog or cat healthy.
While dogs can eat vegetarian or vegan dog food, you should always speak to your vet before transitioning your dog. Make sure you choose a commercially available brand that’s approved by UK Pet Food. Regular veterinary checks are also important to ensure your dog is healthy and weighs the right amount for their breed and exercise levels.
If a cat is fed a vegan diet, they won’t have access to some of the most important nutrients they need to remain healthy. While synthetic taurine is often added to vegan cat food, this can vary in quality, which means the food may not provide as much taurine as your cat needs. A taurine deficiency can quickly lead to blindness and heart failure. “This is why it’s essential to explore the potential pitfalls of changing your cat onto a vegan diet with your vet before doing so,” explains Brian.
If you have cat or dog insurance with Petplan, you can also use our Pet Expert Chat feature to connect with experts to discuss nutrition. Simply log in to your My Petplan account to ask how to make sure your cat or dog is fed the right diet.
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