Can dogs and cats be vegan?
ANIMALS
Short answer
Dogs are omnivorous and can thrive on certified nutritionally-complete vegan food. Cats are obligate carnivores; feeding them vegan requires specialist formulation and vet oversight.
ANIMALS
The detail
Dog studies (Knight 2023, 2500+ dogs) found equal or better health markers on nutritionally complete vegan diets. Brands: V-Dog, Wild Earth, Benevo, Yora.
Cats need taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A and B12 in specific forms. Ami and Benevo Cat include synthetic supplementation but a vet check is essential.
If you choose to feed your dog a vegan diet, transition them slowly over a two-week period while monitoring their energy and coat health. A 2022 study involving over 2,500 dogs found that those on a vegan diet had fewer health problems and were less likely to require medication than those on meat-based diets. It is essential to choose a brand that meets AAFCO (or equivalent) standards to ensure your pet is receiving the correct balance of amino acids.
Source: Knight et al., PLOS ONE 2023.
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