British Veterinary Association cautionary advice for dog’s diet
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has published guidance on its website for owners considering vegetarian or vegan diets for their pets. Addressing the question of whether dogs can be fed this way, experts say it is possible, but urge owners to proceed with caution.
Answering the question, can I feed my dog a vegetarian or vegan diet?, it explains: “In theory, it is possible for dogs to have a vegan or vegetarian diet, but it can be challenging to get the balance of essential nutrients right.
“Veterinary professionals are cautious about these diets, and would like to see more long-term, controlled trials which prove they can meet a dog’s nutritional needs throughout their life.”
If you are considering a vegetarian or vegan diet for your dog, the veterinary experts urge owners to consider the following:
- Make sure you choose a diet labelled as ‘complete’ rather than ‘complementary’, as these are designed to meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs.
- Do your research before switching. Some new diets may appear to offer benefits but need more long-term evidence to prove this.
- Keep an eye on your dog’s health and talk to your veterinary team if you have any concerns. Let your veterinary team know which diet you have chosen so they can help to monitor this too.
Blue Cross message to dog owners
Experts at Blue Cross have also shared their thoughts. The organisation explains that dogs are omnivores, able to eat both meat and plant-based foods. However, whether they can obtain all the nutrients they need from a fully vegan or vegetarian diet depends on the specific ingredients used.
It suggests choosing a balanced diet that meets your dog’s needs as each pet is different, adding that owners should “always check that the manufacturer is reputable.”
Before you make the change, Blue Cross stresses that “if you’re thinking about feeding your dog an exclusively vegetarian or vegan diet, the most important thing to do is speak to your vet and a qualified veterinary nutritionist.”
Are there risks of dogs being vegan or vegetarian?
As with humans, pets can develop serious health issues if they don’t receive the right nutrients, and a vegan diet may not fully meet their needs at every life stage or for certain medical conditions. The Blue Cross team says that “it can be hard to ensure they [dogs] get the right nutrients in the correct amounts on a vegan or vegetarian diet.”
It notes that some of the challenges people could face is that “not all dogs are the same, and some dogs won’t tolerate a vegan or vegetarian diet.” Owners should “not be tempted to home produce a vegan diet, as there’s a high risk that it will not consistently give your dog what they need.”
In addition to this, it stresses that “commercial vegan diets are new, and we do not know the longer term impacts of feeding a vegan diet.”
Are there any benefits to feeding a dog a vegan or vegetarian diet?
The Blue Cross notes that while there are challenges for some owners to think about, “there have been a number of research studies looking at vegetarian or vegan diets for dogs.”
It states that this is what it knows so far:
- Dogs can get the nutrition they need on a vegan or vegetarian diet with the right nutritional and veterinary advice
- Lots of dogs love veggies
- They can be lower in calories, but it depends on what else is added and how it’s prepared
- They can provide positive environmental benefits
Pet owners can speak with their vet before making any changes to ensure the diet is safe and appropriate for their animal.
Is it cruel to put a dog on a vegan diet?
This is a big question, and one you may see circulate on social media. Blue Cross states that regardless of what you feed your pet, you need to make sure they have “a nutritionally balanced diet to be healthy.”
It warns: “If you’re unable to give your dog the nutrition they need to be happy and healthy, you are putting them at risk of developing serious health conditions.”
Animal welfare and UK laws
Directing people to its page on dog laws in the UK, Blue Cross notes that “all British pet owners have a legal duty to provide for their pet’s welfare needs.”
Under section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, all domestic animals have the legal right to:
- Live in a suitable environment
- Eat a suitable diet
- Exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- Be housed with, or apart from, other animals
- Be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
“Dog owners who fail to ensure their pet’s welfare needs are met could face prosecution. More importantly, they also run the risk of causing suffering to an animal who they have a responsibility to care for”, it adds.
In section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it writes: “A person commits an offence if he does not take such steps as are reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which he is responsible are met to the extent required by good practice.”
