Last Updated on January 15, 2021 by adrienne hardwick
There are actually a few reasons why a dog might need to be fed a vegan diet – the most common of which is that they are unable to digest proteins or allergic to them.
But is a vegan diet really an option for your dog, and will it ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need?
The short answer is that, yes, a dog can have a balanced vegan diet. You just have to make sure they are getting a meal that is high quality and nutritionally complete. How? Well, you have us and our guide to the best vegan dog food on the market. Let’s find your pup the perfect meal.
1. Editors Pick
Lily’s Kitchen Wholesome Veggie Feast
2. Budget Pick
V Dog
Crunchy
Nuggets
Key Things to Look for
Stop! This section is important as it will help you to determine exactly what your dog needs from their vegan food. You want to ensure they are getting the most out of their diet, and that the food you choose is going to have te right balance of nutrients.
Age. Even with vegan food, the age of your dog remains an important factor. Puppies need more calories and the food is often fattier, adults and senior dogs have different nutritional needs with regards to minerals and vitamins.
Ingredients. The point of vegan dog food is that it doesn’t contain any animal products, but it does run the risk of using other ingredients that could cause an allergic reaction or upset their digestive system. Pay close attention to the listed ingredients.
Wet or Dry? When switching to a vegan food, you might want to try both wet and dry variations to see which they prefer. Mixing the two together can also be a great way to entice them and get them interested in their new diet.
Avoid Homemade. It’s quite trendy to make your own vegan dog food at the moment, but this should be avoided. This is because doing it yourself means it is exceptionally difficult to get the right nutritional balance to ensure they receive a nutritionally sound diet.
Flavours. If your dog is new to vegan food and used to the taste of meaty foods, it might be a little tricky to get them into a plant-based diet. Therefore, you will likely have to experiment with several different flavours to find one that gets them excited.
1. Lily’s Kitchen Wholesome Veggie Feast
Editor’s Pick
This wet food is perfect for veggie dogs that are looking for a food that is delicious as well as nutritionally balanced to keep them in good health. Aside from being tasty, it is also made for sensitive stomachs – reduce digestive issues as well as alleviating protein-based allergies.
It contains 10% protein as well as 5% fat and 2% ash. For wet dog food, this is an excellent range of figures and shows that this food has been carefully made with your dog’s health in mind. Furthermore, many of the ingredients have been chosen to boost the immune system.
Key Ingredients: Carrots, Cottage Cheese, Parsnips, Dried Egg, Pumpkin
Texture: Wet
Type: Sensitive stomach
Life Stage: Adult
Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Yes, you should buy this food. It is a great choice for veggie pups, keeping them healthy and happy while also preventing digestive distress. Not to mention it comes from a reputable brand.
Buyer Review
2. V Dog Crunchy Nuggets
Budget Pick
This kibble isn’t just great for your dog’s tastebuds, it has also been made to promote good health. With added taurine for a strong heart, it is loaded with vitamins and minerals that will keep your pup going for years to come. Plus, it is completely free from any animal products.
This food contains 20% protein as well as 8% fat and 4% ash, making it superbly balanced so that your dog gets the most out of their diet. It is also perfect for dogs who have sensitive stomachs as it’s gentle on the digestive system to stop them from feeling discomfort after meals.
- Key Ingredients: Wheat, Maize, Soya, Wheatfeed, Maize gluten meal
- Texture: Dry
- Type: Budget
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Definitely, this is a great dog food that comes at a very low price. Its vegan composition means your dog benefits from a plant-based diet without sacrificing any of their nutritional needs.
Sample Buyer Review
3. Green PetFood
Best Grain-Free Choice
This kibble is completely free from grains, making it an excellent choice for vegan pups who are also allergic to grains. As a result, your dog is less likely to suffer from skin allergies and an upset stomach after they eat due to its gentle touch on the body and digestive system.
It has a great protein content at 20% as well as 12% fat and 2.5% ash. All of these figures show how nutritionally sound this kibble is. Furthermore, it contains completely natural ingredients without artificial nasties. The chosen ingredients also promote healthy joints and muscles.
- Key Ingredients: Rosehip, Licorice root, aronia, fenugreek seed, blueberry
- Texture: Dry
- Type: Grain-free
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Yes, this dog food is an excellent choice if you want to try your pup on a vega diet. It is ideal for fussier dogs as well as standard munchers, and also ensures they get all the nutrients they need.
Sample Buyer Review
4. Benevo Vegetable Wet Food
Best Vegan Wet Food
This chunky wet food is quite enticing as well as completely vegan, ensuring your dog is consuming a plant-based diet that’s also nutritionally complete for their good health. It’s lovely and moist to give the same feeling as conventional wet food, but without any animal products.
It contains 6% protein and 5% fat as well as 2% ash, which is a fairly good balance for wet food. The ingredients help to boost the immune system, but also make sure your dog is getting a good dose of antioxidants as well as vital minerals and vitamins that they need for good health.
- Key Ingredients: Lentils, Potatoes, Chick Peas, Peas, Carrots
- Texture: Wet
- Type: Hypoallergenic
- Life Stage: Adults
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Yes, you should buy this food. It is a good choice for dogs who prefer wet food to kibble. The protein content is a little low, but other brands like Lily’s Kitchen and Yarrah are good options if you want to boost their protein intake.
Sample Buyer Review
5. Yarrah Vegetarian
Best Vegetarian Dry Food
Despite being labelled as vegetarian dog food, this kibble is also suitable for vegan pups as it is made without any animal products or by-products. The kibble is also a good size, making it easy for all dogs to eat, and it has been designed to be gentle on the digestive system.
It contains 21% protein, 13% fat and 4% ash. This is a great balance and is topped off with an excellent selection of vitamins and minerals to keep their joints, muscles, and immune systems happy. Furthermore, it is able to prevent skin from flaring up as well as keep your pup mellow.
- Key Ingredients: Wheat, soya beans, corn, sunflower seed husks
- Texture: Dry
- Type: Sensitive stomachs
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Definitely. This kibble is affordable, but also provides your dog with an excellent diet that ensures they have strong muscles and joints to keep them going. The veggies are also excellent at providing slow-release energy that lasts throughout the day.
Sample Buyer Review
6. Forza10 Organic
Best for Sensitive Stomachs
This kibble has an excellent crunch and is sure to satisfy your dog’s hunger while also providing them with a nutritionally complete vegan diet. Additionally, it has been designed for dogs who have sensitive stomachs – easing digestive distress and ensuring there is no discomfort.
This particular food has 20% protein alongside 12% fat and 4% ash. It’s a good composition, providing your pup with energy and excellent nutrients. Furthermore, the selected ingredients support bones and joints as well as boosting the immune system for better health overall.
- Key Ingredients: Algae, Sunflower oil, Grains, Linoleic acid, fatty acids
- Texture: Dry
- Type: Sensitive stomachs
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Yes, you should pick this food up. It’s a great choice for dogs who have sensitive stomachs, providing them with a vegan option that won’t cause discomfort or stomach upsets.
Sample Buyer Review
7. Benevo Puppy
Best for Puppies
This kibble is tasty and the perfect size for little teeth. Specially designed for puppies who cannot digest animal products, it is gentle on their stomachs while also helping to prevent allergy flare-ups. Plus, it reduces the risk of digestive distress after mealtimes.
It has superb protein levels of 28% as well as 12% fat and 4% ash. This ensures that your puppy is getting enough protein to grow at a healthy rate while also providing them with a nutritionally complete meal that supports strong joints, good health, and excellent growth.
- Key Ingredients: Soya, white rice, maize, sunflower oil, peas
- Texture: Dry
- Type: Gluten-free
- Life Stage: Puppy
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Definitely. This food is an excellent choice for growing pups who need a diet that is free from animal proteins and products. Free from gluten, it’s gentle on their stomachs and great for their health.
Sample Buyer Review
8. Yarrah Organic
Best Vegetarian Choice
This wet food has a thick and delicious gravy that will be hard for even fussy pups to resist. Labelled as vegetarian, it’s actually suitable for vegan dogs as well since it doesn’t contain any animal products. It’s a plant-based meal that is rich in essential nutrients for their health.
It contains 8% protein as well as 5% fat and 2% ash. In addition to this, it is also a hypoallergenic food that helps to prevent skin from flaring up as well as ensuring your dog doesn’t end up with an upset stomach after meals. Plus, it keeps their coat nice and shiny.
- Key Ingredients: Soya, Vegetables, Peas, Carrots, Sunflower Oil
- Texture: Wet
- Type: Hypoallergenic
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Yes, this vegetarian wet food is an excellent choice. Not to mention that it is also suitable for vegan dogs as an added bonus.
Sample Buyer Review
9. Benevo Organic
Best Organic Pick
This kibble is an excellent option for vegan dogs, providing them with loads of excellent nutrients to keep them in good health while also ensuring they stick to a plant-based diet. The organic ingredients also offer you peace of mind with regards to how they were grown.
It contains 20% protein as well as 12% fat and 4% ash. In addition to this, it is free from gluten to provide your pup with a balanced diet that will not upset their stomach or leave them bloated. It also contains prebiotics to aid digestion and make things smoother, giving your dog comfort.
- Key Ingredients: Organic soya bean, organic white rice, organic barley, organic oats, organic sunflower oil
- Texture: Dry
- Type: Gluten-free
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable For: Vegan and Vegetarian
Should You Buy it?
Absolutely. This is a great dry food that will help your dog stay healthy while also keeping them away from animal products. It can also be paired with the Benevo wet food as a treat or part of their regular diet.
Sample Buyer Review
FAQs
What is vegan dog food?
Vegan dog food contains no animal products and is instead made from plant matter. It also will not contain geletin as this is usually made from meat. If you buy vegetarian dog food, this will tend to have eggs and dairy in it.
Is it cruel to feed a dog vegan food?
No, it is not cruel to feed a dog vegan food as long as they are getting a balanced and nutritionally sound diet. This is why you should always check that the food you choose contains enough protein and nutrients to keep your dog healthy.
It should be noted that cats should never be fed a vegan diet as this is cruel. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they cannot survive without meat, and need taurine in their diet. Vegan cats tend to become sick and pass away or are highly deficient in core nutrients.
Do vegan dogs live longer?
No, vegan dogs do not necessarily live longer. There are no definitive studies to prove that a vegan diet has any impact on life expectancy. Of course, it can have a positive impact on their overall health if they are allergic to proteins and animal products.
Can a dog live without meat?
Yes, a dog can live without meat. They are not obligate carnivores, which means they can benefit from animal and plant based foods alike. The main thing is that you ensure they get enough protein in their vegan diet and that it remains nutritionally complete.
Read Here : Best Natural Dog Food Guide
Final Thoughts
A vegan diet for dogs isn’t trendy, it is often the result of a medical condition or allergy that means they need to avoid meat and animal products. As long as you make sure they are getting all the key nutrients and a good amount of protein, your dog will thrive on plant based food.
What are your thoughts on our guide to the best vegan dog food? Have you found something that suits their new diet, or are you still stuck and looking for a solution? We love hearing from you, so leave us a message in the comments below.
For over a decade, Adrienne has been a freelance content writer and blogger who’s passion lies in anything related to dogs. Growing up, dogs were a very important part of family life in the Hardwick household. Now, Adrienne is the proud parent to two Swedish Vallhunds called Moose and Pumpkin.