Question: I have seen some campaigns and recommendations that dogs should be fed a vegetarian diet, even if they do not have any meat sensitivities, and that they will get all of the nutrition they need from a vegetarian diet. Is this true? I always thought that dogs need meat.

Are there any risks to feeding strong, young, healthy, active dogs vegetarian dog food?

Answer: Dogs (like their human counterparts!) are omnivores. This means that their digestive systems are adapted to eat BOTH meat and plant material…not either one exclusively. If a dog does not have a specific condition requiring it to eat a strictly vegetarian diet, they will reach optimal health by eating a mixed diet.

Not all dog foods are created equally. As always, I recommend a high-quality natural diet that does not use chicken meal (or other rendered meats), synthetic chemicals or preservatives as these additives may be associated with adverse reactions. Read the label to make sure there are only ingredients you would choose for yourself.

Hope that helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

Answers provided to pet owners by Dr. Donna Spector should be considered information and not specific advice. Answers are to be used for general information purposes only and not as a substitute for in-person evaluation or specific professional advice from your veterinarian. Communications on this site are very limited and should never be used in possible cases of emergency. Halo, Purely for Pets will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information or content contained in a blog or article post.