Why a vegan diet is a great choice for dogs with ingredient sensitivity
Isn’t it natural for dogs to eat meat?
Between the growing popularity of the vegan lifestyle and concerns about dogs with protein sensitivities, more people have started feeding their dogs a vegan diet. This has surfaced a few questions, including, whether a vegan diet goes against dogs’ nature. Several studies, including some referenced by Linda P. Case in her article, A Taste for Meat?, and by veterinary nutritionist Dr. Cailin R. Heinze in her article, Vegan Dogs—A healthy lifestyle or going against nature? have demonstrated that eating meat is not innate or required.
Is a vegan diet healthy for dogs?
You’ve probably heard that cats are obligate carnivores, meaning there are nutrients cats need (vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and taurine) that they cannot get from a vegetarian diet. Dogs, however, don’t have that same limitation. They can get the nutrients they need from plants, which is great news for dogs who are sensitive to animal proteins. Plus, dogs’ anatomy—from their gastrointestinal tracts to their molars to their slightly longer small intestine—shows us that they are omnivorous, according to Case, in her article, Dogs are Carnivores, Right?
Will my dog get enough protein with vegan dog food?
A complete and balanced vegan dog food can be a very healthy choice for dogs. You don’t need to worry if vegan dog food has enough protein because Halo® Holistic Garden of Vegan® dog food is made with protein-rich, plant-based ingredients, like peas, chickpeas, pearled barley, and oats. It also uses non-GMO vegetables, and no rice or fillers. Plus, it’s a great choice for dogs who are sensitive to animal proteins.
Can a vegan diet help dogs with allergies?
If your dog has skin or coat issues or other signs that he or she could have an allergy, you may want to try eliminating the top four allergens—meat, dairy, corn, or wheat—from his or her diet. Halo® Holistic Garden of Vegan® has no meat, dairy, corn, or wheat in it, so it’s a great alternative for dogs with these ingredient sensitivities.
The many benefits of being an omnivore
Besides the advantage of not containing major allergens, dogs’ omnivorous diet is important for families who follow a vegan lifestyle, or who prefer not to feed dogs meat for ethical or ecological reasons.