Dogs are omnivores so it is basically possible for a dog to survive on a completely vegetarian diet. There are some drawbacks. A completely plant-based diet will not be the dog’s first choice, they prefer meat in nature. The dog likes the taste better. The substances from meat can be absorbed more easily and shortages can arise less quickly. In addition, vegetarian food for dogs is more expensive. If you are all about it, you can choose to give commercial vegetarian food or make your own food,
Why do you want to feed your dog vegetarian?
For ethical and health reasons, some people want to feed their dog vegetarian. Dog food in the supermarket contains unusable parts of the slaughterhouse (such as the brain), but also meat that supermarkets and the catering industry no longer need. It can contain unhealthy substances and contaminants such as oxidized trans fats, hormones and antibiotics.
Commercial dog food
For dogs, there is a balanced animal food on the market that is exclusively vegetarian. There are some measures that you must take while feeding. Notice if your dog has allergic reactions. Visit the vet twice a year to see if your dog is still healthy. If necessary, build up the diet slowly and only replace half of the dog’s diet with vegetarian food at first. Some examples of vegetarian brands are:
- Yarrah
- Benevo
- Pitti-boris
- Terra pura
Compose your own diet
Those who prefer to prepare things for their dog themselves can do this too. The same measures apply for this as commercial food. It is also better to engage an animal nutrition expert who can help you. Most of the vegetarian dog diet should consist of high-protein foods. The rest consists of vegetables, healthy fats, carbohydrates and supplements.
Good proteins
About 30 to 60 percent of the diet should consist of high-quality protein foods. Well-cooked legumes are preferred. Cook them until they are soft and puree them. Legumes such as black beans, pinto beans, soybeans, chickpeas, split peas and lentils are especially good. Vary between the legumes. For the rest, there are some other protein-rich products to vary and combine:
- Well-cooked grains: quinoa, buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, brown rice
- Animal proteins: egg (including skin, very high in calcium) or a few tablespoons of cottage cheese, quark, buttermilk or yogurt
- Soy meat substitutes: tempeh and tofu
- Seitan (feed sparingly, on special occasions): This is a high-protein vegetarian powder made from gluten
Good vegetables
A vegetarian dog should eat vegetables with a lot of beta carotene. The best vegetables are carrots and sweet potatoes. Boil these vegetables well soft and puree them through every meal! Beta carotene is converted in a dog’s body to vitamin A. In a vegetarian diet, there are few other sources of vitamin A. Other vegetables can also be included with meals. Broccoli, cabbage, leafy green vegetables and beets are great sources of minerals such as calcium.
Good fats
9 to 15% of the daily recommended calorie intake for dogs should come from fats. To achieve this, you can give 2 teaspoons (small dogs) to 2 tablespoons (large dogs) of oil / seed per day. You can easily stir this through the meal.
- Healthy oils: linseed oil, hemp seed oil, extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil (tahini) or mustard oil.
- Healthy Seeds: Flaxseeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Hulled Sesame Seeds, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Sunflower Seeds.
- Vegetarian dog oil: try to give at least 1 to 3 teaspoons of dog oil (contains omega 3, 6, 9) in a day. You can get this at the pet store. Then you can be sure that the dog is getting all fats.
Good carbohydrates
There isn’t really a daily recommended amount of carbohydrates for dogs. Except during pregnancy, for example, or during lactation. You can therefore supplement the rest of the diet with carbohydrates. In general, you can make 20 to 45% of the total diet carbohydrates. It is best to choose grains for this.
Supplements
Certain substances that are mainly in meat must be applied in supplement form. Some vegetarian pet food manufacturers make pills that contain most of these substances, such as vegedog. This is recommended. Otherwise, consult an animal nutritionist to find the correct supplements in the correct amounts based on the nutrition you are feeding your dog. Useful Dietary Supplements:
- Taurine, L-carnitine
- Vitamin B12 (or nutritional yeast)
- vitamin D
- Iron
- Zinc
- Calcium
Which deficiencies can easily arise with a vegetarian diet?
Not enough protein
It is recommended for an adult active dog to have 25 to 30% of its total diet consist of proteins. However, proteins from vegetable sources are absorbed much less well, so a protein deficiency can easily arise. In addition, it is more difficult to find all essential amino acids (building blocks of protein) in the right proportions in vegetable food. They are all present in vegetable food sources, but you have to choose the right vegetable sources to avoid deficiencies, such as different legumes. A problem can arise especially with lysine. This will not be a major problem with meat.
Deficiency in taurine and L-carnitine
Some dogs do not make enough of these non-essential amino acids themselves. These two amino acids are abundant in meat, so a dog that eats meat will normally not experience any problems. However, they are not at all in vegetable sources, so you will have to add them to the vegetarian diet.
Vitamin and mineral deficiency
This mainly concerns vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc and calcium. It is important to still administer this in supplement form.
Not enough fat
Your dog will not get certain animal fats from, for example, fish, but only vegetable fats. However, the dog’s body is best able to convert animal fats into a usable form. Signs of low fat include flaky dry skin and coat.