Study Update
How nutritionally sound is commercially available vegan pet food relative to meat-based pet food?
A review of commercially available dog and cat foods highlights that the key challenge in pet nutrition is not simply about choosing between vegan and meat-based diets.
It’s about whether the product has been accurately formulated, if it includes appropriate nutritional supplementation, and if it has undergone strict quality control during manufacturing.
Numerous studies in dogs, and a smaller number in cats, have now shown that modern, commercially available vegan diets usually achieve good health outcomes and that dogs and cats can digest plant-based ingredients effectively.
The challenge is not necessarily whether the nutrients come from plants or animals, but whether manufacturers formulate foods so they contain the right nutrients in the right amounts.
How do you choose a nutritionally sound pet food?
Make sure the majority of your pet’s diet is complete and balanced— the product label should confirm the diet is “complete”. Choose reputable companies that work with veterinary nutritionists or other qualified nutrition experts and can explain how they ensure their food is nutritionally sound and of good quality. If a company can’t explain how it ensures nutritional soundness, choose another.
Further information