Pet Food – Debates
Veterinary Times debate: Roger Meacock vs. Andrew Knight, Feb. – Mar. 2025
Summary
A series of highly entertaining letters between raw meat advocate Roger Meacock and Andrew Knight published in Veterinary Times—the main UK veterinary news journal. This is delivered free to most UK veterinary practices and is widely read by vets and nurses. The letters page is one of the most highly read pages.
Said Dr. Jamie McClement, Referral Surgeon/Musculoskeletal clinician, “That letter to the Vet Times was really very funny. I hope this argument does not end any time soon because I am enjoying it immensely.”
Meacock R (2025). ‘Scientific reasons’ against vegan pet food, Vet Times 55(4), 19.
Knight A (2025). Regarding the hazards of plant-based diets, Vet Times, 55(06), 19.
Meacock R (2025). ‘Better if we return to RMB gold standard’, Vet Times 55(9), 23.
Knight A (2025). ‘Overwhelming scientific evidence’ surrounding vegan diets, Vet Times, 55(11), 27.
Plant-based diets for dogs and cats – what does the research say?
Summary
In this article Billy Nicholles and I rebuted common critiques of vegan pet diets, notably by veterinary nurse Robyn Lowe of Veterinary Voices UK in her 2023 blog: Vegan diets are healthier and safer for cats and dogs – or are they?
Nicholles B and Knight A (2024). Plant-based diets for dogs and cats – what does the research say?Plant-Based News. 13 Oct. https://plantbasednews.org/opinion/opinion-piece/plant-based-diets-dogs-cats/.
Should dogs and cats be fed vegan diets?
Summary
A response to a recent study by Daina et al. (2023) asserting nutritional inadequacies in vegan pet diets based on the analysis of only three specific diets — a sample insufficient to draw the sweeping (and incorrect) conclusions made. Also summarises the current health evidence concerning vegan (nutritionally-sound) diets for dogs and cats.
The weight-of-evidence position on vegan dog food
Summary
This technical letter, published in a leading UK veterinary journal, summarised the evidence extant by May 2022, about health outcomes of dogs on vegan vs meat-based diets. Four studies showed equivalent or superior health outcomes for dogs on vegan diets (compared to meat-based dog food), and one study (the oldest, smallest) showed a contrary result.
Knight A (2022). The weight-of-evidence position on vegan diets. Vet Times 52(21), 23.
Call for evidence-based positions on vegan diets
Summary
This technical letter, published in a leading UK veterinary journal, sheds light on some of the reason for the British Veterinary Association’s repeated opposition to vegan pet food – they appear to be crucially ignorant of key facts concerning this field. At least they’ve stated they will review their position in the future…
Knight A (2022). Call for evidence-based positions on vegan diets. Vet Times 52(29), p. 19.
Debate About Vegan Cat Food
a series of letters in J Amer Vet Med Assoc, 2005.