New Study: Vegan Diets Can Provide Adequate Nutrition for Dogs

New Research: Dogs Can Thrive on Vegan Diets, According to Study

A recent investigation conducted at the University of Illinois has affirmed that dogs can receive adequate and balanced nutrition from two human-grade, lightly cooked vegan diets. These diets meet the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and have shown positive effects on dogs’ health. The study discovered that dogs fed these vegan diets exhibited favorable fecal characteristics, high nutrient digestibility, and lower levels of blood triglycerides and cholesterol. Additionally, the fecal metabolites responsible for odor were reduced, indicating potential health benefits, particularly for overweight pets.

In today’s pet food industry, there is a wide range of products catering to various lifestyles, belief systems, and budgets of pet owners, including vegan options. Recent research at the University of Illinois has revealed that at least two human-grade, lightly cooked vegan diets provide sufficient nutrition for dogs.

Professor Kelly Swanson, co-author of the study and a member of the Department of Animal Sciences at the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at U of I, explains, “The popularity of vegan and human-grade foods for dogs is increasing. As people feed these diets to their pets, it’s essential to test them like any other food to ensure they are safe and nutritionally ‘complete and balanced.'”

The research team evaluated two human-grade vegan formulas from Bramble, one with a grain ingredient and the other without. They compared these diets with a best-selling brand’s chicken-based kibble diet. The diets were administered to beagles for three weeks, after which the dogs’ blood chemistry, fecal quality, and microbiome were analyzed. The findings of the study have been published in the Journal of Animal Science.

The researchers also analyzed the composition of the diets themselves. The vegan diets consisted of veterinarian nutritionist-formulated mixtures of whole foods such as lentils, garbanzo beans, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, apples, blueberries, peas, and carrots. Both the vegan diets and the chicken-based diet were found to meet the standards set by the AAFCO for providing “complete and balanced” nutrition.

Swanson explains, “It’s important to remember that animals have nutrient requirements, not ingredient requirements. As long as they consume the essential nutrients in the correct amounts and ratios, dogs can thrive on a vegan, vegetarian, or meat-based diet. However, careful formulation is necessary. Anyone can throw together a vegan meal for their dog, but without proper balance, it could be nutritionally inadequate.”

Previous studies conducted by Swanson’s team have shown that human-grade, fresh dog foods are highly digestible and result in significantly reduced stool volume. However, in the current study, the vegan diets did not generate more or less stool than the chicken-based diet. All diets exhibited high digestibility, but the vegan diets contained more fiber and oligosaccharides, which can benefit dogs that need to maintain regular bowel movements.

The research team was surprised to discover differences in certain blood metabolites, indicators of health status, between the vegan diets and the chicken-based diet. Notably, dogs fed the vegan diets exhibited significantly lower levels of blood triglycerides and cholesterol, which can benefit overweight pets and contribute to maintaining a healthy weight.

When the team analyzed the fecal microbiome and the chemicals produced by the gut microbes, they observed positive changes associated with the vegan diets.

Swanson explains, “The vegan diets resulted in interesting and beneficial changes in the microbial community, likely due to the blend of fibers present in the diets. The fecal metabolites phenol and indole, which contribute to fecal odor, were significantly reduced as well. While there will still be some odor, it’s likely to be less pronounced. Overall, the vegan diets appeared to positively impact gut health in dogs.”

Swanson expresses his interest in conducting further comparisons between human-grade diets with and without meat and dairy products. Nevertheless, as the first study to investigate the performance of fresh vegan diets in dogs, the results are promising.

“We had not previously tested the digestibility of these diets in dogs. We demonstrated that these vegan diets result in desirable fecal characteristics, high nutrient digestibility, and positive changes in certain blood and fecal metabolites. For those interested in feeding their pets a vegan diet that aligns with their values, the diets we tested are a good choice,” says Swanson.

Swanson emphasizes that the tested diets were formulated by veterinary nutritionists and warns that homemade vegan dog foods may not provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs.

Reference: “Apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility of mildly cooked human-grade vegan dog foods and their effects on the blood metabolites and fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites of adult dogs” by Leah J Roberts, Patricia M Oba and Kelly S Swanson, 27 March 2023, Journal of Animal Science.
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad093

The study received funding from Bramble, Inc.

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More about vegan diets for dogs

• University of Illinois: Link to University of Illinois website
• Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO): Official AAFCO website
• Journal of Animal Science: Journal of Animal Science website
• Bramble, Inc.: Official website of Bramble, Inc.