dog and pet owner

Vegan Dog Food: 10 Reasons to Switch Your Dog to a Vegan Diet

Are Vegan Dogs A Thing?

Well no, you can’t have ‘Vegan dogs’  as Veganism is an ethical choice. HOWEVER, vegan dog food is perfectly safe and healthy for your dog.

Dogs have evolved to be able to digest plant starch, and love organic foods. For a long time, the world record for the oldest dog in the world was held by Bramble, a completely vegan border collie who lived 25 happy, healthy years! As long as your dog is getting the right nutrition from the right sources, and not being exposed to anything in excess, there is no reason they can’t live a long, happy life on a plant-based dog food diet.

In this blog, you’ll find 10 great reasons for your dog to embrace a vegan lifestyle, starting with the most obvious and probably most important reason- health.

Health

Your dog can be completely healthy (and maybe more happy and healthy?) on a nutritionally complete vegan or plant-based diet. If you’re thinking about making the switch but you want a little more evidence then have a little read through the dogs – a history lesson section of a previous blog post.

Of course, there are hundreds of parameters a nutritionist would look for but here are the 3 main steps.

1. Always look for the label ‘complete’ if you are going to be feeding this food almost exclusively and want to ensure that the food has all the necessary components to allow it to state COMPLETE under FEDIAF guidelines

For instance, here is the word ‘COMPLETE’ on the front of our bag:

Plantlabs packaging showing the word complete

2. Always check the ‘nutritional additives’ list of your chosen vegan or plant-based dog food, – even those labelled as ‘complete’ – for both ‘Methionine’ (or DL-methionine) and ‘Taurine’. Although as a complete food it WILL contain all the 10 essential amino acids dogs need, these are the two amino acids that are more likely to be marginal in a vegan or plant-based dog food, we recommend to always look for that little bit of extra supplementation.

Here is what it looks like on our bag:
plant labs packaging showing ingredients

3. We would also advise that the overall protein content of the food is 24% or above to ensure all the rest of the amino acids are likely to be provided in more than adequate quantities.

Here is where this is stated on our bag:
plant labs packaging showing protein content

We are proud and excited that there we have created a food without ingredients going through high heat rendering plants (where most meat goes before addition to less-than premium meat-based dog food) and instead, we are serving your dog carefully selected organic ingredients, a 28% overall protein content (and all from plants) and a special combination of olive oil, rapeseed oil and linseed oil to give Noochy Poochy an Omega 6:3 ratio of 4:1. This is considered optimum for dog health.

We’re proud to say our Noochy Poochy is 100% nutritionally complete AND we specifically supplement two amino acids, Methionine and Taurine.

And if that’s not enough…

We’re the only dog food to harness the delicious cheesy flavour of world-over hit vegan flavour staple and superfood nutritional yeast!

If you are looking for a change to see if you can improve your vegan dog’s quality of life and happiness, why not order your first bag of Noochy Poochy today?

Weight loss

A 2019 study from the pet food manufacturers association (PFMA) showed that over half of all pet dogs in the UK are medically obese.

By catering to your dog’s nutritional requirements more carefully, and being more mindful of what you are feeding your dog, you can save them from all of the potential problems linked with obesity, including:

  • Orthopaedic disease
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Pancreatitis
  • Various cancers
  • Respiratory disease
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Lipid disorders
  • Hepatic lipidosis
  • Dermatological diseases (including interdigital skin diseases)
  • Increased anaesthetic risk

In addition to all of these potential health risks, the PFMA study also showed that obese dogs, unsurprisingly, have a shortened life span, and live up to 2 years less than dogs with a lower body mass index rating.

Through living plant-based, your vegan dog will benefit massively from a more complete nutritional food base without excess ‘bad’ fats. Soybean, which is our star and top organic ingredient in Noochy Poochy Adult 12mth+ has been shown to be cholesterol lowering – in people and in dogs.

Ethics

The ethical argument for veganism is a very well documented and discussed one, which comes down to this.

If you acknowledge that animals are capable of feelings, and personality, you are acknowledging that animals are intelligent.

When we consider the conditions and inevitable end result of animals reared on a large scale for slaughter it becomes an ethical issue.

Unfortunately, as pet dog numbers increase around the world, more consumers are opting for premium meat based diets, made with prime meat (i.e. the same meat that would be deemed suitable for humans).

This means more farm animals are being bred and killed to fulfil this consumer demand.

On a wider scale, the environmental ramifications of animal rearing are huge, and a major contributing factor to global warming.

By switching to plant-based dog food, your dog’s carbon pawprint is reduced and you help further to reduce the demand that drives the slaughter business.

At Noochy Poochy we’re proud to have created something we feel fulfils the awesome want of the generation to feed our dogs well, but also ethically.

 

Sustainability

Although we touched on sustainability when talking about the ethical aspects of veganism and switching to a plant-based diet for your dog, it goes beyond just reducing your carbon footprint.

Currently, 77% of the world’s farmland is used for rearing livestock – grazing them and growing food for them.

The more people and dogs that make the switch to vegan, this green space could be taken back to regrow indigenous plant life. This would help prevent mass wildlife extinction, conserve precious eco-systems and give animals back natural habitats.

FUN FACT:

77 percent of farmland is used for livestock but yet provides only 23 percent of global protein supply.

In other words, the 23 percent of remaining farmland used to grow crops supplies more calories and protein for the population than the almost four-times larger area used for livestock.

Wow!

Sustainable agriculture – more efficient energy to protein conversion is one of the irrefutable arguments for plant-based living for the growing numbers of both humans and our canine companions.

Allergies and Intolerances

If your dog could talk, would they tell you they were 100% happy? After asking to go for a walk, or to play, would they maybe tell you they have itchy skin, or weepy eyes they can’t clean, or a little bit of gastrointestinal distress?

Some of the most common dog food allergies include beef, chicken, dairy, gluten, egg, lamb, and soy.

By moving to a plant-based diet, you cut out 5 of the 7 most common food allergens. If the plant-based diet also omits wheat (like Noochy Poochy does), you’ve omitted 6 of the 7 most common food allergens. t Some of the ways that these common allergies affect dogs can be subtle, and are easy to miss. It can even affect your dog’s temperament, mood and energy levels.

Checking your dog’s poop is another way you can check for possible intolerances or problems at any early stage.

Switching to a vegan dog food diet is a great way to ensure your dog isn’t suffering in silence, especially with an allergy or intolerance that isn’t presenting in an obvious or traditional way.

Pollution levels

This one isn’t quite as directly about the environment in terms of global warming, but a question of water pollution and more ‘on your doorstep’ pollution. UK rivers are in a dire state and are among the dirtiest waterways in Europe!

In the majority of cases ( of a total of nearly 250 documented ‘serious pollution violations of farm pollution laws), farm animal waste is being dumped in an unregulated manner. Pollution from farm waste can cause serious environmental health issues, for both you and your dog.

girls sitting with a dog

Connection

If you’re a vegan, it makes sense for your pets to be vegan or eat plant-based too! It enhances the feeling of family, and you’re treating your dog like you treat yourself.

After all, we know a dog is more than just a pet, they are a family member.

It’s not just the added benefit for most vegans of not having to handle meat or participate in perpetuating the innately sad farm cycle, but with you both eating vegan or plant-based and sharing the same lifestyle choice, there is definitely an aspect of bonding.

You are sharing more of your life with your four legged friend, and it’s an added bonus that your dog’s breath won’t smell of meat for any after-dinner snuggles.

To start your journey with highly nutritious plant-based dog food, grab your first bag of Noochy Poochy today!
Evolution

Over the last 14,000 years, Dog’s digestive systems have evolved similarly to humans, meaning they are perfectly capable of existing happily on a plant-based diet, just as much as you are.

They have the gene AMY2B, which allows for the production of amylase. Amylase is an enzyme which allows for the digestion of plant based starch, and in our domesticated dogs this gene is 28 times more active than in wolves.

There is a lot of discussion around the development of ‘canine’ teeth, as an argument for why dogs (and humans) should be meat eaters… but by that argument, wouldn’t gorillas (the mammal with the longest canines) be obligate carnivores?

Gorillas get on fine with a 99% plant based diet, only interrupted by the occasional insect or termite!

Inflammation and arthritis

Arthritis and joint inflammation is unfortunately an affliction that many dogs suffer from, especially in their later years. Through improving your dog’s diet generally and allowing them to be a healthy weight overall, the strain put on your dog’s joints will be lessened anyway.

In addition to this, when compared to meat based dog foods, plant based dog foods have a naturally higher level of anti-inflammatory ingredients.

This means that vegan dogs often experience greater levels of mobility, and with that comes a better muscle to fat ratio as they are more comfortable on longer walks.

Your dog will be more energetic, more comfortable, and generally happier if they aren’t experiencing soreness and twinges after playtime or walkies.

Vegan Dog Food: 10 Reasons to Switch Your Dog to a Vegan or Plant-based Diet

If you still aren’t 100% convinced to switching your dog to a plant-based diet, even after reading all the above, then there’s only one thing left to do.

Try it.

As always, when switching dog food, it is worth making the switch to Noochy Poochy gradually to avoid causing any unnecessary gastrointestinal distress.

But, we warn you, dogs might just find our dog food too tasty to resist …

“Our dog Bear loves Noochy Poochy. We tried to slowly introduce it into his diet but he went straight for it and never turned back and it definitely feels good giving him plant-based food!” Rob Da Bank – Radio 1 DJ

The typical signifiers of a dog being happy, healthy, and generally flourishing are as follows:

  • A shiny, clean coat- This is because your dog is producing all of the natural oils, and shedding normally. It is also a really good indicator of your dog feeling content in its environment in general.
  • Regular toileting – A dog’s poo can tell you a lot about their health. Urine is also important, and should be straw yellow, pale gold, amber, or clear. If there’s a change in volume or frequency (in either poop or urine) best to get down to the vet with a small sample.
  • Clean ears – If your dog is shaking his head, scratching their ears or have a strong smell (note you will have to get up very close and personal to smell them effectively) then that is an indicator that something is wrong.
  • Bright Eyes – Your dog’s eyes should be clear, no green or yellow discharge or gunking, and their pupils should be the same size.
  • Waggy tail, Good Energy Levels – You know your dog better than anyone. If they’re happy and almost puppy-like in their behaviour, you’ll definitely be able to tell!
  • Sleeping habits – If your dog feels happy and comfortable, they’ll settle far more regularly and easily into a quick nap time. Oooh sounds nice!

Order your first bag of Noochy Poochy today and make the switch to a happier, healthier lifestyle for you and your precious pal.