Can vegan (and vegetarian) dog treats be healthy for my dog? With pet store shelves being packed full of chicken and beef treats, this may be something you have questioned. With newly emerging vegan pet foods and treats, is it possible for your dog to thrive on a plant-based diet?

Dogs are classified as carnivores, but they are actually omnivores! The canine body has the ability to transform certain amino acids, protein building blocks, into others, allowing them to obtain all the necessary amino acids while avoiding meat. 

Your pup can benefit from the inclusion of fruits, vegetables and plant based proteins in their diet. Dr. Julie Mayer, DVM suggests that dogs should maintain a diet composed of 75% meat and 25% fruit, vegetables and carbohydrates. Healthy vegan foods to feed your dog include carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. A vegan protein source that dogs love is spirulina. Spirulina is a highly digestible blue-green algae and vegan protein that is more than 55% protein!

The inclusion of more fruits, vegetables and vegan proteins into your four-legged family member’s diet can also be very beneficial in reducing their carbon pawprint!! Traditional meat proteins are the most resource intensive part of pet food. Swapping out a portion of their diet to more sustainable foods reduces the amount of resources required to craft their food.

Want to incorporate healthy vegan treats into your dog’s diet? Check out our Spirulina Dailies! A snack powered by vegan ingredients for a veggie packed training treat, meal topper or tasty snack.

https://www.vegetariantimes.com/health-nutrition/6-plant-based-treats-your-dog-will-do-tricks-for/ 

https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/jcoates/2012/apr/can_dogs_be_vegetarians-14995