This simple guide details some of the best vegan dog food brands that are available, whilst also dipping into the world of DIY dog food, with two easy ‘at home’ recipes that will leave your canine companion’s taste buds tingling!
Commercial vegan dog food
Below we have done our best to source the best vegan dog food brands and focused on brands which are environmentally conscious.
Disclaimer: We only recommend vegan/plant-based dog food where the owner can be sure that the food is complete in nutrition and that the dog is in good health. If you have changed your dog’s food and see a decline in their health, seek advice immediately.
Also, regarding canine nutrition, as with human nutrition, the jury is still out on exactly what diet they should consume. We are basing our scores below on the volume and diversity of plant-based ingredients (especially those which a dog could naturally consume). As a dog owner, You may have your own priorities.
V-Dog
V-dog Traditional Flakes & V-dog Crunchy Nuggets
V-dog state that their Traditional Flakes and Crunchy Nuggets are suitable for all adult dogs and are highly recommended for those with sensitive digestions, skin problems or suspected intolerance to meat proteins.
The packaging appears to be plastic — we don’t, yet, know if it can be recycled.
Price
￡29.99/15 kg bag
Sustainability
V-dog’s packaging is plastic. We don’t know if V-dog’s Traditional Flakes or Crunchy Nuggets packaging can be recycled.
Health and Nutrition
V-dog calculate that their Crunchy Nuggets dog food contains (per KG) 20% “crude protein”, 8% fat and 4% “crude fibre”, While their Traditional Flakes dog food contains 20% “crude protein, 6% fat and 3% “crude fibre”.
Aside from numerous plant-based ingredients, V-dog also enriches their products with a wide range of vitamins including B12 and folic acid.
V-dog dog foods contain both wheat and soya.
Where to buy
V-dog’s vegan dog food can be found at: veggiepets.com Viovet.co.uk and various other websites. However, these products don’t seem to be available in supermarkets. More information about V-dog’s products can be found at v-dog.co.uk .
If you know of any shops that sell these products, let us know.
Ami
Ami V-Love Every Day
Ami’s V-LOVE is soya, wheat and corn free, and claims to be suitable for dogs with allergies and sensitivities.
Although somewhat expensive, the product has environmentally sustainable packaging and uses ingredients known to provide dogs with the nutrition they need to live healthy lives.
Price
￡2.39/400g tin
Sustainability
The wet food comes in a metal tin which is recyclable, and the ‘Veggie Pets’ website confirms that the majority of their packaging is recyclable.
Health and Nutrition
Ingredients (V-LOVE Orange): White Beans, Pumpkin 13%, Sweet Potato 10%, Courgette, Rice, Sunflower Oil, Pea Protein, Apple, Minerals, Spinach, Basil, Dandelion Leaves, Seaweed Meal. Vitamin A 3,037 IU, Vitamin D3 102 IU, Vitamin E 7.5 mg.
Nutrition (V-LOVE Orange): Moisture 75%, Crude Protein 6.0%, Crude Oils & Fats 4.0%, Crude Fibre 1.5%, Crude Ash 2.0%.
Where to buy
Ami’s V-LOVE dog food can be found at: veggiepets.com , ethicalpets.co.uk and amazon.co.uk . However, this product does not appear to be stocked in UK supermarkets.
Yarrah
VEGA Organic Dry Dog Food
VEGA Organic Dog Food boasts numerous nutritional benefits for your pet; the packaging detailing somewhat unusual ingredients that contain vital vitamins and minerals to ensure your dog is happy and healthy. With multiple quantities available, this product enables you to reduce packaging waste by purchasing in bulk.
Price
￡14.99/2 kg bag
Sustainability
The packaging appears to be made from plastic — it is unclear if this is recyclable. However, there is the option to buy larger bags (bulk buy) which would reduce the amount of plastic used in proportion to the quantity of food, making bulk buying a more sustainable option.
Health and Nutrition
Yarrah’s VEGA contains energy-boosting organic coconut oil and added vitamin b12, alongside taurine and l-carnitine for a healthy heart. This vegan organic dog food also contains soluble vegetable proteins, added baobab seeds and seaweed to assist with the dog’s bowels and vitality.
Where to buy
Yarra’s VEGA Organic Dog Food can be found at: ethicalpets.co.uk , amazon.co.uk , yarah.com .
Benevo
Benevo Organic Vegan Dog Dry
Perhaps the most natural of the dog foods examined, Benevo Organic Vegan Dog Food is wheat, gluten and GMO free, contains additional nutrients for your pet, and, as stated in the name, the ingredients are organic. Benevo claim that their product is an excellent choice for dogs suffering from sensitivities to wheat protein.
Benevo’s Organic Vegan Dog Food is reasonably priced and can be purchased in large quantities, helping to reduce packaging waste. Benevo also offer tinned wet food for dogs following a plant-based diet.
Price
￡12.99/2 kg bag
Sustainability
The Packaging is plastic, and it is unclear if this is recyclable. However, the dry biscuits inside are not packaged further. Multiple sizes are available, so buying in bulk is preferable to save on excess packaging.
Health and Nutrition
Benevo’s vegan dog food is organic, wheat free, gluten free and GM-free. There are no added preservatives or colourings, and it is fortified with vitamins and minerals. The food is made up of roughly 21% protein alongside Probiotic FOS to assist digestion.
Where to buy
Benevo’s products can be found at: ethicalpet.co.uk , benevo.com , amazon.co.uk . Their tinned wet food can be found at: greenbaysupermarket.co.uk .
Halo
Our Garden of Vegan
Halo vegan dog food claims to be ‘super digestible’, helping to ensure that the nutrients from the food are effectively absorbed by your dog.
The product is available on multiple websites at a variety of different purchase sizes, ranging from a 4lb (1.81 kg) bag to a 25lb (11.34 kg) bag. Winner of the VegNews Veggie Awards in 2018 , Halo’s ‘Garden of Vegan’ was named ‘Best Dog Food’.
Price
39.23/10 lb (4.54 kg) bag
Sustainability
The packaging appears to be plastic and it is unclear if this plastic is recyclable. However, multiple purchase sizes are available, so buying in bulk will help to reduce the environmental impact.
Health and Nutrition
Free from meat, dairy, corn and wheat, this plant-based dog food is created from chickpeas, non-GMO fruit and vegetables, and nourishing oils. The proteins are derived from whole grains, green peas and chickpeas.
Where to buy
This product can be found at: amazon.com and halopets.com .
Make your own dog food (dog food recipes)
You can make plant-based / ‘vegan’ dog food at home using simple every-day ingredients. If you decide to give the ‘DIY’ approach a go, make sure to thoroughly research which foods dogs can and cannot eat, and ensure that all of their daily nutritional needs are met. If you select ingredients carefully, we believe this can be the healthiest vegan dog food option.
Protein and healthy fats are a vital component of a dog’s diet, so it is important that your recipes cater to their needs. The following recipes are a good place to start when giving the ‘DIY vegan dog food’ a try.
Home-made Vegan Dog Food Recipe 1
Ingredients
- 2 medium diced sweet potatoes
- 2 cups of green lentils
- 2 cups of brown rice
- 3 medium Carrot
- 2 cups of Kale
- 1 cup of frozen blueberries
- ½ cup of ground flax
- ½ cup of nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp flax oil/hemp oil/olive oil
Method
- Cook the sweet potatoes, green lentils and brown rice together in water for approximately 30 minutes on a low heat.
- Once cooked, blend the ingredients. The consistency should be similar to that of tinned dog food; this helps your pet absorb all the nutrients from the food.
- Once blended, add the carrots, kale and blueberries.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix together.
This recipe was created by ‘EatMoveRest’:
Home-made Vegan Dog Food Recipe 2
Ingredients
- 10 cups of water
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 12oz (0.45 kg) tin of pumpkin
- 2 cups of uncooked rice
- 3 cups of uncooked lentils
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 3 carrots
- 10 tbsp of veggie oil
- 10 tbsp of ground flax seeds
Method
- Cook the rice and lentils together in a pot with 10 cups of water.
- After 20 minutes (half-way through cooking the lentils and rice), add the sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cauliflower and carrots.
- Simmer for 45min-1hr until thick, soft and mushy — add water if needed.
- Turn the heat off to let it to cool and stir in the oil and seeds.
This recipe was created by ‘Plantriotic’:
Adding pet supplements to recipes is optional, however, is recommended to ensure that your pet receives all of their nutritional needs. If you do not opt for supplements, it is recommended to use an ‘at home’ recipe alongside a vegan-friendly dog biscuit to ensure a healthy and balanced diet for your pet.
If you can’t get your hands on any of the dog food recommended above, then it may be worth heading to your local pet shop or whole food shop and asking if they could source local, vegan-friendly dog food for you to buy. After all, shopping locally is a big part of shopping sustainably!
These DIY dog food recipes are a useful way to control exactly what your dog is eating and ensure that they, too, are living sustainably by sourcing ingredients locally.
Does your dog eat a plant-based diet? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.