Comprehensive Study Shows Dogs Can Thrive on Vegan Diets

A peer-reviewed study published in PLOS ONE declares that dogs on nutritionally complete vegan diets exhibit health similar to those on meat-based diets. The study spanned a year and involved 15 dogs feeding exclusively on a vegan diet based on pea protein, equivalent to approximately seven human years.

The research showed no adverse clinical changes in the dogs' blood, urine, or weight management. Some dogs exhibited improvements in previously noted deficiencies associated with meat diets, such as increased levels of L-taurine, L-carnitine, vitamin D, and folate.

Addressing concerns about vegan diets and heart disease in dogs, the study found no signs of heart issues, and some indicators of cardiac health actually improved. Lead researcher Dr. Annika Linde noted that dogs possess a digestive system capable of handling nutritionally complete omnivorous diets that include no animal ingredients.

The study also emphasized the environmental advantages of vegan pet diets, potentially reducing global meat consumption significantly if widely adopted, reflecting on the environmental stress contributed by traditional pet food consumption practices.