Vegan dog food test & recommendations

Vegan dog food: a contradiction?

When choosing food, many dog ​​owners pay particular attention to the highest possible and high-quality meat content. There is a very simple assumption behind this: it is often thought that dogs are predators and therefore also carnivores.

The wolf is usually used as the inspiration for this hypothesis: the forefathers of our domestic dogs, which still share around 99 percent of their DNA, feed almost exclusively on cunning prey. Based on this, there are numerous supposedly “natural” dog foods that provide food for “little wolves” and consist almost exclusively of animal ingredients.

dogs are Omnivore

But it's not quite that simple: in the thousands of years after the separation of wolves and dogs, the bodies of domesticated four-legged friends have evolved significantly. Studies show that the percentage of the genetic material that is not identical makes a big difference.

For example, dogs have developed a high tolerance for starch and – provided there are no intolerances – they not only cope excellently with grains and other carbohydrate sources, but also with plant components such as fruit and vegetables.

Biologists and veterinarians now largely agree: While wolves are carnivores and need animal proteins to survive, dogs basically are Omnivore.

On the Nutrient composition it arrives

So it's not just about what the dog gets to eat. Instead, the focus should be on this Nutrient composition stand. This includes in particular:

• Proteins suitable and sufficiently available for dogs with all essential and semi-essential amino acids
• Well-composed fats, in addition to saturated and unsaturated fatty acids from the omega groups
• Vitamins, dogs especially need those from the A, B, D and E groups as well
• Minerals and trace elements.

The easiest way to achieve a complete supply of all nutrients is a good mix of meat and plant-based ingredients; around 75 percent animal and 25 percent plant-based ingredients are often considered ideal.

But that doesn't mean that a meat-free diet is completely impossible for dogs: most four-legged friends can also be fed a vegan diet without developing deficiency symptoms – although it takes a little more effort.

On the Nutrient composition it arrives

So it's not just about what the dog gets to eat. Instead, the focus should be on this Nutrient composition stand. This includes in particular:

• Proteins suitable and sufficiently available for dogs with all essential and semi-essential amino acids
  Well-composed fats, in addition to saturated and unsaturated fatty acids from the omega groups
  Vitamins, dogs especially need those from the A, B, D and E groups as well
  Minerals and trace elements.
• The easiest way to achieve a complete supply of all nutrients is a good mix of meat and plant-based ingredients; around 75 percent animal and 25 percent plant-based ingredients are often considered ideal.
• But that doesn't mean that a meat-free diet is completely impossible for dogs: most four-legged friends can also be fed a vegan diet without developing deficiency symptoms – although it takes a little more effort.

Plant-based meat substitute

So it can be said: If the four-legged friend is fed meat without thinking too much, the chances of adequate nutrition are significantly better than with purely plant-based sources.

That's why you have to think really carefully before making the switch: The best strategy is to “recreate” prey animals with vegan food as much as possible.

Although animal ingredients seem to arouse the four-legged friends' eating instincts much better, the taste is initially of secondary importance: it is important to give the dog's body everything it needs to maintain its functions and lead an active, healthy life.

Vegan & vegetarian Nutrition

There is also a difference when it comes to dog food vegan and vegetarian Varieties distinguished:

• Vegetarian dog food is meat-free, but may contain other animal ingredients. These include, for example, eggs or dairy products.
• Vegan dog food On the other hand, it actually contains no animal ingredients, instead it only uses plant-based ingredients.

The transition between vegetarian and vegan dog food is fluid and also depends on the dog owner's perspective: fats obtained from sheep's wool, for example, are a very good source of vitamin D3 and are accepted by some but rejected by others. The same applies to algae, which some vegans classify as living beings, but which many others consider to be plants.

Plant-based protein sources

Compared to meat-containing food, the plant-based protein sources have to do a lot more in a purely vegan diet: They should be put together in such a way that all essential amino acids are sufficiently represented. This is about

• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenyialanine
• Threonine
• tryptophan and
• Valine.

Two are also important semi-essential Amino acids. Although they can be produced by the dog itself, the amount is usually not enough to provide the animals with complete nutrition. These are

Very good vegan protein sources include lentils, peas, lupine, oat flakes or pseudo-grains such as amaranth and quinoa. Soy is also very rich in protein, but many environmentally conscious dog lovers tend to avoid the beans because they require a lot of cultivation space. Since it is processed heated into dog food mixtures, soy is non-toxic and in this form does not pose any danger to the four-legged friends.

Carbohydrates, among other things, for more energy

However, the protein content of plant sources is usually lower than that of meat-containing products. More active dogs therefore often have problems getting enough energy from vegan food.

That's why many varieties rely on one increased carbohydrate content. Grain variants such as corn, rice or wheat are often used, which provide quickly available calories and can be burned easily as long as the dog gets enough exercise.

Carbohydrates are often viewed with skepticism, but DNA studies have shown that dogs have an extremely high tolerance to starch compared to wolves: feeding them in this way is absolutely species-appropriate. However, some four-legged friends tend to intolerances, Gluten-containing varieties such as wheat and barley are particularly known for this and should be avoided by sensitive dogs. Very popular grain-free carbohydrate sources include potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Fats for power, heart and circulation

Every dog ​​also needs fats. They not only provide the animals with energy, but are also extremely important for the heart and circulation. They get their usual food primarily from meat, and animal oils are also often used.

Manufacturers of vegan varieties have to be more creative here, because fruits and vegetables are very low in fat and do not provide an adequate supply. Vegetable oils and seeds such as linseed very often step into the breach. They also contain many unsaturated omega fatty acids, which, among other things, contribute to balanced cholesterol levels and healthy heart function.

Minerals & trace elements

Unfortunately, it is often a big challenge to cover the dog's mineral needs with vegan ingredients. Especially those Calcium and phosphorus supply is made more difficult without animal food sources. Meat has a clear advantage here, but a vegan supply is still possible.

The ideal ratio between calcium and phosphorus is around 1.2 to 1.4 to 1. With meat, the requirement is primarily met by offal, bones and cartilage. If you follow a vegan diet, you have to be particularly careful, as a deficiency can quickly lead to problems with your blood count and bone structure. Non-meat alternatives include:

• Calcium: Green vegetables, legumes, plant seeds and algae
• Phosphorus: Nuts, oatmeal, legumes, plant seeds or pumpkin seeds.

In order for the dog to be able to utilize the minerals, it also needs sufficient vitamin D. Plant ingredients usually only offer vitamin D2, which is not so easily absorbed. Vitamin D3, which is considered ideal, is actually only available in animal feed sources; a comparatively gentle, but not entirely vegan solution is, for example, wool fat from sheep.

vitamins, that the dog needs

For an active, healthy and long life, the dog also needs sufficient vitamins. Vitamin C, which plays a very important role for us humans, is of secondary importance for four-legged friends because they can produce it themselves.

They are much more important

• Vitamins A or beta-carotene
• Representative of the B vitamins
• Vitamin D (already mentioned above) and
• the antioxidant vitamin E.

These are mainly found in fruits and vegetables. Vegetable oils are also an excellent vegan source of vitamin E. To ensure that the dog is optimally cared for, many manufacturers rely on artificially added “nutritional additives”. Not every dog ​​owner likes this, but it prevents deficiency symptoms and, as a vegan compromise, contributes to the health of the four-legged friend.