Study shows vegan dog food can match meat-based diets for nutrition

A new study has found that vegan dog foods sold in the UK provide similar levels of nutrition to meat-based products, challenging assumptions about the suitability of plant-based diets for companion animals.

The research, led by Rebecca Brociek of the University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science and published in PLOS One, examined the nutritional completeness of 31 commercial dog foods. The products included both conventional meat-based diets and plant-based formulations increasingly popular with owners seeking more sustainable options.

The team assessed total protein content alongside individual amino acids, fatty acids, major and trace elements, vitamin D, and all B vitamins. Their analysis showed that properly formulated plant-based diets can be a healthy and viable alternative to meat-based foods. Similar findings have been reported in studies from Brazil and Canada.

“Dogs, like humans, are omnivores and require specific nutrients rather than specific ingredients,” said Brociek. “Our study found that plant-based diets, when properly formulated, can be a healthy and viable alternative to meat-based options. Ideally the next step is long-term feeding studies, but as we begin to rethink pet nutrition, perhaps the alternative isn’t only better for the planet, but also beneficial for our four-legged companions.”

While the study provides reassurance to owners considering plant-based options, it also highlights a broader issue: both meat and plant-based foods frequently fall short of European standards for complete canine nutrition. According to the findings, 30 of the 31 products tested were missing at least one essential nutrient when measured against guidelines set by the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF).

Notably, the types of deficiencies varied by diet type. Plant-based foods were more likely to lack iodine and certain B vitamins – shortfalls that mirror common deficiencies in human plant-based diets. By contrast, veterinary diets intentionally formulated with lower total protein were most often deficient in one or more essential amino acids.

The study found that 55% of products met amino acid requirements, 16% met all mineral standards, and 24% met B-vitamin guidelines. All foods tested, however, complied with vitamin D requirements.

Protein remains one of the most scrutinized components of pet nutrition. The researchers reported that the overall protein levels in plant- and meat-based foods were comparable. Yet among veterinary diets designed to reduce crude protein intake, two-thirds were also lacking in essential amino acids.

“Veterinary diets, purposely low in crude protein, often have less than optimal essential amino acid composition,” Brociek noted. “These data provide important new information for owners of companion canines being fed plant-based or veterinary diets.”

The findings suggest that while owners may be concerned about protein sufficiency in vegan dog foods, it is not only these diets that risk falling short of nutritional standards.

The pet food market has been evolving rapidly as human dietary trends extend into animal nutrition. With plant-based eating on the rise, manufacturers have introduced vegan formulations for dogs, often marketed as environmentally friendly and ethically preferable.

The Nottingham study suggests that such products can indeed be nutritionally adequate, but manufacturers may need to pay closer attention to specific micronutrients. The authors recommend that supplemental iodine and B vitamins be incorporated into plant-based formulations to address the most common gaps identified.

At the same time, the research underscores that meat-based products are not automatically complete. Owners are advised to consider the nutritional profile of their chosen diet rather than assuming adequacy based on ingredients.

The study provides a snapshot of products currently available in the UK market, but the authors stress that more evidence is needed on how different diets perform over time. Long-term feeding trials, which track health outcomes in dogs maintained on vegan or meat-based diets for extended periods, would provide a clearer picture of risks and benefits.

For now, the key message is that dogs, as omnivores, can thrive on a variety of diets provided they are properly balanced. That balance, however, is not guaranteed in all commercial products.

As Brociek concluded: “Adopting a plant-based dietary pattern for companion canines can provide nutritional adequacy, but feeding supplemental iodine and B-vitamins should also be considered by manufacturers.”

For dog owners navigating an increasingly complex pet food landscape, the findings may offer reassurance that vegan options are viable — while also serving as a reminder that label claims do not always reflect nutritional completeness.