We recently caught up with Diana to talk about the health benefits of a high-fiber vegan diet for dogs.

Why did you start formulating vegan dog food?

I’ve been a professional canine nutritionist since 2012, but I only began formulating vegan dog food in early 2018. So even though I’m considered a pioneer, I’m surprised I didn’t catch on sooner! I created meat-based diets for so long because I too bought into the hype that dogs need meat to thrive. Once I became an ethical vegan, I knew I couldn’t justify doing that anymore. I was even prepared to give up my canine nutrition business. Luckily I didn’t have to.

Can dogs stay healthy on a vegan diet?

Absolutely! When I dug deep into the research and interviewed leading veterinary authorities, I happily discovered that dogs can thrive on plant-based diets. Many experts believe the current trend of high-meat diets contributes to rising rates of canine chronic diseases like cancer. Toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, hormones, and heavy metals bioaccumulate in animal fat and tissue. When dogs eat meat, they also ingest these toxins. On the other hand, most nutrient-dense, anti-cancer foods are plant-based (think legumes, dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables). The most important thing is making sure a dog’s diet is complete and balanced for their needs.

Many of my canine clients suffer from “large bowel” diarrhea—they respond really well to higher-fiber vegan diets, which firms up the stool. I believe that the real health benefits, however, are those we’ll see over the dog’s lifespan. Eating a cleaner diet high in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients and devoid of toxic animal products should result in a healthier dog who won’t succumb to the chronic health conditions we see in our canine companions today.

Do plant-based brands deliver key nutrients to dogs as effectively as conventional brands?

Yes. Every dog requires the proper ratios of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Protein gets the most attention because many people think “protein” means “meat”, but dogs can get all the protein they need from plants. Dogs on plant-based diets also need taurine for optimum heart health, so look for taurine in the ingredients list. (I recommend VegeDog by Compassion Circle.) Vegan brands that meet the guidelines for “complete and balanced” as set by of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) have all of the recommended nutrients, just like standard brands do. However, all home-prepared vegan diets need supplementation, so if you’re making your dog’s food, I recommend consulting a qualified canine nutritionist like myself or following a recipe from a trusted source. I like the recipes in Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats (4th Edition).

Is a vegan diet OK for dogs with special healthcare needs?

I’ve never found a dog who couldn’t be on a plant-based diet for medical reasons, and a vegan diet can actually help address a variety of canine healthcare conditions. Dogs with intolerances to animal proteins can get relief from the gastrointestinal and skin issues that accompany food sensitivities, such as nausea, diarrhea, and dry, itchy skin. Dogs with conditions that require low-fat diets, such as obesity, pancreatitis, or IBD can also benefit. I’ve even seen reports of improved behavior in aggressive dogs that have switched to a vegan diet. And since fiber promotes weight loss and can help lower blood sugar, diabetic dogs might also benefit. (In this case, dietary changes should only be made with veterinary supervision to ensure that insulin doses are properly adjusted.)

What ingredients do you like best for helping dogs reach optimum health?

I love “pseudo grains” like quinoa and buckwheat for a healthy combination of carbohydrates and protein. Green leafy, cruciferous, and yellow-orange vegetables such as kale, broccoli, and sweet potatoes are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants. Hempseeds and flaxseeds (or their oils) provide essential fatty acids, and dog-friendly fruits like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and apples are a great source of antioxidants.

I also love including organic tofu or tempeh for protein, as well as legumes like chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, and white beans. Recently, the FDA released a statement implying that certain foods, such as legumes, are associated with a type of heart disease in dogs called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). I wouldn’t worry too much about that—the FDA admits “potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors”¹ and is still investigating.

Are there any ingredients in conventional pet food that we should avoid?

Conventional pet food brands often contain ingredients and additives that can be harmful for dogs, such as rendered animal protein, even from “4D” animals (dead, dying, diseased and disabled); meat byproducts and meals; artificial colors and flavors; chemical preservatives such as BHA and BHT; used restaurant grease; and menadione, a synthetic “vitamin” K3, which has been implicated as a liver toxin. Meat-based pet foods can also harbor chemicals fed to farm animals that are absorbed into the animals’ fat and tissues, including prescription drugs, hormones, and animal waste. These are all ingredients approved by the FDA and AAFCO for use in livestock feed. You won’t find these additives on the food’s ingredient list because they are fed to the farm animal, not added directly to the pet food.

What challenges have you seen in dogs transitioning to vegan diets?

My challenges primarily come from humans! People who feed their dogs high-meat diets are used to seeing small, hard, crumbly stools. They think it’s healthy, but many of these dogs are actually constipated. It takes educating people. Occasionally, a dog dislikes vegetables. They’re typically older dogs who’ve been conditioned to eat a lot of meat. They’re not used to the tastes and textures of plant foods at first, so getting them on board takes a little ingenuity and patience.

Why is it important for you to share your ethical vegan lifestyle with your dogs?

I adopted my “soul dog”, a rescue named Chase, in January 2002. He opened my eyes to the plight of all abused and neglected animals and inspired my journey into vegetarianism and ultimately veganism. After 16 and-a-half beautiful years together, Chase passed away on June 30, 2018. I didn’t get the chance to raise him vegan, but now that I’ve adopted another dog named Moo, I’m excited to share my vegan lifestyle with him.

Raising Moo vegan is very important to me because meat-eating dogs have a huge negative impact on farm animals and the environment. Transitioning one 70-pound dog from a meat-based to a plant-based diet can potentially save two farm animals per day—that’s more than 10,000 farm animals saved over a dog’s 15-year lifespan! These farm animals are just as intelligent, sentient, loving and family-oriented as our canine companions, and they have just as strong a desire to live, love and be free. No animal should be punished because of the body they’re born into.

Diana Laverdure-Dunetz, MS, has a Masters in Animal Science and is an award-winning dog health writer, a canine nutritionist, and healthy pet food advocate. As an ethical vegan and animal welfare activist, Diana created Plant-Powered Dog to provide dog guardians worldwide the tools and resources to raise healthy, thriving canine companions through a nutritious, cruelty-free plant-based lifestyle that positively impacts the well-being of all animals and the planet. Diana lives in South Florida with her husband, Rodney and their two rescued cats, Boots and Danny. She is excited to have welcomed a new rescue dog, Moo, into their family from Vietnam.

Header image courtesy of Dickie Walls
Edited by Meirav Devash

Footnotes:
1: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy