Best vegan dog food: a buying guide

Finding the best vegan dog food has become more and more important to many people in the last few years, as more people go vegan and question what’s in their dog’s kibble (a lot of mainstream dog food brands put some pretty scary stuff into food–we’ll talk more about that below). But are vegan dog foods the right choice for your dog? The answer, as always, is to consult your vet if you have medical questions!

I’ve written this article from the perspective of someone who has done her own research (I take an evidence-based approach and will share scientific studies below), has a vegan dog, and has tried a pretty wide range of vegan dog food brands, thanks to my dog being fussy about some foods and because I’ve travelled internationally with my dog. My dog, Benito, has now eaten vegan dog food purchased in the US, UK, Spain and Croatia! I have advice on what to look for in a food and how to pick food your dog likes, but what I don’t have is veterinary advice. I’m not a vet or a vet nutritionist so I am not here to give any medical or nutritional advice. I am here to introduce you to the best vegan dog brands and point out which ones my dog has liked best!

Can dogs be vegan?

A lot of questions arise around vegans and companion animals. Like, can vegans have pets and DO vegans have pets? Can dogs go vegan? What’s a healthy vegan diet for dogs? The question of whether vegans have companion animals is a long and complicated one and often debated one (though most agree rescues are fine). The issue of whether companion animals can be vegan is another often-debated issue and has recently received some media coverage, as more start looking at vegan and vegetarian dog food.

Can dogs be vegan and what do studies say?

Can dogs eat a vegan diet? What do studies say? Many people wonder about the feasibility of feeding their dogs a vegan diet. I won’t touch on cats (who are carnivores) at all because that’s an entirely different and very complex issue, but dogs, like humans, are generally regarded within the scientific and veterinary community to be omnivores. An omnivorous animal is one who can break down nutrients from both animal and plant matter.

It is believed that the domestication of dogs resulted in a genetic adaptation to be able to process starch-rich diets better than wolves, as this genome sequencing study of dog and wolf DNA suggested. 

So, do dogs need meat? Can they eat a plant-based diet? According to this veterinary nutritionist at Tufts, yes, if it’s a carefully planned vegetarian or vegan dog diet plan — and using commercial food that meets standards, rather than a home-prepared food.

Can dogs eat vegan healthily? Unfortunately, there haven’t been a very large number of studies (yet!) on vegetarian and vegan dogs or the best vegan dog diet plan, but the best paper I could find was this one, which looks at four studies comparing companion animals fed on vegetarian and meat-based diets (they included both vegan and vegetarian diets but tied them together in one group). It concludes it’s possible for dogs to survive and even thrive on vegetarian diets but a vegetarian diet for dogs must be nutritionally complete and balanced.

So, can your dog be vegan? I’ll repeat what I said above — I’m not a vet and can’t give out medical advice! I’m just presenting my own personal experiences and the results of my own research looking at scientific studies. Depending on your dog’s medical history, he or she might have specific issues that could require a specific diet so if you have medical concerns, best to address them to your vet.

What to look for in vegan dog food

When choosing a vegan dog food, you should look for the following:

• AAFCO suitability: make sure it’s noted that the food is formulated for adult maintenance, according to nutritional standards set out by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (other standards are: all life stages, growth and reproduction [e.g. puppies and pregnant dogs], or supplemental feeding only [this means you shouldn’t be giving this food as a primary food to your dog!])

In particular, you should be sure it contains:

• Adequate protein (but not too much!)
• Vitamin D supplementation

If you stick to foods suitable for adult dogs by AAFCO standards, both will be covered.

This booklet on dog nutrition, prepared by the National Academies, is the best evidence-based information on dog nutrition I’ve come across online. Under the FAQ question on whether dogs need to eat meat they answer: “Because dogs are descended from omnivores, they are not strict meat eaters. They are remarkably adaptable to a wide range of ingredients, texture, and form in terms of what they will eat. Though many dogs may prefer animal-based protein, they can thrive on a vegetarian diet. Regardless of whether the protein comes from plant or animal sources, normal adult dogs should get at least 10% of their total calories from protein. Older dogs appear to require somewhat more protein to maintain their protein reserves, perhaps as much as 50% more.”

They also note in the booklet that vegetarian foods need to be supplemented with vitamin D. Most foods listed below contain vitamin D supplementation (some use D2 and some D3; according to this paper, little is known at this time about absorption efficacy of D2 vs. D3 in dogs).

Note: most information in this article is about adult dogs. Puppies, pregnant dogs and older dogs have slightly different nutritional requirements. I do have a specific section on puppy food below.

What is in most (non vegan) dog food?

Increasingly, media coverage has alerted people to some of the shocking ingredients included in a lot of mainstream dog food brands–by which I mean inexpensive, well-known brands available at any grocery store.

They could include:

• Euthanized dogs and cats from animal shelters (yes, really!–and the euthanasia drugs can be dangerous to your dog)
• Diseased livestock considered unfit for human consumption
• Parts of livestock considered unfit for human consumption
• Roadkill

Photo by Randi

What do vegans feed their dogs?

So, what do vegans feed their pets? The answer is as varied as vegans themselves! Some feed commercial vegan dry food, some feed vegan wet food they’ve purchased, and some feed home-cooked vegan food. Some feed meat-based commercial food, and some feed them meat-based home-cooked food. 

If you’re considering transitioning your dog to a vegan diet, it’s important to note that most scientific studies you’re best off buying a commercially prepared food that meets nutritional standards, rather than making your own. It’s also critical to slowly transition your dog (read on for more information). I’ve also put together a list below of the best vegan dog food brands in the US, UK, Europe, Canada and beyond.

How to transition your dog to a vegan diet

As I mentioned above, studies recommend feeding a commercially prepared dog food, rather than home-cooked food. (Personally, I do believe it’s possible to feed home-cooked food — I know people who do and have seemingly healthy dogs — however every study I’ve read and vet I’ve talked to has stressed how absolutely critical it is to make sure they’re nutritionally adequate and how unfortunately a lot of people end up missing out important nutrients in home-cooked meals. So if you go down this road be absolutely sure your home-cooked food is meeting all nutrient requirements for example by including a supplement for dogs.)

If you decide to go down the commercial food route, the first step is picking a vegan dog food brand (I’ve got a huge list below of vegan dog food brands!). I’d recommend selecting the smallest sized bag first, in case your dog doesn’t like it.

Next, you need to start very slowly mixing the vegan dog food with the old food your dog was eating previously. Slowly up the percentage of the new food over a matter of days or weeks. (This is the recommended way to transition all foods, not just vegan foods, to avoid digestive upsets!) Here’s how to do it.

If you travel with your dog, don’t forget to pack vegan dog food! A lot of vegan hotels are dog friendly and so are many vegan restaurants (check out my vegan travel guides here).

The best vegan dog food in the US

So, you’re looking for the best vegetarian dog food? If you want to start a plant based diet for dogs, when selecting a dog food, check that it meets AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) requirements. This means it has been formulated to be nutritionally complete.

Should you choose vegetarian dry dog food or vegetarian canned dog food? It depends. My vet recommended dry kibble since my dog is genetically predisposed to dental problems, but it depends on your dog! (And you should still brush their teeth anyway.) 

Below you’ll find a list of some of the best vegan dog foods, and ones to avoid.

Natural Balance vegan dog food

AAFCO: yes, for adult maintenance 

Dry or wet food: both wet and dry food available

Natural Balance vegetarian dry dog food Ingredients: Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Peas, Potato Protein, Canola Oil, Potatoes, Tomato Pomace, Vegetable Flavoring, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Spinach, Parsley Flakes, Cranberries, L-Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D-2 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Natural Balance vegetarian dog food is completely vegan (even though it’s called vegetarian, in fact it’s vegan!) and easily available on Amazon. It’s what I fed my dog in the US — I selected it primarily because Natural Balance vegetarian dry dog food reviews online are mostly very positive. Most dogs seem to like it and my dog can be picky, but I was buying a fairly big bag so I wanted to buy one I thought he’d like!

The brand isn’t entirely vegan but Natural Balance vegetarian formula dry dog food is and my sometimes picky pup was a fan of this one! It has been formulated to meet AAFCO standards for adult maintenance (e.g. it’s appropriate for adult dogs’ nutritional needs).

If you’re looking for vegan dog food Petsmart sells, Natural Balance and Halo’s vegan dog food are both available, at least online. However, availability in-store varies and I never saw any in the Midwest. Instead, I found it much easier to order online (not to mention it meant not having to carry a huge bag to/from the car!).

As well as dry, canned (wet) food is also available and on Amazon, you can choose varying sized bags of Natural Balance vegetarian dry dog food, or a dry vegan food and Natural Balance vegan canned food combination.

V Dog Food

AAFCO: yes, for adult maintenance

Dry or wet food: dry food only

VDog ingredients: Dried Peas, Pea Protein, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Potato Protein, Sorghum, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols) , Natural Flavor, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flaxseeds, Millet, Calcium Carbonate, Lentils, Peanut Hearts, Quinoa, Sunflower Chips, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Carrots, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate), Dl-methionine, Dried Parsley, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hyrdochloride, Biotin, Folic Acid), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (A Source Of Vitamin C), Preserved with Citric Acid, Preserved with mixed Tocopherols, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Dried Celery, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lettuce, L-carnitine, Dried Watercress, Dried Spinach, Rosemary Extract.

V Dog dog food is a very popular vegan pet food. Unfortunately my dog is not a fan, but given the many Vdog reviews that are glowing, I’m guessing that’s not the case for every dog! Just have a look online for V dog food reviews and you’ll see the bulk of them are positive.

V dog vegan dog food meets AAFCO standards for adult dog nutrition and comes in regular or mini sized kibbles. However, they don’t have a wet food option so if that’s important to you you may want to supplement with another brand of vegan wet food. The company is entirely vegan. 

Availability online: Vdog Amazon

Halo vegan dog food

AAFCO: yes, for adult maintenance

Dry or wet food: both wet and dry food are available

Halo vegan garden medley dry food Ingredients: Green peas, chickpeas, pearled barley, oat groats, pea protein, whole flaxseed, sunflower oil, dried plain beet pulp, potato, sweet potato, alfalfa meal, carrot, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, dried kelp, natural vegetable flavors, flaxseed oil, carrots, dried apple, dried blueberry, dried cranberry, chicory root, taurine, rosemary extract, l-carnitine, potassium chloride, dl methionine, salt, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin B12 supplement, niacin, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D2 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid), minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, zinc sulfate, iron sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganese sulfate, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, sodium selenite).

Halo vegetarian dog food Garden of Vegan is a vegan dog food made by a non vegan company, Halo. 

It’s free of GMOs and is AAFCO approved for adult dogs. They make dry and wet food so you can choose–and on Amazon, you can also select a bag of food and vegan dog treats.

Halo vegan dog food reviews online are generally pretty positive — most dogs seem to like it. My dog has never tried it so I can’t comment on his taste preferences!

Evolution vegan dog food

AAFCO: yes, for all life stages

Dry or wet food: both wet and dry food available

Evolution vegan food ingredients (dry food, fondue flavour): Oatmeal, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Oil, Soybean Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Monocalcium Phosphate, Whole Dried Peas, Dried Molasses, Dried Cranberries, Dextrose, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Yeast Culture, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Kelp Meal, Dried Chicory Root, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract

Evolution’s vegan dog food comes in two (slightly weird sounding) flavours: pasta or fondue. It’s formulated for all life stages (in fact it’s the only vegan dog food made in the US that’s suitable for all life stages), so it would be suitable for a puppy, adult or older dog. The company makes only vegan foods.

Note: their website oddly recommends switching your dog’s food by adding tuna packed in oil to their food, but tuna is not recommended for dogs. Instead, follow the recommendations most vets make when switching foods: slowly mixing the new vegetarian pet food with the old food, increasing the percentage every day or few days (see protocol above).

Their Ultra Life non GMO organic dog food (only available on their website) is the only grain free vegetarian dog food I’ve come across. It’s also AAFCO formulated for all life stages.

Gather vegan dog food

AAFCO: no, this is a Canadian dog food and AAFCO is an American certification. However, the manufacturer, Petcurean, is a member of PFAC (Pet Food Assocation of Canada)

Dry or wet food: dry food only

Gather vegan food ingredients: Organic Peas, Organic Barley, Organic Oats, Lentils, Organic Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Potatoes, Quinoa, Organic Flaxseed, Primary Dried Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Vegetable Flavoring, Blueberries, Cranberries, Carrots, Choline Chloride, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (A Source Of Vitamin C), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Selenium Yeast), Taurine, Dl-Methionine, L-Lysine, Dried Rosemary

Gather vegan dog food is manufactured by a non-vegan Canadian company, with GMO free and organic ingredients, including locally sourced Canadian peas. The company is committed to reducing waste, and has replaced 30% of the petroleum-based plastic in their packaging with vegetable matter.

Because Gather’s meat free dog food is made in Canada, it is a member of PFAC, the Canadian pet food industry body, which adheres to AAFCO standards according to the PFAC website.

Ami dog food

AAFCO: no, this is made by an Italian company and AAFCO is a US industry body

Dry or wet food: Both, but only dry available in the US

Ingredients: Corn, Corn Gluten, Corn Oil, Rice Protein, Whole Peas, Beet Pulp, Linseed, Bicalcium Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Potato Protein, Brewer’s Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Rapeseed Oil. Vitamin A 26.000 IU/kg, Pentahydrate (copper) 50mg/kg, Iron carbonate (iron) 348mg/kg, Calcium iodate, anhydrous (iodene) 25mg/kg, Sodium selenite (selenium) 20mg/kg, Zinc oxide (zinc) 160mg/kg, Manganous oxide (maganese) 56mg/kg, L-Carnitine 300mg/kg.

Ami vegan dog food is made by an Italian company. It was formulated as an allergen-free food, as it’s free of some of the most common allergens in dogs: meat, eggs, dairy, wheat and soya. It’s sold throughout Italy in veterinary clinics to control allergies and improve skin conditions of allergic dogs.

Somewhat unusually, Ami dog vegan dog food is also fortified with Vitamin D3 (rather than D2). It comes in dry form but also canned; however, the wet food isn’t for sale in the US.

The kibble comes in two different sizes, regular and small, which is important for different sized dogs.

The small dog size kibble is extremely cute and comes in little heart shapes and my dog loved it when he first tried it! Unfortunately over time he seemed to develop a minor allergy to something which I believe was corn (which I’ve heard is a pretty uncommon allergy in dogs and is used in quite a few dog foods–however now I’ve found a food that doesn’t contain any).

Benevo vegan dog food

AAFCO: no, this is a UK product and AAFCO is a US industry body

Dry or wet food: Both available

Benevo Adult Original Ingredients: Soya, Corn, White Rice, Sunflower Oil, Peas, Brewer’s Yeast, Beet Pulp, Tomato Pomace, Yeast Based Palatant, Minerals, Vitamins, Yucca Schidigera Extract (0.1%), Fructo-Oligosaccharides (Prebiotic FOS)(0.01%). Iron (as Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate) 159mg, Zinc (as Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate) 133mg, Manganese (as Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate) 1.5mg, Copper (as Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate) 45mg, Selenium (as Sodium Selenite) 0.6mg, Iodine (as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.5mg, Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) 1.75%, Linolenic Acid (Omega 3) 0.09%. Calcium 0.67%, Phosphorus 0.5%
Amino Acids: Taurine 910mg, L-Carnitine 480mg.

Benevo is a vegan dog food manufacturer based in the UK, and some of their products are sold in the US on Amazon. They make a few different products, including the only puppy-specific vegan food I’ve come across! They also make Adult Original dry food and Organic dry food, and a few wet food products, including one that’s grain-free.

Of all the many vegan foods we’ve tried, my dog really likes this stuff! They also make canned food, which my dog has occasionally and goes absolutely CRAZY for. He gets excited as soon as he sees the can! They also sell a wet grain-free vegetable feast, in case your dog is suffering from allergies.

They also make a wide range of treats too.

Petguard vegan wet dog food

AAFCO: yes, for adult maintenance

Dry or wet food: Wet only

Ingredients: Sufficient Water For Processing, Organic Pea Protein, Organic Oats, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Quinoa, Organic Barley, Organic Brown Rice, Tricalcium Phosphate, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Carrots, Organic Peas, Organic Potatoes, Organic Spinach, Potassium Chloride, Organic Flaxseed, Organic Apples, Organic Amaranth, Organic Tomato Powder, Organic Dried Kelp, Salt, Calcium Ascorbate, Vitamin A Acetate, Alpha Tocopherols (Source of Vitamin E), Ergocalciferol (Source of Vitamin D2), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Choline Chloride, Inositol, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Animo Acid Chelate, Folic Acid, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite.

Petguard vegetarian dog food is vegan and organic. The food comes in a wet/canned version only. It’s formulated to AAFCO nutritional standards for adult dogs. 

You can buy packs of 12 cans on Amazon (they’re heavy so save yourself the lifting!).

NEVER eat onions or garlic. 

So, I’d avoid this dog food.

The food comes in wet and dry forms. Nature’s Recipe vegetarian dog food reviews indicate this food is met with mixed reviews from dogs; some dogs like the taste and some don’t. As above, I’d caution against this food as it contains onion and garlic.

Wysong vegan dog food

Avoid, avoid, avoid. This food does not meet AAFCO standards and according to the manufacturer, was developed to be fed alongside an animal protein. Therefore, it is NOT a complete and balanced dog food! Additionally, the manufacturer at one point admitted they were using non-vegan sources of vitamin D (I don’t know if they’ve changed this since 2013) and still labelling the product ‘Vegan TM’. Misleading!

The best vegan dog food UK

Looking vegetarian dog food UK? Veg pet food has a pretty long history in the UK, vegetarian dog food having been sold in the UK since 1980. There are plenty of options for cruelty free dog food in the UK, so don’t worry. I’ve outlined the best vegan vegetable dog food below.

Benevo

Dry or wet food: both

Benevo Adult Original Ingredients: Soya, Corn, White Rice, Sunflower Oil, Peas, Brewer’s Yeast, Beet Pulp, Tomato Pomace, Yeast Based Palatant, Minerals, Vitamins, Yucca Schidigera Extract (0.1%), Fructo-Oligosaccharides (Prebiotic FOS)(0.01%). Iron (as Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate) 159mg, Zinc (as Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate) 133mg, Manganese (as Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate) 1.5mg, Copper (as Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate) 45mg, Selenium (as Sodium Selenite) 0.6mg, Iodine (as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.5mg, Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) 1.75%, Linolenic Acid (Omega 3) 0.09%. Calcium 0.67%, Phosphorus 0.5%
Amino Acids: Taurine 910mg, L-Carnitine 480mg.

Benevo is the food I currently give my dog Benito (he gets their organic vegan dog food). As far as vegetarian dog food brands go, the UK based vegan company Benevo makes one of the most extensive ranges I’ve ever come across: from regular to organic adult kibble, puppy dry food, tinned food, grain free wet food, various treats and even doggie cake mix! 

If you’re looking for vegan dog treats UK, I’d highly recommend trying some of theirs. My dog has liked every one of their products he’s tried, but in particular he’s a fan of the sweet pawtato knots, and the sweet pawtato sticks (all flavours).

Their plant based dog food is my dog’s favourite of all we tried. Benevo has also consisted ranked as Ethical Consumer magazine’s best buy dog food (it’s a magazine that ranks products based on ethics and environmental sustainability).

You won’t find vegan and vegetarian dog food at Pets at Home, so I recommend ordering online through Amazon or Veggie Pets, a website dedicated to food, treats, toys and more for vegan pets and vegetarian pets. You can also check local health food shops but stock really varies — for example, I used to buy vegan dog food at Whole Foods nearby, and one day they just ran out of stock and never restocked it! Find Benevo on Amazon.

Yarrah vegetarian dog food

Dry or wet food: Both

Ingredients: Organic Whole Soy Beans, Organic Whole Grain Wheat, Organic Wheat Bran, Organic Yellow Corn, Organic Sunflower Seed Husks (Source of Fibre), Minerals, Organic Coconut Oil, Brewers Yeast (Source of highly digestible Protein and Amino Acids), Whole White Lupine (Source of Essential Amino Acids), Organic Baobab (Course of Calcium and Potassium), Minerals, Organic Dried Seaweed. Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate) 19.100IU, Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol) 00IU, Vitamin D2 (as Ergocalciferol) 1.910IU, Vitamin E (as DL-a-tocopheryl-acetate) 110mg, Taurine 465mg, L-Carnitine 230mg

Yarrah organic vegetarian dog food is vegan. The company isn’t vegan and they make meat based foods too. In addition to the organic vegan dry food, they make a wheat-free dry food version, a grain-free vegan wet food and dog treats. 

My dog ate this for awhile but he wasn’t the biggest fan of the flavour — he also refuses to eat their treats. But, I know people whose dogs love it so it’s probably a matter of taste preference!

Ami dog food

Dry or wet food: Both

Ingredients: Corn, Corn Gluten, Corn Oil, Rice Protein, Whole Peas, Beet Pulp, Linseed, Bicalcium Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Potato Protein, Brewer’s Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Rapeseed Oil. Vitamin A 26.000 IU/kg, Pentahydrate (copper) 50mg/kg, Iron carbonate (iron) 348mg/kg, Calcium iodate, anhydrous (iodene) 25mg/kg, Sodium selenite (selenium) 20mg/kg, Zinc oxide (zinc) 160mg/kg, Manganous oxide (maganese) 56mg/kg, L-Carnitine 300mg/kg.

Ami is an Italian vegan dog food brand that makes both large and small sized vegan kibble, plus tinned food too. 

It’s formulated particularly for dogs with allergies and sold at vets’ offices in Italy as such. 

V Dog food

Dry or wet food: Dry food only

Ingredients: Wheat, Maize, Soya, Wheatfeed, Maize Gluten Meal, Sugar Beet Pulp, Sunflower Oil, Rice, Pasta, Yeast, Minerals, Linseed, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Fructo-Oligosaccharides, Organic Rosemary, Organic Parsley, Yucca Extracts. Additives per Kg: Antioxidants, Preservatives.  Vitamin A 18,000mg, Calcitriol Glycoside 1,800 IU, Vitamin E 86.8mg, Vitamin B1 2.8mg, Vitamin B2 5.6mg, Vitamin B6 2.6mg, Vitamin B12, 28mcg, Vitamin B3 Niacin 28mg, Vitamin B5 Panothenic Acid 21mg, Folic Acid 1.4mg. Trace Elements:Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 2.2mg (Iodine 1.4mg), Sodium Selenite 4.7mg (Selenium 0.21mg), Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate 83mg (Copper 21mg), Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate 232mg (Iron 69.5mg), Manganous Oxide 202mg (Manganese 125mg), Zinc Oxide 397mg (Zinc 289mg),Taurine 195mg, L-Carnitine 100mg.

V-Dog (previously known as Happidog) is a vegan run company run out of San Francisco. It is available in the UK.

It’s made with protein derived from soya bean meal and tt’s really popular (seemingly only my dog isn’t a fan of the taste!). 

Royal Canin vegetarian food

Dry or wet food: Dry only

Ingredients: Oat groats, brewers rice, potato protein, coconut oil, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, tomato pomace, flaxseed, calcium carbonate, monocalcium phosphate, carrot pomace, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, salt, fructooligosaccharides, choline chloride, taurine, vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement], trace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate], L-carnitine, carotene, rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

I couldn’t find information online about whether some of the vitamins added to this (like vitamin D) were animal-derived so this may be vegetarian, rather than vegan, although the other ingredients look vegan. The Royal Canin vegetarian dry dog food is available by prescription only and is intended for dogs with allergies.

The best vegan dog foods in Europe

Many of the foods available in the UK are also available in mainland Europe (see UK vegan dog food reviews above). Clicking on any of the links that follow will take you to your local Amazon site.

Ami pet food is made in Italy and is available in Europe. VegDog is a German vegan dog food brand. Benevo, Yarrah and V Dog are also available.

The best vegan dog food Canada

Many of the vegan dog foods sold in the US are also available in Canada. Gatheris a Canadian vegan dog food, made with local products like peas grown in Canada. Another is V Dog Canada, which is an American vegan dog food you can find online in Canada.

The best vegan dog food Australia & New Zealand

Looking for vegetarian dog food Australia? Biopet vegan dog food is a vegan dog food sold on Cruelty Free Shop Australia. It’s Australian owned and made. At the online Cruelty Free Shop you’ll also find other vegan dog food options.

Looking for vegan dog food NZ? The Cruelty Free Shop also has a New Zealand site here, and they sell Ami, Benevo and more.

The best vegan puppy food

Looking for vegetarian puppy food? It’s important to get food formulated for puppies if you have a young dog, as they have different nutritional requirements than adults. My dog was still a pup when I rescued him, and I was happy to find Benevo puppy food where I was living in Spain. Benevo puppy food is the only vegan dog food specifically formulated for puppies I’ve found.

Ami vegan small dog food (be sure to select the SMALL dog size) is also formulated to meet European standards for puppies as well as adults.

Lastly, Evolution dog food is formulated for all stages of the life cycle, according to AAFCO standards.

The best vegan homemade dog food

Thinking of making your own homemade vegetarian dog food? Advice from most researchers is don’t. According to these studies, most homemade dog food (vegan and meat-based), even recipes written by vets, is missing nutrients dogs need. If you search online for vegan dog recipes, you’ll find plenty of of vegan dog food recipes. But that doesn’t mean you should cook from a vegan dog recipe found online! You’re best off consulting a certified vet nutritionist, who can create recipes that contain all nutrients. You’ll likely also want to add a supplement to cover all bases, like Vegedog. Vege dog comes with recipes that meet AAFCO standards for all stages of the life cycle.

Thinking of making your own treats? That’s a much easier proposition, and since treats should only make up a small portion of the diet and are, after all, a treat, they don’t need to meet nutritional needs. Search for vegan dog treats recipe online and you’ll find plenty! Just make sure recipes don’t include any ingredients dogs can’t eat. My dog’s favourite vegetable dog treats recipe is the simplest: sweet potatoes, sliced thinly, and baked in the oven at a very low temperature for a long time until chewy.

The best vegan dog treats & more

Not sure how to start on a vegan dog journey? If you’re just starting to transition your dog’s diet, or you have a dog that can’t be vegan for whatever reason, treats are an easy place to start. Just buy vegetarian dog treats next time! A lot of dogs, vegan and not, love vegan dog biscuits and I have friends who have non-vegan dogs but who eat vegan dog treats. Here are a few of the best:

Sweet pawtato knots: these sweet potato chews are my dog’s favourite, and every dog I know seems to also love these. Available in the US and UK.

Sweet pawtato chews: similar to the above, but in stick form and they take longer to chew. They come in a few flavours, like spinach and kale or blueberry. Available in the US and UK.

Yarrah dog biscuits: these are my dog’s favourite vegan biscuits. Available in the US and UK.

Antos dental chews: I don’t know what it is, but my dog goes absolutely crazy for these! Available in the UK only as far as I can tell.

Vegan dog bones: these rice bones are completely vegan and a real treat! They take awhile to chew through and my dog goes crazy for them. Available in UK only as far as I can tell.

Cerea hedgehog chews: marketed as an alternative to raw hide, these chews are vegetable based and my dog could easily spend half an hour chewing on one. They’re also meant to clean teeth. Available in the UK; there are similar-looking ones in the US marketed by Whimzees but I can’t tell if they’re vegan.

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Looking for gifts? I’ve also got a section on gifts for dogs and cats in my vegan gift guide here!

I’ve also got a dog-friendly vegan guide to London here if you’re going to be in London with your dog.

Find more vegan product reviews here.

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