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Can my dog eat a plant-based diet and still be healthy and happy?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 8 months old

Can dogs eat a solely vegetarian diet. With some fish and wild caught game im ideologically opposed to to mass market meat industry and the huge scale of animal abuse in slaughter houses being reported on social media.i dont want to deprive my dog or be cruel in any way.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 21st, 2019

It is possible to make a balanced vegetarian diet for dogs, and if you are interested in this I would check with your vet first to make sure your vet feels it would be safe to try for Cooper. I typically recommend Royal Canin's Vegetarian diet since it has gone through feeding trials. If you are interested in formulating a home cooked diet it may be more difficult to make something balanced, but would certainly be possible particularly if you do have access to fish or game. You should ask your vet for referral to a veterinary nutritionist who can help formulate a balanced recipe.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 21st, 2019

    Dogs can be fed a vegetarian diet, but you have to make sure it's correctly balanced or else Cooper will suffer nutritional deficiencies. I understand being opposed to the meat market, but vegetarianism is a human construct. Dogs are designed to eat meat, and it's not really fair to put a human ideal onto a dog. Any dog given a choice would prefer a meat diet verses a plant diet. I honestly don't think it's the best idea, in my opinion, to put a puppy on a vegetarian diet, especially during this important stage of growth. I never recommend doing this to puppies. Best of luck.

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