There are bountiful studies regarding the benefits of plant-based diets for humans, and as the category grows in retail the amount of alternative protein options continues to expand rapidly. However, a less studied aspect is whether plant-based diets are suitable, or potentially even beneficial for pets.
According to scientific research, some pets can “thrive” on plant-based diets so long as their nutritional needs are met. Pets such as dogs that are generally considered to be carnivores have actually evolved to have digestive abilities that equip them to eat fully meat-free diets while still obtaining all the nutritional benefits they need. Hence, it is more appropriate to refer to these companion animals as omnivores.
Specifically, dogs can convert linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid found in plants, to arachidonic acid and they can also metabolize plant-based carotene (provitamin A) into retinol, a fat-soluble vitamin. Dogs can even digest starch, which these days makes up the base of most commercial pet foods. According to Diana Laverdure-Dunetz, M.S., founder of Plant-Powered Dog and a vegan canine nutritionist, these are unique characteristics that not all carnivores possess and therefore are important to understand when considering a plant-based diet for your pets.
That said, for companion dogs, a meat-free diet could actually offer numerous health benefits. Research published in 2016 concluded that “such diets have been associated with benefits such as improved coat condition, allergy control, weight control, increased overall health and vitality, arthritis regression, diabetes regression, [and] cataract resolution.” The study also noted that dogs who are fed a plant-based diet often had “decreased incidences of cancer, infections, hypothyroidism and ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, lice, and mites).”
A separate study in 2009 focused on whether these diets affected dogs’ overall physical condition and abilities – such as their speed, strength and energy levels. This study found that plant-based diets do not impede the dog’s well-being and concluded that they remained in “excellent physical condition.”
With close to 500 million companion dogs worldwide, the pet food category is huge and continuing to grow. Recent consumer surveys have shown that a significant number of companion pet owners are considering switching their animals to plant-based diets and several have already made the shift. In one study, 35% of pet parents expressed interest in putting their dog on a plant-based diet while 27% of vegan owners had already done so.
The number of companies manufacturing vegan pet food is growing quickly to meet this demand, and sales are reflecting the growing interest in this sector. In 2020 about $9 billion worth of plant-based pet food was sold worldwide and this figure is continuing to increase.
Ryan Bethencourt, founder of Wild Earth, a Stray Dog Capital portfolio company producing alternative protein pet food has found that a high percentage of their customers have found that plant-based diets have been beneficial for their companion dogs; “we did a survey of 3,000 of our customers, and 86% reported some positive health outcome for their pets.”
Bethencourt says, “these results were honestly surprising when we first started, but it makes sense. Let food be thy medicine.”