Vegan diet for dogs? Canine nutrition expert explains why it's not good

Ensuring proper nutrition is key to our pets' well-being. A balanced diet, rich in vitamins, proteins, and nutrients, directly influences their quality of life, development, and long-term health.

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In this regard, veterinarian and content creator Jessica da Silva, a canine nutrition specialist, recently published a video aimed at pet owners considering implementing a vegan diet for their dogs. Titled "Three Reasons Why Your Dog Shouldn't Be Vegan," the expert warns about the risks of restricting their dog's diet to exclusively plant-based products.

According to da Silva, dogs are facultative carnivores. That is, they can survive for a while on a diet based on plants, scraps, or any available food, but their biology is designed to feed primarily on animal prey. “Even if they can adapt, that doesn't mean a plant-based diet is optimal or healthy for them ,” he explains.

Essential nutrients

The specialist emphasizes that dogs need essential nutrients that are found almost exclusively in animal-based foods . These include: -Essential amino acids: essential for muscle development and proper body function. -Heme iron: present in animal tissues and more easily absorbed than plant-based iron. -Cobalamin (vitamin B12): only naturally available in animal proteins. -Vitamin D3: not found in plant sources, but key to bone and immune health.

Additionally, it highlights the importance of EPA and DHA, two fatty acids obtained primarily from marine organisms like fish , and from tissues like the brains and eyes of animals. These lipids are crucial for a dog's brain, vision, and cardiovascular health.

The expert also warns about the risks of excessive carbohydrate consumption, which is common in vegan pet diets. These can alter the gut microbiota, affect glucose regulation, and increase the susceptibility to inflammatory or metabolic diseases. "Synthetic nutrients added to vegan diets don't have the same bioavailability as those of natural origin," da Silva points out. Furthermore, many of the carbohydrates used in these products come from intensive farming and are exposed to mycotoxins and glyphosate, compounds that have been linked to health risks, including the development of cancer.

For these reasons, the nutritionist does not recommend a vegan diet for dogs, as it could compromise their overall well-being. "Loving them also means giving them what they need, and not always what we think is best from a human perspective," she concludes.

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