New study shows vegan diets for pets massive win for the planet

Brand new research published in October 2023 has documented the massive environmental and animal ...

Brand new research published in October 2023 has documented the massive environmental and animal life savings that could be made with changes to dog, cat, and human diets. To do this, researchers at Griffith University and the University of Winchester analysed multiple data groups, including dietary energy requirements within the US in 2020 and globally in 2018, US pet food ingredients, average livestock required to supply pet and human diets, and various environmental sustainability indicators for plant and animal-based foods.  


Before considering the environmental impacts of animal-based diets, researchers summarised the sheer overall numbers of animals killed for consumption by humans, cats, and dogs every year globally. In some instances, pet consumption of animals killed for meat was surprisingly high, such as in the US where dog food alone made up almost 18% of the relative consumption of average livestock animals. A further breakdown of the staggering numbers of animals killed for consumption in 2018 can be found below:

  • 75 billion poultry animals, of which 6.6 billion were used in dog and cat food
  • 1.5 billion pigs, of which 132 million were used in dog and cat food
  • 1 billion sheep and goats, of which 93 million were used in dog and cat food
  • 354 million cows, of which 31 million were used in dog and cat food
  • 727 million other land mammals, of which 65 million were used in dog and cat food
  • It is also estimated that billions of aquatic animals are killed for dog and cat food in the US alone

Through analysis of data on the environmental impact of different foods, the research paper then goes on to detail the potential relative environmental savings that could be made if humans, cats and dogs were switched to a plant-based diet:

 

  • Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) equivalent to land area/country if each relative group was switched to a plant-based diet:
    • Dogs = reduction in GHG equivalent to the entirety of the UK
    • Cats = reduction in GHG equivalent to New Zealand
    • Humans = reduction in GHG equivalent to the entirety of the EU

    • Relative land freed up equivalent to size of a country, if each group was switched to a plant-based diet:
      • Dogs = A land mass freed up larger than Mexico
      • Cats = A land mass freed up larger than Germany
      • Humans = A land mass freed up larger than both the entirety of India and Russia

     

    • Amount of freshwater saved equivalent to renewable freshwater per country, if each group was switched to a plant-based diet:
      • Dogs = Greater volume of freshwater saved than is present in Denmark
      • Cats = Greater volume of freshwater saved than is present in Jordan
      • Humans = Greater volume of freshwater saved than is present in Cuba

     

    • Additional people who could be fed using food energy savings equivalent to 2018 country populations, if each group was switched to a plant-based diet:
      • Dogs = Entire population of the EU
      • Cats = Entire population of the UK
      • Humans = Every nation or region on Earth

     

    While a 100% switch to plant based for people, cats and dogs would take some time, recent advances that brands such as Omni have made, are making it possible for changes to start today.


    Knight A (2023) The relative benefits for environmental sustainability of vegan diets for dogs, cats and people. PLOS ONE 18(10): e0291791. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291791

    Click Here To Try Omni Vet Formulated Food & Treats

    See our full range of products here.

    FAQs

    But aren’t dog’s carnivores?

    Dogs are in fact nutritional omnivores as demonstrated by a robust scientific study published in the reputable journal Nature (1,2) in which it was shown that they have 30 copies of the AMY2B gene responsible for digesting plant-based foods.

    They have also evolved relatively long intestines (21) (almost as long as humans) and relatively flat surfaces on their molars (31, 22) which they use for digesting and chewing a whole range of foods.

    The common misconception that dogs are carnivores probably arises from the fact that they are classified in the order Carnivora but so are plenty of other species like bears, skunks, racoons who are omnivores and even the giant panda who thrives on a plant-based diet (20).

    Is plant protein digestible to dogs?

    Absolutely yes, studies which have looked at how much protein dogs can absorb from plant-based and fungi-based foods like soya and yeast demonstrated over 75% digestibility which is on par with meat-based foods (23, 24, 34, 35 & 25).

    Both these protein sources also contain all 10 essential amino acids (36, 37) that dogs need to thrive.

    Isn't there too much fibre in plant-based food?

    The average amount of fibre in a commercial dog food diet is between 2-4%. omni’s plant-powered recipe has a fibre content of 3% which is on par with meat- based diets.

    In our survey with over 200 dog owners, 100% reported that their dog’s stool consistency was either ‘normal’ or ‘perfect’ and there were no reports of any digestive upsets (data on file).

    Can I mix omni with other meat-based diets?

    We are proud that our recipes are nutritionally complete and so include everything your dog needs to thrive. This means omni can be fed as a sole ration. We also fully support a 'flexitarian approach' like meat free lunches or using omni as a mixer.

    Every little helps to bring some of the health and environmental benefits of plant-power to meal times. Mixing omni with meat/fish will help to add variety into your dog’s diet whilst adding in healthy ingredients with a relatively low carbon footprint.

    Can plant-based food provide the essential fatty acids dogs need?

    All the essential fats and oils that dogs need, including omegas 3 and 6 are found in a variety of both meat and plant-based foods (31, 28).

    omni’s recipe is rich in plant-based sources of these nutrients so your dog will get all the essentials they need.

    I hear a lot about feeding raw meat, isn’t that better?

    Feeding raw meat to dogs has become a very popular trend in recent years, but most vets will warn against this practise. This is because the cooking process is vital to help kill off dangerous bacteria like E coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter (9) that have necessitated several food recalls from the market and caused serious illness and even death in both dogs and their owners (40, 41, & 42).

    There are also several worms and parasites that are only killed off when raw meat is cooked. Dogs are dogs, not wolves and thanks to their domestication over thousands of years, thankfully don’t need to hunt to get their grub nor do they need to eat raw meat, it's just not worth the risk.

    References

    1. Buff P.R., Carter R.A., Bauer J.E., Kersey J.N. (2014) Natural pet food: A review of natural diets and their impact on canine and feline physiology. J. Anim. Sci.;92:3781–3791. doi: 10.2527/jas.2014-7789


    2. Axelsson E., Ratnakumar A., Arendt M.L., Maqbool K., Webster M.T., Perloski M., Liberg O., Arnemo J.M., Hedhammar A., Lindblad-Toh K. (2013) The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature; 495:360–364. doi: 10.1038/nature11837


    3. The European Pet Food Industry (FEDIAF) Nutrition [ Accessed on 3 June 2021] Available online: http://www.fediaf.org/self-regulation/nutrition/


    4. Gentle World Good Nutrition for Healthy Vegan Dogs [Accessed on 3 June 2021] Available online: http://www.webcitation.org/6ineIZmNQ


    5. Peden J. (1999) Vegetarian Cats & Dogs. 3rd ed. Harbingers of a New Age; Troy, MT, USA


    6. Semp P.-G. (2014) Master’s Thesis. Veterinary University of Vienna; Vienna, Austria: Vegan Nutrition of Dogs and Cats


    7. Brown W.Y., Vanselow B.A., Redman A.J., Pluske J.R. (2009) An experimental meat-free diet maintained haematological characteristics in sprint-racing sled dogs. Br. J. Nutr.;102:1318–1323. doi: 10.1017/S0007114509389254


    8. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Dog Health Survey. [Accessed on 3 June 2021]


    9. Marks S.L., Rankin S.C., Byrne B.A., Weese J.S. (2011) Enteropathogenic bacteria in dogs and cats: Diagnosis, epidemology, treatment, and control. J. Vet. Intern. Med.;25:1195–1208. doi:


    10. Carrión P.A., Thompson L.J., Motarjemi Y., Lelieveld H., (2014) Food Safety Management: A Practical Guide for the Food Industry. Academic Press; London, UK:. pp. 379–395


    11. Knight, A. and Leitsberger, M. (2016) Vegetarian versus meat-based diets for companion animals. Animals 6, 57.


    12. Boyer C.I., Jr., Andrews E.J., deLahunta A., Bache C.A., Gutenman W.H., Lisk D.J. (1978) Accumulation of mercury and selenium in tissues of kittens fed commercial cat food. Cornell Vet.;68:365–374.


    13. Anonymous. Your Pet’s Dog Food Could Be Dangerous. [Accessed on 8 December 2014] Available online: http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=1018127&nav=23iiCT4S.


    14. Porecca K. (1995) Personal letter to James Peden re: Interview of University of California (Davis), North Carolina State University, and University of Guelph Researchers investigating the connection between dilated cardiomyopathy and diet


    15. Perry T. What’s Really for Dinner? [Accessed on 7 July 2016] Available online: http://www.webcitation.org/6ipEL5YVR.


    16. https://www.bordercolliefanclub.com/bramble-the-vegan-dog-lives-to-189-years/


    17. https://aminoapps.com/c/vegan/page/blog/vegan-dog-lives-to-27-years-of-age/N4ai_MuaRE5qNoYVN1DN85ap0GVjz3j


    18. https://v-dog.com/blogs/v-dog-blog/vegan-diets-for-dogs-what-about-longevity


    19. https://www.fediaf.org/39-prepared-pet-foods/80-understanding-labels.html


    20. https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/07/vegan-dogs-a-healthy-lifestyle-or-going-against-nature/

    21. https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/7-interesting-facts-about-your-dogs-digestive-system

    22. http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/pregastric/dogpage.html

    23. Félix AP, Zanatta CP, Brito CB, et al. (2013) Digestibility and metabolizable energy of raw soybeans manufactured with different processing treatments and fed to adult dogs and puppies. J Anim Sci;91:2794–2801.


    24. Carciofi A, de-Oliviera L, Valério A, et al. (2009) Comparison of micronized whole soybeans to common protein sources in dry dog and cat diets. Anim Feed Sci Technol;151:251–260.

    25. Yamka R, Kitts S, Harmon D. (2005) Evaluation of low-oligosaccharide and low-oligosaccharide low-phytate whole soya beans in canine foods. Anim Feed Sci Technol;120:79–91.

    26. Hill D. (2004) Alternative proteins in companion animal nutrition, in Proceedings. Pet Food Assoc Canada Fall Conf;1–12

    28. Hazewinkel HA, Tryfonidou MA. (2002) Vitamin D3 metabolism in dogs. Mol Cell Endocrinol;197:23–33.
    Boland R, Skliar M, Curino A, et al. (2003) Vitamin D compounds in plants. Plant Sci;164:357–369.

    29. Jäpelt RB, Jakobsen J. (2013) Vitamin D in plants: a review of occurrence, analysis, and biosynthesis. Front Plant Sci;4:136

    30. Knight, A. and Leitsberger, M. (2016). Vegetarian versus meat-based diets for companion animals. Animals 6, 57.

    31. Dodd SAS, Adolphe JL, Verbrugghe A. (2018) Plant-based diets for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. Dec 1;253(11):1425-1432. doi: 10.2460/javma.253.11.1425. PMID: 30451617.

    32. https://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_dg_how_long_do_dogs_live [Accessed 2 June 2021]

    33. https://www.utep.edu/leb/pleistnm/stuff/stuff2.htm [Accessed 2 June 2021]

    34. M S Martins, N K Sakomura, D F Souza, F O R Filho, M O S Gomes, R S Vasconcellos, A C Carciofi (2014) Brewer’s yeast and sugarcane yeast as protein sources for dogs, J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2014 Oct;98(5):948-57. doi: 10.1111/jpn.12145.

    35. Christina Golder, James L Weemhoff, Dennis E Jewell (2020) Cats Have Increased Protein Digestibility as Compared to Dogs and Improve Their Ability to Absorb Protein as Dietary Protein Intake Shifts from Animal to Plant Sources 24;10(3):541. doi: 10.3390/ani10030541.

    36. Henkel J. (2000) Soy. Health claims for soy protein, questions about other components. FDA Consum ;34(3):13–15,18–20.

    37. Yalçin, Sakine & Erol, H & Özsoy, Bülent & Onbaşılar, I. (2008) Effects of the usage of dried brewing yeast in the diets on the performance, egg traits and blood parameters in quails. Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience. 2. 1780-5. 10.1017/S1751731108003170.

    38. Rosser EJ (1993) Diagnosis of food allergy in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association; 203(2):259-262.

    39. Mueller RS, Olivry T, Prélaud P. (2016) Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals: common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Vet Res.12:9. Published 2016 Jan 12. doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0633-8

    40. https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/shopping/salmonella-fears-spark-urgent-recall-4328262

    41. https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-31-2020

    42. L. Martinez-Anton, M. Marenda, S.M. Firestone, R.N. Bushell, G. Child, A.I. Hamilton, S.N. Long, M.A.R. Le Chevoir (2018) Investigation of the Role of Campylobacter Infection in Suspected Acute Polyradiculoneuritis in Dog


    43. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/10/four-stec-infections-one-person-dead-after-exposure-to-raw-pet-food/

    44. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jan/12/scientists-criticise-trend-for-raw-meat-pet-food-after-analysis-finds-pathogens

    45. https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2015/10/26/processed-meat-and-cancer-what-you-need-to-know/

    46. D.F. Merlo, L. Rossi, C. Pellegrino, M. Ceppi, U. Cardellino, C. Capurro, A. Ratto, P.L. Sambucco, V. Sestito, G. Tanara, V. Bocchini (2008) Cancer Incidence in Pet Dogs: Findings of the Animal Tumor Registry of Genoa, Italy
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0133.x , journal of veterinary internal medicine

    47. https://www.pfma.org.uk/_assets/docs/White%20Papers/PFMA-Obesity-Report-2019.pdf

    48. https://www.pfma.org.uk/grain-free-factsheet

    49. https://fediaf.org/images/FEDIAF_Nutritional_Guidelines_2020_20200917.pdf

    50. https://www.ksvdl.org/resources/documents/dcm-forum/Confidential-Abstract-for-release-October-14-2020-Final.pdf

    51. https://www.ksvdl.org/resources/documents/dcm-forum/DCM-Forum-SolomonOpening-Remarks.pdf

    52. https://stpetersbark.com/finally-theres-no-evidence-linking-grain-free-diets-and-non-hereditary-heart-conditions-in-dogs/

    53. Okin GS (2017) Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats. PLoS ONE 12(8): e0181301. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181301

    See more questions

    Previous post

    Next post