Can Puppies Thrive on a Plant-Based Diet?

Puppyhood is a whirlwind of growth and development. From bones and muscles to immune systems and brains, everything is evolving at once, making proper nutrition during these early months absolutely essential.

If you’re considering a plant-based diet for your puppy, the key question is: is it safe and suitable for growing pups?

The short answer: yes - when it’s expertly formulated.

Let’s explore what puppies need to grow strong and healthy, and how Omni’s vet-designed recipes deliver everything they require without a single bite of meat.

What Do Puppies Need from Their Diet?

Puppies have higher nutritional demands than adult dogs. They’re building the foundation for lifelong health, which means their diet must provide:

• High-quality protein containing all essential amino acids
  

• Balanced calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
  

• DHA and omega fatty acids to support brain and eye development
  

• Easily digestible energy to fuel growth and play
  

• Prebiotics and fibre to nurture a healthy gut microbiome
  

It’s not about feeding more - it’s about feeding smarter, with the right nutrients at the right stage of life.

Can a Plant-Based Diet Meet These Needs?

Absolutely. Dogs are omnivores, meaning they can absorb and utilise nutrients from both plants and animals. What matters isn’t the source of the nutrients, but whether the diet is complete and balanced.

That’s exactly what Omni’s Puppy formula delivers. Every recipe is:

• 100% complete and balanced to FEDIAF standards (the gold standard for European pet nutrition)
  

• Packed with plant proteins from peas and yeast, combined to form a complete amino acid profile
  

• Enriched with DHA from microalgae to support brain and vision development
  

• Balanced with calcium, phosphorus and essential vitamins for steady, healthy growth
  

• Gentle on digestion, thanks to highly digestible, hypoallergenic ingredients
  

This is supported by peer-reviewed research showing dogs can thrive on nutritionally complete plant-based diets, as long as they meet established nutritional guidelines.

What if My Puppy Has a Sensitive Gut or Allergies?

Plant-based diets can be a breakthrough for allergy-prone puppies. By avoiding common animal allergens such as chicken, beef and dairy, Omni helps reduce the risk of digestive upset, skin irritation and food-related sensitivities.

Each recipe is free from fillers, artificial additives and animal by-products, containing only clean, functional ingredients you can trust.

Studies such as Dodd et al., 2021 highlight the safety and nutritional adequacy of properly formulated plant-based diets in dogs, further reinforcing Omni’s scientific approach.

How Should I Transition My Puppy to Omni?

Slow and steady wins the race. Transition over 7–10 days, starting with around 25% Omni puppy food mixed into their current diet, and gradually increasing the proportion each day.

This gradual approach supports digestive comfort and encourages long-term acceptance. Omni’s smaller, easy-to-chew kibble makes mealtimes enjoyable for growing pups while delivering complete, balanced nutrition.

More Than Just Food

Growing puppies need more than nutrients - they need a holistic approach to wellbeing. That’s why Omni offers vet-formulated supplements, probiotic chews and toppers, designed to work synergistically with our complete diets to support gut health, immunity and growth.

Discover Omni’s Puppy Range

Give your pup the best possible start in life with science-led, vet-approved nutrition, formulated for growth, digestion and development - and free from common allergens.

Explore Omni’s Puppy Range

Sources

• Knight, A. et al. (2022). Vegetarian and vegan diets for companion animals – a systematic review. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266720

• Dodd, S. et al. (2021). Plant-based diets in dogs: Nutritional adequacy and health outcomes. BMC Veterinary Research. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-021-02990-9