Study shows how meat-based pet food harms the environment
Stuttgart. Vegan for humans and animals: Around World Vegan Day on November 1st, many people are discovering the benefits of a plant-based diet – and also want to do something good for their dog with animal and environmentally friendly food. An important step in terms of the ecological balance, according to a study by the Technical University of Berlin (1) A meat-based dog diet has a significant impact on the environment. A balanced plant-based menu includes everything your four-legged friends need for a long and healthy life, and can also taste delicious for dogs. Lisa Kainz, specialist for animals in the food industry at PETA, has years of experience with vegan dog nutrition and gives people with dogs eleven useful tips on how to make the switch.
“Dogs probably have the same ancestors as wolves, but by definition they are omnivores. That's why the four-legged friends can benefit from a plant-based diet,” says Lisa Kainz. “If a few tips are followed, people and dogs will be happy about the uncomplicated change in diet and the wide range of options.”
11 tips for an easy change
on a balanced plant-based dog diet:
The change: Dogs should get used to the new diet slowly so that their intestines can adapt to the new food composition. It is best to increase the herbal content day by day until the change is complete after about two weeks. Larger amounts of feces are possible in the first few weeks, but not too serious.
Tastes are different: As with humans, there are individuals among dogs who like to eat everything and those who pick out their favorite items. It is advisable to try out different variants and also vary the consistency of the meal. Many dogs prefer their plant-based food pureed, others prefer food with slightly coarser pieces. The location and material of the bowl can also be crucial.
Healthy protein from the plant: Dogs can easily absorb almost all nutrients from plants – including protein. Cooked lentils and peas or lupins have proven particularly useful. The four-legged friends also enjoy whole-grain pasta, potatoes and rice.
Fruit and vegetables: In addition to the classics – apples and carrots – many dogs also like beetroot, spinach, pumpkin, bananas or berries.
Power packs: Nuts, seeds and sprouts are full of energy – four-legged friends also benefit from this. People with dogs can grow sprouts such as alfalfa, quinoa or radishes themselves and mix them into the meal. Many four-legged friends enjoy whole nuts as a snack between meals or like to nibble on a carrot. Hazelnut, walnut, sunflower and pumpkin seeds as well as linseed also contain valuable ingredients that enrich the animal diet. Almonds are not recommended because of the hydrogen cyanide they contain. And be careful: macadamia nuts are highly toxic to dogs.
Goodies from the garden: Herbal plants such as dandelion, nettle or parsley are not only good for the health of the human companion, but when mixed in, they also make the dog's bowl greener. Please pay attention to the dosage and, if possible, let the dog choose which herbs he currently needs.
Tasty Rewards: Chewing bones from dead animals are a thing of the past. For a change, many dogs also like to gnaw on raw sweet potatoes, snack on a little smoked tofu or occupy themselves with soft chewing roots. And there are now many vegan chewable products in stores too.
Supplements: As with other home-prepared forms of nutrition, such as the so-called Barfen, the home-cooked meals must be precisely calculated and enriched with a supplement for vegan dog nutrition. Otherwise deficiency symptoms can arise. Supplements are available online.
But would you prefer ready-made food? There is now a wide range of purely plant-based food or treats available in specialist shops or various online shops. So if you don't have the confidence to prepare a meal for your four-legged friend yourself, you can use these animal and environmentally friendly alternatives.
Always drink enough: Many dogs don't drink enough fluids or prefer to drink from a dirty puddle rather than from a bowl at home. You can spice up boring water with a dash of oat or rice drink or some cooked vegetable broth. Some dogs prefer stale water, while for others the fluid needs to be changed several times a day. As with eating, the location or material of the bowl can influence drinking behavior.
Shiny fur: A small amount of oil (depending on the dog's weight) mixed into food usually improves the four-legged friend's skin and coat. Flaxseed, hemp, safflower or black cumin oil are often used here.
If you are unsure whether your dog should not eat certain products from the above-mentioned foods due to previous illnesses, allergies or similar, please discuss this with informed veterinary staff before changing your diet. The composition of individual food components depends on height, weight and other individual factors. In any case, it is advisable to obtain sufficient information from the numerous specialist publications on vegan dog nutrition. Important: If the dog doesn't like something, the animal should under no circumstances be forced to eat or starve.
The Technical University of Berlin has examined the environmental impact of some so-called domestic animal species. Among other things, the ecological footprint of an “average dog” weighing 15 kilograms was determined over 13 years of life. The result: Dogs fed a meat-based diet are the animals with the second worst ecological balance. In addition to food, dogs' excretions also have significant consequences for the environment (1).
Just like people, more and more dogs are suffering from allergies that can be triggered by animal substances. Many experts advise against feeding raw meat, known as barfing, as this can transmit diseases and parasites. Conventional dog food causes millions of animal suffering – and pet owners in particular should think outside the box or dog bowl and find out about purely plant-based dog nutrition.
source
1. Technical University of Berlin (2020): A dog's life and its CO₂ footprint (October 28, 2026).
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