Hey guys! I have been waiting patiently for July (the first ever #VeganDog month!) to talk to you about my dogs’ diet. I am excited because I really believe in this diet for my fur kids, and have seen their health improve with my own eyes… But I’m also a tad nervous because I know that for every open-minded “oh wow, thats cool, I’m so interested to hear how dogs thrive on a plant-based diet,” there’s a judgmental “you’re abusing your dogs by forcing your belief system on them.”
So– let me get this out of the way: I did not decide to make my dogs go vegan simply because I am vegan. HELL no. I love my babies. And as strict and passionate a vegan as I am, I would feed my dogs meat in a heartbeat if I thought they’d be unhealthy without it. Without hesitation.
I was suspicious of store brand dog food way before even becoming vegan myself. Did you know that dog food may legally contain “4-D” meat: meat from dead, dying, diseased and disabled animals? Typically, these dog food brands also include mill floor sweepings (which they call “grain”) cheap fillers like corn (that are often contaminated with high levels of pesticides and have thereby been deemed illegal to feed humans). Think about it, you guys… Would YOU eat this stuff? If not, why would you feed it to your best friend who depends on you for survival?
I was vegan for almost a year and a half before I put my dogs on a veggie diet. I spent that year and a half slowly and thoroughly researching the history of vegan dogs, the teeth and nutritional history of dogs, the current state of the dog food industry and the ingredients of the so-called healthy dog food brands I had bought in the past. I kept on hearing about V-Dog, a family-owned, American, plant-based dog food company, so I decided to check it out. And now we are hooked!
Why I love V-Dog:
- It’s healthy! 24% pea protein, L-Carnitine, Taurine, and vitamins. No fillers, only fresh and wholesome ingredients like peas, lentils, brown rice, and quinoa. I mean… I would eat this stuff.
- It’s easy! I have a subscription, so every month I get 4 bags of kibble and a bag of bones delivered to my doorstep. Zero thought is put into it… Yay!
- It’s made in the USA, which is always my preference. Also, eco-friendly, sustainable packaging!
- My dogs THRIVE on V-Dog. Most of my friends’ dogs are overweight (in fact, over 40% of dogs are overweight, and this shortens their lifespan substantially), but my dogs are lean and fit. My pitbull used to have super watery eyes (allergies) and ever since being on V-dog, its completely gone away. EVERY veterinarian I’ve ever come into contact with demands to know what I feed them to keep them so lean and shiny with healthy teeth (literally, this happened this morning when I took my youngest baby to get some shots), and they are shocked when I tell them that it’s vegan dog food. ***IMPORTANT NOTE!!!!! It is important to remember that vets have had little to NO nutritional training, whatsoever. So if your vet throws shade at your dog’s vegan diet, it’s always good to listen to a professional, but my advice is to take it with a grain of salt and do your own research.
Oh! Before I forget, be sure and check out these Top 5 Vegan Dog Myths and Facts. This page drove me to do a lot of my own digging and eventually get on board with the concept of a plant-based diet for my dogs.
Alright, y’all. If nothing else, I urge you to simply CONSIDER what you are feeding your beloved animals. We owe them that much. Do 5 minutes of research.
As usual, please let me know of any questions you have about V-Dog, vegan dog food in general, or whatever else. I am here to help!
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