Professor Simon Davies

Professor Simon Davies Nutrition Editor, International Petfood

Is it wise for our dogs and cats to give up the turkey and go veggie?

In the quest to go green, many see vegetarianism as the sustainable alternative, giving up or reducing meat consumption as a good thing to do for both health and the environment. Millions have adopted this regime globally and become fully vegan, or lacto-vegetarian and flexitarian claiming better health and promoting their concern for climate change and the rise of emissions from farming animals. This beggars the question as to whether our animal companion friends can go the same way as their owners.

Although most diets for canines and felines are commercially formulated with appreciable content of meat derived proteins, there is now a trend towards formulating only vegan diets for cats and dogs that omit meat byproducts completely and are entirely plant based. Dogs are the most veggie appreciative and can adapt as they have co-existed with humans for much longer and we have leaned them towards omnivory. Cats however are still semi-domesticated and are obligate carnivores. They have more strict nutritional requirements and are dependent on such essentials as taurine, have limited capacity to bio-convert carotenoids to vitamin A. This is also true of their vitamin D3 requirements that is satisfied by the cholecalciferol found in the tissues of animals. Cats also need arachidonic n-6 lipids in their diets for metabolic integrity and immune function. More recent thinking now suggests that if all nutrients are supplied there is nothing ‘in theory’ to prevent a diet being totally plant based with all other essential nutrients added or fortified within a basal meat-free formula. It is apparent that no species really has a specific need to achieve a balanced diet via meat if the diet is ‘nutritionally sound’ and of course palatable. Recent surveys to examine animal ‘happiness’ on vegan feeds and the opinions of their owners does show some surprising results for those that may question the practice. Dr Andrew Knight of the University of Winchester’s Centre of Animal Welfare in the UK has recently conducted such studies. This included 2300 dogs and 1100 cats on a variety of diets, and he found little differences in terms of palatability between animal based and plant-based diets. This study also did not yield evidence of any health disorders for the animals. The first large-scale study of the health effects of vegetarian diets designed for companion animals was led by Dr Adronie Verbrugge (Chair of veterinary clinical nutrition) at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada in 2021. In their report, the team examined the results from 1000 cat owners who fed cats a strictly plant formulated diet. On analysis of cat stools, body coat and general condition indices these animals were very good displaying reduced incidences of gastrointestinal disturbances and a very good appetite. In my opinion, such diets are feasible but only under careful nutritional supervision and by experts. Various ‘homemade’ recipes can be highly risky and specifically nutrient deficient. Many veterinarians and expert animal nutrition scientists including myself express caution. I would agree with the President of the British Veterinary Association Justine Shotton with her view of extreme plant-based diets for dogs and cats. In a statement from the BVA website she says ‘Meat contains vital vitamins and nutrients needed by cats and dogs. Although we would not recommend it, it is theoretically possible to feed a dog a vegetarian diet, but owners would need to take expert advice to avoid dietary deficiencies and associated disease, as it is much easier to get the balance of nutrients wrong than to get it right. A dog on a vegan diet may also need synthetic supplementation’. Another area of contention is feeding of fresh raw or freshly frozen meat for both dogs and cats as components of Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diets. These are also becoming a trend but require caution despite the evidence of promoting healthy dogs and cats. So will it be turkey and veg this Christmas for your dog and cat? Well, a slice of turkey may still be the sure bet!