natural balance vegetarian dog food near me
Best Vegetarian Dog Food
Feeding dogs a vegetarian diet can present several potential health risks and deficiencies if not carefully managed. While some dogs may adapt well to a well-balanced vegetarian diet, others may be more susceptible to certain issues.
As mentioned above, dogs require high-quality protein with all essential amino acids to maintain their health and muscle mass. Plant-based proteins may lack certain amino acids, and without proper planning, dogs could suffer from protein deficiencies.
Taurine is an essential amino acid for dogs, and it is primarily found in animal-based proteins. A lack of taurine in a vegetarian diet can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and eye issues.
Vitamin B12 is only naturally found in animal-based foods. Without supplementation or fortified foods, dogs on a vegetarian diet may not get enough vitamin B12, leading to anemia, nerve problems, and overall weakness.
Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, are essential for a dogs skin, coat, and overall health. While some plant sources provide omega-3s in the form of ALA, they may not be efficiently converted to the active forms (EPA and DHA) that dogs need.
Dogs need a proper balance of calcium and phosphorus for healthy bone development and maintenance. Without careful design plant-based diets may have an inadequate balance of these minerals, leading to bone and dental issues.
Some dogs might have difficulty digesting certain plant-based proteins or high-fiber diets, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort, gas, or diarrhea. For other dogs this higher fiber diet and plant based proteins may suit them better than a traditional diet.
Plant-based diets may not provide enough calories for highly active dogs or those with higher energy needs, such as working dogs or athletes.
Like all protein sources and ingredients, there is the potential that dogs can develop allergies to specific plant-based proteins or other components in a vegetarian diet, leading to skin issues, ear infections, or gastrointestinal problems. For dogs with allergies to animal-based ingredients a vegetarian diet can be a great option to alleviate their allergy symptoms.
In all cases, inadequate nutrition can impact reproductive health, leading to decreased fertility and complications during pregnancy and lactation.
Some dogs might exhibit changes in behavior or energy levels if their nutritional needs are not adequately met, affecting their overall well-being.
To mitigate these potential risks, its essential to work with a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist to design a balanced vegetarian diet that meets the specific needs of the individual dog. Regular health check-ups and monitoring are crucial to address any deficiencies or health issues promptly.
In some cases, a vegetarian diet might not be suitable for certain dogs, and alternative dietary approaches may be recommended to ensure optimal health and well-being. Many vegetarian diets are formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional profiles and carefully supply the nutrients required by your dog.
As with any dietary change it is important to monitor your dog for signs that the diet isnt suiting them.
You can also support their diet with specific supplements and fortified foods to ensure they receive the essential nutrients they need including Vitamin B12 supplements, protein supplements and calcium supplements.
8 Best VegetarianDogFoods 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
Vegetarian and vegan dog foods are somewhat new alternatives to the dog food industry, often being overlooked for meat-based products. Regardless of the controversy of feeding vegetarian foods to canines, there are some dogs with serious health conditions that require meat-free diets, which can be challenging. Thankfully, there is a wide variety of plant-based dog food brands to choose from, ranging in ingredients, protein sources, and price. If youre looking for vegetarian or vegan dog food, here is our list of Best Vegetarian Dog Foods and their reviews:
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
The 8 Best Vegetarian Dog Foods
1. Natural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog Food Best Overall
Natural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog Food is a meat-alternative dog food designed for dogs that need a meat-free diet. Natural Balance uses a complete and balanced recipe with essential nutrients your dog needs, with the same vitamins and minerals as their meat-based recipes. Its completely plant-based, with a fiber blend to help aid in digestion. Its made with no meat or dairy products that may trigger certain health conditions, including protein allergies.
This recipe contains vital fatty acids with Omegas 3 and 6, which helps support your dogs coat and skin. Another great feature of this brand is that its relatively inexpensive for a specialized diet, which is often much more expensive than regular dog food. The only issue with this dog food is that it may cause indigestion in some dogs, even with the fiber blend. Except for this, we recommend trying Natural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog food if youre looking for the best vegetarian dog food overall.
- A complete and balanced recipe
- Plant-based with a fiber blend
- Made with no meat or dairy products
- Contains fatty acids for coat support
- Inexpensive for a specialized diet
- Can cause indigestion in some dogs
2. Wysong Dry Vegan Dog Food Best Value
Wysong Vegan Formula Dry Dog Food is a vegan dog food that can be fed to both dogs and cats. It uses a natural, plant-based formula with no animal by-products, which can be found in some vegetarian and non-vegan dry dog foods. It is also made with a flaxseed blend for essential fatty acids, giving your dog an animal-free source of Omega-3 and Omega-6. This vegan kibble also contains vitamins B-6 and B-12, two crucial vitamins for normal brain and nervous system function.
One great benefit of Wysong compared to other brands is that its inexpensive, so you wont have to spend more than youd like for a vegetarian diet. However, the big problem with the kibble is the lack of other essential nutrients, so youll have to feed your dog an additional protein source. Another issue we had is with the unnecessary corn and soy filler ingredients. Due to these two factors, we kept it from our #1 spot. Aside from those two details, we recommend trying Wysong Vegan Formula with another protein source as the best vegetarian dog food for the money.
- Natural plant-based formula
- Made with flax for fatty acids
- Contains B-6 and B-12 vitamins
- Inexpensive compared to other brands
- Needs an additional protein source
- Contains corn and soy fillers
3. Addiction Zen Vegetarian Dry Dog Food Premium Choice
Addiction Zen Vegetarian Dry Dog Food is a premium vegetarian kibble for dogs that need a meat-free alternative for certain health conditions. It features an all-natural blend made with oats, vegetables, and fruits, with no artificial ingredients like flavoring and food coloring.
This kibble is a complete diet with balanced nutrition, so your dog will get all the essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health and nourishment. It doesnt contain any dairy or meat ingredients, making it an ideal option for dogs with animal protein allergies and dairy sensitivity. Its also made with a natural source of fatty acids using canola oil, which helps nourish and soothe your dogs skin and coat.
Addiction Zen is on the expensive side compared to other vegetarian brands, especially if your dog is bigger than 25 pounds. Picky dogs may also refuse this brand, so we recommend trying Natural Balance if your dogs palette is selective. Pickiness aside, we find Addiction Zen Vegetarian Dry Dog Food to be a great premium option for your dog.
- Made with oats, veggies, and fruits
- A complete diet with balanced nutrition
- Contains no dairy or meat ingredients
- Natural source of fatty acids
- On the expensive side
- Picky dogs may not love this brand
4. V-dog Dry Vegan Dog Food
V-dog Vegan Dry Dog Food is a vegan dry dog food designed for to provide an eco-friendly, meat-free kibble for your dog. It features a natural blend of vegan-approved ingredients, made with peas as the main protein source. Another great feature of this dog food is the lack of fillers like dairy, corn, and soy, while also steering away from any animal products or byproducts.
This kibble is also a complete and balanced diet, so its made with all the essential nutrients your dog requires on a daily basis. However, its is expensive compared to other brands, comparable to the prescription diets offered by veterinarians. Another issue with this kibble is with the flavor, so pick dogs may refuse to eat this kibble. V-Dog also has been known to have inconsistent quality control between batches, which can be a health and safety concern for your dog.
For these reasons, we decided to keep it from our Top 3 picks. Otherwise, V-Dog Vegan Dry Dog Food can be a good option if youre new to vegan and vegetarian dog diets.
- A natural blend made with peas
- No animal, dairy, corn, or soy products
- A complete diet with essential nutrients
- Expensive compared to other brands
- Picky dogs may refuse this kibble
- Inconsistent quality control between batches
5. Natures Recipe Dry Dog Food
Natures Recipe Dry Dog Food is a vegetarian kibble that can be used as an elimination diet for dogs with animal protein allergies. It uses a soy-based protein meal blend instead of multiple protein sources, lowering the chance of allergic reactions to it. Its made with natural ingredients and vitamins for a balanced diet, which are sustainably sourced for a greener, eco-friendly product. It also contains fish-free sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are vital for healthy skin, coat, and immune system.
While this kibble seems great on the surface, it has a slightly strong chemical smell that can be unpleasant for you and your dog. It also wasnt too popular taste-wise with picky dogs, which is probably due to the artificial odor. Another potential issue is that it can cause indigestion in some dogs, so youre better off skipping this one if your dog has a sensitive stomach. If your dog new to vegetarian diets, we recommend trying other brands to lower the chances of stomach or allergy issues.
- Soy-based protein meal blend
- Natural ingredients for a balanced diet
- Contains fish-free sources of Omegas 3 and 6
- A slightly strong chemical smell
- May lead to indigestion in some dogs
- Picky dogs may not like the taste
6. Halo Vegan Dry Dog Food
Halo Vegan Dry Dog Food is an alternative to feeding your dog a traditional, animal-based dry kibble. Its made with a protein-rich blend of natural ingredients, all made with sustainably sourced, non-GMO ingredients. This dog food is a complete and balanced dog kibble that provides your dog with the daily required nutrition, so you wont need to add an additional protein source to this kibble. It also doesnt contain any meat, corn, or dairy products, so its an option for dogs with food sensitivities.
The first thing we noticed with Halo Vegan Dry Dog Food is that it can cause excess gas and other stomach problems, causing unnecessary discomfort in your dogs digestive system. Another problem we encountered is the flavor of this kibble, with some dogs not liking this flavor and refusing to eat it. Lastly, Halo Vegan dog kibble is an expensive, premium dog food, so its not the best choice if youre looking for a good value. For high-quality ingredients without the premium price, we recommend trying Natural Balance Vegetarian dog food first.
- A protein-rich blend of natural ingredients
- Complete and balanced dog kibble
- Contains no meat, corn, or dairy products
- Can cause excess gas
- Some dogs do not like the flavor
- Expensive premium vegan food
7. Purina Veterinary Diets Vegetarian Dry Dog Food
Purina Veterinary Diets Vegetarian Dry Dog Food is a prescription vegetarian dry dog food. Its designed with limited ingredients and nutrient sources for dogs with multiple allergies, with no artificial flavors or ingredients. Its made with a single hydrolyzed, plant-based protein, so its easier to absorb and reduces the risk of an allergic flareup. Its also made without meat or dairy ingredients, which can also cause reactions like itchy, red skin.
The problem is that Purina Veterinary Diets is expensive and requires a vet prescription, so its not something that is readily available. It also contains corn and soy ingredients that some dogs have reactions to, so youll have to skip this product if your dog has sensitivities to both of those filler ingredients. Lastly, some dogs simply didnt like this flavor, which is rare for Purina brand dog foods.
If your dog needs the limited ingredients and youve tried everything else, this might be an option. However, there are vegan and vegetarian brands available that may be better for your dog instead.
- Designed for dogs with allergies
- Single hydrolyzed plant-based protein
- Made without meat or dairy ingredients
- Expensive and requires a vet prescription
- Contains corn and soy ingredients
- Some dogs may not like the flavor
8. Petcurean Dry Recipe Vegan Dog Food
Petcurean Vegan Recipe Dry Dog Food is a vegan dry kibble that provides an eco-friendly, plant-derived diet for your dog. Its made with a single source of pea-based protein source, with no animal products or by-products that can cause itchy skin and other health issues. Its also made with flaxseed and sunflower oil blend to provide your dog with Omega-3 and Omega-6, which help improve and nourish your dogs skin and coat.
However, Petcurean Vegan Dry Dog Food has potential issues that outweigh any benefits. The first initial problem is that most dogs dont like the flavor, so you may not even know if your dog can benefit from this specific vegetarian diet. Another potential issue is excessive gas, which can be a dealbreaker for breeds that are already prone to gassiness. This kibble also has a strong artificial potato smell, even though its an all-natural food that shouldnt have anything artificial in it.
Lastly, it may not be the most expensive food, but Petcurean is still somewhat pricey compared to most meat-based dog foods. We recommend trying one of our Top 3 picks if youre looking for consistent results and a better value.
- Pea-based protein source
- Flax and sunflower oil blend
- Most dogs dont like the flavor
- May cause excessive gas
- Strong artificial potato smell
- Somewhat expensive vegan dog food
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Vegetarian Dog Food
After carefully reviewing and comparing each vegetarian dog food, the winner for best vegetarian dog food overall is Natural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog Food. Its a high-quality dry kibble made with a complete and balanced diet, with no animal-derived products. For Best Value, the winner is Wysong Vegan Formula Dry Dog Food. While it does need an additional protein source, it is still much less expensive than other vegan dog food blends.
Hopefully, we have made it easier for you to find the right vegan or vegetarian brand for your dog. We looked for the best vegetarian dog food products with your dogs safety and health in mind. Remember, its always important to talk to your veterinarian before switching your dogs protein source. If youre not sure where to start, ask your vet for advice and recommendations for transitioning your dog to a plant-based diet.
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