More and more dog owners are choosing vegan dog food for ethical or health reasons. But can these products compete with conventional meat-based foods? A study by the University of Nottingham delivers a sobering result: None of the tested dry dog foods—whether vegan, meat-based, or for dogs with kidney issues—met all current nutritional guidelines. Particularly concerning: deficiencies in essential amino acids, B vitamins, and iodine.
When it comes to appropriate, healthy dog food, no diet is as controversially discussed as a vegan diet. Many still think of dogs as pure carnivores—but dogs are omnivores and, according to current scientific knowledge, can indeed be fed entirely plant-based diets—provided they receive all the essential nutrients. These are often added to many foods anyway, but how does vegan dog food compare to conventional meat-based products?
Study Questions Some Advertising Claims
Scientists at the University of Nottingham conducted the most comprehensive independent analysis to date of dry foods available in the UK for adult dogs. All were labeled as complete foods—including plant-based, meat-based, and special diet foods for dogs with kidney issues. The results were published in the journal “PLOS One.”
The aim was to verify the actual nutrient composition of the products and compare them with the European FEDIAF guidelines. FEDIAF stands for the European Pet Food Industry Federation. The federation sets guidelines that establish standards for the nutrient composition of pet food, which must be observed by the industry and many regulatory authorities. The study provides pet owners and professionals with a well-founded overview of the strengths and weaknesses of these foods—and questions some advertising claims.
Diet Foods Were Also a Focus of the Study
While meat-based foods are traditionally considered protein-rich and provide essential amino acids, B vitamins, and minerals, plant-based proteins often have individual deficiencies but can be sufficient in combination—provided they are properly supplemented. Until now, there have been few independent studies on the nutrient coverage of vegan dog food. The scientists at the University of Nottingham aimed to fill this gap with their study.
Veterinary specialty foods, such as those for dogs with chronic kidney disease, were also a focus. These are deliberately protein-reduced but must still provide all essential nutrients. The current study examined whether the nutrient information on the packaging matched the actual contents—and whether these foods complied with the current guidelines for dog nutrition.
A Total of 6 Vegan Dog Foods Were Examined
As part of the study, researchers analyzed 31 commercial dry dog foods for adult dogs available in the UK in September 2022. These included:
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six plant-based (vegan or vegetarian), and
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six veterinary kidney diets.
The products were examined for their protein, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamin D, and B vitamin content. The results were compared with the FEDIAF guidelines for adult dog nutrition, which still apply in the UK post-Brexit.
Only Half of the Foods Met All Minimum Levels of Essential Amino Acids
The study’s result is sobering: None of the examined foods met all of FEDIAF’s nutritional requirements. Many dog foods—both vegan and meat-based—showed deficiencies, especially in amino acids, minerals, and B vitamins. Particularly concerning: Kidney diets labeled as complete foods often had deficits in essential amino acids—a potential risk for sick dogs. 1
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Amino Acids: Only 17 out of 31 foods (55 percent) met all minimum levels of essential amino acids. Notably, 4 out of 6 kidney diets were below the guidelines, sometimes in up to 6 out of 9 tested amino acids.
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Fatty Acids: All food types fully covered the minimum requirements for essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. Plant-based foods had particularly high levels.
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Minerals: Only 5 out of 31 products met all 13 tested mineral requirements. Iodine was the most common deficient nutrient—in 17 of the 30 analyzed foods (57 percent), levels were below the minimum, especially in plant-based products.
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B Vitamins: Only 4 out of 17 tested foods (24 percent) contained sufficient amounts of all B vitamins. Plant-based foods showed significantly lower values for B3, B9, and B12.
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Vitamin D: All examined products were within the recommended ranges (138–800 IU/1000 kcal).
No Single Product Met All Nutritional Requirements
The label “suitable as a complete food” indicates that the dog receives all essential nutrients if fed exclusively with this food. The British researchers’ investigation questions the validity of this declaration on dry food. No single product met all nutritional requirements—neither in amino acids, minerals, nor vitamins.
While vegan dog food did ensure adequate protein supply, they—similar to human vegan diets—showed deficiencies in iodine and several B vitamins. The veterinary kidney diets, on the other hand, often showed insufficient levels of essential amino acids, which could be particularly problematic for chronically ill animals.
The study demonstrates that even animal products do not automatically guarantee complete nutrition. It also confirms that plant-based ingredients can provide high-quality fatty acids when combined correctly. For pet owners, veterinarians, and pet food manufacturers, this highlights an urgent need for action in terms of quality assurance, labeling, and recipe optimization.
Results Apply Only to Dry Food
The study provides the first comprehensive, independent analysis of commercially available dry foods in the UK, based on direct measurement rather than manufacturer information. However, the number of products is statistically relatively small. Only six types of vegan dog food were examined. These covered the majority of the market at the time (2022).
Additionally, only dry foods and types for adult animals were examined, not wet foods or products for puppies or pregnant dogs. In these life stages, dogs require increased nutrient intake. The bioavailability of nutrients in the animal body was also not considered; even with sufficient content in the food, nutrient interactions or processing losses could affect actual supply.
Plant-Based Nutrition a Practical Alternative to Meat-Based Options
Nevertheless, the study reveals significant fluctuations and deficiencies in products marketed as complete foods—regardless of protein source. “Our study found that plant-based nutrition, when properly formulated, can be a healthy and viable alternative to meat-based options,” summarizes Rebecca Brociek from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Science in a press release from the University of Nottingham.
“Ideally, long-term feeding studies are the next step, but as we begin to rethink pet nutrition, the alternative may not only be better for the planet but also beneficial for our four-legged companions.”
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