what to feed my dogs?
Kind Lifer Kristen Magno sent me a message a while ago asking me if my dogs are vegan too, and if they are what I feed them. Well, I feed my three dogs, Sweety, Lacy, and Butterfly (we also call Butterfly, (The Pig) a 100% plant-based diet. They are all between 13 and 15 years old and weigh around 70 lbs (they are big guys!). I feed them Dr. Harvey's brand dog food, their Canine Health line, and always give them all of our leftovers so there is no waste of food or money. Dr. Harvey's is a mix of oats, grains, dried veggies and seaweed. It's a little bit of a process to make the food for them, but it's sooooo worth it. And if you set a timer and walk away it's not difficult at all.
You cook it on your stovetop. You combine the Dr. Harvey's with a protein source (we use lentils, mung beans, split peas, kidney beans, pinto beans, tofu, tempeh, etc.) and oil. It's super important to rotate the type of beans so your dogs get different sources of vitamins and minerals. When we use beans, we soak them overnight in water with a piece of kombu (use a 1-inch by 1-inch square of kombu per cup of beans) and use the soaking water to water plants in the morning. Do not cook the beans in the same water that they soaked in. This will make for gassy dogs. Cook the beans along with the kombu. If you forget to soak the beans with the kombu, add it when you start cooking. This helps the beans cook more quickly and helps dogs (and you!) with gas issues.
We cook the beans until they are soft and mash them with a potato masher. If we don't mash them, they come out of the dogs whole in their poo. After mashing, we add the Dr. Harvey's mix along with any leftovers we have, when that is done, we plate up the food, wait for it to cool and add oil. We make a big batch once a day and that's enough for 2 meals for all 3 dogs. If you want, you can make a big batch and keep it in the fridge for a couple days at a time. We just do it daily since we have 3 big dogs and have to make a big pot of food for them.
We also add the supplements, L-Carnatine and Taurine. These are 2 amino acids that are essential to some dogs. They might be added to some commercial dog foods, but in this case with Dr. Harvey's they are not. When dogs are deficient in these nutrients, it can cause diomyopathy, a serious illness where the heart becomes large and flabby and can no longer function properly. This usually happens to middle-aged dogs that have an L-Carnatine or Taurine deficiency due to their breed, size, genetics, or diet. You can buy these supplements at your local health food store, places like Whole Foods or online. Look for supplements with veg-friendly capsules and not the ones that have gelatin in them! And make sure you always check with your dog's vet before starting them on any sort of supplement regimen.
Since our dogs have been eating this way, they have stopped getting fleas, hot spots, and their coats look so nice. They are all super healthy with perfect blood work. People always think they are younger than they really are. Feed your animals grains, beans, and veggies like you would eat and you will absolutely see a difference in their health. Sometimes when we are in between Dr. Harvey's orders, I'll just give them rice, beans, and whatever leftover veggies we have around, and they love it!
And I have to say, their poo is amazing. I'm so proud of them! I see other dogs' poo and it just doesn't compare. It's super healthy, easy to pick-up, and they don't struggle to get it out.
You can order Dr. Harvey's dog food from their website, or you can ask your local store to carry it. Sometimes, if we are in a hurry, we give the dogs Evolution brand, Vegan Kibble. You can get it from www.vegancats.com, or again, ask your local stores to carry it or order it for you. I try to always give them Dr. Harvey's though because it just feels more pure to me and I'd rather them not have dry food, as I feel like it dries them out. But this dry food is great when the Dr. Harvey's can't happen. Natural Balance makes a dry vegetarian dog food too.
Remember that conventional pet food is pretty much junk food for your animals. It's full of animal byproducts (intestines, bones, brains, etc.), preservatives, chemicals, and fillers. Personally I can't justify killing one animal to save or feed another. If you feed meat to your dogs, that's what we are doing...deciding that one life is more worthy than the other. They don't need it and they do better without it, as long as you feed them a healthy, balanced food source like Dr. Harvey's.
A vegan diet works really well because our dogs don't live in the wild. They take a walk every day, maybe follow their humans around a little, and not a lot more, so a plant-based diet is just fine for most dogs' energy requirements.
And for doggie treats, here are a few we love:
- their cookies look amazing. My assistant actually ate half of one of their ginger snap cookies and said it was really good...
Sweet Potate'r Chews from Dr. Harvey's
Mr. Barky's Vegetarian Dog Biscuits
- we grab these from Whole Foods - these are our staple treats
What are your thoughts on a veggie diet for your pets? Do you have brands of food that you love? Or treats?
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32 comments
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I have had both of my pups on a vegan diet for a little while now.(Maybe 6 months)Recently one of them has suffered from bladder stones. I had to put her on a strict diet prescribed from the vet(which was not plant based) but her stones dissolved without her requiring surgery. Whew! Now the vet has told me she must be on a certain food(again not plant based) for the rest of her life to prevent any stones from reforming. I have asked if there is a vegan option for her or even a vegetarian option and he recommended I call the company and ask for a alternative. I called the company(Royal Canin) and they were less than helpful. The nutritionist I spoke with basically laughed when I had asked such a question. I responded that I care about my dog more than I care for a lot of humans and I have a right to know what is in my dogs food and would like to put her back on a plant based diet if possible. So my question to you Alicia and fellow Kindlifers is does anyone know any alternatives I could check into? I would great appreciate it! The food she now eats is Royal Canin urinary SO. Thanks so much! -
Hi Alicia,
Three weeks ago we adopted a Westie puppy, and started right away on Dr. Harvey's (as that's what our 3 year-old Boxer eats). The food's directions say to add cottage cheese or yogurt for puppies, so I called Dr. Harvey to get an alternative and ask if it is absolutely necessary. He was very kind and helpful, however, told me that he discourages vegan pets :/
We have kept our pups vegan, as we honestly think it's best for them (if we think it's best for us, why would we feed them any different??). I'm not sure if you are aware of Dr. Harvey's views, but perhaps you could get in touch with him and share why you feel it works for pets of vegan families. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I found it a bit discouraging that he recommended I feed my dogs meat, especially since you give him so much business.
Last, thanks for all the work you've done for animals and helping humans become more compassionate and healthy :) You offer such great support, and I have bought your book for several friends and family members who have opted to change their lifestyle. Thanks for rocking and keep it up :)
Brittany and Matthew Cole
(Patton and Pace) pups!
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@mysticmoon623, thank you for answer my question :) it's the first time that I was buy a bag of vegan dog food, it organic, I was buy a small bag, to try it, I live in Belgium, so here the not have all the brands like in America. So now she eating vegan, and I have yet time till the bag is empty to find a good vegan organic dog food without soy ;) But what I would like to ask yet is, or I have to look also that my dog getting enough B12?
Thank you so much for helping me!
Have a nice day.
Greetings, Marijke
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Also to answer CBummer, nutritional yeast is great for the skin and coat, as well as oils in their food. I use Flaxseed, Sunflower or Safflower oil in my dogs food. I feed my two dogs together, 1 is 8 pounds, the other 37 pounds and I put 4 tsps of oil in their food and I give then a generous ammount of the nutritional yeast. I also found answers to my own question I posted about the Pill Pockets and it seems that the best thing to do is use peanut butter to hide the pill.
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Well, I've read some study that indicates dogs do better without too much soy in their diets. If you are going to give them soy, I would make sure it's organic and non gmo. Soy has an estrogenic effect on both people and animals, and that's one of the reasons you should be careful about how much you eat. I feed my dogs vegan, but don't use soy at all. I feed them a variety of beans (lentils, kidney, black, adzuki, etc) as well as split pea for protein. I use Dr Harveys organic mix, as Alicia Silverstone recommended. Also, I give them nutritional yeast which they love the taste of and is great for their health and coat.
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Hi, I have a question, I just was buy vegan dogfood for my dog, but there is soya inside, is that not a problem? Because soya everyday is not so good, right?
Greetings, Marijke
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Hi, I have put my dogs on the vegan diet and was wondering if you have any suggestions for replacing Pill Pockets? I have heard just make the dog swallow it, but I don't really want to fight with my dog to take the pill, I wish Pill Pockets made a veggie alternative!
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Mysticmoon623, have you tried simply using peanut (or almond) butter to give your doggie his/her pills? Just stick the pill in a big ol' spoonful of it - Works like a charm for me!
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My dogs have been on Nature's Balance Vegetarian formula for about 3-4 months now. Allergies are FINALLY gone! After nearly 3 years of trying to figure out what my one dog would tolerate, the veggie diet is the answer. I had previously given up on feeding my dogs vegan until I read about it again on The Kind Life. I'm so glad I found this post! My dogs are active, alert, and as energetic as ever!
The only thing I've noticed is that their skin is a little dryer than it used to be. Any suggestions for what would be best to add in? I currently just feed the dry w/o adding anything because of the he-who-is-allergic-to-everything problem... but now that I at least know the base kibble is just fine, I'm open to perfecting the formula!
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User Estef Martinez is saying the point is that eating animals is taking their live... I understand that, and I try hard to not eat meat except on special occasions for example or when I'm visiting... But doing a lot of efforts to remove every single particle of that from my diet seem ridicule and even maybe useless considering that if it's done correctly it's pretty much harmless.. I take out the old and used argument that "if I don't do it somebody else will", that being a predator from the food chain or another human, being completely vegan is too restraining, most peoples are completely discouraged way before even beginning... Personally I prefer making efforts to buy biodegradable plastic bags, recycle and use green cleaning products who do not permanently damage the environment... I have 50% less garbages since I started recycling, my recycling bag is filling almost as fast as the garbage bag... I heard things however like that in some places plastic is not recycled because it would cost too much, instead they make "ecologic" logs because it's made with oil...
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My blacklab mix runs 3 miles a day 5 days a week with me, she does great on a vegan diet, lots of muscle tone and energy - endless energy even after a run she wants to play. She's been on Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula (it's vegan) since she was 6. You can buy it at Petco, Amazon, and many other stores. It's also soy and corn free. I also give her foods like carrot juice, cooked kale, carrots, lentils, oats and other vegetables as the nutrients can help flight off cancer and other diseases.
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To force a vegan diet on a cat would be cruel. I have 3 cats and I got them before I was vegan. Now I wouldnt have cats because of the continued purchase of meat for cat food. Theres a lot of bad things going on in the pet food industry as well and We only feed our cat the highest grade organic food. Its expensive but well worth their health.
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I just ordered some of the Dr. Harveys and got it in the mail a couple days ago, I added some beans and olive oil for my 80lb golden female and she loves it. We have had her on other Vegetarian dog foods, even V- Dog which she loves but she also likes this so I know one thing, I cannot afford to buy the Dr. Harveys all the time, so I need to supplement it with another food.
Thanks for the suggestings on dog foods.
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Cabbage1979, raising animals without suffering is a much better alternative than raising them most farms do. However, the issue here is that, even if they were raised well, we are still taking their lives, and I don't believe that any living creature has the right to take another living creature. That's the point. I know that there are animals that are carnivores, but they don't have a choice, do they? We, as humans, do have the choice. That's where the main issue lies.
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Not everyone can be a vegan, even if they want to. It’s not a matter of will-power. It depends on your biochemical make-up. The brain requires long-chain omega-3 fatty acids like DHA which only occur in animal products (and a few sea weeds). Some people, especially those with type O blood (half of the population), are unable to convert the short-chain omega-3 found in plants into DHA, as well as EPA, needed by the heart. Many well-meaning people try to be vegetarian or vegan, only to find that they become sick, weak and have trouble thinking. Other people, especially blood type A and AB (40% of the pop) thrive on a vegetarian diet. There is no vitamin D in a vegan diet – they could get it by spending a lot of time naked in the sun! Also no vitamin B12, needed to prevent nerve degeneration and anemia. There are no primitive people who lived on a totally vegetarian diet, according to the research of Dr Weston Price, a dentist who traveled the world in the 1930’s, documenting the diet and health of people on their native diets. He found that people still eating their native diet, which always included some animal products, were very healthy and had perfect teeth, while the same people, after being contacted by Europeans, and eating the white man’s white food: white bread, sugar, rice, became sick, stunted and had rapid tooth decay. (see Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.) It is certainly true that the wild game eaten by Paleolithic hunters and Native Americans, accompanied by a lot of exercise catching it, had nothing in common with today’s high fat supermarket meat, laden with pesticides, synthetic hormones, and fed on genetically modified grain. Cows shouldn’t be eating grain or corn anyway – they are meant to eat grass. Those who eat meat and dairy should choose organic, grass-fed products. It is also true that a mostly plant based diet is better for the earth than meat fed on corn grown by fossil fuel-based mechanized agribusiness using chemical fertilizer and pesticides and GM seed from MonSatan. I think we should try to eat a diet of mostly plant foods, with as much clean animal products as we individually need to be healthy. But people should not feel guilty or failures if they are unable to be totally vegetarian.
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Bonnie, do you have a link with scientific evidence about the omega3 absortion according to blood tpe? I am not saying I do not believe it but anyone can make claims like those, so I would like to know if there is real scientific evidence behind those claims. Regarding B12, most vitamins are destroyed with heat, including B12, and very few people eat their meat raw, which is why B12 deficiency is also an issue for omnivores. also, the consumption of meat and animal products, along with medicines and refined foods maks your need for B12 greater. Vitamin D can be obtained by only 10 minutes of sun exposure if you are fair skinned, so no need to stay hours naked in the sun as you are saying. And I have yet to meet a vegan who is unhealthy while eating whole foods and a well balanced diet. Of course there are plenty of unhealyhy vegans who eat fench fries and oreos on a regular basis, but meat eaters who eat the same will be unhealthy too. With all due respect, I think people just try to find excuses to not become vegans. The benefits are much geater than the drawbacks. Plus my main reason to have become a vegan is animal welfare. Nothing is more important than respecting life to me.
Here I post links to the sources for thr unformation I just shared.
http://www.veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?251-Interesting-B12-article- (from-sci-med-nutrition)
http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/sunlight.htm -
According to Udo Erasmus, Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill, people whose ancestors came from islands and coastal areas with a diet high in seafood may have lost the ability to convert the plant form of omega-3 (alpha linolenic acid) into the long chain form, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) needed by the brain. This can only be gotten from seafood (including seaweeds). Populations affected may include northwest coast Native Americans, Inuit, Asian, Norwegian, Scottish, Welsh and Irish.
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@Julie I feed my dog 1 cup of dry Nature Balance Vegetarian with a 1/4 can of Nature balance wetfood as prescribed by my vet twice daily. I also give her small treats when I am preparing food and she loves kale and chews them like she would a rawhide. I am so sorry to hear you lost your furry child, but he knew how much you loved him and trust your vet. I can imagine if you are on this forum and concerned about his health still, you are a great doggie mama.
Foods toxic to dogs: Onions, garlic, dairy, chocolate, some nuts, mushrooms, raisins/grapes...the list goes on. For more information: http://www.risingwoods.org/OURFAMILY/THEDOGS/knowntoxicfoodsfordogs.htm
More information about "Obligate Carnivores":
Obligate or true carnivores depend solely on the nutrients found in animal flesh for their survival. While they may consume small amounts of plant material, they lack the physiology required for the efficient digestion of vegetable matter and, in fact, some carnivorous mammals eat vegetation specifically as an emetic.
All felids including the domestic cat are obligate carnivores requiring a diet of primarily animal flesh and organs. The ability to produce synthetic forms of essential nutrients such as taurine in the lab has allowed feed manufacturers to formulate foods for carnivores including domestic pets and zoo animals with varying amounts of plant material.
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You say a lot of things about veganism being great, but there's not much meat into these toughts so we could take them seriously... The first credible person on record to have openly advocated veganism is Greek mathematician Pythagas, who said that "eating an animal might involve eating a human soul"... Leonardo da Vinci said that "in the future harming an animal will be considered as much a crime than harming a human", I'm still waiting... It's encouraging to read that philosopher Peter Singer believe that personal purity is not the issue. I didn't read anything about potential healt gain by eating vegan, the only real argument is that eating animals is cruel, if animals are treated correctly during the slaughter process where is the problem... A few years ago I've seen a video taken by a hidden camera in a Asian chicken farm where the young male roosters were dropped into a crusher while still alive because they can't give eggs, that's what I call cruelty... In fact I've read that "vegetarian diets may be selected to camouflage an existing eating disorder"...
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I was just thinking about my cats' diet over the weekend. Their (vet prescribed) food is the only thing in my kitchen that's not vegan. Like Saoirse, I've been told that my cats must eat meat in order to be healthy, so that's what I have continued to feed them.
What's funny, though, is that my younger cat, Coco often gravitates toward plant-based foods instead. She will cry and beg for a taste of our dinner...current favorites include organic pumpkin (from a can), black beans, nut butters, and weirdly enough, air-popped corn! My husband and I have taken to calling her "our little vegan kitty."
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Are there any veggies (or vegan offerings) that dogs can't eat? Saoirse do you need to add anything to the Natural Balance veg food? Supplements? I am nervous about using it again. My malamute had auto immune and I was hoping switching to a vegan diet would help him, my vet said it would be ok, we would just check his levels periodically. He started to lose some weight and the day he was scheduled to see the vet, I came home to find him dead. My vet assures me that it was just his time, and switching his food was not the cause. I rescued a fabulous dog and have been nervous of using N B V. But it is also the only veg formula I can afford, (and that is even stretching it on my salary). Just want to make sure I am the best doggie mommy I can be!
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I agree that putting your dog on a vegan diet does wonders for the furry children others call our pets. My poor dog Frida (a pug/chihuahua rescue) had the worse hotspots. I was so concerned, she was in constant agony, scratching and chewing herself raw. The vet couldn't answer why she had such a problem but she and I discussed the benefits to putting her on a vegan diet.
I, unfortunately do not have the money to buy the wonderful vegan dog food items that Alicia spoke of, but I do feed her a mix of Natural Balance vegetarian (it's vegan) wet and dry dogfood. My dog loves her food and gets excited to eat. Her hotspots are gone completely and her coat is gorgeous and supple. I get attacked by other people when they see me buying food for her that is vegan, but I don't care because I keep in close touch with my vet and Frida is in perfect health.
As for the CAT question, there is a lot of debate on that. Dogs are omnivores, so like us it is very easy for them to transition to a very healthy life as vegans. Cats unfortunately, are OBLIGATE CARNIVORES and most people will contest that they cannot eat vegan. It is important that you understand that cats have a very different makeup than dogs and humans alike and their needs for nutrition and longevity may not balance with your beautiful vegan lifestyle. I feed my cat "Taste of the Wild" as it does carry meat but is a very high grade food that came strongly recommended by my veterinarian.
What I would say in making all the choices for your pet is to always keep your vet informed, it was my vet that encouraged my dog eat vegan to help with her hotspot problem when I asked her and explained to me about obligate carnivores. Whatever you choose is your decision and we are all looking out for the well being of our furry children.
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I love the photos of you, your husband, and your dogs! All look so happy, healthy, and sweet. Thank you for sharing. This is great info., even though I currently don't have a dog. I'll still save this for the future. Plus, it inspires me to educate myself more on what I should REALLY feed my three kitties. Like Andrea above, I'm curious about what I should do to do better for my kitties' food. They are my babies and I want them to eat as well, and feel as well, as I do.
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For the last several years I have been volunteering at the AMAZING animal sanctuary and rescue center in India called Animal Aid Unlimited. www.animalaidunlimited.com
Animal Aid rescues sick, malnourished, starving dogs in the hundreds each month. They all thrive on a vegan diet. I have watched literally thousands of weak, skinny doggies get fat and healthy on only bean, lentils, and rice. All of the food for the animals at the shelter is cooked daily at the hospital in HUGE pots by the staff. For anyone that doubts that a vegan diet is not enough for dogs, Animal Aid Unlimited has proven them wrong! -
there are info and useful links here too
http://girliegirlarmy.com/lifestyle/20120131/how-to-switch-your-dog-to-a-home-cooked-vegan-diet/
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Thanks Alicia! I've been feeding my dog Natural Balance with added veggies like peas, green beans and sweet potatoes--she won't eat it alone now and my husband says I have really spoiled her! I can't wait to pick up Dr Harvey's and get her started on it! I am soaking some beans right now!
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Ah :-) You guys are so amazing. We've just bought some Ami cat food for the neighbourhood stray cats who cuddle up in our house :)
Available at:
Available at:
The kidney stones could have been from a detox that your dog's body was going through from having a more superior diet. This is what happened to my dog. She was on a variety of kibble (Natural Balance & Call of the Wild) originally, but due to allergies, I has switched her to a raw diet. For the first few months, her allergies seem to get worse and she developed kidney stones. With support from some raw experts in my area, I stuck with the diet and sure enough, the stones dissolved and the allergies disappeared.
Royal Canin & Hill's Science Diet are affiliated with the governing bodies of the veterinary industry, so beware of the recommendations that your vets might be making to you. They may not be making these recommendations in the best interest of you or your pet. That was the case with my dog. Do your own research, speak with other experts who are not vets, but have been caring for animals similar to your pet for a long time and then make your own choice.
All I can say is that without purchasing the expensive prescription kibble foods that my vets were telling me to get, I got rid of my dog's health problems, so its totally possible to do.
As a last note, if you are looking to put your dog on a vegan diet, consider making the food at home. Find a reputable nutritional supplement (like Dr. Harvey's) and add things like cooked quinoa, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, coconut cultured yogurt, sweet potato, spinach, carrots, kale (all steamed & mashed/blended) and fresh blueberries or raspberries. Throw in a teaspoon of turmeric in each meal as an anti-inflammatory for joints and muscles too. I usually make a whole lot, portion it out in small freezer-safe glass containers and throw them in my freezer chest for the month. Then I just pull out the meals for the next day and let them thaw on the counter overnight. Your dog will love it!