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Why Choose a Plant-Based Diet for Your Canine?

A plant-based canine diet offers several potential benefits. Meat, no matter how “clean” the source, still contains toxins simply from bioaccumulation. A diet that is 100% meat will subject our dogs to toxins on a daily basis from their diet. How great of a toxin load depends on the meat source. Plants, especially organic, are the lowest on the food chain and thus the cleanest offering the lowest toxin load passed on to your pet. Many dogs, despite the best quality raw diet are still plagued with food sensitivities and allergies. Many pets have found relief from skin, ear, and digestive issues by switching to a more plant-forward nutrition plan. Dogs with weight issues tend to have a much easier time reducing body fat. This leads to better joint health and mobility. The higher fiber in a plant-based diet aids in better bowel evacuation, less loose stools, and the prevention of anal gland impaction. And, plants have the lowest carbon footprint and environmental impact. Despite the numerous benefits, many pet parents have their concerns about plant-based diets for their pets. These concerns may include protein content, nutrient saturation, and whether a plant-based diet can be truly complete and balanced for dogs.

Finding a Balance is Important to Maintaining Results

Thankfully, scientific research shows us the dogs can and do thrive on a properly formulated and balanced plant-based diet. Veterinarians such as Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM; Dr. Richard Pitcairn, DVM, PhD; Dr. Andrew Knight, BVMS, PhD; Dr. Armaiti May, DVM; Dr. Michael Fox, DVM, PhD; and many more support and advocate for vegan diets for dogs. In fact, a 2022 study in PLOS ONE led by Dr. Knight found that dogs who consumed a vegan diet had less trips to their veterinarian, were prescribed less medication, and were overall healthier in several measured outcomes.

Allergy and Sensitivity Friendly

Allergies and sensitivities plague too many of our pets. Reducing meat in a dog’s diet has shown incredible results. Many pets stricken with skin conditions, debilitating itching, ear infections, and yeast overgrowth have found relief when switching to a plant-based diet. It is possible that the numerous toxins in meat are driving many of the symptoms we are seeing in a growing number of pets.

Reduce Your Dog’s Carbon Pawprint

Meat production accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is a leading cause of deforestation and a loss of biodiversity, is highly water-intensive, leads to soil erosion and desertification, is a cause of water pollution from farm waste runoff, results in a decline in species diversity, and comes with high fossil fuel price tag. The Holistic Canine is owned and operated by an environmentally conscious vegan who not only loves dogs, but all animals and life on this planet. Our goal is to preserve the health and life of not just our pets, but our planet and all living species that call Earth home.

Cruelty-Free and Ethical Nutrition

We as pet parents only want what is best for our beloved companions. We love our dogs just as we love our family members and friends. Some pet parents even consider their pets their children. It is only natural to want to offer the best of everything to our fur children. When we open our minds to the fact that other animals, like our dogs, are also able to experience the joys of love and affection and to experience health and the joys of living on this planet, it should make us heartbroken that everyday millions of animals are being slaughtered for food. They do not volunteer to be killed. Like dogs, they are born into a world that can be filled with love and health, or horror and death. Most people are horrified when they see a dog living in horrendous conditions or abused by humans in puppy mills. Do not all sentient beings desire the same? Every living being on this planet has a right to live. At the very least, reducing the amount of meat that your dog consumes will make a big impact. The Holistic Canine is here to help pet parents make the best decisions for their dogs, for all creatures, and for the planet.