The impact of food and pet food production on the environment is a hot topic recently, resulting in more and more people choosing a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. But how does this work for our dogs?\u00a0 Can (and should) you feed vegetarian puppy food? Is it even good for our pups? In this article, we\u2019re answering all your questions, and giving you our take on vegetarian puppy food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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While you\u2019re here, have you downloaded the Zigzag training app<\/a> yet? If not, what are you waiting for? It’s a full training program tailored to your puppy’s breed type and life stage – we\u2019ll walk you through all there is for you and your pup to know and learn. We also know how overwhelming puppy training can be, so if it all sounds like it\u2019s too much, you can always reach out to our team of puppy coaches<\/a>. They\u2019re there to help you out 24\/7, no matter what hiccup you\u2019re trying to get over. Give it a try – download a free trial today<\/a>; we can guarantee you\u2019ll have no regrets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, trends in human food consumption tend to trickle down to pet foods eventually. So with such a big wave of people turning to a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, it\u2019s no surprise that more and more people have started wanting to feed their pets a meat-free diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But here\u2019s the big question: Can dogs eat a vegetarian diet? Technically yes, they can. Dogs are omnivores so they eat and process both meat and plants. But the even bigger question is: should<\/em> a dog eat a vegetarian diet?…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like your mum would say: Just because you can doesn\u2019t always mean you should. While I\u2019m sure many owners want to do the best for their puppies and the environment, the BVA (British Veterinary Association) doesn\u2019t recommend feeding a puppy or adult dog a vegetarian diet. The main reason for this is that it would be very difficult to meet all your dog’s nutritional needs<\/a> from purely vegetarian dog food. This is even more true for vegan diets. There are many vegetarian and vegan pet food products available in pet stores because of their rising demand, but there isn\u2019t enough evidence available yet to determine how nutritious and filling they are for our dogs in the long term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies need a good balance of essential nutrients to make sure they can grow and develop properly. Puppies and adult dogs also need good nutritional balance to learn, so it’s really important that whatever type of diet you feed your puppy, it\u2019s balanced well nutritionally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The six essential nutrients that puppies require every day are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve got a lot more information about this you\u2019ll find useful in our article: Puppy Nutrition: What and how much should they eat?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s actually not as easy as you think to know how much and what to feed your puppy. Some people can get quickly overwhelmed by this\u2026but if you\u2019re struggling, you\u2019re in luck. Our puppy feeding guide<\/a> will tell you everything you need to know.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n We know all about the rollercoaster of raising a healthy and happy puppy – but you can totally trust Zigzag<\/a> to help that rollercoaster actually be at least smooth. If you have questions on feeding, training or general health or anything else puppy-related, the Zigzag app<\/a> will have everything you need to know. Our team of puppy coaches<\/a> will always be there to catch you when you stumble – just a text or call away, 24\/7. Trust us – you\u2019ll raise a puppy to become a super confident, happy and healthy pup much faster than you think. You can do it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n FAQs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is vegetarian dog food healthy for dogs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the BVA, there\u2019s not enough evidence or research about this to say if a vegetarian diet is good for dogs. But what we do know is that with any diet or change in diet, it’s always best to ask your vet for their opinion. They\u2019ll be able to look at your puppy\u2019s own needs and give you some good pointers according to what they see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many commercially produced vegetarian and vegan puppy foods on the market. Dogs can eat and process many vegetables and eggs, but these don\u2019t replace the essential vitamins and minerals you find in meat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your puppy needs a good balanced nutritious diet. Meat and fish contain many vitamins and minerals that your puppy or dog will need in order to grow and learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCan dogs eat a vegetarian diet?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Should a dog eat a vegetarian diet?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pros and cons of vegetarian dog food for puppies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Essential nutrients and nutrition for your puppy <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Are you struggling with puppy feeding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What vegetarian food can I feed my puppy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does my puppy need meat\/fish?<\/p>\n\n\n\n