One of the most common questions I get is, “Can puppies be vegan?” This is a super important question because what we feed a puppy will set the foundation for his life-long health. That might sound like a lot of pressure, but it’s true! This is because puppyhood is the formative stage of a dog’s life.

Imagine packing your body’s entire developmental phase from birth to puberty into just a few months. This is exactly what’s happening with your new puppy! That cute little bundle of fur is maturing at lighting speed, and he’s going to need the proper nutrition to support this rapid growth.

Puppies develop most rapidly during their first 6 months, which is known as the “pediatric life stage”. During this time, puppies:

  • Grow mature bones, tissues, muscles and internal organs.
  • Form new nervous system connections.
  • Develop brain and cognitive functions.
  • Build a strong immune system.

Puppies need key nutrients to help them grow and mature for optimum health

  • Energy: A puppy’s Calorie requirements are much higher than adult dogs, especially during the first few months, when growth is most rapid. All of these Calories are needed to fuel a puppy’s high metabolism, growing body and increased activity level. Puppies require three times more energy in their first six months than adult dogs.
  • Protein: Puppies need lots of total protein and also plenty of the individual amino acids that make up protein. Protein is essential to grow and repair tissue; provide structure to bones, muscles, joints and organs; carry vitamins and nutrients throughout the body; act as hormones; promote a healthy immune system; and play a role in every essential metabolic reaction. Protein can also provide energy in the absence of adequate carbohydrates and fats.
  • Carbohydrates: Puppies use carbohydrates as an efficient energy source.
  • Fats: Fats contribute the densest form of energy; transport fat-soluble vitamins; insulate the body from heat loss; protect the organs from injury; and provide essential fatty acids necessary for brain and nervous system development. This includes the essential omega-6 fatty acids Linoleic Acid (LA) and Arachidonic Acid (AA) and the essential omega-3 fatty acids Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).
  • Vitamins and minerals: These are essential nutrients for life and play a vital role in many metabolic processes.

The important thing to remember is that puppies, just like dogs, are omnivores, and can get all of the nutrients they need from plants.

Puppies, just like adult dogs, need specific nutrients to promote long-term health. They do not need to get these nutrients from animal products. In fact, plant-based foods hold a variety of benefits that animal-based ingredients do not. Plant foods are lower in toxins and contain phytochemicals (beneficial plant compounds) and antioxidants that set the stage for a dog’s life-long health.

The issue is not “can puppies be vegan” because the answer is most definitely, “Yes”! The issue is that you must ensure that your puppy receives all of the proper nutrients at the appropriate levels. But of course, this is true no matter what type of diet you feed.

Large breed puppies have even more specific nutritional considerations because if they grow too quickly they can experience Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD) later in life.

Considerations When Choosing Vegan Puppy Food

When selecting a vegan puppy food (or any puppy food, for that matter), it’s essential to be aware of the following Do’s and Don’ts:

  • Do be aware the both a deficiency or an excess of calcium and phosphorus are dangerous. Deficiencies can lead to weak bones and fractures, while excesses can lead to DOD. The proper balance of calcium and phosphorus is also essential.
  • Don’t feed an adult dog food to a puppy. It contains too much calcium and phosphorus.
  • Don’t feed an “all life stages” food to a large breed puppy during the first six months. Large breed puppies must grow at a slow and steady rate. Foods designed for all life stages contain too much calcium and phosphorus and can cause DOD down the line.

At this time, I am aware on only one commercial vegan food that is formulated for puppies: Benevo Puppy. However, they seem to be consistently out of stock everywhere I look, at least in the United States.

Evolution states that its foods are “all life stages”, however again we would not want to feed that to a large-breed puppy for at least the first six months.

If you have a large breed puppy, I recommend calling both of these companies to determine how their formulations meet the specific needs.

Can puppies be vegan on home-cooked food?

As a vegan canine nutritionist, I advocate feeding fresh food to our canine companions whenever possible, and this includes to puppies. However, I strongly urge against “winging it” when you are feeding a plant-based puppy because, as I’ve already mentioned, you can end up causing developmental orthopedic harm that will result in life-long health problems.

This is why I offer Custom Vegan Dog Food Recipes specifically geared for puppies. My custom-formulated vegan recipes ensure that puppies get appropriate whole-foods, plant-based nutrition that is packed with nutrients and is “complete and balanced” according to their specific breed and life stage.

I custom-formulate each and every one of my vegan puppy recipes to precise nutrient levels as established by the National Research Council (NRC) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). My custom recipes for large breed puppies ensure that the optimum levels of calcium and phosphorus are achieved to set your dog up for a strong and healthy life. I also follow each and every puppy until maturity, adjusting the recipe at key growth points to ensure that we remain on track for optimum growth.

And, when your puppy reaches maturity, I even adjust the recipe to an adult recipe, which certainly is much easier!

Is Feeding Your Puppy a Vegan Diet Right for You?

These are some of the things I tell my clients when they are deciding whether or not to feed their puppy a vegan diet. Hopefully these “pros” and “cons” can help you decide if it’s right for you:

Pros:

  • Fresh, whole foods ingredients.
  • Custom-formulated recipe specific to your puppy.
  • No stress worrying about Calorie content, nutrient levels, etc.
  • Just make the recipe and you’re all set!

Cons:

  • More time-consuming than an adult home-made recipe.
  • Typically more expensive, as more supplements and greater volume of food are involved.
  • Must follow the recipe specifically to ensure balance.

If you’re interested in a vegan puppy recipe for your pup, please feel free to reach out and we can discuss specifics of my services. Just fill out the form below and I’ll respond within 48 hours.

Since I typically have a waiting period of several weeks, definitely let me know if you are planning to get a puppy soon so that I can add you to my queue. This way, when your new pup arrives, I’ll be ready!

Get in Touch

Interested in a balanced whole-foods plant-based diet for your pup? Just fill out the form below and I will be in touch within 48 hours.