Do you follow a vegetarian diet due to your faith, culture, or upbringing? You might prefer to keep meat out of your dog's bowl as well. Good news: vegetarian dog food is perfectly fine, provided it delivers all the nutrients your dog needs. Here at VerdaDog, we believe it’s important that you make that choice with informed knowledge. This is helpful for anyone who prefers to avoid meat at home while ensuring their dog lacks nothing.
Can I feed my dog a vegetarian diet if I don't eat meat myself due to my faith?
Yes, a dog can eat a vegetarian diet, as long as the food is a complete feed that provides all the nutrients they need for their specific life stage. Where those nutrients come from is less important than ensuring they are present in the right amounts.
You are certainly not alone with this question. In a large survey of nearly 30,000 adults in India, 39% identified as vegetarian. Among Jains, that figure was 92%, among Sikhs 59%, among Hindus 44%, and among Buddhists 25% (Corichi, 2021; Pew Research Center, 2021). While these are self-reported figures, they show how closely diet and belief are linked.
Note: a puppy needs different kibble than an adult dog, as they have different nutritional needs while growing. Always choose food that is appropriate for your dog's life stage, and consult your veterinarian if in doubt.
Isn't a dog simply a carnivore?
No, a dog is not an obligate carnivore: during domestication, the dog adapted genetically to a diet higher in starch than that of the wolf. This is evident from research comparing the DNA of dogs and wolves. The researchers identified ten genes that play a key role in starch digestion and fat metabolism, which showed signs of selection (Axelsson et al., 2013).
What a dog needs are nutrients such as essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. These can also be sourced from plants, provided the food is well-formulated. Read more about amino acids and taurine in plant-based dog food.
What is the difference between vegetarian and vegan dog food?
Vegetarian dog food does not contain meat or fish but may contain dairy or egg, whereas vegan dog food contains no ingredients of animal origin at all.
Do you avoid eggs yourself, or do you prefer to keep dairy out of your home? Then vegan is the most straightforward choice. You won't need to check each individual product to see what it contains.
At VerdaDog, we make it easy for you: everything we sell is 100% vegan, meaning it is also free from dairy and eggs. This applies to our kibble, as well as our vegan dental sticks and chew snacks.
How can I tell from the label if there are animal ingredients in dog food?
Look at the composition on the packaging: it must list all feed materials in descending order of weight (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority [NVWA], 2026). For pet food, a manufacturer is also allowed to use category names instead of listing every ingredient separately. Look for categories such as "meat and animal derivatives," "fish and fish derivatives," "milk and milk derivatives," "eggs and egg products," "crustaceans and molluscs," and "insects."
Pro tip: the category "oils and fats" can be of either animal or plant origin. If only that category is listed, ask the manufacturer where the fat comes from.
Curious about what a fully transparent composition looks like? View the ingredients of our dog kibble: every ingredient is listed by name.
What if I prefer not to have meat in my house or don't want to touch it?
Vegetarian or vegan kibble is very practical: you don't have to buy, store, defrost, or touch meat. Whether it’s due to your faith, your feelings, or simply for convenience, your feeding routine remains simple.
Also consider what you give as treats. Snacks, chew sticks, and rewards can contain animal ingredients, even if the kibble does not. If you choose a meat-free bowl, be sure to check the composition of the snacks as well.
Furthermore, dry kibble is easy to portion. This way, everyone in the house knows exactly what the dog is getting, even if multiple people are looking after them.
Want to see if your dog likes it first? Order our vegan kibble sample bag and find out for yourself. If your dog is wagging their tail, you’ll have your answer!
Written by Team VerdaDog. This article is based on scientific research. We do not provide veterinary advice: if you have questions about your dog's health, consult your veterinarian.
Sources
Axelsson, E., Ratnakumar, A., Arendt, M.-L., Maqbool, K., Webster, M. T., Perloski, M., Liberg, O., Arnemo, J. M., Hedhammar, Å., & Lindblad-Toh, K. (2013). The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature, 495(7441), 360–364. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11837
Corichi, M. (2021, July 8). In India, 81% limit meat in diet and 39% say they are vegetarian. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/07/08/eight-in-ten-indians-limit-meat-in-their-diets-and-four-in-ten-consider-themselves-vegetarian/
Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. (2026). Informatieblad 5: Etikettering van diervoeders (version 3). https://www.nvwa.nl/documenten/diervoeder/diervoeder/publicaties/infoblad-etikettering-van-diervoeders
Pew Research Center. (2021, June 29). Views of religion and food in India. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/06/29/religion-and-food/
