This latest study is enormously important for all of us choosing a complete plant-based diet for our dogs!
A new study (September 2025), led by veterinary experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that vegan diets for dogs such as those we stock at Just be Kind provide similar nutrition to meat-based dog food diets!
The study, led by Rebecca Brociek from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, and published in PLOS One, highlights the importance of a balanced and nutritional diet for your dog.
Dogs, like humans, are omnivores and require specific nutrients rather than specific ingredients.
As plant-based diets gain popularity in human nutrition, the pet food industry is following suit with vegan diets becoming increasingly popular (read our Success Stories here).
Experts analysed the nutritional completeness of 31 meat- and plant-based dog foods in the UK for total protein content and individual amino acids, fatty acids, major and trace elements, vitamin D and all B-vitamins. Please note that NO pet food company sponsored this study!
They found that plant-based diets, when properly formulated, can be a healthy and viable alternative to meat-based options. This is backed by similar studies conducted in Brazil and Canada.
Both plant- and meat-based foods showed similarly incomplete nutritional profiles, with 30 out of 31 products missing at least one essential nutrient according to FEDIAF guidelines.
Notably, deficiencies in plant-based diets mirrored those commonly seen in plant-based human diets, such as iodine and B vitamins. Adopting a plant-based dietary pattern for companion canines can provide nutritional adequacy, but feeding supplemental iodine and B-vitamins should also be considered by manufacturers, the researchers advise. (Plaque Off dental chews provide extra Iodine AND benefit the teeth, while plant-based Vit B supplements exist without gelatine capsules as normally given out in vet practices for dogs with digestive issues who cannot absorb Vit B adequately)
The study authors explains that every dog is unique, and dietary needs vary.
"Our study found that plant-based diets, when properly formulated, can be a healthy and viable alternative to meat-based options. Ideally the next step is long-term feeding studies, but as we begin to rethink pet nutrition, perhaps the alternative isn’t only better for the planet, but also beneficial for our four-legged companions.”
“Veterinary diets, purposely low in crude protein, often have less than optimal essential amino acid composition. These data provide important new information for owners of companion canines being fed plant-based or veterinary diets,” adds Rebecca.
We've highlighted Royal Canin Veterinary Renal food below that is high in animal byproduct excretory organs and non-sustainable fish oils, and is now possibly also deficient in essential amino acids according to these studies?
The full study can be found here.
“The good thing about SCIENCE is that it’s true, whether or not you believe in it.”
– Neil Tyson
In September 2024, we had the longest, most comprehensive peer-reviewed study so far which demonstrated that dogs fed nutritionally-sound plant-based diets maintain health outcomes as well as dogs fed meat.
This is yet further proof that by choosing sustainable and kind plant-based....we are ALL doing the right thing!
The groundbreaking study by 2 top veterinary scientists Drs Tona and Annika Linde, shows how 15 adult dogs fed complete plant-based foods in their own homes over a year maintained clinical, nutritional, and haematological health outcomes.
Read the published study here with important features highlighted.
This study is the most comprehensive and longest known canine plant-based nutrition investigation to date and provides clinically relevant evidence-based nutrition data and new knowledge on outcomes in clinically healthy dogs who thrive without consumption of animal-derived ingredients.
We have had NO equivalent studies showing any health outcomes with dogs fed raw foods or insect-based dog foods so these results are particularly significant for plant-based dog nutrition.
Read more here about the Researchers and their paper.
Results in the study after one year
- Overweight or obese dogs achieved a healthier weight, whilst the remainder maintained normal weight.
- No clinically significant changes occurred within blood and urine.
- Blood levels of essential and non-essential amino acids and vitamins were all generally maintained.
What’s more, eating a plant-based diet may have addressed a nutritional deficiency!
- In a few cases, previous deficiencies following a meat-based diet either improved or disappeared with the plant-based diet, including Taurine and L-Carnitine (important for cardiac health)
- Vitamin D levels stabilised where before they were too low (indispensable for immunity and bone health)
- Folate increased (required to produce red blood cells)
Thank goodness for these researchers doing such a valuable job of providing us with the evidence based medicine that we need!
I was captivated from the start when interviewing Dr Tona and Dr Annika Linde speak about their groundbreaking research when they asked 15 families with meat-based dogs, to feed them a complete plant-based diet only and they would monitor the health of these family dogs over a year.
Their results are astounding - just listen to inspiring vet and empath and University lecturer Dr Tona (and we love his choice of background image!)
Watch a Netflix documentary about this study by clicking on the link below
I feel SO fortunate to have been invited to speak at a Vegan Dog Conference in The Netherlands in October 2025 where I will be speaking alongside not only Prof Andrew Knight, but also Dr Tona. I will finally get to meet yet another true pioneer in this space - hooray!!!
