Bobi stripped of record as world’s oldest ever dog

Guinness World Records ‘no longer has the evidence’ that Bobi was 31 when he died! Who was Bramble, the Collie who lived until the age of 25 on a vegan...

Updated on July 2025 by Just Be Kind Dog Food Arielle

In 2023, we had news of the World's Oldest Dog who died at the age of 31 years and 5 months - a Portuguese Mastiff called Bobi! It drew headlines as Bobi had been fed what his owners ate - a wholefood mediterranean diet (just as people who live in Blue Zones are said to live longer eating wholefood plant-based diets)

His owner Costa claimed to have had him for 31 years, and he put Bobi’s longevity down to his “calm, peaceful environment … far from the cities.” And, according to Costa, Bobi has always eaten human food.

“What we ate … they ate too … Between a can of animal food or a piece of meat, Bobi doesn’t hesitate and chooses our food,” said Costa.....but there were serious doubts that hung over the real age of Bobi and the Guinness World Book of Records Title!

Elderly Labrador Bobi dies at age of 31

In 2024, Bobi was stripped of his title by Guinness World Records after officials declared there was NO proof he was 31 years old when he died as his owners claimed, as online photographs of Bobi in 1999 suggested he had different coloured paws to the dog that died in Portugal in 2023!

(We are unable to show the original photo of Bobi as it is heavily trademarked! A replacement elderly sweet Labrador has been used instead.)

DOGS LIVE LONGER ON A COMPLETE PLANT-BASED DIET!

I wish that I knew this 7 years ago. My biggest regret as a vegan vet, is not feeding our previous family Labrador, 'Slick', a plant-based diet.

I now know that she would have lived so much longer. She would have not suffered from as much arthritic pain as she did in her latter years. I am so thankful that I can feed Ruff a balanced and healthy vegan diet.

He is 11 now and needs all the support he can get with his little bent inherited front legs and heart murmur so common in small elderly breeds. We all want our elderly dogs to stay as healthy, happy and as comfortable as possible so that they live as long as possible. None of us want our elderly pets to be in any form of discomfort or pain!

How Does A Plant-Based Diet Enhance The Health Of Elderly Dogs?

💚 1. Elderly dogs need high quality proteins that contain all 10 essential amino acids. The proteins must be readily available and pure plant-based proteins. Meat-based protein diets are high in phosphorus which can hasten kidney disease if your dog is predisposed (read my experience of having family dogs die from kidney failure here).

Healthy older dogs can tolerate higher levels of plant-based protein which are naturally pure amino acids with none of the toxic build up found in fish and animal organ meats (as exposed when speaking at the London Vet Show just how many toxins were in Royal Canin, Hills and Purina dog foods). The healthiest sources of these proteins is through any of the dry foods we have in our Just Be Kind shop and we stock the very best foods for elderly dogs with our Give A Dog A Bean and Jumping Jack trays - see our wet complete plant powered dog foods here.

Why plant protein is better for your dog's health and longevity

High protein intake, particularly from dogs being fed raw food or high meat-based foods, is linked to increased risk of chronic disease, ageing, and cancer. Excess protein can overstimulate biological pathways like mTOR and IGF-1, which regulate growth but are also linked to age-related disease. Overactivation of these pathways, may accelerate ageing and heighten cancer risk.

By comparison, plant protein does not trigger the same biological responses. Plant protein can improve the kidney flow function and lower complication risk, so those dogs with chronic kidney disease would benefit from a a plant-based diet.

Plant-based dogs also typically consume about half the saturated fat of meat-based, which lowers LDL or “bad” cholesterol – a major factor in the very painful condition pancreatitis.

💚 2. Even more important than protein levels, plant-based diets contain anti-oxidants that protect the ageing cells in your dog's body. Beta-carotene is a natural anti-oxidant found in bright orange sweet potato, blueberries and fresh carrots for example. The highest level of antioxidant is found in the bright pink microalgae called Astaxanthin that quite literally delays the ageing process in dogs! Greying around their muzzles will be slowed down, as well as signs of early onset doggy dementia. Our Omega 3 Daily contains Astaxanthin which is a bright pink (and delicious microalgae) that has an anti-oxidant effect that is 150 x more potent than eating carrots!! This means that your elderly dog can stay bonded to you and recognise you for longer by delaying the onset of any doggy dementia.

💚 3. Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient that helps to keep the body’s nerve and blood cells functioning. This MUST be supplemented in any age of dog on a vegan diet, but even more importantly in our elderly dogs to delay doggy dementia. Some dogs such as German Shepherds may begin to show signs of dragging of their hindlimbs with spinal nerve dysfunction. This vital vitamin is found in nutritional yeast (with added Vit B12 which is even better such as found here), as well as in beans, sweet potatoes, cauliflower and added to our JUST BE KIND supplement.

Please note that ALL of the complete foods that we stock in our Just Be Kind Shop contain the addition of all the necessary B Vitamins - it is just not a requirement to add the levels of Vit B on dog food labels.

💚 4. A healthy gut is key to your dog’s overall health and longevity. 70% of the immune system is found in the intestines. Plant-based diets made with natural prebiotics and high in fibre are ideal. They provide all the elements to feed your elderly dog’s immune system and produce a functioning and balanced gut microbiome. Our 4 homemade recipes that you can make for your dog, contain 30 different colours and varieties of plant proteins to naturally feed your dog's good gut bacteria. We also advise fresh blended 'smoothies' made of colourful nutritious raw ingredients such as kale, blueberries, spinach, cucumber, apples, parsley and some plant-based milk to enhance their health when being fed any of the dry biscuits.

Is fibre the secret protein booster?

One of the most interesting developments comes from gut microbiome science. Fibre which is abundant in plant foods, gets converted into short-chain fatty acids that boost muscle protein synthesis.

In humans, the Stanford twin study, where one twin on a vegan diet compared to the other eating meats, showed better ageing markers, cholesterol, and higher levels of the amino acid glycine – critical for collagen production. Animal products may interfere with glycine absorption by increasing gut bacteria that consume it. This is also why meat-based dog poo has a worse smell than plant-based do poo!! (as shown in this crazy experiment)

💚 5. Always supplement a home cooked diet for dogs of all ages. One important amino acid addition in the supplement and added too to the dry and tinned foods we stock - Methionine - is needed in our elderly dogs. It helps to acidify the digestive tract environment. Vegan diets tend to be alkaline promoting diets and with age, a dog’s digestive tract also becomes more alkaline. This can reduce the amount of important nutrients absorbed such as Iron, Zinc and Vitamins. Adding Methionine helps to neutralise this alkalinisation. Asparagus, peas, brown rice, lentils and our Cranberry Care Supplement can be added to your dog's food to help acidify the intestinal environment.

💚 6. I advise that a homemade plant-based diet is fully mashed or blended. Peas, beans or seeds are completely softened and broken down to allow for maximum intestinal absorption. (Read about increasing digestibility of Give A Dog A Bean here for your dog). This is even more important in our elderly dogs who may not chew as well as they used to, due to loss of teeth. Give A Dog A Bean is an ideal food to feed elderly dogs due to its palatability and it is full of pure plant proteins without any soya or wheat that is usually genetically modified and may contain pesticide residues. ALL of the ingredients in Give A Dog A Bean and ALL the other products that we stock are FREE OF GMO's which means no extra toxins, just pure proteins to enhance the health of your elderly dog.

💚 7. You can select natural anti-inflammatories such as herbs like basil and oregano. Natural spices are also so beneficial such as boswellia (Boswellia is added to GOLD DUST Joint and Heart Supplement)

The kindest plant-based anti-inflammatory is Algae oil Omega 3 oil. This is the purest form of Omega 3 with none of the heavy metals or high levels of Vit A as sometimes found in cod liver oil and salmon oil. Omega 3 is so beneficial for ailing joints and nerves. Our elderly pets also need the addition of the immune boosting pure Vit D3. This is also found in Omega 3 Daily or from UV radiated mushrooms (chop raw mushroom and leave in sun for 10 minutes before cooking). Older dogs may not get out for long walks as much as they used to and be exposed to as much natural sunlight as usual, so would need this extra Vit D3. This article shows how Omega 3 levels in the blood can extend the lifespan of our dogs just as it does with us.

German Shepherd sniffing 3 bottles of Omega 3 daily

💚 8. A plant-based diet contains no hidden saturated fat that we find in high meat diets. These are detrimental in humans to heart health, and in dogs can predispose them to carrying extra weight or the very painful condition pancreatitis. Plant-based diets offer one of the best diets for heart health, especially if they are balanced with added pure Omega 3, Taurine and Vit B12 for heart muscle function (which all of our products are). Yet again, there is so much value in our pure Omega 3 Algae oil for heart health in elderly dogs.

💚 9. Cataracts are a dull cloudiness that forms over our elderly pets’ eyes. It affects their sight and quality of life. Feeding a folate-rich diet such as bright green cooked kale, red cabbage, spirulina and beetroot, can actually reverse the onset of cataracts quite dramatically. The word folate actually comes from the word foliage (plants)! The anti-oxidant Astaxanthin in our Omega 3 Daily is also potent enough to delay cataract formation in your dog.

💚 10. Carrying extra weight is common in elderly dogs and we are too blame (yes I am definitely guilty here, as we all want to treat our dogs that we love so much - sometimes maybe to excess!!) It can put extra strain on their already painful joints. It also affects their breathing, heart and energy levels and makes them more predisposed to cancer and diabetes. Plant-based diets are low in fats and high in fibre. You can see the excess weight literally drop off and energy levels return when switching to a plant-based diet.

Studies show how a small amount of weight loss in elderly dogs amounts to a 6% reduction improvement in mobility and pain!

💚 11. Where your dog displays signs of cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia), it is best to feed them a plant-based diet. They do better on a diet that is high in medium chain triglycerides. They use this as their energy source when older rather than glucose. Coconut oil has the highest source of medium chain triglycerides, so include desiccated coconut in your homemade cooking, or add coconut oil to their food (can be added into Gold Dust Joint Supplement instead of Algae oil, although as it is a saturated fat, it goes quite solid in the jar and can be difficult to mix to a paste compared to Omega 3 Algae oil).

Microbell dry food contains coconut oil and being a highly digestible biotic protein, is recommended for elderly dogs.

Microbell new biotic protein dog food 8kg

💚 12. Plant-based means no animal products. Many meats contain added hormones, growth promoters or zoonotic bacteria (as found on and in raw meat). These toxins would all need to be processed and excreted in your dog’s ageing liver and kidneys (see the post about exposing Royal Canin renal diets and Hills cancer diet here). A fresh plant-based diet contains nothing but goodness, and the results are remarkable. There is no need for their bodies to work hard to remove these toxins.

💚 13. Ensure that your elderly dog does not suffer from teeth decay and gum infections. These dental issues can impact the overall health of your dog and result in kidney and heart disease, so it is so important to really concentrate on looking after your dog's dental hygiene. We stock a few dental chews and treats, but fully recommend PlaqueOff dental bones as they are the only dental chews with approval from the veterinary dental association with how well they work!

💚 14. Processed diets and treats filled with preservatives and food colourants can increase the chances of obesity and cancer in your pet. This is especially true if they are overweight. A healthier diet filled with anti-oxidants lessens the chances of cancer and ensures that your loyal dog lives to a good old age. Read about sweetest brave Breta who survived cancer...and is still going strong!

Breta vegan Labrador who survived cancer

💚 Why did we develop GOLD DUST Joint Supplement?

It contains the powerful antioxidant combination of plant proteins such as organic non GMO maize and oats which naturally rejuvenates dogs in their golden years
Glucosamine and MSM sooth stiff painful joints while promoting gentle joint healing for dogs in discomfort
Manganese and lysine are essential components of collagen and cartilage and in all other supplements are added as avian cartilage called chondroitin, but we use the pure source
Added L-Carnitine for heart health also is one of the most popular dietary supplement choices for weight loss and fat reduction. L-Carnitine is an amino acid that helps convert fat into energy!
Hyaluronic acid has been added which is the only anti-inflammatory supplement that has published studies as being effective in dogs to help plump the cells in the joints and greatly reduce pain and discomfort
Fast acting with results noticed in just a week
Boswellia enhances the natural systems that control inflammation
Biotin, Vit B12 and Vit C support dog breeds predisposed to cardiovascular stress and is an anti-oxidant for the heart
Psyllium husks combined with palatable Aniseed and Oatmeal provide natural prebiotics to enhance the absorption of nutrients for a healthy immunity
Gold Dust powder can be combined with Omega 3 Daily for a true Power Duo for your elderly dog's joints

Does A Wholefood Plant-Based Dog Food Diet Delay Doggy Dementia?

We do not have published research in dogs, but we do have it in humans where an intensive change in the lifestyle of humans suffering from dementia, was shown to reverse Alzheimers!

A study in May 2024 from Dr. Dean Ornish & colleagues 👏 (Ornish, D., Madison, C., Kivipelto, M. et al. Effects of intensive lifestyle changes on the progression of mild cognitive impairment or early dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease: a randomised, controlled clinical trial featured in Dr Michael Greger's nutrition video.

Further evidence supporting the power of wholefoods🌱and the consensus, "what is good for your dog's hearts is also good for their heads" (and ours).

It is not just length of life that we want for our elderly dogs; but quality of life. We want them to be able to see and be aware of us for as long as they possibly can to enhance the bond well into their golden years ❤️

Listen to even more from Dr Arielle in a Webinar here

JBK heart

What published studies are there about vegan dog food diets and longevity?

Dr Sarah Dodd who wrote research about longevity of dogs on a vegan dog food diet

The lovely Dr Sarah Dodd shown above, published a ground-breaking research paper in 2022 shown here which due to the positive health impacts of weight loss and eating pure plant-based proteins while enhancing the gut microbiome; plant-based dogs could live up to 18 months longer than meat-based dogs which is almost 10 years in human terms - astounding!

Listen to Prof Andrew Knight speaking at the London Vet Show about these remarkable studies that have been done

What of wholefood plant-based diets for our dogs and who was Bramble who lived to the age of 25?

Bramble the world's oldest living dog lived on a vegan whole food diet

An inspiring example of a 100% plant-based dog is that of Bramble, a 25-year-old Border Collie whose wholesome diet of organic brown rice, red lentils, vegetables, and some additional ingredients like yeast extract and herbs earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest living dog in 2002!

Bramble’s owner is Anne Heritage – a devoted animal lover growing up in the South West of England in the 60’s. Read her remarkable story in a book available on Amazon.

In her words she not only had Bramble, but “I’ve had seven dogs – three of them lived to 19-years-old, one lived to 15-years-old (a German Shepherd), and then Bramble lived to 25-years-old.”

This is remarkable and can definitely be attributed to a life dedicated to feeding a healthy plant-based natural diet as well as the freedom of exercise and wholefood ingredients. Prof Knight mentions in the article in the Guardian that it was possible for dogs to survive on a diet of human food scraps, since this is “consistent with canine evolutionary history”.

However, in order to live a long life, they needed owners who followed “an unusually healthy diet” just as Anne Heritage followed in the 70’s and 80’s. Her book explains how when she moved home, she chose it to find the perfect vegetable patch to grow her own organic vegetables, and her dogs were only fed these once daily and would go for walks in the Somerset countryside for at least 3 hours each day.

See the excerpt from Anne Heritage's book and read more about her German Shepherd Dreadlock who lived to the age of 15 on a vegan diet - remarkable!!!

This is the ideal and remarkable and proof of the benefits of wholefood plant-based diets for both us and our dogs. If wanting to home cook for your dog feeding a nutritionally sound plant-based diet, it is possible and we sell all the supplements needed and have a number of delicious recipes to guide you.

THIS WHOLEFOOD DELICIOUS RECIPE MOST RESEMBLES BRAMBLE'S HOMEMADE DIET

Our Plant Powered Feast Recipe uses organic textured soya protein to make this recipe not only extra nutritious and delicious, but also cost-effective too and ideal for large dogs or for feeding a number of dogs.

Cooked ingredients

Oats
Red or Green Lentils dry weight
Tinned Black Beans
Carrots
Cauliflower
Whole Wheat Pasta
Textured Organic Soya Protein
Beetroot leaves or Broccoli
Sunflower Seeds
Marmite

Nutrient rich supplement to stir in once cooled

JUST BE KIND Supplement ™
Omega 3 Daily
Kelp Powder

TOP TIPS TO INCREASE NUTRIENT VALUE

Use home sprouted lentils instead of tinned to increase digestibility of nutrients
Choose organic non-GMO soya protein to lessen effects of pesticides

For very fussy dogs that do not like ‘mushy food’, add in 1 tsp agar agar warmed in some water to each 500g food give a slimey texture that some dogs love (and it boosts the good gut bacteria)

Choose gluten free organic oats for more sensitive dogs and pea pasta instead of wholewheat pasta

Cooking Instructions:

**Soak the dried lentils an hour before cooking and rinse
**Soak the textured soya mince and sunflower seeds for 1 hour prior to cooking

Thoroughly rinse your lentils and black beans
Add the pulses, textured soya mince, oats, pasta and sunflower seeds to a large pot
Chop the cauliflower, carrots and beetroot leaves (or broccoli) into small pieces and add to the pot
Mix marmite with boiling water to create a sauce and add to the pot
Fill the pot with more boiling water until the ingredients are just covered
Boil on the hob for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are soft
Lightly mash the ingredients to break open the cooked beans

Nutrient rich supplement:

Mix together JUST BE KIND Supplement, Algae oil, and kelp powder with a little plant-based milk to form a paste
ONLY WHEN COMPLETELY COOLED, mix the nutrient rich supplement paste into the cooked food
Store in biodegradable packaging or containers to refrigerate. Option to freeze food when preparing larger batches

IF WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOME COOKING AND RECEIVE THE EXACT AMOUNTS TO GIVE FOR THE WEIGHT OF YOUR DOG, PLEASE REGISTER FOR OUR VERY POPULAR PLANT-BASED DOG NUTRITION COURSE HERE

A balanced vegan diet is one of the best diets that you can feed to your elderly dog

My biggest regret as a vet, is not feeding our previous family Labrador, 'Slick' (shown below), a plant-based diet.

Dr Arielle Vegan Vet and Ruff vegan dog

“I believe in a kinder, healthier way to feed our dogs that does no damage to our environment, harms no animals and uses fresh, healthy plant-based ingredients for a balanced, wholesome and delicious diet”

- Dr Arielle Griffiths Plant Powered Vet and Ruff Plant Powered family dog

LISTEN TO PLANT POWERED PAWS PODCASTS HERE

Published on April 2025Updated on July 2025 by Just Be Kind Dog Food Arielle

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