Dogs are carnivores - is it possible to feed them plant based food only?Updated a month ago

Dogs are considered omnivores in terms of their metabolism and nutritional requirements [1]. Their diet should provide the appropriate amount of calories as well as all essential nutrients needed to maintain health and wellbeing. Essential nutrients include proteins, fatty acids, certain minerals and vitamins [1]. In addition to protein and fat, carbohydrates also contribute calories to the diet.

Depending on the diet, dogs can obtain these nutrients from a variety of ingredients of both plant and animal origin. When feeding a plant-based diet, particular attention should be paid to the digestibility of plant proteins and ensuring an adequate supply of all essential amino acids. Alvar Pet Root (Juuri) is a complete food formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of dogs [1] and industry feeding guidelines [2, 3]. It is made from high-quality, highly digestible ingredients and is supplemented with vitamins, amino acids and other essential nutrients to ensure a balanced nutritional profile.

[1] National Research Council. 2006. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10668

[2] FEDIAF ‘Nutritional guidelines for complete and complementary pet food for cats and dogs’. European Pet Food Industry Federation, Belgium.

[3] AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. In ‘Official publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials’. U.S.