The domestic dog has undergone 10,000 to 30,000 years of adaptation since diverging from the wolf. In recent history, living in close proximity to humans, dogs lived on table scraps from people eating primarily plant foods, eating little or no meat. Our domesticated best friends have evolved with us and the changes are evident in dietary adaptation and lifestyle.

Domestic dogs have evolved multiple copies of the gene that makes amylase, a digestive enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates, as opposed to their wolf ancestors whose amylase activity in the pancreas is 28 times less active than dogs. Dogs can digest carbohydrates and use carbohydrates for their energy needs.

Dogs are physiologically omnivores, though classified in the order carnivore. Dogs can manufacture amino acids not found in plant foods from the amino acid building blocks that are. That said, it is prudent to properly supplement any home-prepared food, plant-based or meat-based. Adding taurine and L-carnitine to the diet allows the building blocks of taurine and L-carnitine to be utilized for other bodily processes and ensures your dog has enough of both of these heart-healthy amino acids. Due to the high heat and processing that denatures the naturally occurring taurine in commercial, meat-based pet food, all food manufacturers add synthetic taurine to nutritionally complete animal companion food. The synthetic taurine your vegan dog will have supplemented in their diet is no different than the taurine used to supplement meat-based foods, though the taurine and L-carnitine in Vegedog™ is human-grade. A number of other nutrients that Vegedog™ supplies are otherwise deficient in home-prepared plant- or meat-based diets, including: calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, choline, vitamin B12, zinc, etc.

Back in 1986, understanding dogs’ nutrient requirements, the original Vegedog™ formulator created recipes that met a dog’s nutritional needs as close as possible, using natural foods without animal products. Much of what dogs required came from recipe ingredients, however, there were still important nutrients lacking. Those nutrients went into the Vegedog™ supplement. On the Vegedog™ diet, most nutrition is supplied by fresh whole foods obtained locally, but the gaps are filled in using the Vegedog™ supplement. Our recipes and the Vegedog™ supplement have been updated to meet the most up-to-date nutritional requirements set by AAFCO.

Just add Vegedog™ to plant-based whole food ingredients using our recipes as a guide and the vitamin and mineral content of the food is adjusted. Recipes can be adjusted if your dog needs to gain or lose weight or has a health condition that requires a modified diet. The new, 4th edition of Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats is a wonderful resource when special diets to address health conditions are required. Beyond using the Pitcairn’s recipes or other nutritionist approved recipes, we do not recommend making big changes to our recipes on your own without consulting an animal nutritionist to be sure the modifications are providing complete nutrition. Substituting grains for grains or legumes for legumes in the recipes is okay, as is adding a variety of fresh vegetables.

For optimum health, add lactose-free digestive enzymes (like Enzyme Miracle® or Plant Enzymes & Probiotics) to each meal. Adding an algae oil to supply DHA + EPA is also highly recommended. You’ll find an organic, vegan Omega-3, 6, 9 Algae Oil in our Shop.

Suggested Use: Vegedog™ is intended for use with Vegedog™ recipes. Recipe brochures ship with the product. You can also find the recipes in the (drop down) menu bar above. Please read the introductory portion of the recipe brochure thoroughly before preparing meals.