Veganuary With Your Dog

Veganuary was a word that started floating around almost ten years ago in 2014. It was launched by a charity to try and promote healthy, plant based diets. In the nine years it has been growing, it’s become more and more popular. Every year, you probably notice that even big shops are now using the term to promote all the extra vegan food they stock in January to meet the demand for the people who want to try it out.

In 2022 there were 620,000 who signed up to show their interest in eating a vegan diet for the whole month. Some even chose to stick with it after January ended while others went back to their usual diet but incorporated some meat free meals into it. Trying veganuary doesn’t mean you have to stick to being vegan after. It can just be a fun way of introducing and trying different food that you might not have picked up if you weren’t participating.

You might think that a vegan diet wouldn’t suit your pooch and their love of all things meaty. A vegan diet excludes anything that has come from animals, be it their meat or something they make. This means eggs, dairy and even honey are off the menu. Believe it or not, but your canine companion can join in and support your veganuary with their very own vegan diet!

More and more puppy owners live in meat free households, so many companies have developed diets that mean they can continue with their lifestyle. They can maintain a vegan home without sacrificing the health of their beloved pet. Not all pets can be vegan. Cats are obligatory carnivores which means if their diet doesn’t contain protein from an animal, it will directly impact their health. They have to eat meat otherwise they won’t get all the nutrients they need. Dogs are more like humans, they’re omnivores and need a varied diet that includes plant matter.

While our canine companions do need protein, they can get it from several sources and only one of those are animals. Vegan protein usually comes from sources like lentils, chickpeas and different grains. Your pooch is perfectly capable of getting all the protein they need from a vegan diet whether it’s just temporary or you’re looking to make a more long term switch.

If you have a very fussy eater then your pooch might not take to veganuary, but dogs often like to try new things and you might find something they really enjoy even if they just eat vegan for a month. We often pick our pet’s diets without giving them much of a say. We pick food based on what’s healthy for them and what they can afford. Along the way, you might learn what foods they do and don’t like or what they’re sensitive to but once they have a diet that suits them, the variety they’re offered will usually reduce.

Your dog might enjoy lots of different healthy foods and you just don’t realise it yet. It can help them shed a few pounds if they eat vegan with you and you might even discover that they love to chew on a raw carrot and don’t need as many high calorie treats. You can use veganuary as a time to make changes or just to find out new things about your beloved pet.

There are plenty of vegan doggie diets on the market that you can feed to your pooch but if you don’t want to change their whole diet for just a month, you can always focus your efforts on one place. Vegan and vegetarian dog treats are a great place to start and can help you get your pup in shape and get a little healthier with you. Even without the animal protein, you can still find delicious treats and chews that are nutritionally beneficial for your pups.

Whimzees Veggie Ears Singles is `like the vegan bacon of the doggy world. They look like the real deal, they smell great and your dog will love gnawing on them. If you’re looking to introduce vegan based treats into your dog’s diet, giving them something that seems familiar can be a really easy way to kick it off. If they’re used to their weekly pig’s ear to work on then you can avoid upsetting their routine by giving them their very own vegan ear!

The vegan ears are free from additives like artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, GMOs, gluten, and meat so you know you’re not introducing your pooch to a single nasty ingredient that isn’t good for them. It’s a great way to manage oral health without adding many calories like other natural chews might do. The grainy texture of the ears helps to clean plaque from their teeth and keep the gums nice and healthy. They can be kept busy for hours with their veggie ear.

Barking Heads Floss N Gloss Medium Breed, Dog Dental Treats are another vegetable based treat specifically made to help with oral health. Vegetables are a popular choice when it comes to treats to keep the teeth clean. Dental chews are often recommended to be fed daily but a bulky chew a day if made of meat would introduce far too many calories. You might have a pooch with clean teeth but their waistline might slowly start to vanish. Veggies are a great way of combatting this as they’re naturally low in calories and full of vitamins and minerals, there’s no downside. They don’t need as many preservatives to keep them safe to eat and fresh so can contain all natural ingredients.

The cross shape of these dental chews is another tried and tested type of treat your pooch will often love already. They’re perfect for getting between their teeth as they chew and helping to keep them clean. Their vegetable based ingredients make them naturally low in sugar so your pup can enjoy a super healthy chew.

For smaller mouths or pups who don’t love to chew as much, the Little Kips Chillaxing Vegan Treats are a great option. They are small and soft enough to be given as a little bedtime treat or you can even break them up to be even smaller and use them as rewards for training. They’re grain free so won’t upset your dog’s stomach if they’re sensitive. The little bitesize treats even contain valerian root which will help calm your excitable pup. They’re great for younger dogs and seniors alike. It just goes to show that if you want to introduce more veggies to your beloved pet’s diet, there are already plenty of ways to do so. While plenty of dogs love chewing on raw vegetables, not all of them will want to so vegan treats are a great way to go.

For everything you need to make the switch this January and get your pooch eating more greens, have a sniff in store and online today!