The 5 Best Types of Vegan Dog Food

Are you considering vegan dog food? Dog parents who have switched their pets to a vegan diet are always eager to list the advantages. Their dogs barely have digestive problems, they are less prone to diseases, and even their dogs’ waste smells less.

However, when feeding your dog vegan food, you have to be careful. There are certain nutrients that dogs need that they typically get from animal protein. If you switch them to a plant-based diet, you must ensure that those nutrients are included as additives.

That being said, it is possible to keep your dog happy and healthy on a vegan diet. In fact, many vegan food brands are available. So, we decided to review these brands to determine which best meet dogs’ nutritional needs.

Read on to see our list of the vegan dog food available. We also examine the pros and cons of each variety and how you can choose the right one for your canine best friend.

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Vegan Dog Food

#1 Best Overall: Halo Holistic Chicken-Free Garden of Vegan Recipe

Halo Holistic Chicken-Free Garden of Vegan Recipe is our pick for the best overall vegan dog food. This completely plant-based dog food is sustainably sourced, healthy and nutritious. It also offers your adult dog complete and balanced nutrition for their everyday life.

This food contains wholesome grains, green peas, and chickpeas, which are great sources of the energy that your dog needs. It also contains taurine, which is great for your dog’s heart health. This food gives your dog basically the same nutrients that meat-based diets provide.

Dog parents who have dogs that are sensitive to specific animal proteins will love this recipe. If you have a plant-based lifestyle and want your dog to join in, this is the food for you. Above all, this food is delightfully tasty and crunchy. Dogs love it!

Some reviewers reported that their dogs didn’t like this food. Other pet parents said that it was too expensive.

Pros and Cons of Halo Holistic Chicken-Free Garden of Vegan Recipe

Best Overall

Halo Holistic Chicken-Free Garden of Vegan

• Completely plant-based
• Contains all the required protein
• Grain-free and non-GMO
• Affordable

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2. Best Premium: Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food

Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food is perfect for dogs that are sensitive to animal proteins. This healthy plant-based dry dog food is made of certified natural and organic ingredients and comes in sustainable packaging, too. It may be pricey, but doesn’t your puppy deserve the best?

This food contains no GMOs, no artificial colors, and no artificial preservatives. It is also free from animal protein, corn, wheat, dairy, and soy. It still, however, offers your dog a complete nutritionally balanced recipe.

Gather contains peas as the protein source, which are great for energy and muscle support. There is also flaxseed oil and omega fatty acids for great skin and coat. It is rich in antioxidants which support immune function and contains fiber for digestion. You’ll also love that this food has taurine, which is great for your dog’s vision and heart health.

A sole reviewer said that their dog wasn’t interested in this food. Also, they said that the expiration date was only five months from the date they received it.

Pros and Cons of Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food

Best Premium

Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food

• Perfect for dogs that are sensitive to animal proteins
• Made from certified natural and organic ingredients
• Free from GMOs, artificial colors, and preservatives, corn, wheat, dairy, and soy
• Contains peas for protein, flaxseed oil, and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
• Even the packaging is sustainable!

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3. Best Vegan Dry Dog Food: V-Dog Vegan Kibble Dry Dog Food

V-Dog Vegan Kibble Dry Dog Food is a 100% plant-based, vegan dog food formulated to meet all Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines for adult dog nutrition. It’s also enhanced with vitamins, minerals, L-carnitine, and taurine.

V-Dog Vegan Food contains up to 24% clean protein to meet all of your dog’s protein needs. It provides muscle support and gives your dog the energy it needs. It also contains flaxseed and sunflower, which contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for optimal skin and coat health.

This food is also rich in calcium and potassium to support bone and muscle health. Plus, it contains a blend of antioxidants to support your dog’s immune health.

Negative reviews said that this food was too expensive. The other concern was the potential link between peas and other legumes to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Since peas are listed among the main ingredients in all of the foods in this review, dog owners should educate themselves thoroughly on this issue.

Pros and Cons of V-Dog Vegan Kibble Dry Dog Food

Best Vegan Dry Dog Food

V-Dog Vegan Kibble Dry Dog Food, 24 LB, with Plant Based Protein and Essential Nutrients, Brown

• Completely vegan and made from whole foods
• Supplemented with vitamins and minerals
• Contains up to 24% "clean protein" to build and maintain strong muscles and provide energy
• It also includes flaxseed and sunflower, which contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
• This food is also rich in antioxidants for immune health and calcium and potassium for bone and muscle health

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4. Best Vegan Dog Food for Small Breeds: V-Dog Mini Bites Vegan Dry Dog Food

You don’t have to worry about the kibble size with V-Dog Mini Bites Vegan Dry Dog Food. This food was made especially for your small breed dog. It meets the full nutrient profile for your small breed and is fortified with the right nutrients that your dog needs.

This food does not contain animal protein, soy, corn, dairy, by-products, or fake fillers. It is also ethically produced and specially created to help with conservation. How awesome is that? With this food, you and your dog remain environmentally conscious and friendly.

The protein in the minibites food is 24% clean, which is great for energy and muscle growth. There is also taurine which is great for your small breed dog’s heart health and vision. A blend of antioxidants in this food is included to support your dog’s immune health.

One reviewer said that their dog didn’t like this food. Another said that their dog became ill after eating this recipe.

Pros and Cons of V-Dog Mini Bites Vegan Dry Dog Food

Best for Small Breeds

V-Dog Kind Kibble Mini Bites Vegan Adult Dry Dog Food

• Formulated specifically for small dog breeds
• Does not include animal protein, soy, corn, dairy, by-products, or fillers
• Contains 24% clean protein
• Supplemented with taurine for heart and vision health
• Antioxidants provide immune support

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5. Best Vegan Wet Dog Food: Halo Holistic Garden of Vegan Canned Dog Food

If you’re looking for a holistic and nutritious vegan dog food that is also smooth and tasty, look no further than Halo Holistic Garden of Vegan Canned Dog Food. Made completely from plant-based ingredients, Halo Holistic Vegan Wet Dog food offers your dog balanced nutrition. It also comes with a hydration boost.

This food uses a unique mix of non-GMO vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants and minerals. These are great for your dog’s immune health and general body metabolism. It also contains taurine, which is great for your dog’s heart and vision.

What you’ll love best about this food is that your dog will enjoy its smooth-tasting recipe. The aroma is irresistible. Add that to the fact that it delivers basically the same nutrients as animal-based dog foods, and you have a winner.

Several pet parents said that their dogs didn’t like this food.

Pros and Cons of Halo Holistic Garden of Vegan Canned Dog Food

Best Vegan Wet Formula

Halo Holistic Garden of Vegan Adult Canned Dog Food

• Made completely from plant-based ingredients
• Provides balanced nutrition
• The recipe includes non-GMO vegetables that are rich in antioxidants and minerals
• Supplemented with taurine to support your dog's heart and vision
• The moisture in this recipe provides extra hydration

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Choosing the Best Vegan Dog Food: What to Look For

There is still some confusion about vegan dog food, but research shows that your dog can survive solely on plant proteins. There are, however, some important factors to keep in mind when choosing the best vegan food. Here are some that we applied when carrying out this review.

Life Stage and Breed

The age and breed of your puppy should play a key role when choosing the best vegan food. Dogs need different protein contents at different ages. You must select a vegan food that fulfills this need to keep your dog healthy.

Ingredients

As we said a bit earlier, some nutrients like taurine and L-carnitine are present in animal protein. Your dog needs these ingredients, but they are not in most plant proteins. The best vegan food for your dog is one that adds these important nutrients as a supplement.

Price

While vegan dog food is a bit on the expensive side, the benefits far outweigh this price. This is especially true for dogs with animal protein allergies. Feeding your dog wholesome food is much better than paying for frequent vet visits.

The Different Types of Vegan Dog Food: Pros and Cons Compared

Vegan dog food comes in mainly wet and dry types. Some factors to consider when choosing which is best are the age of your dog and its preferences. Below, we’ve listed the pros and cons of wet and dry dogs to help you decide which works best for your dog.

Dry Dog Food

Wet Dog Food