After several years of opposing meat-free diets for dogs, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has changed its policy, acknowledging that “It is possible to feed dogs a plant-based diet”.
The policy emphasizes that any diet chosen must be nutritionally balanced and should be carefully trialed to ensure it is appropriate for the pet in question. The BVA said it did not aim to determine the “best” diet for pets, but rather to support owners to meet their pets’ nutritional needs in a way that aligns with their own lifestyle choices.
The news comes after the BVA was accused of “a significant conflict of interest” due to its partnership with Mars Petcare, a seller of meat-based pet foods. Critics suggested that this partnership was partially responsible for the association’s negative stance regarding plant-based diets. In the wake of this criticism, the BVA established a working group to review its position on diets for companion animals, resulting in the updated policy.
“We know that owners of cats and dogs are increasingly drawn to pet diets that reflect their own personal values and lifestyle choices, and this is leading to a surge in alternative approaches to pet food,” said BVA President Anna Judson. “We support owners making informed choices about what to feed their pets, but they must be aware that these choices play a pivotal role in the health of the animal and can also have a wider impact on human health and environmental sustainability.”
Health and sustainability outcomes
According to the BVA, 42% of vets surveyed said they have clients who feed their pets a meat-free diet. Several studies have indicated positive outcomes for dogs fed a plant-based diet; for example, research published in the British Journal of Nutrition last year found equally good health outcomes for dogs given an experimental vegan food compared to those who ate a conventional meat-based food.
Feeding a meatless diet to dogs also has significant sustainability benefits. A peer-reviewed study published last year found that if all dogs worldwide ate a vegan diet, an area of land larger than Mexico could be freed up. There would also be significant reductions in water use, greenhouse gas emissions, biocide use, and pollutants.
As more pet owners choose plant-based foods, the global vegan dog food market is expected to see rapid growth, increasing from $12.27 billion in 2021 to $31.48 billion by 2029.
“It is commendable that the BVA has finally ended its unscientific opposition to (nutritionally sound) vegan dog diets and has noted the environmental benefits that plant-based ingredients may provide,” said veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare Andrew Knight. “It is now up to international veterinary associations to follow suit.”
The above story was published by British Veterinary Association Acknowledges That Dogs Can Be Fed a Plant-Based Diet – vegconomist – the vegan business magazine
