Vegan dog treats
Genuinely vegan dog treats are a small part of the market, since most are built around meat, fish or dairy. Here's what to look for on the label, and what we currently stock that qualifies. We say plainly what we currently stock rather than imply a bigger range than we actually carry, since honesty here matters more than a longer product list.
Why most dog treats are not vegan
Dogs are not obligate carnivores the way cats are, but the treat market is still overwhelmingly built around meat, fish and dairy, because that is what most dogs find most appealing and what most recipes are formulated around. That makes a genuinely vegan treat — one with no animal-derived ingredient at all, including gelatine, whey or animal fat used as a flavour coating — a smaller category than 'natural' or 'grain-free' treats, which often still contain meat.
Owners usually come to vegan treats for one of two reasons: an ethical preference not to feed animal products, or a dog with a suspected sensitivity to a common meat protein where a plant-based option removes the ingredient entirely rather than switching to a different meat.
What to check on the label
'Vegan' should be stated plainly on the packaging rather than assumed from words like 'natural' or 'meat-free', both of which can still describe a treat with dairy or egg in it. Check the ingredients list for anything animal-derived — gelatine, whey, egg, or animal fat used as a coating are the ones most easily missed on a quick read.
Within our range, genuinely vegan-labelled dog treats are currently limited — our main option is a vegan dental daily chew, alongside a vegan puppy food that some owners also use in small broken pieces as a training reward. It is a smaller selection than our meat-based treats, and we would rather say that plainly than imply a bigger range than we actually stock.
If you are switching for a suspected sensitivity
If the goal is ruling out a reaction to a specific meat rather than an ethical choice, a vegan treat is one way to remove animal protein from the picture entirely, but it is worth doing as part of a proper elimination approach agreed with your vet rather than a single treat swap, since a dog's main food is usually where most of their daily protein comes from.
Introduce any new treat gradually and in small amounts regardless of whether it is vegan, watching for loose stools or a change in appetite, the same as you would with any unfamiliar food.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Calm the Eff Down Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured calming tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack and given as a treat for dogs who find fireworks, travel or being alone difficult.
£22.99
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 8pk
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Cat Food Turkey
A single-source turkey dry food for adult cats, without the grain-free or joint-support extras
From£21.79
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Pedigree Dentastix Light Dog
Pedigree DentaStix Light dental chews across small, medium and large sizes
From£2.35
Common questions
- Are vegan diets safe for dogs?
- Dogs can be fed a well-formulated vegan diet, unlike cats, but it needs to be a properly complete commercial food rather than assembled at home, and any significant diet change is worth discussing with your vet first, particularly for puppies, older dogs or dogs with existing health conditions.
- Why don't you stock more vegan dog treats?
- The market for genuinely vegan dog treats is smaller than for meat-based ones, since most dogs and most recipes are built around meat or fish. We stock what is currently available to us and would rather say the range is limited than overstate it.
- What ingredients should I avoid if I want a vegan treat?
- Look out for gelatine, whey, egg and animal fat used as a flavour coating, all of which can appear in a treat marketed as 'natural' or 'meat-free' without it actually being vegan. The word 'vegan' stated plainly on the pack is the reliable check.
- Can I give my dog a vegan treat if they are not on a vegan diet?
- Yes, a vegan treat can be given occasionally to any dog regardless of their usual food, the same as any other treat. Introduce it in a small amount first to see how they get on, particularly if they have a history of a sensitive stomach.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.