Vegetarian dog food
Dogs are omnivores rather than strict carnivores, which is why a well-balanced vegetarian diet is nutritionally possible for a healthy adult dog in principle, but "possible" and "straightforward" are different things. A genuinely complete meat-free dog food needs to be very carefully formulated to supply enough protein, amino acids like taurine and L-carnitine, and vitamins such as B12 that are naturally abundant in meat, and getting that wrong over months or years can cause real harm.
Why it is harder to get right than it sounds
Meat naturally supplies a complete amino acid profile, along with nutrients like B12 that are difficult to source reliably from plants alone, so a vegetarian dog food has to be deliberately fortified and carefully balanced rather than simply swapping meat for plant protein in similar quantities. Products vary considerably in how well they achieve this, which is why checking for a statement of nutritional completeness for the dog's life stage matters more than the word "vegetarian" on the front of the pack.
Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, and dogs with existing health conditions have higher or more specific nutritional needs, and a vegetarian diet is generally considered less appropriate for these groups without close veterinary supervision.
What to check before choosing one
Look for a food that states it is complete and balanced for your dog's specific life stage, rather than one marketed generally, and check that it names its protein sources and any added amino acids rather than relying on vague ingredient descriptions. A vet, ideally one with experience in canine nutrition, is worth involving before making a long-term switch, particularly for a dog with any existing health condition.
Regular weight and condition checks matter more on a vegetarian diet than on a typical meat-based one in the early months, simply because there is less established real-world experience feeding it long-term compared with conventional dog food.
A meat-free diet is a choice, not a treatment
Switching a dog to a vegetarian diet for an owner's own ethical reasons is a legitimate choice provided it is done carefully, but it should not be used as a way to manage a suspected food allergy or digestive problem without a vet's involvement, since those conditions need proper diagnosis rather than a general dietary change.
If ethical or environmental reasons are the main motivation, it is worth knowing that a genuinely complete vegetarian food is a smaller and more specialist category than the wider dry and wet food market, so the choice of brands and recipes available is narrower than owners sometimes expect. Reading reviews or ingredient panels from other vegetarian dog owners can be a useful starting point, but should not replace checking the completeness statement and, ideally, a conversation with a vet before making the switch permanent, particularly for a dog with any existing health condition.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
Lily's Kitchen Dog Lean Machine
Lily's Kitchen's lowest-calorie wet recipe for adult dogs, in a 150G foil
£1.69
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Common questions
- Can dogs be healthy on a vegetarian diet?
- In principle, yes — dogs are omnivores and a carefully formulated, genuinely complete vegetarian diet can meet their nutritional needs. It is harder to get right than a typical meat-based diet, though, since nutrients naturally abundant in meat need to be deliberately added back in and balanced correctly.
- What should I check on the label of a vegetarian dog food?
- Look for a clear statement that the food is complete and balanced for your dog's specific life stage, and check it names its protein sources and any added amino acids or vitamins rather than relying on vague wording. This tells you more than the word "vegetarian" alone.
- Is vegetarian dog food suitable for puppies?
- It is generally considered less appropriate for puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs without close veterinary supervision, since these groups have higher and more specific nutritional needs during a critical period of growth or development.
- Should I switch my dog to vegetarian food to fix a food allergy?
- No — a suspected food allergy or digestive problem needs proper diagnosis from a vet rather than a general switch to a vegetarian diet, which addresses a different question and may not resolve, or could mask, the underlying issue.
Related
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.