Vegetarian dog treats
Vegetarian dog treats are made without any meat, fish or animal by-products, built instead around ingredients like vegetables, oats, sweet potato or pulses, and they can be a useful option for a dog with a suspected meat-protein allergy or for households choosing to avoid meat treats. Dogs are not obligate carnivores the way cats are, but their main diet still generally needs proper animal protein, so a vegetarian treat is exactly that — a treat, not a diet.
Why owners choose vegetarian treats
Some dogs have a genuine, diagnosed sensitivity or allergy to specific animal proteins, and a vegetarian treat sidesteps that entirely, which is one practical reason to choose them beyond personal preference. This differs from choosing a vegetarian main food, which is a bigger decision that should involve a vet given how much more of a dog's daily nutrition a main food provides.
Other owners choose vegetarian treats simply because their household avoids meat products generally, which is a reasonable personal choice for treats specifically, since treats make up a small part of a dog's overall diet rather than the whole of it.
What to check on the label
Look for a treat that states clearly what it is made from — sweet potato, oats, pea protein and similar plant ingredients are common bases — rather than a vague "meat-free" claim without detail. As with any treat, a shorter, more specific ingredient list tells you more than a long one full of fillers.
Vegetarian does not automatically mean low-calorie or low-fat; some plant-based treats are calorie-dense, so check the guide for how much to give rather than assuming a meat-free treat needs less portion control.
What this means for the rest of the diet
Choosing vegetarian treats does not mean your dog's main food needs to follow suit — most dogs on a standard meat-based complete food do perfectly well with the occasional vegetarian treat alongside it, and the two decisions can be made independently.
If you are considering a fully vegetarian or vegan main diet for your dog, rather than just treats, that is a significant nutritional decision that should be discussed with a vet first, since getting the balance of protein and specific nutrients right without any animal source requires careful formulation.
Reading past the marketing
A treat marketed as vegetarian is not automatically low in additives or artificial flavouring, so the same label-reading habits apply as with any treat: check the actual ingredient list rather than assuming a meat-free claim tells you everything about quality.
Some vegetarian treats lean heavily on starchy fillers to bulk out the recipe once meat is removed, which is worth knowing if your dog is watching their weight, since a starch-heavy treat can carry more calories than expected for its size.
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 vegetarian treats healthy for dogs?
- They can be a perfectly reasonable occasional treat, the same as any other, as long as the ingredient list is genuine and specific rather than vague. Vegetarian does not automatically mean healthier or lower in calories, so check the label and portion the same way you would any treat.
- Can dogs be fully vegetarian?
- Dogs are not obligate carnivores in the way cats are, and can technically be maintained on a carefully formulated vegetarian diet, but this is a significant decision that needs proper nutritional planning to avoid deficiencies. It should be discussed with a vet before making the switch for a dog's main diet.
- Are vegetarian treats good for dogs with allergies?
- They can be useful for a dog with a suspected or diagnosed allergy to a specific animal protein, since they avoid meat and fish entirely. If you suspect a food allergy, it is worth confirming with a vet rather than switching treats alone and assuming that solves it.
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.