New research from the University of Winchester, led by Professor Andrew Knight, suggests that vegan diets could offer superior health benefits for dogs compared to traditional meat-based diets. The study, which surveyed 2,536 dog owners over a year, highlights significant health improvements in dogs fed plant-based diets.
The research divided the dogs into three dietary groups: 54% were fed conventional meat diets, 33% raw meat diets, and 13% vegan diets. Health assessments were based on seven general indicators, such as frequency of veterinary visits, medication use, and progression to therapeutic diets, along with evaluations of 22 specific health disorders.
Results revealed that dogs on vegan diets exhibited a lower prevalence of health disorders, with a rate of 36% compared to 43% for those on raw meat and 49% for those on conventional meat diets. Vegan-fed dogs showed a reduced likelihood of suffering from specific health issues, with the highest occurrence noted in dogs on conventional meat diets for 11 disorders, raw meat diets for eight, and vegan diets for only three.
Statistical analysis, accounting for variables such as age, sex, neutering status, breed size, and exercise levels, confirmed these findings. Dogs on vegan diets demonstrated a substantial and statistically significant reduction in the risk of various health issues, ranging from 14.4% to 51.3% lower than those on conventional meat-based diets. For six specific health disorders, the risk was reduced by 50% to 61% in vegan-fed dogs.
The study’s results align with previous research linking vegan diets to a decreased risk of numerous health disorders in dogs. Importantly, no specific health disorder was found to be more prevalent in dogs on vegan diets, reinforcing the potential benefits of plant-based nutrition for canine health.
Overall, this research supports the notion that vegan diets could contribute to improved health outcomes in dogs, suggesting that such diets may be a viable option for maintaining canine well-being.
