Vegetarian dog food has been around for a while.  I feel that enforcing a vegan diet on your dog is neglectful in most cases, however I seem to recall speaking with people whose dogs have problems processing meat proteins.

That being said, you may find this amusing:

http://www.vegandognutritionassociation.com/vegan_dog_foods.html

NOT Vegan Dog Foods*

* Marketed as “Vegan” or vegetarian foods that are NOT vegan or NOT balanced and complete.

  * Humane Choice by the Humane Society of the United States. http://thehumanechoice.com/index.htm. [Contains vitamin D3 and A, which likely come from animal sources.]

First off—many, many thanks for this site! Those of us that fight H$U$-driven pet legislation on a daily basis welcome all the help we can get in reaching the pet-owning public and dispelling the “myth” of the H$U$.

As to the crappy food, soy can be harmful to dogs, as it can be a contributing factor of hip dysplasia.

What is frightening is how many pets will possibly get sick (or worse) from eating this?  Or maybe this food is part of a devious plot…who knows!

If I remember correctly from last year’s “announcement” of this food, part of the proceeds will go to fight “inhumane factory farms”.  If that is, indeed, the case, then one could look at it this way:  buying this dog food will not only (potentially) harm your pet, but you will help fund more legislation and lobbying aimed at the very people who feed this nation…the farmers!

One last thought:  hey, pet owners considering buying this stuff—have you forgotten the massive dog food recall???

Right on. Thank-you for putting this blog together. I think it is great that you are shedding light on this organization’s agendas. I will be sending many people here who are looking for information.

http://www.cdycattle.blogspot.com

Of course a non-veg vet (I am assuming that you talked to no vegetarian vets) is going to tell you that animal protien is superior to soy protein…they’ve been trained to think that way for their entire lives! Dogs are not vegetarians by nature, however, they can thrive on a vegetarian diet. My dog gets more excited for a piece of steamed broccoli than a piece of bacon!

And your statement, “organic ground canola seed just won’t get the saliva flowing like the smell of bacon” is so bogus! When was the last time you were a dog? If your logic is correct, your dog is wondering how the hell you don’t love the smell of a stranger’s crotch!

I don’t know how you go as far to say that feeding your dog a vegan diet is animal cruelty. You must not have an inkling of what animal cruelty is! I guess you’re too engrossed in keeping a “watchful eye” on the HSUS. Your time would better be spent keeping an eye on your own government. The US Dept of Agriculture and USDA don’t give a s**t about you, your family, or your animal companions…all they care about is the money and the power. Why do you think some foreign governments won’t let American meat into their country? Because it’s hormone-ridden, chemically processed junk.

Stop spreading this cancerous, tunnel visioned crap on the internet…people are too stupid to research animal nutrition themselves and find the truth behind the propaganda.

I support the HSUS’s attempt at formulating a vegetarian dog food. At least it doesn’t contain downer animal by-products, diseased carcases, euthanized pets, plastic, and a long list of god knows what else.

Aside from the fact that this food is manufactured in a foreign country, feeding a canine (carnivore NOT omnivore) a vegan diet could very well be considered a form of cruelty or negligence at the very least. But of course it is the goal of HSUS and other animal radicals to eliminate all pet ownership.  What better way than to get people to feed their dogs a diet that will slowly but surely cause these dogs to die of an early death due to a form of starvation from lack of usable nutrients.

You seem to forget that canines, like humans, are omnivores and, in many cases, scavengers.  So, like humans, canines don’t NEED meat to survive.  Feeding a dog things that aren’t meat (which they have evolved to digest) is infinitely less cruel than feeding a cow corn (which they have not evolved to eat). 

I’m sure the dog would prefer a chunk of beef to a bowl of dry kibble, but how many people are going to take their dogs OFF of a raw-meat diet and put them ON to a “vegan” one?  Not many, one would think.

>> Of course a non-veg vet (I am assuming that you talked to no vegetarian vets) My dog gets more excited for a piece of steamed broccoli than a piece of bacon!”

Possibly because you have never allowed your dog to taste bacon? I guarantee anything that your dog would love to taste bacon, however, because you think for your dog (and hypocritically attack others for doing the same), I strongly doubt that with your attitude and perspective, you have allowed your canine to taste meat. It is true that dogs are omnivores, but they thrive on meat.

>> “And your statement, “organic ground canola seed just won’t get the saliva flowing like the smell of bacon” is so bogus! When was the last time you were a dog? If your logic is correct, your dog is wondering how the hell you don’t love the smell of a stranger’s crotch!” When was the last time YOU were a dog?

Does being a vegetarian/vegan give you some sort of magical authority over animals? Dogs do not “wonder” anything the same way as we humans do. The habit of salivating comes as a reaction to seeing food- sometimes regardless of how it tastes or not.

>> “I don’t know how you go as far to say that feeding your dog a vegan diet is animal cruelty. You must not have an inkling of what animal cruelty is! I guess you’re too engrossed in keeping a “watchful eye” on the HSUS. Your time would better be spent keeping an eye on your own government. The US Dept of Agriculture and USDA don’t give a s**t about you, your family, or your animal companions…all they care about is the money and the power. Why do you think some foreign governments won’t let American meat into their country? Because it’s hormone-ridden, chemically processed junk.”

So is your chemically processed tofu. Or the vegetation which you consume that is spread full of contaminants. I will also note that you yourself probably don’t give a sh** about anyone besides animals. What makes you believe that foreign countries foods are not full of crap? That perhaps there are other motifs for foreign countries not accepting foreign meats? Aside from your belief that you have conquered “brainwashing” successfully. :/

>> “Stop spreading this cancerous, tunnel visioned crap on the internet…people are too stupid to research animal nutrition themselves and find the truth behind the propaganda.”

Yes. Because you have discovered the answer to ultimate peace while calling people stupid to achieve your means. People do their research. You simply disregard evidence to disprove your theories or your own narrow mindedness. How can you not see that isolating yourself by thinking everyone else to be narrowminded isn’t a form of brainwashing itself? You are commanding people to stop promoting what they believe is right : Will you halt your brainwashing propaganda from me simply requesting it? No.

>> “I support the HSUS’s attempt at formulating a vegetarian dog food. At least it doesn’t contain downer animal by-products, diseased carcases, euthanized pets, plastic, and a long list of god knows what else.”

Yes, because it claims itself “organic”, and “vegetarian” you support it. And everyone else is brainwashed?You forget that vegetarianism in itself is an industry! It has darker motifs, whether it be for profit or not. It’s appealing to your mentality. How about you rid yourself of all “brainwashing” together? How does one go about doing that? Plant your own food, build your own garden, don’t consume store-bought vitamins. Don’t head onto the computer where you support your majority meat-eating surroundings. Don’t reside on land which was cleared (killing and ridding thousands of equal-right animals) their home. Would you ever give that up to achieve your means? Never. You’re part of a society; and you’ve been influenced/brainwashed in another aspect.

Stating that dogs are omnivores is an opinion not based on fact.  Dogs as a species are carnivores once known as Canis Familiaris but more recently classified as Canis Lupus. Carnivores will scavenge and are opportunists because of their innate desire to survive.  How soon we forget (some here are not old enough to know) the advertising battles between a couple of the early pet food companies when they openly acknowledged that dogs are carnivores and wanted the public to believe Product A had MORE BEEF than Product B. This is just one more example of how important it is to know history and its impact on our world today.  And finally, I will stand by my position that feeding dogs a vegetarian diet is a form of cruelty and neglect. (Cruelty, Abuse, and Neglect come in many forms) People that choose to feed dogs a vegetarian diet, because they are vegans, are imposing their diet choices on their dogs without regard for what is appropriate for the species.

I was just wondering, has anyone at Humane Watch asked a reputable veterinary organization their professional opinion on vegan/vegetarian dog food?  I am not talking about Wayne Pacelle’s little stable of vegan vets at his Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.  That was formed as a response to the American Veterinary Medical Association telling Wayne where he could stick his agenda, so Wayne ran off like an upset child and formed his own group to give a degree of scientific validity to his poppycock.  So, Humane Watch, you want to call the AVMA and see what the professionals say about veggie dog food?

Here are a couple of facts to set the record straight:

Unlike cats, dogs are not obligate carnivores. They can and do thrive on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Any nutritionist from any veterinary college will agree with this statement. In fact, many veterinary dermatologists will recommend feeding dogs a vegetarian diet if a food allergy is suspected.

Secondly, soy is not harmful to dogs. It used to be thought that soy caused gastric dilitation-volvulus (otherwise known as bloat) in large breed, deep-chested dogs. Research has shown that soy plays no role in this syndrome. I can cite articles in peer-refereed veterinary journals for those who are interested.

Thirdly, if anybody is suggesting that just because a food product is imported into this country, it is inherently less safe, one should research the percentage of domestically produced food products that are tested by our own government agencies. As an example, just think about all the meat recalls that are issued weeks to months after the product has been eaten by consumers.

Fourth, if a product is certified as organic, its ingredients must meet stringent requirements. On the other hand, the term “natural” is just a marketing device, and holds no real meaning.

Here’s a link to the current guidelines for organic labeling, which is a bit more current than the opinion of somebody in the Clinton administration.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&acct=nopgeninfo

Dear “humanevet”—Using nutritional information provided by “Any nutritionist from any veterinary college” is likely to misguide you regarding proper nutrition for your dog.  It is an unfortunate fact (as told to me by several veterinary students and graduates) that most of the “nutritional” education provided to veterinary students is minimal at best, subsidized by the pet food giants (i.e., Hills) and directs the veterinarian students on how to use “their” products for certain health issues.

Having said that, there are an ever increasing number of veterinarians today that are now enlightened on the importance of feeding a species appropriate diet.

When it comes to a “suspected food allergy” the assumption is made that it is an allergy to the main animal source protein in the diet.  The average vet will simply suggest switching foods which will not result in identifying the allergen.  The only way to identify a true food allergy is through an elimination diet. Switching to a vegan diet because of a “suspected food allergy” will eventually result in additional health issues.

Humanevet, that one applies to food intended for humans.  Here are the AAFCO guidelines.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5058828&acct=nopgeninfo

Q. Can pet food make an organic claim if it is not certified by a USDA accredited agency?
A. Products that only indicate organic ingredients in the ingredient listing of the product, but not on the principal display panel may be marketed without certification. Products that are not certified cannot display the USDA organic seal, or name or seal of a certification agency. Products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot be certified as organic, but they may list the organic ingredients in the ingredient listing. State officials charged with reviewing pet food labels under state laws may ask manufacturers to provide documentation of certification for ingredients described as organic when the product is not certified.

It all comes back to taurine…which isn’t in plants.  NRC doesn’t require it for dogs yet, but the proof is out there that taurine-deficient diets do more harm than good.  Take a look at the post with the vet student letter.

Where to even start.  Wow.

On the Humane Choice food’s website it says “*NEVER* CORN” and “*NEVER* WHEAT” (asterisks in place of original bolding).  Yet the food has plenty of soybean and some millet in it.  I wonder if they could explain the difference?  Oh right - it’s just a marketing gimmick, preying on people who’ve heard corn and wheat are ambiguously bad for dogs (it depends on how they’re used in the food) and cause/contribute to food allergies (skewed thinking), but since soy (or millet) isn’t used as much in dog food and therefore lacks the same negative hype, they don’t mention anything about it and by virtue of this essentially suggest it is somehow quite different from corn and wheat when present in dog food (not the case).

It looks like they missed kind of a lot of basic what-not-to-give-dogs knowledge:  Garlic, like anything else in the Allium genus, is toxic to dogs if enough of it is present.  (To my knowledge, no feeding studies for this have been done to see how dogs cope at a low dosage for an extended period.)  No doubt it and the added salt are present to improve (uh, I think the word I’m looking for there might be “create” rather than “improve”) the palatability of the plant matter to a facultative carnivore.  The other yikes in there is green tea.  Caffeine and theobromine in a dog food?  Seriously?

The protein and fat content are at the lower end of what adult dogs can survive and thrive on.  Without the very high fiber content that’s in it, normal dogs, assuming they’d even want to eat this, would likely more easily become overweight from its higher (I’m guessing around ~40%?) carb/sugar content.  But unfortunately, because of the very high fiber content, the actual nutrients that are present in the food don’t get absorbed to the extent they normally would on a more normal fiber content diet (around 2%-4%).

And, I had to have read the ingredient list ten times because I thought my eyes deceived me.  I see no taurine in this food.  While it’s not necessarily required for all dogs, they sure can become ill and die if they don’t synthesize enough of it on their own.

“Food requirements vary depending on climate, breed of dog and activity level.”  But I guess not species.

Like I said, it’s hard to know where to start with all the problems there are with this mess of a food.  I wouldn’t foresee a dog living particularly well or long on it.  Sounds to me like it would be a humane choice for termites.

I understand why vegans feel the way they do about this. My girlfriend feeds her dog vegan dog food. I feel kind of sorry for the dog. I don’t know if it’s the food, but the dog is very skinny, and has this bad habit of chomping her teeth. I’ve found that vegans don’t like having pet cats because they can’t feed them a vegan diet. It’s simply natural for a carnivorous animal to eat meat. Death is just part of life. It just seems like a denial of life. I really haven’t talked much to vegans about the diet of carnivorous animals in the wild. I suppose vegans would eventually like to feed wild animals some kind of synthetic diet that mimics real animals. It just seems misguided.

Vets have no more dietary training than you or I do, so you forget this crap about what any vet says. Most vets push Science Diet because Science Diet pays them to. Much like our doctors paid by the drug companies to push their drugs.
    My dog and I hike on my days off and this VERY HEALTHY Eskie eats more grass on our 5 hour treks then he does food from his bowl at home.

I wonder if you can call anything organic AND vegan.  All organic fertilizer I know of is a by-product of animal farms and the commercial fishing industry.

Well, David, I have to say first that I appreciate your tone very much—I don’t tend to bother with things like this since they tend to get ugly so quickly on both sides, but this seems worthwhile. Anyway, here’s my two cents:

As a veggie myself, I never thought it would be right to force my dietary preferences onto animals in my care. After several years of trying everything to help my itchy little beagle mix with her skin problems, I decided it couldn’t hurt to try the veg food. She’s never been healthier, and when I adopted her little brother, who was a bag of bones at the time, he ate her food. He filled out nicely and rapidly started building strong muscles. I would say he is built like a brick s***house, but although he’s quite buff his muscles are very lean, like a runner or a dancer. His awful gas went away, and both dogs got goofier and started to play more.  I do, however, use a different brand than the above: made in the USA Natural Life, which relies on brown rice, barley, oatmeal and veggies rather than soy, which I would agree isn’t great for dogs. I would consider both dogs flexetarians, since I wouldn’t deny them meat or meaty treats when they’re offered by others, but they both eat their veg food just as heartily as they have ever eaten anything else. I’m no vet and can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, the proof is in the pudding, and I don’t know any dog that is healthier, happier, stronger or more active than my pooches. That’s really all that matters.

Amanda - If you’re talking about their “adult vegetarian formula”, it says on their website it contains soy, gluten, garlic, and menadione.  It is also looks to be right around 50% sugar.

Thanks Doxie, I was actually mistaken—I use Natural Balance, not Natural Life.

Three years ago all this started happening and now it makes no sense…Vegan dog food???

Want to see a happy dog? Give the dog a bone.

After raising & feeding corgis(pembrookes) for well over 35 years…........I have fed rice,hamburger and cottage cheese..and unfortunately one of my males was ALLERGIC to the rice..so now I feed ‘Sam’s special..and a new corgi who joined me 3 weeks ago has lost the bad breath he had (he was eating a Purina product)...
My English Fox Hounds eat walmart specials and bones and scraps from my butcher…they all look great…
Go Figure…................
Mary in Central NYS

The people coming up with this vegan dog food crap are the animal rights people who think that dogs should have all the rights of humans so shouldn’t they have the right to choose what they eat? I bet you if you put a bowl of vegetables next to a bowl of meat that dog is gonna go straight for the meat because that is what they prefer to eat not vegetables.

You’re right. Dogs are not vegetarians. Neither are humans. However, there are many healthy vegetarian humans (and dogs). The key is eating a balanced meal with all of the necessary nutrients. I am not sure about the background of the veterinarians you spoke with, but my veterinarian said it was perfectly healthy as long as the dog has sufficient protein. Most of our pets are not working or hunting dogs. They spend most of their day in the house and go on a few walks or outings a day. They do not require meat in the same way that they did in the wild.

As far as using a cartoon to illustrate your opinion on vegetarian dog food, I think it is quite irresponsible. I respect the fact that you spoke with veterinarians and did some research. However, to paint a picture of a dog who is always hungry because he doesn’t eat meat is not scientific (but pretty persuasive, I must say).

I also want to add that that traditional dog food contains animal by-products and crap you and I would never eat. It is no wonder that cancer is more prevalent in the pet population than in humans.

Some people put ketchup on everything so. . . ketchup and chocolate CAN go well together.

When was the last time anyone saw or heard of a pack of wild dogs or coyotes here in the USA chasing down a patch of corn, “bringing it down” and eating it?
Or how about them bypassing the henhouse and raiding the garden of its watermelons instead?

What is the “natural choice” of food selection for the Wolf, the Dingo, the Hyena, and the African Wild Dog?
Hint; Canis Lupus Familiaris are cursorial predators

Yes, it is inhumane to do to an animal, especially one you care about. Shame on all of you vegetarians. Did you dog ask to be fed vegetables, when they came from wolves who eat almost strictly meat. Even if it is possible to feed you dog enough protein to be healthy, it is doubtful any pet owner has enough expertise to take on such a responsibility. Dogs evolved almost entirely on meat. Sure dogs can eat vegetables, but not even as much as we do as omnivores. Argue all you want, but we became smarter and more proficient animals when our ancestors added meat to their diets. The smartest apes and primates eat meat, and we’re also evidence of this evolutionary change.

are you sure about adding green tea in the dog food? is this safe and tested?

My dog is a very happy 12 year old basset hound who is a vegan. She is full of energy and survived a bout with cancer this year. When she had cancer I was told to feed her fresh vegetables and whole grains. Not meat and especially nothing processed. Here’s to long-living vegetarian dogs!!

The author states that canine teeth are designed to tear flesh from bone.  Well, unless fido or princess is fed a raw food diet, or an entire carcass to tear apart, then your dogs should be vegetarian.  Dogs have evolved from wild pack hunters to omnivorous dumpster divers that parasitizes off of humans.  If you want to talk evolution, then dogs are meant to eat the trash of humans, perhaps cooked bones, raw end trails, and vegetables.  Will you feed this to your companion?  Human lives (maybe even canine) are enhanced by a vegan/vegetarian diet and dogs, unlike cats, can live health lives without eating carcasses and rotting flesh.

I also feel that this could fall under the category of “cruelty”. I was at lunch in Seattle earlier and I had my Smooth Collie with me. I offered him a piece of lettuce and he immediately turned his nose up at it. He wanted nothing to do with it. I offered him a piece of meatball a little further into the meal and gobbled it up immediately.

I raw feed my dogs. My older dog ate kibble for many years and while, yes, he was healthy, I didn’t realize just how much healthier he could be. His coat is super shiny. He lost weight (not overweight to begin with) and turned the little excess fat he had into more muscle. He is now at the perfect weight with an amazing amount of muscle and he has MUCH more energy. He is just… bouncier. My pup was started on raw the day I got him and he is growing to be a bit larger than the average Bluetick Coonhound, but is growing at a slower, steadier pace. He never went through quick growth spurts like kibble fed dogs do. Those can damage joints.

Truthfully, NO kibble is healthy. Vets don’t encourage it because they don’t know much about it. Vets are taught very little about animal nutrition in vet school. Most are very naive even to various kibbles. Most vets who have gone out of their way (and that is very few) to thoroughly study animal nutrition, will encourage raw diets. No kibbles are healthy. Not even Science Diet and they pay vets to promote it.

To even consider a vegan dog food is absurd. Why do our animals have to be forced to go against their natural diet to follow the nutrition rules of a species that is completely different from them. Dogs are carnivores and should be fed as such. Dogs don’t exactly have herbivore teeth. We do. We have canines for tearing meat and molars for grinding. Wolves, cats, and dogs have no herbivore teeth, just like horses don’t have any carnivore teeth.

We are brainwashed to think that meat/protein in mass quantities is essential for our health.  Something is amiss about the US diet considering that the we have the most number of people that are obese than any other country on the globe.  Meat from carcasses has been shown to be an agent for numerous diseases, i.e. cancers, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, etc.  If, and that’s a big IF, you knew better why would you feed your companion, and yourself, a disease causing agent?

Victor, dogs’ bodies are meant to be eating meat. Sure, dogs are opportunists and will take what they can get, but their bodies are not designed for eating plant matter. Brainwashed? No. I am simply looking at the physical anatomy of a dog and seeing that they are clearly carnivores. They have no flat molars to grind up plant matter. Only carnassial teeth. They can’t move their jaws both up and down and sideways like all omnivores and herbivores can (for the purpose of grinding and mashing plant matter). Those are just a couple of things.

Just since kibble became a widespread way of feeding dogs, all sorts of diseases have popped up. These diseases were hardly ever seen in dogs when they were still being fed straight meat. Dogs need to be fed a species appropriate diet. You would never force your horse to eat meat (if you ate meat) right? Why? Because horses don’t eat meat! They aren’t built for it. They are built for consuming the greens. Dogs are built to eat meat. How anyone can deny that is beyond me.

And kibble… how can ANYONE think that they should be feeding a dog kibble? Regardless of what is in it. That just isn’t natural. No one can honestly believe that feeding a dry, processed, every-meal-is-identical-to-the-next food to a dog is healthy for them. If so, you are saying that dogs are designed to eat stuff that didn’t even exist for most of the species’ existence.

As someone who lives in this ~scary and awful foreign country~ you are all raging about, I’d like to thank you for the respectful and not at all condescending tone of your article. Oh wait…

Even if I would probably agree with your viewpoint, you have a lot to learn about other countries that may not be the one you’re in, who are not essentially ignorant and unfit to ever produce anything tolerable for import.

if these people truly care about animal rights to the point where it is unacceptable to eat meat, isn’t it also unacceptable to force a dog to follow your ideals, dogs are naturally mostly carnivorous animals so i find this totally unacceptable, if it’s just as good as normal dog food put one bowl down of each and let the dog pick

>>Stop spreading this cancerous, tunnel visioned crap on the internet…people are too stupid to research animal nutrition themselves and find the truth behind the propaganda.

yes that’s why the first fifty results when i typed in “Vegetarian dog food” were advertisements for vegetarian with a hundred made up reasons why veggie dog food is better

>>canines don’t NEED meat to survive. 

true, my nan doesn’t need her pills to survive either, she would just be capable of doing nothing without them. I am fed up of all of the people who are saying veggie food is the best it’s not i have a 6 year old jack russle dog that still has tons of energy is about the right weight and has NO health problems the only food he eats is dried in the morning and some wet food at night

Anyone who studies animal nutrition a fair amount can tell you that the canine digestive system is designed for a strictly animal protein diet.  They don’t even have the enzymes etc. to digest and utilize plant protein sources.  As much as you try to deny it, a meat protein diet is what their systems are made for, therefore it is what they should be eating.  Theoretically, what a dog should eat is lean red meat.  Nothing else.  Granted, store-bought dog food isn’t the greatest thing, but it’s extremely ignorant and selfish to try to force your own vegan/vegetarian diet upon your pet.  My suggestion: if you’re too uptight to feed your dog what it should be eating, don’t even get a dog and subject the poor thing to such ridiculousness.  Pull your heads out of your asses or get a rabbit or something else that’s actually supposed to eat plants.

A lot of people keep saying that dogs are strictly carnivorous and those people are clearly ill informed:
Unlike obligate carnivores, such as the cat family with its shorter small intestine, dogs can adapt to a wide-ranging diet, and are not dependent on meat-specific protein nor a very high level of protein in order to fulfill their basic dietary requirements. Dogs will healthily digest a variety of foods, including vegetables and grains, and can consume a large proportion of these in their diet.

As long as a dog receives the occasional meaty treat, table scrap, or bone I see no harm in feeding them HEALTHY vegan kibble. Soy products may or may not be bad for dogs, so stray away from them. This product the article is about, is clearly trash. I recommend(Dick Van Patten’s) Natural Balance.

There are plenty of popular dog kibbles which utilize bits of DOG as an ingredient, no matter how unhealthy one might think vegan dog food is, it is certainly more healthy than doggy cannibalism. While I am vegetarian, I will not force any particular diet on my dog. My roommates feed him scraps of cooked meat, and their own dogs eat meaty kibble, which my dog has access to (and may snack on occasionally), but still chooses his own.

In short; a little vegan food won’t kill your dog, but don’t deny them the option of meat if that is what they want.