Veganism is on the rise — according to the BBC, the number of people following a plant-based lifestyle in the U.S. grew about 600 percent between 2014 and 2017. So if you're considering ditching animal products, you're definitely not alone — just think twice before you put your cat or dog on a vegan diet, too.
According to the ASPCA, a vegan diet is not appropriate for cats at all, no exceptions. As obligate carnivores, cats require meat to survive, and can develop severe health problems, including potentially fatal heart problems and blindness, without vital nutrients found in meat. They also require the high caloric density that meat provides, and are not well-adapted to digesting plant matter.
While dogs are naturally omnivorous and have adapted to digest plant matter, they still thrive on a protein-rich diet that includes meat. Veterinarians caution that a vegan diet for dogs is a difficult undertaking that's more likely to cause harm than meet a dog's nutritional needs. Some dogs may be sensitive to certain animal proteins, but there are a huge array of options to try before eliminating meat entirely. Your best bet if your dog has food sensitivities is to consult with your veterinarian or a licensed veterinary nutritionist.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.