HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY DOG GETS ENOUGH NUTRIENTS ON A VEGAN DIET?
To make sure your dog gets enough nutrients on a vegan diet, you need to choose a vegan dog food that is carefully formulated with additional nutrients to meet your dog's requirements. Some of the key nutrients you need to look for in a plant-based, vegan dog food are:
Protein: Dogs need a high-quality protein source that provides all the essential amino acids they need. Plant proteins may not be as digestible or complete as animal proteins, so you need to make sure the vegan dog food has a sufficient amount and variety of plant proteins.
Amino Acids: Some amino acids, such as taurine and L-carnitine, are especially important for dogs and may be deficient in plant-based diets. These amino acids are involved in heart and eye health, and their deficiency can cause serious problems such as dilated cardiomyopathy. You need to make sure the vegan dog food has added taurine and L-carnitine. Methionine is usually the limiting amino acid in plant-based dog food. It is best to feed your dog a food that has added Methionine.
Carbohydrates: Dogs can use carbohydrates as an energy source, but they don't need a lot of them. You need to choose a vegan dog food that has a moderate amount of complex carbohydrates that are low-glycaemic and high-fibre, such as oats, barley, quinoa, sweet potatoes, seaweed etc. These can help regulate blood sugar levels and promote digestive health.
Vitamin D: Dogs cannot synthesize vitamin D from sunlight like humans can, so they need to get it from their diet. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone health. Most plant sources of vitamin D are not bioavailable for dogs, so you need to make sure the vegan dog food has added vitamin D.
B Vitamins and B12: B vitamins are involved in many metabolic processes and are important for nerve function, skin health, blood cell formation, etc. B12 is especially important for dogs and is mainly found in animal products. You need to make sure the vegan dog food has added B vitamins and B12.
Omega Fatty Acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for dogs and have many benefits for their skin, coat, joints, brain, heart, etc. Most plant sources of omega fatty acids are not well utilized by dogs, so you need to make sure the vegan dog food has added synthetic or quality algae-based omega fatty acids like DHAgold.
Bonza vegan dog food has been expertly formulated by senior canine nutritionists to provide all the essential nutrients, and in the correct balance, your dog needs to thrive.
Bonza not only contains a greater variety of plant-based proteins than other vegan dog foods it also includes an additional blend of powerful nutrients, including phytonutrients, anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, that work together to elevate your dog's food beyond simple nutrition to a food with preventative health benefits.