Plant-based diets for pets are gaining popularity, but welfare depends on nutritional completeness and species-appropriate formulation.
Plant-based diets for pets raise genuine welfare considerations in both directions — the welfare of the pet eating the diet, and the welfare of the animals that would have been used in conventional pet food. For dogs, the evidence suggests well-formulated commercial vegan diets can meet all nutritional needs without welfare compromise. For cats, plant-based diets require supplementation with specific nutrients (taurine, arginine, arachidonic acid) that cats cannot synthesize and must consume preformed — commercially formulated vegan cat food can achieve this but requires careful quality control and regular veterinary monitoring. The decision involves weighing different welfare considerations and should be made with veterinary guidance.