PlantBasedNerd.com Harvesting Change by Christie Trent, Certified Nutrition Coach

Why I Switched to a Vegan Dog Food

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Why I Switched

Choosing a vegan dog food was not one I made lightly. Lots of folks will say it is “imposing your beliefs on an animal” or “forcing them” to live your "lifestyle.” People have even accused me of animal abuse. Honestly, there was a time many years ago, I would have thought it was bizarre myself. When all you know is "chicken and rice" or "beef and rice" dog food, it can be a bit jarring to see a vegan dog food. But I assure you, it is not only possible, but it can be beneficial for your dogs health.

Four years ago a little Beagle Pug mix came into my life, and from the first year I was constantly in the vet's office. Aside from eating every Air Pod, laptop, pillow and power cable in sight, she was incessantly scratching and licking. I tried Zesty Paws Aller-Immune snacks, prescription pills from the vet, Benedryl, shots, and specialty dog shampoo. Nothing was helping. I pleaded with the vet and there didn’t seem to be a stone unturned.

We moved to a new town and her usual skin allergies on her belly and paws exploded. She was black-skinned and swollen on her hind end and even her mouth was affected. The new vet recommended removing all plastic toys and dishes, and changing to a “novelty meat.” They said if she had a protein allergy, we needed to find out which meat was causing it, and switching to boar or venison may help. And it did help with the severity but it never truly went away. So, they suggested Cytopoint.

Cytopoint
Cytopoint is a brand name for a veterinary medication used to treat allergic dermatitis in dogs. It contains the active ingredient lokivetmab, which is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets and neutralizes canine interleukin-31 (IL-31), a protein involved in the itching sensation associated with allergic skin disease. Cytopoint is administered by injection and provides relief from itching for about 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the individual dog. Costs vary but a routine visit for Cytopoint over the years for me averaged $80 every 4-6 weeks.

Cytopoint is a prescription medication and should only be used under the guidance of a veterinarian. Remember to consult your veterinarian for personalized advice regarding your dog’s health. 🐾

Read more: Cytopoint For Dogs? Clinical Trial, Veterinary Practice, & Dog Owners’ Experiences

I still wanted to help her and find the root cause. Diving deeper into dog gut health and allergies, I decided to tried a fecal transplant. Yes, you read that right. I gave her "poop in a pill."

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT):
FMT involves transferring fecal matter from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a dog to restore the balance of bacteria in the gut. This procedure is typically used to treat certain gastrointestinal issues, such as recurrent diarrhea or other digestive problems, by introducing a healthy microbial population to the dog's gut.

Fecal transplants are thought to work by repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria, which can help restore normal gut function and improve digestive health. The procedure is usually performed under the supervision of a veterinarian and involves collecting fecal matter from a healthy donor, processing it, and then administering it to the recipient dog either through a feeding tube, enema, or orally. I opted for the pill form. And aside from a great story of her chomping down on one and fecal powder spraying into the air, nothing positive came from it.

Read more: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for the Treatment of Allergies in Dogs

Last year, I was talking to someone about how I never get seasonal allergies anymore after being plagued with them my entire life. Since going plant-based in 2020, I hadn’t had a single allergy attack or needed allergy medicine. A light bulb went off. Maybe if eliminating animal products stopped my seasonal allergies, it could help her? So I hit the internet to read about ingredients and requirements for a balanced and healthy dog diet.

My vet recommended I look for an AAFCO balanced dog food. You’ll see on some packaging and websites that something is AAFCO-approved but that isn’t really a thing. The AAFCO is a group that releases guidelines for a balanced diet but they don’t actually release approved foods or have an approval process. The guidelines that are released are used by dog food manufacturers to create a balanced food. When you see that a food is AAFCO, it simply means that food has been created to follow and meet the guidelines for a balanced and healthy diet. I'll have more on AAFCO in a later article.

Read more: AAFCO Offical Website

So, I found an AAFCO vegan dog food, and went through every single ingredient before making my choice. I'll have another article in the coming week on the food I chose and why I chose it. But I can tell you, within 2 weeks of switching her to a vegan diet, her itchy skin had cleared up. She was no longer scratching and licking. She was no longer swollen and black-skinned. She was a happy, healthy dog. I'll dissect the ingredient list and tell you why those seemed to be a good fit for my allergy-ridden dog - and the newer bowed-legged puppy.