Dogs who eat vegan diets may have better health, study suggests

A new survey of more than 2,500 dog owners suggests that nutritious vegan diets may be less hazardous and healthier than meat-based diets.

Andrew Knight and his colleagues at the University of Winchester, embarked on the research to help clarify the potential health effects of different dog diets to better guide dog owners.

Researchers found that, overall, dogs on conventional diets - such as kibble and meat-heavy foods - were less healthy than dogs on vegan or raw meat diets.

The study examined data from owners of 2,536 dogs that were fed conventional meat, raw meat, or a vegan diet. Questions about the dogs' health were included in the survey, including the number of veterinarian visits, medication use, and specific health issues.

While the study found that animals on raw meat diets appeared to be healthier than those on vegan diets, several factors prevented them from concluding raw meat diets are healthier.