Best Vegan & Plant-Based Dog Treats 2023 — Top Picks
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This is the ultimate guide to finding the best vegan dog treats.
Millions of people in the U.S. are rapidly adopting a vegan lifestyle. So, it’s unsurprising that vegan dog owners want to give their dogs meat-free treats due to the rising concerns about animal cruelty, environmental impact, and better overall health. But, can dogs eat vegan dog treats? Can dogs benefit from veggie dog treats?
Today, we cover everything you need to know about vegan dog treats, including our picks for the best plant-based dog treats and the research about plant-based dog treats. Let’s dive right in!
Best Vegan Dog Treats — At A Glance
Scroll to the right to see all our best vegan dog treats recommendations.
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(We encourage you to keep reading to make a more educated decision)
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What Is A Vegan Dog Treat?
A vegan dog treat is a type of pet snack made entirely from plant-based ingredients and does not include animal products or byproducts. This means that these treats do not contain any meat, dairy, eggs, or any other product derived from animals.
Vegan dog treats can be made from various plant-based ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, grains, legumes, soya, and plant-based proteins. They are often fortified with essential nutrients to help ensure your dog gets a well-rounded diet. As with any pet food, it’s essential to ensure that the treats are nutritionally balanced and appropriate for your dog’s needs.
Vegetarian Treats For Dogs
Vegetarian treats for dogs, like vegan treats, do not contain meat. However, unlike vegan treats, they can have other animal products such as eggs or dairy.
Can Dog Eat Vegan Treats?
Yes, dogs can safely eat vegan dog treats. Research and anecdotal evidence show that dogs can thrive on a meat-free diet. According to a study examining the canine genome, dogs have evolved to digest starches more efficiently than their carnivorous counterparts, wolves. They also have much lower protein and amino acid requirements and can easily utilize vitamins A and D from plant sources, just as people do.
To learn more about the benefits, risks, and research about dog veganism, read our dog vegan research guide.
Vegan Dog Treat Benefits
Here are some of the benefits of meat-free dog treats.
Whether vegan or vegetarian, plant-based dog treats are a healthy alternative to highly processed traditional meat-based dog treats. Veggies and fruits, and other plant-based foods are great for dogs.
“Natural things, such as carrots and lightly cooked sweet potatoes, are great treats. They can also have berries, which provide antioxidants”
Dr. Julie Mayer, DVM, a holistic veterinarian at The Integrative Veterinarian in Phoenix.
Why Feed Vegan Dog Treats?
What To Look For In The Best Vegan Dog Treats
Here is a list of factors to look for to find the best plant-based dog treats.
Remember, while your dog must enjoy their treats, treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake.
The rest should come from well-balanced, nutritionally complete vegan dog food. Always consult a vet or a pet nutrition expert when making significant changes to your dog’s diet.
Best Vegan Treat For Dogs Reviews
We’ve rounded up the best vegan dog treat brands your dog will love.
Our team of experts rated the best vegan dog biscuits based on ingredients, customer reviews, product tests, price, and other factors.
- Best Overall: Wild Earth
- Best Budget: V-Dog
- Best For Training: Zuke’s
- Best Organic: Halo
- Best Hypoallergenic : Chippin
- Best Soft: Lord Jameson
- Best Gluten-Free: Shaded Trails
- Other Mentions
Best Overall Vegan Dog Treat — Wild Earth
Why We Picked & Recommended It
Our medal for best overall dog vegan treats goes to Wild Earth. Why? Wild Earth has the most sustainable and vegan-friendly manufacturing process. They source their main ingredient, a microscopic fungus called Aspergillus Oryzae (aka Koji), from a sustainable source, a laboratory. Yes, they grow Koji in a lab. It’s a “clean protein,” meaning the environmental impact is much less than conventional meat production.
What Sets It Apart From Competitors
Koji tastes great, is high in protein, and contains all ten essential amino acids dogs require. Koji is a cultured protein used for over three thousand years in the East. They boost their treats with whole foods and superfoods like pumpkin, flax, peanut butter, beet powder, green tea extract, rosemary extract, and oats.
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What We Like & Don’t Like
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Cheapest Vegan Dog Treat — V-Dog
Why We Picked & Recommended It
V-Dog vegan dog treats are packed with fruits and veggies for a healthy (and yummy!) nutrient boost. These treats do not contain corn, soy, wheat, milk, eggs, or other animal products, so sensitive, itchy pups love these veggie-based treats. They make their treats in California and are packed with protein and natural goodness your furry monster deserves to stay happy and healthy.
What Sets It Apart From Competitors
V-dog plant-based dog snacks are made from organic vegan ingredients to give your pup a delicious taste without all the cruelty. All threats use USDA organic ingredients. They use ingredients like pea protein, superfood chia seeds, or tummy-friendly sweet potato to fuel your dog to stay strong and healthy.
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Best Vegan Dog Treats For Training — Zuke’s
Why We Picked & Recommended It
Zuke’s Crunchy Naturals offer the best high-value vegan dog treats for training. The company has been making wholesome treats for adventurous dogs for over 20 years, so you can be sure these treats won’t disappoint. They come in the shape of pills and are designed to break in half easily. The treats come in resealable packaging for maximum freshness. It also contains coconut oil for a dose of goodness in every bite.
What Sets It Apart From Competitors
Only two calories per treat. Their low caloric value makes these baked treats a healthy, guilt-free, delicious reward or training treat for dogs.
What We Like & Don’t Like
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Best Organic Vegan Dog Treats — Halo
Why We Picked & Recommended It
Halo Plant-Based Dog Treats is your best organic vegan dog treat alternative because the company does not source their ingredient from factory farming facilities. This ensures all fruits and vegetables don’t contain genetically modified ingredients and are free of artificial ingredients and preservatives. All Halo products are made in the USA with quality ingredients sourced from U.S. farms worldwide. From puppies to senior dogs, these tasty treats are crunchy and easily breakable, making them ideal for all breeds, large and small, and all ages.
What Sets It Apart From Competitors
Halo vegan dog treats are naturally balanced and free from cereals, gluten, and dairy. They contain seven simple ingredients, including blueberries, barley, and oats.
What We Like & Don’t Like
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Best Hypoallergenic Vegan Dog Treat — Chippin
Why We Picked & Recommended It
Chippin’s Veggie Dailies vegan dog cookies are the best hypoallergenic vegan dog treats. They are perfect for dogs with allergies or sensitive tummies. These crunchy treats feature kale, carrots, oats and parsley — these treats are also powered by other healthy natural ingredients that dogs love and have a pleasant smell and taste. Chippin was founded by Haley Russell and Laura Colagrande while studying at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
What Sets It Apart From Competitors
Chippin treats are powered by a novel protein source known as Spirulina. Spirulina is a vegan blue-green alga that is 55% protein! It is nutritious and contains all ten essential amino acids. Spirulina protein is more digestible than chicken and is a natural probiotic supporting healthy digestion. It’s safe as a low-protein diet among dogs with kidney issues.
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Best Soft Vegan Dog Treat — Lord Jameson
Why We Picked & Recommended It
Lord Jameson dog treats have the perfect no-bake soft vegan bites. The company only uses USDA-certified organic ingredients in a custom blend of hand-selected superfoods. These treats can turn any day into a celebration with their delicious flavors. With 12 recipes to choose from, Lord Jameson’s soft plant-based treats are certified gluten-free and packed with all kinds of nutrients that support health and offer various health benefits.
What Sets It Apart From Competitors
They pride themselves on never using anything processed or genetically modified. Recipes are made from coconut oil, fruits like blueberries which are great for their skin health, and vegetables that will keep them full of energy throughout the day.
What We Like & Don’t Like
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Best Gluten-Free Vegan Treats — Shaded Trails
Why We Picked & Recommended It
Shaded Trails All Natural and Vegan Crunchy Dog Treats are here to make sure your furry friend enjoys all-natural, vegan, gluten and grain-free vegan treats.
What Sets It Apart From Competitors
These vegan dog cookies are fortified with awesome health-beneficial ingredients like garbanzo bean, flaxseed, hemp seed, coconut oil, and apples. All ingredients are human-grade.
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Other Vegan Dog Treats Mentions
Vegan Dog Treats Reddit
We looked at the conversations on Reddit to see what vegan treats or tips were being shared on the platform, and here is what we found.
Comment
by u/sydbobyd from discussion Vegan dog treats?
in vegan
Comment
by u/diastataxic from discussion Dog people of r/vegan: High value training treats ideas??
in vegan
As always, be sure to run anything by your veterinarian before adding it to your dog’s diet.
Vegan Dog Treats Wholesale
The only company we found that sells wholesale vegan dog goodies is V-Dog. If you’re a reseller interested in buying v-dog at the wholesale price, you can request additional information here.
Vegan Dog Treats In Bulk
If you want to buy vegan dog treats in bulk, V-Dog offers the best bulk options. You can purchase plant-based dog treats in cases and save money. Wet Noses Organic Crunchy Dog Treats are also a good option. Their treats come in 5-pound boxes at a great price and have various delicious flavors. Flavors include apple and carrots, apple ginger, berry blast, carrot & sweet potato, hempseed & banana, peanut butter & molasses, peanut butter & banana, and much more.
Vegan Dog Treats — Frequently Asked Questions
Best Vegan Dog Treats — Conclusion & Alternatives
With the growing popularity of veganism in America, it’s no surprise that more dog owners are looking for plant-based alternatives for their furry friends.
Knowing what works best for your dog is vital when buying dog treats. We hope this post sheds some light on the benefits of vegan dog treats and helps you find suitable veggie chews for your pup. Remember to always talk to your vet before feeding anything new to your pet.
A more therapeutic alternative to vegan dog treats is CBD dog treats. These treats use CBD, a compound with unique properties that can soothe several health conditions. Freeze-fried dog treats are probably the healthiest and most nutritious of all dog kinds of treats. Both articles are a must-read if you are in the market for treats.
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