Those who follow a cruelty-free lifestyle often pride themselves on the choices they make to reduce their impact on animal life and the environment drastically.
So, why is it, when we go shopping for our beloved dog’s food and treats, we still reach for that roll of glutinous meat and animal-based kibble?
That sense of guilt for buying a product that resulted in animal suffering is often accompanied by a self-assurance that our pet needs meat-based products to get proper nutrition, after all, they’re an animal.
However, just like humans, dogs can not only survive but thrive on a plant-based diet.
By switching to dog products that are 100% vegan, your best friend will have an increased quality of health, lowering the risk of serious illness and as a bonus, saving you the cost of expensive health-related vet bills.
Next time you’re looking to reward your dog with their favorite treat, forego the grotesque pig ears or liver snaps and choose the healthier vegan option.
Listed below are five highly rated vegan dog treats that your pooch will surely love.
Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats
Our #1 Pick!
Commencing our list, and one of the most popular on Amazon is the oven baked vegan dog treats from the Old Mother Hubbard Baking Co., an organisation that has ninety years of dog food manufacturing history.
This small treat may look like an ordinary bone shaped doggy snack, but it packs quite a punch.
The crunchy biscuit contains an array of natural vegetables and fruits such as sweet potato, apples, and parsley along with flaxseed, whole wheat flour and oatmeal to guarantee your favorite pooch gets not only a delicious reward but one that is the most beneficial.
Overall, a fantastic wholesome, natural snack!
What We Love
This snacks are very hard and crunchy. Consumers have applauded the ideal hardness of the bone, and the fact that it takes their dog a reasonable amount of time to consume this snacks.
That’s always a bonus, as your four-legged friend will be satisfied with one treat for longer, or if need be, your dogs can be easily distracted for a few minutes if you need to do something without their attention.
The Downside
The treats are very small. These treats may be best suited for smaller dogs as consumers were surprised at how very small these treats were after purchasing them. Though consumers agree that their dogs approve of the yumminess of the treats, if you have a bigger pooch, one treat may not be enough to satisfy them. However, an upside to this flaw is that they would be perfect for training new (or old) puppies as a quick and plentiful reward.
V-Dog Vegan Breathbones Dog Treats
These handy dog treats are not only a tasty treat for your dog, but they also act as a breath freshener!
V-Dog Breathbones are a natural hard chew that becomes soft as your pooch licks and chews them.
They are packed with a wholesome array of superfoods including broccoli, sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, cinnamon and chia seeds for your dog’s nutritional needs, as well as brown rice flour to make sure your pooch is 100% satisfied.
It contains the perfect combination of protein, fiber, and fat to give your pooches health that extra kick.
What We Love
The cinnamon! This multi-purpose dog treat leaves your dog’s breath smelling fresh with the aroma of cinnamon, as well as the added parsley eliminating any lingering odors. This means you can play and cuddle with your dog without being turned off by any horrible odors!
The Downside
The expense. Many consumers have complained that the product is overpriced for the amount of dog chews provided in one package (6-10 depending on which size you buy). This is also a concern as other customers have complained that the company often have stock issues, and they often have to wait for a while for them to resupply. Some Breath Bone reviewers recommend to snap the treats in half so they last twice as long!
Shaded Trails All Natural and Vegan Crunchy Dog Treats
Shaded Trails dog treats are not only vegan but grain-free ensuring that your pooch gets the right type of nutrition for their needs!
These circular human-grade cookies are all natural, containing no wheat, corn, fillers, soy, preservatives or artificial flavors.
Their most popular flavor, Peanut Butter & Banana, consists of only garbanzo bean flour, peanut butter, banana, flaxseed meal, coconut oil, molasses and filtered water.
This simple but perfect combination of ingredients guarantees that your best friend gets rewarded and appreciated without any nasties!
After all, Shaded Trails slogan is, “A treat should be a treat, not more meat!”
What We Love
These are delicious! Your dog might be peeved if he notices you digging into his favorite treats, but yes, consumers have said that these dog treats are even suitable for human consumption and are extremely tasty. After all, if you think it’s delectable, chances are, your dog will too!
The Downside
Consumers and reviewers (with paws and without) have raved about this product and have yet to find a flaw! They seem relatively new on the market and seem to be doing very well as a small San Diego based business. A possible step forward for the company could be producing bigger sized bags of dog treats as they seem very popular and there would be a market for larger sized quantities.
threepaws GOURMET Organic and Vegan Dog Treats
Threepaws Confetti Bones are colorful, and aesthetically-pleasing dog snacks packed full of goodies.
The treats consist only of locally sourced organic ingredients including coconut flour, garbanzo bean flour, applesauce, peanut butter, coconut flakes, blueberries, beets, and turmeric.
Not only does the added turmeric give this treat anti-inflammatory properties it helps eliminate potent odors in your dog’s breath.
These treats are also free of grains, soy, all animal products or artificial colors or preservatives.
What We Love
We can see the flavor! What makes these dog treats so special is their colorful confetti-like pattern running through their wheat free flour base. What makes this confetti even more special is that each fleck is a 100% organic pieces of beets, blueberries or coconut!
The Downside
The cost! Most consumers agree that although their perfect pooches sure do love these treats, they are quite costly for the amount in the packet. Other consumers have complained that the bones are often smashed and broken before the packaging is even open.
Grandma Lucys Organic Baked Dog Treats
These completely organic dog treats by Grandma Lucy’s are not manufactured in a factory but rather baked in a bakery by people who love and know their pets!
Since 1999, this company has prided itself on baking delicious and vegan dog treats for “man’s best friend.”
These human-grade cookies come in natural flavors such as Blueberry, Pumpkin, and Sweet Potato and Banana.
What We Love
It’s certified organic! Every single ingredient in these dog snacks is 100% USDA certified organic, ensuring that your dog receives the best quality ingredients for better health.
The Downside
There’s a whole lot of sugar. Even though they’re organic these cookies contain a lot of sugar, such as dehydrated cane juice, cane syrup, and rice starch. So if you are uncomfortable giving your pooch so much sugar, or wary that it might make them a little more hyper, this treat might not be ideal.
Is it Safe for a Dog to be on a Vegan Diet?
Dogs are not solely carnivores, and most scientific research suggests that dogs are, in fact, omnivores. So, just like humans, dogs can not only exist on a carefully planned vegan diet but live their best possible life.
As you can see by the list above there are plenty of dog treat brands that strive to make vegan and cruelty-free options more readily available. There are also plenty of home-made recipes online that can help you make the perfect treat for your pooch.
A balanced vegan diet for a dog should include, rice, sweet potatoes, carrots, lentils and a wider abundance of fruit and vegetables as well as any other supplements a dog might need.
Just do proper research as some fruits and vegetables such as onion, grapes and avocado are known to be toxic to dogs.
How Can I Tell Whether My Dog Treats Are vegan?
Most conventional dog brands pride themselves on using real meat in their products or having meaty flavors. Therefore, when a product is cruelty-free, it will usually say it on the packet.
If you’re still unsure whether the treats contain animal products, you could always look at the ingredients list. Look for ingredients that are fruit and vegetable based and are easy to pronounce. Stay away from long ingredient lists that are hard to pronounce and chemical based as it’s usually not good for your dog’s health and it has a higher chance of not being vegan.
Choosing to give your dog cruelty-free and natural treats mean providing them with the best possible nutrition that they can get without the chemical toxins, ensuring that they have a long and happy life.
Today, more than ever, finding cruelty-free pooch snacks is easy, and there are plenty of varieties and flavors on offer to satisfy your unique best friend’s tastes.