The British Veterinary Association Changed Its Position on Vegan Dog Food. Here's Why.

On July 24, 2024, one of the most respected veterinary bodies in the English-speaking world quietly updated a position it had held for decades. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) released a new policy position on diet choices for cats and dogs, and for the first time the BVA stated that it is possible to feed dogs a nutritionally sound plant-based diet. For pet parents who have been told for years that "vet recommended vegan dog food" was a contradiction in terms, this was a credentialed third-party shift worth understanding. Below: what the BVA said, what the peer-reviewed evidence behind the shift actually shows, what the new policy does and does not endorse, and what it means for pet parents thinking about plant-forward feeding.

What the BVA actually changed

The headline change is one sentence in the BVA's 2024 policy position on diet choices for cats and dogs: it is possible to feed dogs a plant-based diet. That single sentence, from a body whose previous guidance discouraged plant-based feeding, represents a substantial reversal. It is paired with conditions (the diet must be properly formulated, complete-and-balanced, and monitored), but the change in starting point is real.

The BVA also reframed its role. Rather than telling owners what the "best" diet is, the new policy supports owners in meeting their pets' nutritional needs and respecting their own lifestyle and environmental values. That is a notable rhetorical shift toward owner autonomy informed by evidence.

For cats, the BVA position remained more cautious. Cats are obligate carnivores with stricter requirements (preformed taurine, vitamin A, arachidonic acid), and the BVA continues to recommend that owners not feed plant-based diets to cats. The change is dog-specific.

What about the AVMA?

The American Veterinary Medical Association is the closest US analog to the BVA, and US readers may reasonably ask whether the AVMA has issued a comparable formal policy. As of this writing, it has not. The AVMA's official policy library addresses raw diets (citing pathogen risk) and therapeutic pet food health claims, but it does not include a formal organizational position specifically on plant-based or vegetarian dog food.

That said, the AVMA's peer-reviewed journal, JAVMA, was publishing science on this question years before the BVA's 2024 update. In a 2018 JAVMA review titled "Plant-based diets for dogs", Dr. Sarah Dodd (a board-certified veterinary nutritionist with a PhD from the University of Guelph and a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition) and colleagues wrote: "Dogs have dietary requirements for energy and essential nutrients, but they do not have a recognized requirement for animal-derived ingredients per se." The same paper laid out the specific nutrients that require careful attention in any plant-based formulation: methionine, taurine, DHA, and vitamins A, B12, and D. That list is essentially the formulation playbook reputable plant-based brands follow today.

So the accurate picture is this: peer-reviewed evidence published through the AVMA's own journal pre-dates the BVA's formal position by six years. The 2024 BVA update brings the organizational position in line with what JAVMA-published nutritionists like Dr. Dodd have been documenting since 2018. (Petaluma has spoken with Dr. Dodd directly: see our Q&A with Dr. Sarah Dodd on the Whole Food Mixer for her own framing of how a plant-based diet should be formulated.)

The old position, and why it stood for so long

For years the BVA's guidance to pet parents was essentially: while a vegetarian diet for a dog is theoretically possible, the BVA would not recommend it, and owners would need expert advice to avoid deficiencies. That position was widely cited by veterinarians and journalists, and it shaped a lot of the cultural common-sense around dog nutrition.

The old guidance was also questioned by some veterinarians and journalists because of the BVA's corporate partnership with Mars Petcare, a major producer of meat-based pet foods. In 2023, after that criticism had been publicly aired, the BVA established an independent working group to formally review its position on companion animal diets. PetfoodIndustry's reporting outlines the sequence. The 2024 policy change is the output of that review.

The peer-reviewed evidence behind the shift

The BVA did not change its mind because of a single dramatic study. The shift reflects an accumulating body of peer-reviewed work that consistently fails to find harm and often finds benefits associated with nutritionally sound plant-based diets in dogs. By mid-2024 there were about ten canine studies in the published literature, ranging from owner surveys to clinical examinations to long-term feeding trials.

Knight et al. 2022: large guardian-reported study

A 2022 PLOS ONE study by Knight and colleagues analyzed survey data from guardians of 2,536 dogs fed conventional meat, raw meat, or plant-based diets. Dogs on nutritionally sound plant-based diets showed favorable results across seven indicators of illness compared with conventional meat-based diets. The authors disclosed funding from the food awareness organization ProVeg International, which readers should weigh, but the dataset is the largest of its kind and the findings have been broadly cited.

Domestic dogs on a plant-based diet for a year

A 2024 PLOS ONE study followed companion dogs eating a complete-and-balanced commercial plant-based diet for one year. Clinical, nutritional, and hematological health markers remained within normal ranges. Long-term data of this kind is exactly what the BVA's old position said was missing, and adding it to the record was a major reason for the 2024 review's conclusion.

Veterinary engagement is already happening

The BVA also noted internal data showing that about 42 percent of companion animal veterinarians in the UK have clients feeding meat-free diets. Practicing vets were already meeting plant-based-fed dogs in the exam room. The policy update brought the BVA's published position into alignment with that clinical reality.

What the BVA does and does not say

This is where careful reading matters. The BVA's new position is permissive, not promotional. A few specific things the BVA does say:

• It is possible to feed dogs a plant-based diet.
• Owners need to be aware of the difficulty of formulating a plant-based diet correctly. Not every plant-based food is nutritionally complete.
• Long-term safety data is still maturing, even though the recent one-year feeding study added to it.
• Veterinary monitoring is recommended because dietary changes deserve professional oversight, especially in dogs with concurrent conditions.
• The BVA does not endorse any specific brand, including ours. The policy is about category-level feasibility, not product approval.

The honest takeaway: the BVA opened the door, but did not put up a banner. Pet parents and their vets still own the choice and the monitoring.

What this means for pet parents

If you have ever asked a vet about "vet recommended vegan dog food" and been told the category was off the table, the 2024 BVA update reshapes that conversation. It does not mean every plant-based food is appropriate for every dog. It does mean that the major credentialed objection (a respected veterinary body saying do not even try) is no longer accurate.

In practical terms, here is the new clearer guidance:

• Look for AAFCO complete-and-balanced status on the label, which signals the food meets minimum nutrient profiles for the relevant life stage.
• Confirm the food was formulated by qualified veterinary nutritionists, not by recipe enthusiasts. This was the BVA's specific concern about home-prepared vegan diets.
• Look for documented sources of nutrients commonly cited as concerns: complete amino acid profile, taurine and L-carnitine where appropriate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and a preformed source of DHA omega-3.
• Talk to your veterinarian before making a diet change, especially for puppies, pregnant or lactating dogs, and any dog with chronic disease.
• Monitor your dog over the first several months on any new diet. Coat quality, energy, stool consistency, and weight are easy at-home indicators. Annual bloodwork is the formal one.

Where Petaluma fits in

Petaluma's Adult Baked Recipe (Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato) is a plant-based dog food formulated by veterinary nutritionists and built to meet AAFCO adult maintenance nutrient profiles. Each cup delivers 27 percent protein from a blend of plant sources (chickpeas, peanut butter, oats, barley, pea protein), 150 mg of DHA from marine microalgae rather than fish oil, plus added taurine and L-carnitine. It is baked, not extruded, in a solar-powered U.S. facility.

This is exactly the kind of profile the BVA's 2024 position describes when it talks about a nutritionally sound plant-based diet: complete-and-balanced, formulated with veterinary nutrition expertise, and transparent about how each at-risk nutrient is supplied. The BVA does not endorse Petaluma. But the BVA's revised guidance describes the category that Petaluma was built for.

If you are curious whether plant-based could fit your dog, the simplest first step is a small sample, and a conversation with your vet at your next visit.

Frequently asked questions

Is there really vet recommended vegan dog food now?

More accurately, the British Veterinary Association now confirms that nutritionally sound plant-based diets are a viable option for dogs. That is not the same as a brand endorsement. It does mean that veterinarians who used to flatly discourage the category have credentialed cover to discuss it openly with clients. Look for AAFCO complete-and-balanced status and confirm the food was formulated by veterinary nutritionists.

Is vegan dog food safe?

Peer-reviewed evidence to date suggests that nutritionally sound, commercially formulated plant-based dog food is safe and may be associated with favorable health indicators. A 2022 PLOS ONE study of 2,536 dogs reported favorable outcomes on plant-based diets across seven illness indicators, and a 2024 one-year feeding trial reported maintained clinical, nutritional, and hematological health. Home-prepared vegan diets are a different question and require professional formulation help.

Why did the BVA change its position?

In 2023, against a backdrop of public criticism about its corporate partnership with Mars Petcare and a maturing body of peer-reviewed evidence on canine plant-based nutrition, the BVA established an independent working group to formally review the position. That group's review of the published literature found that nutritionally sound plant-based diets do not appear to harm dogs and may produce comparable or better health outcomes. The 2024 policy update reflects those findings.

Are dogs supposed to eat meat?

Dogs are classified by biologists as omnivores rather than obligate carnivores. They evolved alongside humans for tens of thousands of years and are capable of digesting and utilizing plant-derived starch, protein, and fat. They do require specific nutrients (essential amino acids, certain fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals), but those nutrients do not have to come from animal sources. Cats, by contrast, are obligate carnivores and have stricter requirements.

What about DHA, taurine, and L-carnitine on a plant-based diet?

DHA can be supplied directly by marine microalgae, the same source fish accumulate it from. Taurine and L-carnitine can be added to plant-based formulas as ingredients, which most reputable plant-based dog foods (including Petaluma) do. The BVA's concern about deficiencies applies most directly to home-prepared diets that skip these inputs.

Does this apply to cats too?

No. The BVA's 2024 update was dog-specific. Cats are obligate carnivores and have stricter requirements for preformed taurine, vitamin A, and arachidonic acid. The BVA continues to recommend that owners not feed plant-based diets to cats. Petaluma makes plant-based food for dogs only.

Should I switch my dog to plant-based food?

That is between you, your dog, and your vet. The BVA's update means the option is on the table without a credentialed veterinary body actively discouraging it. The best first step is a small sample and a conversation with your veterinarian at the next visit. Transition gradually over 7-10 days so the gut microbiome can adapt.

References

1. British Veterinary Association. BVA Policy Position on Diet Choices for Cats and Dogs. July 2024. bva.co.uk/media/5997/bva-policy-position-on-diet-choices-for-cats-and-dogs.pdf
2. British Veterinary Association. Should dogs and cats be fed a vegan diet? BVA issues statement in response to media flurry. bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/should-dogs-and-cats-be-fed-a-vegan-diet
3. Knight A, Huang E, Rai N, Brown H. Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(4):e0265662. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35417464
4. Domestic dogs maintain clinical, nutritional, and hematological health outcomes when fed a commercial plant-based diet for a year. PLOS ONE. 2024. journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298942
5. Knight A. The relative benefits for environmental sustainability of vegan diets for dogs, cats and people. PLOS ONE. 2023;18(10):e0291791. journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291791
6. Dodd SAS, Adolphe JL, Verbrugghe A. Plant-based diets for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;253(11):1425-1432. avmajournals.avma.org/.../javma.253.11.1425

Related reading on the Petaluma blog: Q&A with Dr. Sarah Dodd on the Whole Food Mixer / Q&A with Dr. Blake Hawley DVM / Can dogs thrive on plant-based diets? A science-based review / Is vegan dog food healthy? / Essential amino acids in plant-based dog food.

This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Diet changes should be discussed with your veterinarian, especially for puppies, pregnant or lactating dogs, and dogs with chronic health conditions.