V-Dog Dog Food Review April 2024: Is Vegan the Best Way To Go? (2024)

Meet V-Dog Dog Food

V-Dog bills itself as the “kinder kibble”, and for some pet owners and animal rights advocates, that's surely welcome news.

It’s an all-vegan line of dog food intended to meet a dog’s nutritional needs without taking the life of an animal or compromising the vegan principles of the dog’s owner.

The brand is a rare case of a line of dog foods that are vegan and environment-friendly. It uses healthy and high-quality plant-based ingredients. But can a dog survive on vegan food alone?

Let’s find out together in our V-Dog dog food review, as we take a closer look at the company’s claims.

Brand Quick Look

• Parent Company: V-Dog
• Founded in: 2005
• Made in: USA
• Available at: Chewy, Amazon, V-dog site
• Types of Food: Dry
• Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : No
• Recalled in Past? : No

Behind the Brand

V-Dog was created to stand out among dog foods by introducing products that don't involve slaughtering animals, thus taking a stand against animal cruelty and also contributing to the fight against global warming.

It's common knowledge that hundreds of dog food brands all over the world use low-quality ingredients such as tainted meat, animal by-products, and cheap produce in order to cut down on production costs.

These ingredients, especially those derived from poor-quality farm animals, are commonly the causes of several health issues in canines. Also, the number of farm animals needed for the production of pet meals is certainly staggering, making a heavy impact on the environment.

The company aims to right those wrongs by making dog meals out of plant-based ingredients that meet the nutritional needs of dogs.

V-Dog dog meals are the kinder and environment-friendly options for dog parents, with the tagline “animal products without animal products.” The ingredients are sourced from reputable farms that practice environment-healthy standards.

V-Dog's mission is to extend the vegan lifestyle to the four-legged friends of vegan dog owners. This way, three important things are achieved – preservation of some animals' lives, lesser impact on the environment, and prevention of health issues in dogs.

The company also suggests that there are other benefits of a vegan meal to dogs like improved oral hygiene, healthier skin and coat, and better weight management. It's not just dog food. It's a stand against some of the ills of society.

V-Dog's founder passed away in 2014 but the family-owned company, which includes some vegan members, continues to adhere to the original principles of the brand.

It's one of only a few vegan dog meal brands that received widespread recognition and is featured on the cover of magazines. In fact, it may be the most popular vegan dog food brand in the market if based on online reviews alone.

All products and ingredients are made and sourced in California, USA.

V-Dog Dog Food Reviews

Reviewed V-Dog Dog Foods

• V-Dog Kind Kibble Vegan Recipe
• V-Dog Kind Kibble Mini Bites
• V-Dog Breathbones Rawhide-Free Regular Treats
• V-Dog Breathbones Rawhide-Free Minis
• V-Dog Wiggle Biscuit Grain-Free Blueberry Treats
• V-Dog Wiggle Biscuit Grain-Free Peanut Butter Treats

1. V-Dog Kind Kibble Vegan Recipe

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Dried Peas
• Pea Protein
• Brown Rice
• Oatmeal
• Potato Protein

V-Dog Kind Kibble Vegan formula is a plant-based dry kibble for medium to large adult dogs. The main ingredients are dried peas, pea protein, brown rice, oatmeal, and potato protein, which provide most of the nutrients in this diet including the 24% crude protein.

It's enhanced with other essential nutrients crucial to a dog's health and also mixed with dried veggies and fruits like flaxseeds, carrots, blueberries, cranberries, and celery.

Dried peas are the first ingredients. Peas are a good source of vitamins, including A, K, and B vitamins on top of minerals like iron, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. They’re also high in protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber.

Peas also contain lutein, an antioxidant beneficial to the skin, heart, and eyes. But too much peas can be damaging to dogs with kidney issues as they contain purines, which produce uric acid. Too much uric acid can result in adverse effects on the kidneys.

Pea Protein as the second ingredient in the deck adds protein to the recipe. It's a by-product of pea processing and carries protein derived from peas.

Brown rice is a healthier choice than the processed white rice because it still contains natural nutrients including B vitamins, iron, manganese, selenium, magnesium, and even omega-3 oils, and also dietary fiber, which is important in maintaining intestinal health. For this recipe, brown rice is the main source of vital carbohydrates too.

Oatmeal is next in the ingredients deck. It's high in B vitamins, which promote good skin in dogs. It also has linoleic acid that can help in wound healing and in reducing inflammation.

More importantly, oatmeal provides this diet with enough fiber, which is important in digestive health. Also, oats are known to have beta-glucan, which helps reduce bad cholesterol and is often associated with heart health.

Potato protein is the fifth main ingredient in this formula. It's a by-product from potato processing in liquid form then heated into powder form. It is rich in protein from potatoes.

This recipe shows a 24% protein and 9% fat content, which is adequate. But while we have high regard for the quality-control measures of the company, we are also concerned about the amino acid composition in this meal.

Having sufficient protein in the product is not enough. Dogs need various types of amino acids, some of which can only be provided by meat ingredients. It's not to say however that this product is lacking in those amino acids. We're just not so sure.

As far as reviews are concerned, this recipe received excellent comments from over 200 respondents at Chewy.com. About 85% of respondents gave it the high 5-stars.

A good percentage of the respondents is probably vegan as many are pleased that this meal does not contain animal meat or parts. Many find the quality first-class.

There have been some claims also of better stool, shinier coat, and more energy in their pups. Some were also delighted that their furry pals stopped having allergic reactions after shifting to this diet. But there were also a few that said their pooches did not approve of it.

Our verdict for this vegan kibble? We're comfortable with a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars for this formula. We think the ingredients are all first-rate.

And we believe this product has all the essential nutrients a dog would need for a healthy and active life. Surely, it feels great knowing that no animal is harmed to make this meal.

But there's still the great debate on whether a plant-based diet conforms to canines. Heck, even experts are divided on whether dogs are carnivores or omnivores.

Some experts believe that while dogs can digest plant-based food, they must still feed mainly on meat. Most veterinarians tend to still favor meat-based dog food over vegan.

In this regard, the 3.5 rating we give this brand is mainly because of the high-quality ingredients and sufficient nutrients. But until further studies support the equal health benefits provided by vegan food, we are inclined to side with the greater majority of vets.

For now, we suggest mixing this meal with other recipes that have meat ingredients. Or you can add raw food or freeze-dried meats to complement this diet.

And more importantly, it's safer to consult with your local vet before giving your pooch a vegan diet, especially that the FDA is currently investigating a possible link between heart issues in dogs and dog meals high in legumes and potatoes, such as this brand.

2. V-Dog Kind Kibble Mini Bites

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Dried Peas
• Pea Protein
• Brown Rice
• Oatmeal
• Potato Protein

V-Dog Kind Kibble Mini Bites is a plant-based mini dry kibble for smaller and toy breed adult dogs.

The kibble in this diet is the smaller version of the regular-sized kibble. The main ingredients are dried peas, pea protein, brown rice, oatmeal, and potato protein, which provide most of the nutrients in this diet including the 24% crude protein.

It's enhanced with other essential nutrients crucial to a dog's health and also mixed with dried veggies and fruits like lentils, peanut hearts, quinoa, sunflower chips, and carrots.

Peas are a good source of proteins, carbs, fibers, vitamins A, K, and Bs, iron, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. Peas also contain lutein, an antioxidant that's good for the skin, heart, and eyes.

Like any ingredient, too much of anything is not beneficial to one’s health. Peas contain uric acid, and too much uric acid can result in adverse effects on the kidneys.

Pea protein adds protein to the recipe. It's a by-product of pea processing and carries protein derived from peas.

Brown rice, the third ingredient in this formula, is high in carbohydrates, and essential nutrients such as B vitamins, iron, manganese, selenium, magnesium, and even omega 3 fatty acids, and also dietary fiber, which is important in maintaining intestinal health.

Oatmeal is abundant with fibers and B vitamins, which enhance dog skin and coat. It has linoleic acid too that can help in wound healing and in reducing inflammation. Oats are also known to aid in heart health and in lowering bad cholesterol.

Potato protein is a by-product from potato processing in liquid form then heated into powder form. It is rich in protein from potatoes.

This recipe offers 24% protein and 9% fat content, which is sufficient for small breeds. But we are a bit uneasy about the amino acid contents in this meal.

Dogs need 10 types of amino acids, some of which can only be derived from meat ingredients. We're not quite certain how this meal could compensate for those amino acids.

We found about 70 online customer reviews for this product. Like the regular-sized kibble, this diet also got a remarkable grade from respondents, with 85% giving it 5-stars. The comments are very similar to the regular-sized kibble, mostly encouraging and supportive.

We also give the vegan mini bites 3.5 out of 5 stars. Again, we acknowledge the top-notch quality of this product and also the noble reasons for promoting veganism.

We do appreciate the efforts of the company in presenting a kinder and more environment-friendly option for dog meals. But there are not enough studies yet that support the claim that a vegan diet can sustain dogs, no matter the breed. This makes us a little hesitant to give our highest approval.

We do hope a vegan diet can be found to be just as acceptable as meat-based options in the near future. For now, we will have to recommend it as just a supplement to meat-based dog meals.

It's also best to consult with the local vet before serving this to your pups as peas and potatoes are suspected of contributing to heart issues in some dogs.

3. V-Dog Breathbones Rawhide-Free Regular Treats

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Brown Rice Flour
• Rice Flour
• Vegetable Glycerin
• Water
• Tapioca Starch

V-Dog Breathbones Rawhide-Free Regular treats are special vegan bone-shaped dog chews created to promote dental health in pups.

Made with prime veggies, it's an enticing and nourishing treat for your furry friends that can also freshen their breath. It contains parsley, which helps lessen inflammation. Also part of the formula are pumpkin, carrots, cinnamon, chia seeds, and broccoli.

Brown rice flour is made by grinding unshelled brown rice. It's a gluten-free flour, which is high in fiber and contains calcium, zinc, and folate.

Rice flour or white rice flour has less nutritional value than brown rice flour but is finer in texture, making treats lighter.

Vegetable glycerin is used in this product as a sweetener, preservative, and binding agent to hold the ingredients together and form the dog treats.

Tapioca starch also acts as a binding agent to hold the shape of the treat. It is usually preferred over potato starch, which may cause allergic reactions in some dogs. This treat offers a minimum crude protein of 6% and a minimum crude fat of 1.5%.

Based on online reviews, this dog treat has a very high approval rating from customers, with 75% of respondents giving it the 5-stars rank.

Most of them attested that their pooches loved this treat. A lot of these dog parents are gratified that they're giving their four-legged kids high-quality treats that are also good for the planet.

Some also claimed their dogs' breath turned minty. But there were also a few that said their dogs didn't touch it. And some thought this treat was too expensive.

Overall, as dog treats, we think the breathbones treats are an excellent choice. We give this brand 4.2 stars. The ingredients are good, and the extra veggies are pretty commendable too.

If you can afford it, this treat can be a great option also to boost your dog's dental health. But just a reminder, treats such as these should only be given moderately, preferably not beyond 10% of the dog's diet.

4. V-Dog Breathbones Rawhide-Free Minis

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Brown Rice Flour
• Rice Flour
• Vegetable Glycerin
• Water
• Tapioca Starch

V-Dog Breathbones Mini Treats are special vegan bone-shaped dog chews created to promote dental health in smaller breed pups. Like its regular-sized counterpart for larger dogs, this treat is made with first-class vegetables.

It's an enticing and nourishing treat for your furry friends that can also freshen their breath. It contains parsley, which helps lessen inflammation. This recipe also has pumpkin, carrots, cinnamon, chia seeds, and broccoli.

Brown rice flour is made by grinding unhulled brown rice. It's a gluten-free flour, which is high in fiber and contains calcium, zinc, and folate.

Rice flour or white rice flour has less nutritional value than brown rice flour but is finer in texture, making treats lighter.

Vegetable glycerin is used in this product as a sweetener, preservative, and binding agent to hold the ingredients together and form the dog treats.

Water is used to turn the flour into dough for shaping the treats.

Tapioca starch also acts as a binding agent to hold the shape of the treat. It is usually preferred over potato starch, which may cause allergic reactions in some dogs. This treat offers a minimum crude protein of 6% and a minimum crude fat of 1.5%.

We found 18 customer reviews for this dog chew, with 14 of them giving it the thumbs up. Some clearly vegan customers are ecstatic that they're giving their canine companions vegan treats.

Some are very satisfied with the dental benefits in their dogs, especially the fresher breaths. But four respondents said that this mini treat isn't mini at all. They said the “bones” were too big for their small-breed pups.

We give V-Dog Breathbones Minis 4 stars out of 5. Just like with the regular-sized breath bones, we find this product to be a prime dog treat that we can recommend as an option.

You can alternate this treat with other brands to keep your pooches excited about trying different flavors. But we do take note of the reviews for this treat being too large for small-breed dogs when it's supposed to be made for them.

5. V-Dog Wiggle Biscuit Grain-Free Blueberry Treats

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Organic Buckwheat Flour
• Organic Coconut Flakes
• Organic Blueberries
• Organic Coconut Oil
• Organic Kale

V-Dog Wiggle Biscuit Blueberry Treats are organic grain-free vegan dog biscuits in blueberry flavor to serve as snacks for your favorite canine pets.

Made from buckwheat flour, which is a nutritious type of flour for dog treats, this dog biscuit has an impressive mixture of organic, human-grade, and plant-based ingredients to guarantee a high-quality snack for your pups.

It has coconut flakes, blueberries, coconut oil, kale, and ginger for a nourishing treat or reward suited for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds.

The first ingredient is organic buckwheat flour, which is gluten-free and rich in vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B6, copper, folate, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

It's also high in plant-based protein as well as antioxidants and fiber. Buckwheat flour has a nutty and bold taste, which can complement other flavors to achieve a sweet and tasty treat.

Organic coconut flakes are the next main ingredient in this healthy snack. Coconuts are nutritious and delicious ingredients in any recipe, both for humans and pets. It has several health benefits for your pups.

It has lauric acid, a fatty acid that can repel fleas in dogs, reduce inflammation, heal wounds faster, and lessen pain from arthritis. It also has antioxidants that strengthen the immune system, which is why it's a popular food for humans.

Coconut is also known for its healing effects on ear yeast infections common to some dog breeds like poodles and beagles. It's also believed to soothe itchy skin and improve coat health.

Widely regarded as superfoods for humans, blueberries are a welcome addition to this recipe. Low in calories but high in fiber, Vitamin C, and phytochemicals, this fruit is so healthy that it's believed to be able to help prevent cancer when consumed regularly.

Moreover, blueberries are bounteous in antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which cause cellular damage in both humans and dogs. Antioxidants also help in minimizing the effects of brain aging in senior dogs.

Coconut oil is another great addition to this formula as it contains several valuable compounds, including those with antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties.

Organic kale is the fifth in the ingredients deck. This veggie is another superfood known for its bountiful antioxidants and other essential nutrients.

Among these antioxidants are lutein and zeaxanthin, which are carotenoids that can gather in the dog's retina to protect against cataracts and eye detachment.

However, some experts say kale contains the dangerous toxins calcium oxalate, isothiocyanates, and thallium. Calcium oxalate and isothiocyanates may cause kidney and bladder stones, while thallium is a metal that can damage many organs in the body.

The good news is that the kale in this snack is organic, which means it shouldn't have any of these hazardous substances. Also, the amount is too small to cause any health issues.

This dog snack also boasts of an imposing minimum crude protein and crude fat contents of 23% and 17% respectively.

There are 15 customer reviews on Chewy.com for this dog treat. Most of them said their pups loved the vegan snack and also addressed some of their food sensitivities.

Some liked the smell and texture. Two pet parents however said their pooches were not very interested, and one said it's not suitable for small breeds because it was too hard to chew.

We find the blueberry treats as exemplary for dog snacks and probably our favorite of the V-Dog line.

Firstly, we love that the main ingredients are all organic, which eliminates some of the not-so-desirable elements found in commercially harvested vegetables and fruits.

Secondly, we find the presence of antioxidant-rich ingredients, headed by blueberries, as surely praiseworthy and highly invigorating for our furry pals.

It's a great dog treat that can be rotated with other types of dog chews. If there's one red mark, it's the high price tag for the product, although this is expected because of the top-rate quality and organic ingredients.

Please note that treats should not exceed 10% of your pup's diet to avoid health issues such as obesity.

6. V-Dog Wiggle Biscuit Grain-Free Peanut Butter Treats

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Organic Buckwheat Flour
• Organic Peanut Butter
• Organic Peanut Flour
• Organic Banana
• Organic Coconut Oil

V-Dog Wiggle Biscuit Peanut Butter Treats are organic grain-free vegan dog biscuits in peanut butter flavor to serve as snacks for your favorite canine pets.

Made from buckwheat flour, which is a nutritious type of flour for dog treats, this dog biscuit has an impressive mixture of organic, human-grade, and plant-based ingredients to guarantee a high-quality snack for your pups.

It has peanut butter, bananas, coconut oil, dried flax seed, and cinnamon for a nourishing treat or reward suited for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds.

The first ingredient is organic buckwheat flour, which is gluten-free and rich in vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B6, copper, folate, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

It's also high in plant-based protein as well as antioxidants and fiber. Buckwheat flour has a nutty and bold taste, which enhances the natural flavor of peanut butter that dogs just love.

Organic peanut butter is the second ingredient and also the base of the flavor for this biscuit. Dogs go nuts about peanut butter. It's one of their favorite treats, which is plentiful in natural fats and protein.

And since the peanut butter used in this product is organic, you don't have to worry about xylitol in the treat, which is a substitute for sugar that can rapidly raise insulin in dogs, and in turn, equally cause a rapid decrease in their blood sugar levels.

Peanut flour is used as the binding agent and stabilizer for this treat. This flour is made from ground roasted peanuts and is generally safe for dogs, except for dogs allergic to peanuts.

Organic bananas are also part of the formula, which is refreshing. Bananas are low in calories but high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They're also low in cholesterol and sodium, but high in sugar content.

Coconut oil is another great addition to this formula as it contains several valuable compounds, including those with antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties.

This dog snack also boasts of an imposing minimum crude protein and crude fat contents of 23% and 17% respectively.

Reviews for this product are mostly favorable, with 8 out of the 12 respondents giving it a 5-star rating. Pet parents vouch for this snack being very appetizing to their pups.

There were just a couple of reviews that said otherwise. And there were a few that thought the product was too pricey.

Overall, we think that these biscuits are a great choice for dog snacks, even when we slightly prefer the blueberry flavor.

But the ingredients here are undeniably topnotch, which makes this a prime dog treat. It's quite pricey though. But we suggest putting this treat in a rotation with other treats.

Also, treats are not supposed to be more than 10% of your dog's diet to avoid obesity and other health issues like pancreatitis.

Furthermore, we recommend occasionally giving them fresh raw treats such as dog-friendly fruits and vegetables. By the way, check also if your dog has food sensitivities to peanuts. Best to get clearance from your local vet.

What types of dog food does V-Dog offer?

V-Dog offers recipes that center around plant-based protein sources and a range of whole fruits and veggies for a complete, balanced diet. It also uses plant-based sources of good fats to help boost skin health.

Also, V-Dog has a range of dog treats in regular-sized kibble and also in mini sizes for toy and small breeds.

The recipes are formulated for all breed sizes and life stages. Check with your vet before serving these meals to puppies as their nutritional needs change rapidly over time.

V-Dog Recipes:

• Kinder Kibble
• Kinder Kibble Mini-Bites
• Breathbones Rawhide
• Breathbones Rawhide Mini
• Wiggle Blueberry Biscuit
• Wiggle Peanut Butter Biscuit

V-Dog Recall History

V-Dog has no history of recalls. This is likely because the company is dedicated to ensuring high-quality production practices. It is also notable for sourcing only the finest ingredients from reputable US farms.

Customer Reviews

It's no surprise that a huge portion of V-Dog’s loyal patrons are vegans. These customers are simply elated that their non-human family members also get to partake in vegan food.

Other pet parents chose to serve V-Dog diets because of their pups' food sensitivities to meat ingredients.

In some reviews, pet owners revealed their pooch was not very pleased with the taste and wondered if it was because of the absence of meat.

But V-Dog products get mostly encouraging remarks in online reviews, with so many respondents claiming that they like what they see in their dogs after regularly feeding on V-Dog.

However, V-Dog products rarely get ratings as high as premium meat-based brands do. They seldom get more than 4 stars.

What Customers Like and Dislike about V-Dog

Customers love that they finally have a kinder dog meal option for fido. They feel much better knowing that they paid for something that did not need to take a life.

Some are also advocates of the environment, which is why they opted for a product that does not contribute to climate change.

But vegan dog meals do have their doubters. The greater majority of pet parents still believe dogs are better off with a predominantly meat-based diet.

In fairness to these customers, there's still insufficient study to support vegan diets for dogs on a permanent basis.

As far as the price tag is concerned, most customers agree that V-Dog meals are on the high side. But most vegan pet owners feel they're getting their money's worth.

Positive

“I've been feeding this vegan food to my pitbull mix for 3 years now! Her coat is super soft and beautiful, her stool is very healthy and her energy is through the roof! …She really loves all of it and it's nice to know that I'm not contributing to killing other animals and destroying our environment by feeding her regular meat-based kibble. Give it a go!” Alex, chewy.com

Negative

“Unfortunately, neither of my dogs liked this healthy food. I have a 9yo pitty mix and an 8yo Old English Bulldog and they wouldn't touch it unless I mixed it with anything else that smelled or tasted like meat. So, bummed out.” Elizabeth, chewy.com