We’re glad to see companies introduce products like Bramble’s fresh plant-based dog food. It’s a sign the plant-based dog food category is growing. But when a well-known pet food insider posted on LinkedIn about the concerning marketing and health claims another fresh vegan dog food brand makes, we realized it’s important to speak up—because pet parents deserve to know how those claims can adversely affect their pup.
Formulated by board-certified animal nutritionists” and “science-backed” are phrases that tell a consumer that a product is trustworthy. Misleading pet parents with these terms can lead to nutritional deficiencies or worse. Here’s what those phrases mean and how to know Bramble is a plant-based diet you can trust.
Health Terms Bramble Uses & What They Actually Mean
“Formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist”
Bramble’s fresh vegan dog food recipes are formulated by Dr. Sarah Dodd, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. This means that she formulates our recipes and reviews the testing we do at a third-party lab to ensure that the ingredients and cooking methods are actually delivering the intended nutrients. This is especially important for ensuring all essential amino acids—the building blocks of protein—are not denatured during our cooking process. She also reviews our published guaranteed nutrient profiles, ingredient lists, feeding guidelines and the marketing and health claims we make.
You’ll often see pet food company’s use terms like “Vet-Approved” or “Nutrition Team.” These are meaningless marketing terms. Companies sometimes claim their recipes are formulated by animal nutritionists without naming the expert—calling into question the claim itself.
Dogs can do very well on expertly formulated plant-based dog food, but getting the formula and essential amino acids right is not easy and leaves room for error. This is exactly what the credential exists to prevent.
“Science-Backed” Plant-Based Dog Food
At a minimum, a pet food that is formulated for daily feeding must be “complete and balanced” according to the AAFCO nutritional requirements for healthy, adult dogs. Independent nutritional testing is the only way you can actually verify that a vegan dog food is delivering what the AAFCO statement intends. Without independent lab results, health claims are just marketing terms.
Lab testing also ensure proper supplementation. Even more than meat-based diets, plant-based dog food requires appropriate supplementation of amino acids, such as taurine, as well as vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin b12. The supplementation should be specific to the vegan diet based on independent lab testing.
Bramble regularly tests our batches at a third-party lab, to ensure that our full nutrient profile—including essential amino acids and vitamins and minerals—actually meet and exceed AAFCO’s standards for complete and balanced feeding.
Bramble even goes further than independent lab testing. Bramble’s feeding trial was conducted by Dr. Kelly Swanson, a PhD animal nutritionist, at the University of Illinois, peer reviewed and published in the Journal of Animal Science. It proved that Bramble’s plant-based protein matches the protein digestibility of premium animal products. That does not mean that every meat-free pet food company’s plant-based protein is highly digestible. Bramble’s feeding trial also proved that dogs fed Bramble had improved gut health and significantly lower cholesterol and triglycerides.
When any pet food company—especially a vegan dog food company—references “science” that does not refer to any of their own company’s product, you should be wary. Especially when companies engage in paid media advertising and that uses “science” from other brands, including Bramble’s own science, to bolset the credibility of their own products.
Diet-related DCM—a heart condition that could be related, in part, to poorly formulated grain-free dry food diets high in legumes, such as lentils—shows why formulation and testing matter. These assurances keep your dogs healthy, and it’s the standard that Bramble holds itself to. When it comes to feeding our pups, it is dangerous when other companies mislead customers with marketing puffery disguised as science.
Vegan Dog Food: What To Watch Out For
Vets generally agree that dogs are omnivores. Here’s where the concern lies: while it is possible for dogs to eat a carefully formulated vegan diet, it is much easier to get the balance of essential nutrients wrong than to get it right with an exclusively plant-based diet. In other words, it depends on the specific vegan diet.
When choosing a plant-based dog food, here is what to watch out for:
- Formulation: Who formulated the brand’s recipes? Does the company name the animal nutritionist? If not, it is just a meaningless marketing term. Prioritize vegan dog food companies that actually work with a named board-certified veterinary nutritionist (a DACVN or DECVCN).
- Meets AAFCO Standards: At a minimum, a pet food that is formulated for daily feeding must be “complete and balanced” according to the AAFCO nutritional requirements for healthy, adult dogs.
- Independent Nutritional Testing: This is how you can actually verify that a pet food brand is delivering what the AAFCO statement intends. When any pet food company—especially a vegan dog food company—references “science” that does not refer to any of their own company’s product, you should be wary. Without independent lab results, health claims are just marketing terms. Independent lab results ensure that the food delivers what the label claims, since a recipe can meet AAFCO on paper yet under-deliver if the nutrients are not bioavailable.
- Supplementation: Even more than meat-based diets, plant-based dog food requires appropriate supplementation of amino acids, such as taurine, as well as vitamins and minerals, such as B-12. The supplementation should be specific to the vegan diet based on independent lab testing. We prioritize pet foods that did not use synthetic vitamins and minerals, such as Bramble.
- Cooking Method: We believe in feeding dogs whole, fresh food that nourishes your dog’s health from the inside out. That means gentle cooking methods without the intense high-heat processing of kibble, which denatures the bioavailability of nutrients.
Plant-Based Dog Food Brands You Can Trust and Why
Fresh Vegan Dog Food
Bramble really sets the standard for fresh, human-grade plant-based dog food. Our recipes look, smell, and taste like real, slow-cooked food because that is precisely what they are. Featuring a nutrient-dense base of lentils, sweet potatoes, peas, and blueberries, Bramble delivers gently cooked, pre-portioned meals straight to your door. Bramble also uses a custom blend of non-synthetic vitamins and minerals, made entirely from fruits and vegetables.
Bramble is the only company to offer fresh plant-based recipes that are formulated by a board certified veterinary nutritionist, independently lab tested and also underwent a feeding trial to support its “science-backed” health claims. Bramble’s plant-based protein is highly digestible—even matching the bioavailability of premium animal products—and clinically proven to improve gut health and significantly lower cholesterol. It’s an exceptional choice for picky eaters who turn their noses up at traditional dry kibble.
Packed with over 30% plant-derived protein from pea protein and legumes, Bramble delivers an impressive essential amino acid profile without wheat, corn, or soy. Free from all common pet food allergens, Bramble’s fresh food soothes irritated digestive tracts with easily digestible plant protein. It puts an end to the itchiness, paw-licking, and stomach upset caused by animal protein food sensitivities, without limiting the enjoyment and excitement of mealtime.
Vegan Dry Food
Petaluma is our dry food recommendation. Like Bramble, Petaluma is formulated by Dr. Sarah Dodd, a veterinary nutritionist. Petaluma is thoughtfully formulated, with a combination of protein sources, such as chickpeas, peanut butter, flaxseeds, potato protein, and pea protein. Because it is baked rather than extruded at high heat, it reflects the lower-temperature approach we care about at Bramble.
Petaluma also backs up its product with science. First, they independently lab-test their food to ensure full nutritional adequacy beyond AAFCO compliance. They also conducted digestibility tests of their plant-based protein at a university laboratory.
Other notable vegan dry food: V-Dog, Wild Earth
Find the Right Formula for Your Dog Today
In sum, dogs can do very well on expertly formulated vegan dog food. Plant-based protein can be especially good for treating food allergies and other chronic conditions. But getting the formula and essential amino acids right is not easy and leaves room for error. Choosing a company that backs up its marketing and health claims is key to meeting all your dogs’ nutritional needs and keeping them healthy and happy. You can order Bramble’s fresh vegan dog food here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs truly thrive on a 100% vegan diet?
Yes. Dogs are evolutionary omnivores, not obligate carnivores. As long as their food provides all essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in the correct ratios, dogs can live long, energetic, and healthy lives on a plant-based diet.
Will a plant-based diet provide enough protein for my dog?
Absolutely. Ingredients like peas, lentils, yeast, and oats offer abundant, highly digestible protein. High-quality vegan dog foods typically contain between 22% and 30% crude protein, easily fulfilling a dog’s biological needs. Bramble’s fresh vegan dog food recipes provide even more than 30% protein on a dry matter basis.
How do I know if my dog has a food allergy?
Common signs of food allergies include persistent itching, inflamed ears, obsessive paw licking, excessive gas, and soft stools. If these symptoms clear up after moving to a plant-based diet, a meat allergy was likely the culprit.
Do I need to add extra supplements to vegan dog food?
No. Commercial plant-based foods labeled as “complete and balanced” are already fortified with essential nutrients like taurine, L-carnitine, and Vitamin B12. Additional supplementation is unnecessary unless explicitly recommended by your veterinarian.
How do I switch my dog over to Bramble?
The rule of thumb is to transition to any new dog food slowly. Mix a small amount of Bramble into their current food and gradually increase the ratio over 7 to 10 days. Most dogs take to Bramble’s plant-based protein easily, but their stomach will appreciate the gradual switch.
Further Reading from Bramble: Can Dogs Be Vegan?; The Truth About Human-Grade Dog Food; Diet-Related Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Here’s What We Know; Bramble Named Global Pet Expo’s Best Dog Food