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.
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.
This is a plant-based dry kibble for medium to large adult dogs that relies on dried peas, pea protein, brown rice, oatmeal, and potato protein for nutrition, delivering about 24% protein and 9% fat. It’s supplemented with fruits and vegetables like flaxseed, carrots, blueberries, cranberries and celery for added nutrients and antioxidants.
Peas provide vitamins, minerals, fiber, and lutein but may pose concerns for dogs with kidney issues due to purines. Brown rice and oatmeal supply digestible carbohydrates, fiber and B vitamins for skin, digestion, and heart health, while potato and pea protein boost overall protein levels.
While the protein content is adequate, the formula raises some concern about amino acid completeness since plant-based diets may lack certain amino acids typically found in meat. Overall, the recipe is well-reviewed, earning about 80% five-star ratings from over 400 reviewers on Chewy, but its suitability depends on a dog’s individual nutritional needs.
2. Kind Kibble Mini Bites
First 5 ingredients:
Dried Peas, Pea Protein, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Potato Protein
Protein: 24.0% min
Fat: 9.0% min
Fiber: 5.0% max
Moisture: 10.0% max
Food Type: Dry
Best for: All Lifestages, Extra Small – Small Breeds
This is a plant-based mini dry kibble designed for small and toy breed adult dogs, featuring smaller kibble pieces for easier eating. Its main ingredients—dried peas, pea protein, brown rice, oatmeal and potato protein—provide most nutrients, delivering about 24% protein and 9% fat. The recipe also includes plant add-ins like lentils, peanut hearts, quinoa, sunflower chips and carrots for extra nutrition.
Peas supply protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, but excessive amounts may affect kidney health. Brown rice and oatmeal contribute carbohydrates, fiber, B vitamins, and heart-supporting nutrients, while pea and potato protein boost overall protein levels.
Although the protein level is adequate for small breeds, there’s concern about the completeness of amino acids, since dogs need certain amino acids typically supplied by meat. The product is well received, with about 84% five-star ratings from around 200 reviewers, and earns 4.6/5 stars overall.
While the brand promotes an eco-friendly vegan approach, there isn’t enough evidence yet that a fully vegan diet can sustain all dogs long-term. As a result, it’s best used as a supplement to meat-based meals, with veterinary guidance—especially since peas and potatoes have been linked to potential heart issues in some dogs.
3. Breathbones Rawhide-Free Treats
First 5 ingredients:
Brown Rice Flour, Rice Flour, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Tapioca Starch
These are vegan, bone-shaped dental chews for dogs designed to support oral health and freshen breath. Made with vegetables like parsley, pumpkin, carrots, cinnamon, chia seeds, and broccoli, they offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. The base includes brown rice flour and rice flour for fiber and texture, plus vegetable glycerin and tapioca starch as binders and mild sweeteners.
The treats provide about 6% protein and 1.5% fat. Customer feedback is strong, with 75% giving five-star ratings, noting that dogs enjoy the taste and some see fresher breath, though a few dogs weren’t interested and some owners felt the price was high.
Overall, the treats earn about 4.2/5 stars for quality ingredients and dental benefits. They’re a good eco-friendly option for oral health, but should be fed in moderation (no more than 10% of a dog’s diet).
4. Breathbones Rawhide-Free Minis
First 5 ingredients:
Brown Rice Flour, Rice Flour, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Tapioca Starch
These 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 78 customer reviews for this dog chew, with 31 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.
These are organic, grain-free, vegan blueberry dog biscuits made as healthy snacks for dogs of all sizes and ages. The main ingredient is organic buckwheat flour, a gluten-free, nutrient-dense flour rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant protein. The recipe also includes coconut flakes, blueberries, coconut oil, kale, and ginger for added flavor and functional benefits.
Coconut ingredients supply lauric acid and antioxidants for skin, coat, immunity, and anti-inflammatory support. Blueberries contribute powerful antioxidants that help fight cell damage and support brain health, especially in senior dogs. Kale adds more antioxidants for eye and overall health, and although it can contain toxins, the organic and limited amount used here is unlikely to cause harm.
The treats offer a relatively high 23% protein and 17% fat, making them nutrient-dense for a snack. Customer feedback is strong, with most of the 80 Chewy reviewers saying their dogs love the taste and that it helps with food sensitivities, though a few found them too hard for small breeds and somewhat pricey.
Overall, these blueberry vegan biscuits are a high-quality, antioxidant-rich treat option, best rotated with other snacks and fed in moderation (no more than 10% of a dog’s diet).
These are organic, grain-free, vegan peanut butter dog biscuits designed as nutritious snacks for dogs of all sizes and ages. The main ingredient is organic buckwheat flour, a gluten-free, nutrient-rich base high in plant protein, fiber, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals. The recipe also includes organic peanut butter, bananas, coconut oil, flaxseed, and cinnamon for flavor and added health benefits.
Peanut butter provides natural fats and protein and is safe here because it’s organic and free from xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Bananas add potassium and fiber, while coconut oil contributes antibacterial and immune-supporting properties. The treats contain about 23% protein and 17% fat, making them energy-dense for a snack.
Customer reviews are mostly positive, with many dogs loving the taste, though a few owners felt the treats were expensive or unsuitable for dogs with peanut sensitivities. Overall, these biscuits are a high-quality vegan treat option, best rotated with other snacks and fed in moderation, with vet guidance for dogs prone to food allergies.
What types of dog food do they 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
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
Our Verdict
V-Dog is a solid choice for pet owners seeking a 100% plant-based diet for their dogs. Its vegan formulas use wholesome ingredients like peas, lentils, and quinoa to provide essential nutrients, making it a good option for dogs with meat or animal-based allergies.
The brand emphasizes sustainability and animal welfare, which aligns with environmentally conscious values. However, while many dogs thrive on it, some may need additional protein or nutrients typically found in animal products.
As with any dog food, it's important to monitor your pet's health and consult a vet to ensure it's the right fit.
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For an impressive duration of four years, Elaine has been embarked on a voyage as a freelance writer within the domain of dog care. The profound fondness she nurtured for animals, ignited by the cherished companionship of her family's treasured pets during her developmental years, has flourished into a genuinely satisfying vocation focused on everything related to dogs.
