Can my dog be vegetarian or vegan?
The short answer is YES THEY CAN, according to the experts at plant-based dog food makers Noochy Poochy. Dogs are omnivores, which means they can thrive on a wide variety of foods, an evolutionary advantage probably evolved over the tens of thousands of years our faithful companions have been sharing campfire potato pickings at night, or more recently sitting at your feet watching you eating dinner on the sofa (or is that just us?). Their guts are capable of digesting starches and vegetable proteins much like ours.
That said, the correct balance of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals is vitally important….but also particular amino acids like methionine and taurine. In recent years, interest in canine nutrition and what is necessary for optimum growth and function has exploded… which is great because it means our understanding is increasing all the time
Finally a plant-based dog food that will get your pooch woofing with joy!
Whether you’ve reduced animal products in your life because of their environmental impact or for animal welfare reasons, it can feel contradictory to then feed meat to your dog.
This was the dilemma faced by vet Lucy McKinna, who set about creating a sustainable plant-based dog food to prove you can feed your pet in line with your ethics and still feel confident they’re getting everything they need to stay fit and healthy.
Say ‘hello’ to a new breed of plant-based dog food…Noochy Poochy
Noochy Poochy takes its name from its use of nutritional yeast, known as ‘nooch’, which gives the food an irresistible cheesy flavour. It’s more than just Noochy Poochy’s name and fantastic taste that makes it stand out from the pack however.
A dry food, Noochy Poochy uses select organic ingredients, and was formulated by Lucy, a vegan vet, and an animal nutritionist, working in collaboration to ensure it provides a nutritionally complete food, containing everything needed for a healthy dog.
By combining a number of different plant proteins, the food is able to achieve a 28% protein content, not only the highest of any plant-based dog food on the UK market but also higher than most meat based dog foods. It also has an impressive omega fatty acid 6:3 ratio of 4 to 1, considered optimum for dogs, to help maintain good health and encourage a healthy coat.
You don’t have to just take Lucy’s word for how good Noochy Poochy is, as it’s already achieved accreditation from the Vegetarian Society, PETA and The Ethical Company Organisation, amongst others.
The brand places ‘transparency’ as one of its core values, not shying away from the fact that, whilst they hope it will appeal to vegan dog owners, the food is not yet able to call itself ‘vegan’. As Lucy explains…
“We haven’t yet found a vegan vitamin D3 that can stand the heat Noochy Poochy gets cooked to but we are entering a trial with a promising D3 soon and are excited for the results. Every other ingredient in the food is 100% vegan and ethically sourced.”
The brand’s ethics don’t stop at the food itself, with the packaging being fully recyclable and the brand also hoping to become available in stores with zero waste dispenser facilities.
Of course the real test is in the taste, which is clear from ‘client’ testimonials also hits the mark…
“Our hungry dog Bear loves Noochy Poochy. We tried to slowly introduce it into his diet but he went straight for it and never turned back…and it definitely feels good giving him a plant-based food!” – Rob Da Bank – Radio 1 DJ
“Just to let you know an ageing and very difficult to feed border terrier ….absolutely loves it!” – early trialist
Ultimately Lucy hopes Noochy Poochy will provide a new generation of dog food to a new generation of vegan and vegetarian pet owners…
“As more and more people opt for a meat free lifestyle, the demand for a pet food that fits in with people’s environmental and moral choices continues to grow. We’re confident that Noochy Poochy perfectly aligns with these principles and provides an ethical, high quality product that’s not only tasty, but also provides everything dogs need to stay fit and healthy. “
For more information, or to buy, visit www.noochypoochy.com
