Becoming a vegan or even a vegetarian is a process, and through that process you learn horrific facts that you would like to forget but can’t. The existence of factory farming and the proof that animal cruelty occurs within some of the farms is undeniable. It’s the research, facts and figures that move you to make the decision to eat animal-free products, and it also forces you to see the animals’ faces behind the statistics.

After you have made this lifestyle choice, it’s natural for these compassionate decisions to extend further into your life, and for some, that includes their pets. Since cats are obligate carnivores, going vegan isn’t a healthy option, but dogs can transition if it’s done thoughtfully and properly. Michelle A. Rivera wrote The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book to open pet owner’s eyes, so they have the information to make more compassionate pet food choices.

Synopsis

Transitioning your dog over to a vegan diet is still controversial, but Rivera sticks to the basics and even provides various viewpoints from veterinarians who are for and against a vegan dog diet. This book isn’t meant to convince you that a vegan diet is the best. Its purpose is to provide pet owners with the facts and food options, so they can safely and properly transition their dog to vegan pet food.

Style and Presentation

Rivera has a conversational writing style, and since the book is short and to the point, it’s an easy afternoon read. In case you’re unfamiliar with the vegan lifestyle, Rivera does discuss it in the beginning.

The second chapter notes hazardous and safe ingredients for dogs. You might be surprised that dogs can eat tomatoes, blueberries, pears and green peas. The food chart lists other fruits and vegetables as well as the percentage of protein contained in each.

The third section overviews the staple ingredients for a healthy vegan dog diet. From there, Rivera has included chapters full of recipes for various types of biscuits, main dishes and special treats. Below is an easy recipe from the book that you can make for your dog and doggy friends.

Peanut Butter Banana Treats

Dogs love peanut butter. You can’t go wrong with these cookies.

1 cup unbleached white flour
½ cup soymilk
¼ cup soy parmesan cheese
¼ cup mashed banana
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon water

Preheat the oven to 400 degree F. Lightly oil a baking sheet.

Combine the flour and soymilk in a large bowl and stir until lumpy. Mix in the soy parmesan cheese. Add the banana, peanut butter, and baking powder. Then stir in water and mix well. Add more water as necessary until the mixture is the consistency of cake batter.

Spoon the batter onto the prepared baking sheet to form cookies; each cookie should be about 2 inches in diameter. Bake for 20 minutes, or until brown. Turn the oven off but do not remove the cookies. Allow the cookies to cool in the oven for 8 to 12 hours, until they are hard and crunchy.

Stored in sealed containers or zipper-lock bags, Peanut Butter Banana Treats will keep for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer.

Take Away Points

Switching your dog to a vegan diet shouldn’t be a hasty decision. You have to be involved in the process and oversee everything including how your dog reacts to the change. It’s also going to beneficial to include your veterinarian in the diet switch too. There are numerous examples of dogs that have lived long, healthy lives on a vegan diet, but it’s not guaranteed that every dog will do well.

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book is an easy guide that can help you determine whether this is the route you want to take with your dog. And if you come to a conclusion that raising your dog vegan is the way to go, you will have handfuls of easy and delicious recipes for your pooch to enjoy.

Author’s Disclaimer

Please Note: The author received a free copy of The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book from Book Publishing Co. in order to develop the content contained within this review. Also, permission from the publisher was received to reprint up to two recipes.