Dieta vegana para cães em crescimento

Abstract

The increasing integration of companion animals into daily family life has driven the search for alternative diets, such as vegan diets, aligned with the owners' lifestyles. However, the nutritional adequacy of these plant-based diets for growing dogs is a challenge, due to the lack of robust scientific data. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a Superpremium extruded dry vegan food (T2) with a conventional Superpremium food (T1) on the development of puppies. The study (CEUA No. 6475030724) used 24 puppies (Beagle and American Foxhound) in a completely randomized design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement (breeds x diets), evaluated from weaning (eight weeks) to six months of age. Weight, body condition score, and morphometric measurements were monitored weekly up to six months, with blood samples (complete blood count) collected at the end of this period. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA and F tests. No statistical differences (p>0.05) for mean comparisons were observed for the main effect of diet on growth curves or morphometric measurements. The only significant interaction (p=0.006) occurred in total plasma proteins, which were higher in Beagle dogs in the T2 treatment; however, in both diets, the parameters were still within the established reference intervals for the species. Both diets were equivalent (p>0.05) for weight gain and health parameters. It is concluded that the evaluated vegan food was able to support puppy growth equivalently to the conventional diet, proving to be a viable and safe nutritional alternative for dogs.