08/02/2025
Great post, and let's not forget Hills Science Plan, Royal Canin and Purina are all mainly carbs based and if their owners Colgate, Mars and Nestle didn't pay the British Veterinary Assiciation to push their diabolical dog foods, noone would give them a second look.
It is about time action was taken against these companies for knowingly harming our pets in the name of profits.
❌ OMNI Vegan Dog Food on BBC’s Dragon’s Den – A Disastrous Display ❌
Last night, Omni took the stage on Dragon’s Den, pushing their vegan dog food as a “nutritionally complete” option for dogs. But let’s take a closer look at what they’re really selling:
🔬 Ingredients List:
Sweet Potato, Peas, Lupin Beans, Potato Protein, Pea Protein, Rapeseed Oil, Beet Pulp, Flax Seed, Vegetable Gravy, Minerals, Brewer’s Yeast, Carob Flour, Prebiotic FOS, Yeast Hydrolysate (0.5%, natural source of MOS & Beta Glucans), Apple, Vegan DHA Omega 3 Supplement (0.1%), Carrots, Tomatoes, Mixed Herbs (Thyme, Marjoram, Oregano, Sage, Parsley).
Where is the species-appropriate nutrition? 🚨
Dogs are facultative carnivores, meaning they can tolerate some plant matter but thrive on animal-based proteins and fats. Yet, this formula is entirely plant-based, relying on peas, potatoes, and beans—cheap fillers high in anti-nutrients, lectins, and incomplete proteins.
🐕 The Great Deception: Are Dogs Really Omnivores?
For decades, pet food companies and even vets have pushed the false narrative that dogs are omnivores—but science says otherwise.
📌 Why the Lie?
Because grains, legumes, and starches are cheap! It’s far more profitable to fill dog food with low-cost, plant-based fillers instead of high-quality meat, organs, and healthy fats. The pet food industry—worth billions—has prioritized profit over canine health for years, and now we’re seeing an even bigger push for vegan and plant-based diets under the guise of sustainability.
🔬 The Truth: Dogs Are Facultative Carnivores
• Dogs have sharp, carnivore-like teeth designed for tearing, not grinding plant matter.
• Their short digestive tracts are built for rapidly digesting meat, not fermenting fibrous plants.
• Their bodies rely on animal-derived amino acids like taurine, methionine, and lysine for muscle maintenance, heart health, and immune function.
• They lack the key digestive enzymes needed to break down large amounts of carbohydrates efficiently.
Yet, brands like Omni continue to mislead pet owners into believing dogs can thrive on a completely plant-based diet—when, in reality, they can barely survive on one.
💡 The Science Behind the Concern
🔴 Amino Acid Deficiency – Dogs need bioavailable animal proteins for optimal muscle maintenance, immune function, and organ health. Plant proteins are poorly digested and lack crucial amino acids like taurine, methionine, and lysine in appropriate ratios.
🔴 Carbohydrate Overload – This formula is packed with high-glycemic ingredients, spiking blood sugar and increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and gut dysbiosis. The reason we are seeing the high rate of obesity, diabetes and cancer in dogs is due to these high carb diets.
🔴 Synthetic vs. Natural Nutrition – Dogs need bioavailable vitamins and minerals from whole prey sources, not synthetic fortification to compensate for nutrient-poor ingredients.
In Omni’s ingredient list, the synthetic components are likely:
1. Minerals – These are almost certainly synthetic mineral additives rather than bioavailable minerals from natural sources like bone, organ meat, or eggshells. Pet food manufacturers often use inorganic mineral salts or oxides, which are poorly absorbed.
2. Vegan DHA Omega-3 Supplement (0.1%) – Most plant-based omega-3 sources are derived from algae oil, but unless specified as whole-food algae, this is likely a synthetically extracted supplement.
3. Yeast Hydrolysate (0.5%, natural source of MOS & Beta Glucans) – While this is derived from yeast, the hydrolysis process used to extract MOS (Mannan-oligosaccharides) and beta-glucans is industrially processed, making it semi-synthetic.
4. Prebiotic FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) – FOS is a fiber found in plants, but in commercial pet foods, it is typically extracted and processed into a synthetic prebiotic additive rather than being provided from whole food sources.
☠️ Hidden Dangers: Aflatoxins & Glyphosate ☠️
Beyond being nutritionally inadequate, Omni’s plant-based formula comes with hidden dangers:
🔥 Aflatoxins – Found in legumes like peas and lupin beans, aflatoxins are highly toxic mold byproducts that can cause liver damage, immune suppression, and cancer in dogs. Even at low levels, chronic exposure poses serious long-term health risks.
🌱 Glyphosate (Roundup) – Peas and potatoes are among the most contaminated crops with glyphosate, the controversial herbicide linked to cancer, gut dysbiosis, and inflammation. Studies have shown that glyphosate residues disrupt gut microbiota—a crucial factor in immune health.
🔥 Marketing Over Science
Omni is capitalizing on human ethics and environmental concerns rather than canine physiology. While plant-based diets might align with personal beliefs, forcing a carnivorous species into a vegan diet is neither ethical nor evidence-based.
📢 Dogs deserve better. Feed them species-appropriate nutrition—not a bowl of ultra-processed, carb-heavy filler laced with toxins and anti-nutrients.
To learn more head to The Balanced Canine or our website;
www.Thebalancedcanine.co.uk/why-fresh
Scamp's Dog Training and Rehabilitation. For all you dog training needs. Obedience Classes & 1-1
