Have you recently switched to a vegetarian, plant-based or vegan diet?
In the past five years or so, we’ve seen a big shift towards plant-based and vegan diets for a variety of reasons.
If you’re a staunch believer in the benefits of a vegan diet, you may be looking to make a change to your dog’s diet.
For dog owners who want to introduce more plant-based and vegetarian options to their canine companion’s diet, there a growing range of companies who have some tasty alternatives.
A good starting point is using some plant-based or vegetarian dog treats, whether it’s for training or just to spoil your four-legged friend with some meat-free options.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at five dog treats available to British dog owners who are looking for low-fat treats to set tails wagging.
The dogs treats will include vegetarian, plant-based and vegan dog treats.
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Best Vegetarian Dog Treats UK
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barking Heads Apple Snaffles |
|
• Vegetarian • Hand-crafted • Natural | Buy Now | |
| Scrumbles Plant Powered |
|
• Grain Free • Slippery Elm • Naturally vegan | Buy Now | |
| Butternut Box Baked Biscuits |
|
• Vegetarian • Sustainable • Heart health | Buy Now | |
| Yarrah Organic Dog Snacks |
|
• Vegetarian • Low fat • No nasties | Buy Now | |
| Lily's Kitchen Training Treats |
|
• Vegetarian • Low fat • Oven Baked | Buy Now |
Why You Should Consider Vegetarian Dog Treats
There’s a growing demand amongst dog owners in the UK for more plant-based and vegetarian pet food options to keep our furry friends content and full.
While pet food experts don’t recommend feeding an exclusively meat-free diet to your pup, British pet parents can adopt a flexitarian approach.
Dogs are carnivores so they’ll require some meat in their diet. We’ve previously reviewed some plant-based dog food if you want to add this to your pup’s regular diet.
Many pet owners may already be giving their dogs healthy snacks such as raw carrots, fresh tomatoes, a handful of blueberries or frozen mango. These fresh options can make tasty treats or rewards for good behaviour.
Vet Compass report that 1 in 14 dogs are recorded by their vets as overweight each year. Worryingly, RVC explain that 35% to 59% of dogs in the UK are obese.
But veggie dog treats can make an excellent low-fat option for dog owners who have pups that need to lose a few pounds.
Alternatively, pet owners who have dogs with allergies or intolerances to certain animal proteins will understand the importance of plant-based or vegetarian dog treats.
How We Picked The Best Vegetarian Dog Treats
• Vegetarian, Plant-Based or Vegan – You’ll need to read the label and know whether your dog treats are vegetarian, plant-based or vegan.
• Price – These dog treats will cost a little more than some traditional dog treats that you’ll find at your local pet store or supermarket. The treats featured in this article use high quality ingredients and some are baked with care to retain their nutritional goodness.
• Delivery – All the vegetarian dog treats featured in this article have home delivery options.
• Customer Reviews – We like to see what other customers are saying about veggie dog treats to get an overall sense for how the dog food companies are performing.
1) Barking Heads Apple Snaffles
Website www.barkingheads.co.uk
Barking Heads Apple Snaffles (Photo: Barking Heads)
You may have previously encountered Barking Heads as they’re one of the leading providers of dry dog food and wet dog food in the UK.
Barking Heads have recently launched a plant-based dog food along with some plant-based dog treats.
Their Apple Snaffles are hand-crafted dog treats using top-quality, natural ingredients like apple, vanilla and cinnamon.
Barking Heads bake their Apple Snaffles in small batches using environmentally-friendly wood burning ovens.
These vegetarian dog treats are free from artificial colors, preservatives and flavours.
The Pros
• 9 high-quality ingredients
• Hand-crafted
• Sustainable cooking process
• Save 10% with subscription plan – click here
The Cons
• Premium price
What Customers Have To Say
Barking Head’s Apple Snaffles get an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 based upon over 60 reviews on Amazon.
One Amazon customer revealed her Border Collie enjoys some Apple Snaffle treats before bed.
Nice treat for my Border Collie before bed. I guess it tastes nice, because she waits for them every night.
Another dog owner explained that her pup isn’t impressed if he doesn’t get an Apple Snaffle treat before bedtime.
Jeff has 4 every night before bed. He doesn’t like it if I forget.
Our Verdict
Although my Alaskan Klee Kai have a tendency to be fussy when it comes to their dog food, they relished their Barking Heads Apple Snaffle dog treats.
While I didn’t taste the Apple Snaffles, I could detect the smell of apple and cinnamon.
I like that Barking Heads make these vegetarian treats in a sustainable way so I can treat my mini huskies with meat-free snacks but not at the expense of the planet.
Scrumbles Plant Powered
Website www.scrumbles.co.uk
Scrumbles Softies (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Scrumbles are known for their hypoallergenic dog food but we’re taking a look at their “ultimutt” guilt-free dog treat.
Their Softies: Plant Powered use nutritious ingredients such as seaweed, apple, slippery elm and more to support healthy bones and joints, soothe tummies and support digest health.
These vegan dog treats have a soft texture so they’re appropriate for dogs from the age of three months plus. If you’ve got a senior dog with delicate teeth, Softies have a soft bite.
These low calories treats are baked in carbon-neutral ovens and packed into compostable, plastic-free packaging that can be disposed along with your garden waste. So you can feed your pup a Softie and leave a green paw print on the planet.
The Pros
• Vegan
• Soft texture
• Low calorie/Low fat
• Eco friendly
• Subscribe and save up to 5% – click here
The Cons
• Premium price (but high quality product)
What Customers Have To Say
Scrumbles Softies (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Scrumbles Softies: Plant Powered get an average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5 on independent review website Feefo.
Daisy explained that the Softies are now her dog’s favourite treats.
My puppy loves these new treats, they are his fave treat and they are plant based which I love, I definitely recommend!
Another Scrumbles customer was a big fan of the ingredients.
Roy seems to enjoy the plant based training treats …added slippery elm is a bonus as he does sometimes have a sensitive digestion.
Our Verdict
Scrumbles Softies (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
We were sent some Softies to try and they were a big hit in my house.
My Klee Kai have a sensitive tummies so it was comforting to know that Scrumbles used slippery elm to soothe tummies and support digestive health.
As a dog owner who tries to live in a sustainable way, I really liked that the packaging was compostable so I could give my dogs guilt-free treats.
My Klee Kai do have some food intolerances but Scrumbles avoid common allergens, which is another reason to give these Softies a try.
Butternut Box Baked Biscuits
Website: www.butternutbox.com
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper and Skye with their Butternut Box delivery (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Butternut Box have a range of dog treats to supplement their balanced and complete fresh dog meals, which you can read more about by clicking here.
For British dog owners looking for some vegetarian treats, Butternut Box have vegetarian baked biscuits to set tails wagging.
Happy Hearts are made with natural ingredients, including peanut butter, sweet potato, carob and a sprinkle of coconut. These grain-free biscuits don’t contain any meat and they’re free from nasties.
As the name of Butternut Box’s treats suggests, their Happy Hearts supports a healthy heart. Their packaging explains that hawthorn and motherwort can help maintain a healthy blood pressure.
The Pros
• Vegetarian
• Grain-free
• No nasties
• Human-quality ingredients
• Exclusive discount – click here
The Cons
• Can only order from Butternut Box’s website
What Customers Have To Say
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper and Skye with their Butternut Box delivery (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Butternut Box get an average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5 based upon over 7,000 reviews on independent website Trustpilot.
Rebecca explained that her Jack Russell Terrier loves his Butternut Box food and treats.
I have a 4 month old JRT and I was recommended Butternut Box via a Facebook group and well what can I say! Jimmy absolutely loves it! It’s the first time he has ever wagged his tail when I’ve fed him. The food is fab! The treats are fab! Customer service is first class! I’ve already recommended this to my friend who’s dog is a fussy eater and he loves it too!
Another dog owner gave a glowing five-star review.
Oh my! My doggo just loved Butternut Box meals and treats and we have one fussy eater. She wouldn’t eat any of the foods we tried until we found Butternut Box. Gone are the arguments between my partner and I about her being picky and just simple bliss! Honestly changed our life! Would recommend, and it’s food I would consider eating, smells so good!
Our Verdict
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper with his Butternut Box delivery (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Long-term readers will know that we rate Butternut Box highly.
I’ve been feeding my Alaskan Klee Kai their tasty meals for the past two years with great success. My mini huskies are happy, healthy and motivated at mealtime.
It’s so convenient to be able to add some vegetarian dog treats to their regular order to ensure I’ve got some low fat snacks for my Klee Kai during the day.
Butternut Box use recyclable packaging so they’ve got an eco-friendly approach to their business model, while you won’t have to worry about popping to the pet store to get treats because they’ll include their Happy Heart treats with your regular deliveries.
Yarrah Organic Dog Snacks
Website www.zooplus.co.uk
Yarrah Dog Treats (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Yarrah have created a range of pet food that is organic, healthy and sustainable thanks to their high quality recipes and ingredients.
Yarrah offer organic vega biscuits for both large dogs and small dogs that are made without chemical fragrances, colourants, flavours, pesticides and GMO.
They explain that their food is ideal for dogs who have difficulty digesting animal proteins or dog owners who like to use meat-free treats.
Yarrah’s organic vega dog biscuits are vegetarian and vegan, incorporating ingredients such as organic spinach, organic seaweed and organic spirulina.
The Pros
• Vegetarian and vegan
• No hidden ingredients, chemicals, colorings or flavorings
• Operating since 1992
The Cons
• Premium price
What Customers Have To Say
Yarrah Dog Treats (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Yarrah organic vega biscuits have a number of 5 and 4 star reviews.
Jo wrote that Yarrah’s biscuits worked a treat with her sensitive pup.
Super vegan treats. My dog loves this and really good for her sensitive stomach. A treat filled with nutrients.
Amelia revealed her dog loves these biscuits.
My dog loves these! She eats almost anything but biscuits are usually not her favorite kind of snack. These disappear immediately! I only have one complaint.
Our Verdict
My Alaskan Klee Kai really enjoyed their Yarrah vega dog biscuits.
Opting for the biccies for small dogs, my mini huskies loved playing scavenger hunts with these biscuits in the sitting room and in the garden.
If you’re looking for an experienced dog food company who have a history of making organic and vegetarian pet food, Yarrah are a great option.
Lily’s Kitchen Training Treats
Website www.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Lily’s Kitchen training treats (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Lily’s Kitchen are a well-known name within the dog food industry – there’s a good chance you’ll have seen their food at your local supermarket.
They’ve got some training treats for British dog owners who want to use vegetarian snacks to help train their pups and reward good behaviour.
Lily’s Kitchen’s Organic Cheese And Apple Training Treats are made with fresh organic apples and mature organic farmhouse cheddar.
These low fat treats are over baked in a mini biscuit size and they’re free from nasties.
The Pros
• Natural
• No hidden nasties
• Training size
• High In Taste
The Cons
• Price
What Customers Have To Say
Lily’s Kitchen training treats (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Lily’s Kitchen’s Organic Cheese And Apple Training Treats get 4.8 stars out of 5 based upon over 1,250 reviews on independent review website Feefo.
Joyce revealed her dog was obsessed with two ingredients in particular.
My dog loves them, an excellent reward when recall training. A bonus that they contain two of her favourite things, apple & cheese.
Another customer explained that these treats are ideal for your pockets!
My dog is obsessed with these training treats! She loves them! We use them for training indoors and out of walks! Perfect to just fit into your pocket or a little bag!
Our Verdict
Lily’s Kitchen training treats (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
My dogs enjoyed these Lily’s Kitchen training treats and they were ideal for my pocket.
Given my Klee Kai have a particular soft spot for cheese, I wasn’t surprised to see my mini huskies gobble these up.
The inclusion of cheese meant that these treats were ideal for scent work.
However, they’re not plant-based or vegan seeing as they do include dairy.
Anything Else To Consider?
It’s important to remember that pet food experts and vets don’t recommend feeding your canine companion an exclusively plant-based diet.
Dogs are carnivores so they’ll require some meat to ensure they’re getting a balanced and complete diet.
If you have any questions about vegetarian or vegan dog treats, you should speak to your vet for more advice and guidance.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best vegetarian dog treats in the UK.
Barking Heads Apple Snaffles provide tasty vegetarian dog treats that are free from additives or nasties. They were a big hit with my Alaskan Klee Kai and perfect for scentwork and enrichment games.
For dog owners who are looking for vegan dog treats or perhaps have an older dog with sensitive teeth, Scrumbles have created Softies: Plant Powered that make an excellent reward or treat for British canines.
Butternut Box have vegetarian dog treats with a particular slant on heart health.
Yarrah’s vegetarian dog biscuits are free from additives, colorings and nasties and make a crunchy treat for pups.
If you’re looking for dog treats that are vegetarian but packed with flavour, Lily’s Kitchen have apple and cheese training treats that could meet your needs.
