Some pet owners take their dogs with them in the transition, and start feeding them meat-free food or other plant-based alternatives, according to an animal nutritionist and behaviourist expert.

“I think it’s important to recognise that while dogs theoretically can eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, cats are obligate carnivores, and we really do not recommend feeding them this because of the very serious health concerns that can result,” says Shotton.

The study, published in the journal Plos One, found that nearly a fifth (17 per cent) of dogs on conventional diets had four or more visits to the vet over the period of one year, compared to nine per cent of vegan dogs and eight per cent of those on raw meat diets.

Vegan diets are healthier and safer for dogs than conventional meat-based diets, according to the largest study to date, as long as they are nutritionally complete.

While a cat’s physical anatomy can adapt (cats are able to consume, digest and absorb plant-based food), a cat’s energy-creating metabolic processes cannot: felines need specific groups of nutrients that are commonly found only in meat.

There should be a balance between the ratio of fat, protein and carbohydrates.” He also adds that a vegan diet may not be fit for dogs or cats.

If your dog’s diet regime is made up of sufficient quantities of omega fatty acids, their skin and coat really should look and feel soft and healthy.Research indicates that essential fatty acids, generally known as EFAs, promote healthy and balanced skin and fur, in addition to general health and well-being.

Environmentally minded pet owners are choosing to feed their animals meals made out of crickets, mealworms and black soldier flies in an attempt to curb the huge carbon emissions produced by raising livestock for traditional, meat-based diets.

The 16-year-old dog was so unfit she had to be carried on her walks (Picture: Caters News Agency)‘Initially, I spoilt her with treats and more treats until I started to actually note how she wasn’t really living a quality life.

Lulu before her weight loss (Picture: SWNS)Lulu the nine-year-old Rottweiler could hardly move and experienced pain in her back legs when she tipped the scales at 9st 10lbs.Owner Gill Jones, a 66-year-old grandmother of six, said: ‘She was a rescue dog and was born with a problem with her genes.

Roughage need: Experts believe that the grass eating habit can also be related to the fact that canines need a little roughage in their daily diet. Dr Shivaprakash mentions that there is nothing to worry about if your pet is munching a little grass every now and then.

Harmful pathogens in raw food "This research offers further compelling evidence to support vets' concerns about the potential animal and public health risks associated with feeding pets a raw meat-based diet," said veterinarian Dr Daniella Dos Santos.

Sarah soon transitioned her dog Brioche onto a plant-based diet (Picture: Sarah E Brioche/ Facebook)Sarah wasn’t aware that dogs could live on vegan foods but began researching when she decided to give up meat and dairy products herself.

“Increasingly, consumers have started extending their own food philosophies onto their pets, choosing options that reflect the same growing trends in human food, such as no added preservatives and non-GMO ingredients,” Beach says.

Diet is a huge part of the program, and veterinarians typically recommend prescription foods for pets with kidney disease. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew canned cat food provides all of the above as well as omega-3 fatty acids to combat inflammation.

If your pet is exhibiting cat or dog food allergy symptoms, your vet likely will recommend an elimination diet trial to try to pinpoint which food ingredients are causing your pet’s symptoms, or at least identify which ingredients do not cause problems.

They typically utilize alternative carbohydrate sources, such as sweet potato, white potato, peas, legumes and so on. Several grain-free dog foods utilize sweet potatoes as a carbohydrate source. Many grain-free diets are formulated with pea protein or legumes as the carbohydrate and fiber source.

The fruits and vegetables contained in this freeze-dried raw dog food include certified-organic kale, carrots, squash, broccoli and apples.

Two months on, the eight-year-old moggy now weighs in at a slimline 12.7lbs (5.79kg) having lost an incredible five-and-a-half pounds.Mitzi was re-homed earlier this year but was returned to Woodside Animal Welfare Trust in Plymouth, Devon, in August.Staff at the centre are trying to find another new home for the glutenous cat.Lisa Darcy, Woodside's assistant manager, said: "She's a quirky girl.

Only recently, it was shown that the gut microbiome of dogs is quite different to that of wolves, with more evidence of bacteria that can break down carbohydrates and to some degree produce amino acids normally sourced from meat.