More plant-based meals for dogs?

New Mintel research shows a third (34 per cent) of UK dog food buyers believe it is good for pets to regularly have a plant-based meal instead of a meat-based one. Meanwhile, more than four in 10 (43 per cent) dog food buyers believe it is healthier to limit the amount of red meat eaten by pets than not limit it at all.
And it's Britain's younger dog owners who are most likely to give red meat the chop, as almost three in five (58 per cent) dog food buyers aged 16-24 believe it is healthier to limit red meat in their dogs' diets, compared to just 30 per cent of dog food buyers aged 45+. Similarly, four in 10 (40 per cent) dog food buyers aged 16-24 are in favour of regularly dishing up plant-based meals, compared to just 21% of owners aged 55+.
Mintel research reveals that digestive health is also high on the pet owner's priority list, as three-quarters of cat/dog food buyers believe that actively looking after pets' digestive health is essential for their overall health. They are joined by 44 per cent who believe that pet food with 'good bacteria' (such as fermented foods) is good for pets' health. This comes as 42 per cent of pet food buyers consider their pet a "foodie".
Overall, seven in 10 (71 per cent) pet food buyers say that a pet's diet has a direct impact on its emotional wellbeing, while half (51 per cent) show an interest in food with calming ingredients such as camomile and hemp.