Short answer: grain-free means a food contains no cereal grains such as wheat, corn, rice or oats. Plant-based (vegan) means it contains no animal ingredients. They are separate ideas. A grain-free food can be full of meat, and a plant-based food can contain grains. V-Planet, for example, is plant-based but not grain-free: it includes oats and brown rice, and leaves out corn, wheat and soy.

The two terms are often used as if they meant the same thing, partly because both appear on "alternative" dog food shelves and both tend to list peas and lentils. Mixing them up can lead owners to the wrong food for their dog.

What grain-free means

A grain-free dog food replaces cereal grains with other carbohydrate sources, typically potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, lentils, chickpeas or tapioca. Most grain-free foods still use animal protein such as chicken, lamb or fish. Grain-free became popular partly because owners believed grains were a common allergen for dogs. In fact, vets generally find animal proteins such as beef, dairy and chicken are reported more often in canine food allergies than grains, although wheat can be a trigger for some dogs.

What plant-based means

A plant-based or vegan dog food uses no meat, fish, eggs or dairy. Protein comes from sources such as peas, pea protein, lentils, potato protein and yeast, with added amino acids, vitamins and minerals to meet nutrient standards. It may or may not include grains.

V-Planet's protein comes mainly from dried peas, pea protein and potato protein, with lentils, quinoa and brewers dried yeast. Its carbohydrates include ground oats and brown rice. The full list is on our ingredients and nutrition page.

Why the difference matters

• If your vet suspects an allergy to a meat protein, a grain-free chicken food does not remove chicken. A plant-based food removes all animal proteins.
• If your vet suspects a wheat sensitivity, you need a food free of wheat, which could be either type. V-Planet contains no wheat.
• If you want to avoid animal products for ethical reasons, grain-free is irrelevant. Plant-based is what you are looking for.

For a closer look at allergy triggers, see our article on dog food allergies in the UAE.

The heart health question

From 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration investigated reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart muscle disease, in dogs eating certain diets, many of them grain-free and high in peas, lentils or potatoes. The investigation did not establish that these ingredients cause DCM, and the FDA said in 2022 it would only publish further updates when there was meaningful new science. Research is ongoing, and veterinary cardiologists are still studying the question.

Because V-Planet lists peas as its first ingredient, we think owners deserve a straight answer rather than silence. Here is what we can say factually: V-Planet is formulated to AAFCO standards for adult dogs and is supplemented with taurine and L-carnitine, two nutrients involved in heart muscle function. That is not a guarantee about any individual dog. If your dog is a breed with a known risk of heart disease, has a heart condition, or you have any concerns, speak to your vet before changing diet and ask about routine heart checks. Our article on taurine, L-carnitine and heart health explains these nutrients in more detail.

Are grains bad for dogs?

For most dogs, no. Dogs have adapted over thousands of years living alongside people to digest starch well. Whole grains such as oats and brown rice provide energy and fibre. Some individual dogs do react to specific grains, most often wheat, and a vet-guided elimination diet is the way to find out.

How to read the label

1. Check whether the food is complete and balanced for your dog's life stage.
2. Look at the first few ingredients to see the main protein sources.
3. Check for grains: wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, sorghum, millet.
4. Check for animal ingredients: meat, meals, fish, egg, dairy, animal fat.
5. Note the guaranteed analysis for protein, fat and fibre.

Our guide to whether grain-free food is good for dogs covers the evidence on grain-free diets specifically.

The bottom line

Grain-free tells you what a food leaves out. Plant-based tells you where its protein comes from. Decide what you are actually trying to avoid, whether that is a specific allergen, animal products or simply a food that suits your dog, and read the ingredient list rather than the front of the bag. If your dog has any health condition, your vet should be part of that decision.

Frequently asked questions

Is vegan dog food grain-free?

Not necessarily. Plant-based means no animal ingredients, while grain-free means no cereal grains. V-Planet is plant-based but contains oats and brown rice.

Does V-Planet contain wheat, corn or soy?

No. V-Planet contains no wheat, corn or soy, and no animal products.

Do grain-free diets cause heart disease in dogs?

This has been investigated but no cause has been established, and research is ongoing. If you have concerns, or your dog is a breed at risk of heart disease, talk to your vet.

Are grains a common allergen for dogs?

Animal proteins such as beef, dairy and chicken are reported more often than grains, though wheat can trigger reactions in some dogs. A vet-guided elimination diet is the best way to identify triggers.

Which is better for a dog with allergies, grain-free or plant-based?

It depends on the trigger. If a meat protein is suspected, a plant-based food removes all animal proteins. Work with your vet to identify the cause first.