Tessa’s German Shepherd cross, Nelson, suffered from a severe food allergy. It showed itself in recurring digestive issues and persistent skin problems. Tessa tried everything she could think of - from BARF to exotic meats - but nothing made a difference. Eventually, her vet advised eliminating all animal proteins from Nelson’s diet. Tessa was doubtful at first: feeding Nelson a vegan diet? Surely a dog needs meat?

A Personal Experiment: A Vegan Dog

But for Nelson’s sake, she decided to give it a try. Her vet provided fully balanced, specialist recipes for her to cook at home. And remarkably, within just a few weeks Nelson was completely symptom-free. After years of trying, it felt nothing short of a small miracle.

Market niche for VEGDOG

However, cooking Nelson’s meals soon became far too time-consuming. So Tessa set out to find a complete vegan dog food that would provide full nutritional coverage. But her search was in vain. At the time, there simply wasn’t a product on the market that met her standards. To fill this gap, Tessa founded VEGDOG. Working closely with vets, she developed vegan recipes that exclude the most common canine allergens while supplying every essential nutrient a dog needs for a healthy life. Her aim was to offer other dog owners the very solution she had once been desperately searching for - for dogs just like Nelson.

From garage start-up to speaker at the UN Climate Change Conference

Tessa remembers only too well how it all began and how she packed orders herself in her garage in the early days - the definition of a garage start-up. In 2023, the company was invited to speak at the UN Climate Change Conference. An incredible journey in just a few short years. Today, VEGDOG offers a comprehensive range of dry and wet food, treats and supplements - a full portfolio that leaves no dog's wishes unfulfilled!

DO GOOD - because every life counts

Because animal welfare is at the heart of VEGDOG, no animal testing is carried out. And to make a real difference beyond the food bowl, VEGDOG has already rescued several animals from difficult and often tragic circumstances. One such example is a flock of sheep that now enjoys a peaceful life on the meadows surrounding Munich.

Dogs need protein - not meat!

Today, Tessa knows one thing for certain - dogs need protein, not meat. And numerous customer testimonials confirm that VEGDOG offers a healthy alternative to conventional dog food. For the well-being of our dogs, for animal welfare and for the sake of our planet.