Plant-Based Dog Food Formulation Challenge is a two-part game that explores key formulation challenges and nutritional considerations when developing vegetarian or vegan dog foods.

Players are tasked with evaluating their understanding of:

• Nutritional gaps common in plant-based ingredient profiles
• Appropriate supplemental solutions (e.g., amino acids, vitamins, minerals)
• Functional and anti-nutritional factors in legumes, cereals, and other plants
• Safe formulation practices for complete and balanced dog diets

These games are based on science and best practices in plant-based formulation as reported in Petfood Industry’s Ingredient Issues. Answers can be found in the text at the bottom of the page or in the article “It IS possible to produce balanced vegetarian/vegan dog diets.”

Phase 1: Plant-based Formulation Education

1. The game presents you with 5 multiple-choice questions.
2. For each question:
   • Read the prompt carefully.
   • Select the best answer from the four options.
3. After answering:
   • You’ll receive immediate feedback and learn the correct answer.
   • Click “Next” to proceed to the following question.
4. At the end, you’ll receive a score out of 5, along with a summary message.

There’s no time limit.

Phase 2: Formulate to Survive

Create a nutritionally complete product while avoiding common pitfalls such as amino acid deficiencies, excess minerals, and anti-nutritional factors.

Players will navigate two stages

🔹 Stage 1: Ingredient Selection

• Select exactly three ingredients from the checklist.
• Your choices affect formulation quality and score.
• Click “Submit Ingredients” to proceed.
• You will receive immediate feedback and unlock the quiz phase.

🔹 Stage 2: Quality Control 

• Answer three multiple-choice questions by clicking your chosen answer.
• You can only click each answer once.
• Correct answers will turn green, incorrect answers will turn red.
• Each correct answer adds to your final score.

Plant-based dog foods require precise formulation to ensure nutritional adequacy, particularly when avoiding animal-derived ingredients, wrote Greg Aldrich, Ph.D., Kansas State University research associate professor, in his 2022 Petfood Industry column, “It IS possible to produce balanced vegetarian/vegan dog diets.” Instances of lysine, methionine, arginine, threonine or tryptophan shortcomings have been identified, depending on the selection of ingredients included. Crystalline amino acids such as DL-methionine and lysine HCl are commonly added to address these gaps. In vegetarian formulas that allow egg and dairy, dried egg product and whey protein isolate can help meet essential amino acid needs.

Vitamin B12, not produced by plants, must be supplemented in vegan diets, alongside riboflavin and omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA. Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and iodine also require attention. Ground limestone (calcium carbonate), potassium chloride, and salt can help meet macro mineral needs. Available phosphorus can be a particular challenge due to its binding in plant-based phytate complexes, which may require supplementation with dicalcium phosphate or the enzyme phytase.

Calcium deficiencies can be addressed with ground limestone, while caution must be exercised to avoid excesses in trace minerals like copper, selenium, and iodine, which may be present depending on ingredient sourcing. Legumes such as peas and lentils pose potential risks due to oligosaccharides and phytoestrogens that may impact stool quality and reproduction. Cereal grains can also bring risks from mycotoxins or components like beta-glucans.

Despite these complexities, plant-based ingredients offer functional advantages in extruded foods, improving structure and nutrient dispersion. Though slightly less digestible and lower in caloric density, studies show dogs maintain health on vegetarian diets with no increase in morbidity. With rigorous quality control and validation, plant-based dog foods can be safely produced and tailored for maintenance or therapeutic uses, supporting the ongoing growth of this market segment.