Chris Packham urges pet owners to consider making their dogs vegan

The nature presenter has two dogs of his own

Speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC, he explained that one of his dogs, poodle Sid, saw improvements in his health after turning to plant-based dog food.

The pooch's blood fat reduced by 73% after coming off meat-based meals, as well as seeing improvements in his liver health and getting stronger claws.

Packham changed the diet of Sid and his other poodle, Nancy, and said that the change led to a "greater appetite for food" from the 6-year-old dogs, as well as improvements to the health of their stool and having more energy during the day.

"We decided to make a transition to plant based diet as the science was showing that that was a healthier option not for just the dogs but for the planet too, and that it was finally affordable," Packham explained.

"There was a vet-formulated fully nutritionally complete diet available on the shelf. So we thought we'd give it a go during Veganuary and see what happened. I mean ultimately if the dogs didn't eat, it wouldn't have worked but they loved it from the outset.

"Before we did that, we wanted to make sure they were healthy for any sort of transition so we got their bloods done and Sid showed a very high 73% increase in blood fats and bile acids.

"We were very concerned about his liver kidney function so we had him ultrasound, thankfully was okay, but the vet's advice was you need to get him on a lower fat diet immediately."

He went on to explain the effects that the change in diet made to Sid's health.

"So 90 days later, after plant based transition, we tested him and we saw a 73% reduction in his blood fats, 39% improvement in his bile acid and, and then the liver stress markers were down by 70% so it had made a significant difference.

"He also had weepy eyes that disappeared after a couple of weeks. Claws are much stronger and it was something we were very pleased to have tried."

He said the change saved Sid from potential pancreatitis, because of how high his original meat diet was.

"We think that, you know, ongoing, had we done that blood test and we, had we not been aware that that high fat meat diet was, was causing him problems, he might have got pancreatitis and, and that could have been very serious."

Packham's poodles now start the day with a meal of dry food and have dental hygiene sticks to aid with dental plaque.

Then, they have a wet food meal in the evening, to make what Packham describes as a "formulated, nutritionally complete diet".

"On the raw meat diet, when you defrost it obviously it's raw meat so you've only got a limited of time but if they don't eat it straight away, it can go in the fridge later that day but after that it's got to go and the foxes prosper," Packham said.

"So it's been good all round and I think in the time of climate breakdown, biodiversity crisis, we should be looking for opportunities to play a positive role in solving the problems rather than continuing to be a part of one.

"Therefore, as and when it's appropriate to you and maybe your dog, I would suggest it's worth trying for the health of your dog, for the health of your, you know, your wallet and your purse and the health of the planet."