While I’m not vegan or vegetarian myself, I totally respect the people who are.

Not only is it better for the environment, but it’s also many times a healthier option for people used to eating processed foods. It’s a lifestyle that takes a lot of commitment. What I didn’t realize until recently is that some people take that pledge to a whole new level and feed their dogs and cats vegetarian or vegan diets. Something about that seemed a little off to me, so I decided to do some research into if it’s possible for pets to be vegan. It turns out the answer is yes, but unless you’re doing it right, it could be dangerous.

According to PetMD, one of the biggest dangers in this kind of diet is that some vital vitamins need to be absorbed in a pet’s food, not through the skin or other means. Many of these vitamins are found in meat and equivalent replacements are difficult to find.

In a recent Reddit thread, vets and vet techs weighed in on the issue, saying that it’s possible but expensive and time-consuming to have a pet with a veggie-based died.

A 10-pound bag of this vegan dog food costs $35.99, which is the price of a 40-pound bag of many other high-quality dog foods. Vegan dog food brands may also be newer to the market and thus less proven to be safe in the long run.

If you love to cook, it might seem easy to extend your vegan meal prep to your pets, but vets actually recommend against this entirely unless you have regular access to an animal nutritionist.