Study reveals climate impact of dog food

DOGS fed on premium, meat-rich pet food can have a bigger dietary carbon footprint than their owners, a new study has found.

- NICK FORBES

Dog owners looking to reduce their carbon footprint should and aim for foods with a lower prime meat content

(PA)

Scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and Exeter calculated the carbon footprint of almost 1,000 commercially available dog foods, based on emissions generated during the production of ingredients,

Their sample included a selection of dry, wet and raw foods, including plant-based and grain-free options.

The researchers found “striking” differences in the environmental impact of different foods, with those with the highest impact generating up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest.

Wet, raw and meat-rich products were found to generate substantially more emissions than dry dog food.