dog holding carrot in mouth

What Does “Plant-first Dog Food” Mean?

Sure, there are lots of dog foods to choose from. But KARMA™ is unique. We’re not regular dog food — we’re plant-first dog food made in the USA with non-GMO ingredients† and plant-based superfoods. Great! But what does that mean, exactly? And how can it benefit your dog?

Defining "Plant-First"

Chances are, you’ve heard the term “plant-first.” But how does that differ from “plant-based,” and is it different from or the same as vegan? It’s all a little confusing, because “plant-first” has a lot of varying definitions.

We’ll try to keep it simple: Plant-first , or plant-based, diets focus on foods that come primarily from plants. This means a plant-first diet has lots of whole grains, legumes, seeds, veggies, nuts and fruits — but meat and dairy aren’t off the table completely. And that’s how plant-first diets differ from vegan ones: Vegan diets only contain foods derived from plants. Said another way, vegan diets completely avoid all animal products, including meat, dairy and eggs.

plant in field

Plant-First (and Meat-Derived) Proteins

The first ingredient in both of our KARMA™ dog food recipes is sorghum, a diverse plant rich in fiber and antioxidants. Each of our recipes also contains a superfood blend that includes flaxseed and chickpeas, both of which provide plant-based protein for your dog.

But remember that our food is plant-first — which means it’s made with meat-derived protein, too. We use high-quality chicken and white fish to help nourish your dog’s whole body health.

Benefits of Plant-First Dog Food

While more research is needed, several studies have suggested that humans and dogs alike could all benefit from a more plant-first diet, and that adopting this new way of eating could not only improve the health of our bodies but also the health of our environment.

Our plant-based superfood blend contains vitamins and minerals, like Vitamins A, C and K, as well as iron and potassium — things that are essential to the overall health and well-being of our pets (not to mention ourselves, but sorry, KARMA™ food is just for dogs).

†Trace amounts may be present due to potential cross contact during manufacturing.