Planet-friendly & animal-friendly feeding with Jus'Cani
by drs Annette van Weezel Errens
Planet-friendly & animal-friendly feeding with Jus'Cani
by vet Annette van Weezel Errens, MVSc
What goes in the bowl counts
You want to take good care of your dog and look after the planet at the same time. That's no small thing, because our pets take a sizeable share of the planet's resources. Worldwide, dogs and cats eat around 9% of all livestock animals, and in the United States as much as 20%. If every dog in the world ate a meat-free diet, it would save more greenhouse gas emissions each year than the entire United Kingdom emits in a year.1
Why a maximum of 20% animal protein?
Scientists on the EAT-Lancet Commission have worked out how we can eat healthily within the planet's limits: the Planetary Health Diet.2 That diet is largely plant-based, with, for example, 210 grams of fish, 210 grams of white meat, 105 grams of red meat and 2 eggs per week. Put another way, roughly a fifth of the protein comes from meat, fish and eggs.
That diet was designed for people, and a dog is not a person. So rather than copying it one-to-one, we used it as inspiration and checked every recipe against the nutritional standards for dogs. That led us to Jus'Cani: recipes in which no more than 20% of the protein comes from animal sources (less is fine too, and we also have recipes with a little more). The fatty acids a dog would otherwise get mainly from fish then come from algae oil.
Why algae oil?
Algae oil is a plant-based source of DHA, the same omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil. Fish get it from algae themselves, and algae oil simply skips that step, so no fishing is needed. A dog can only convert plant-based omega-3, from linseed for example, into DHA to a limited extent, which is why it comes ready-made in the Jus. Because omega-3 fats oxidise quickly, we always add vitamin E.
What does "a maximum of 20% animal protein" mean?
Your dog gets all the building blocks he needs; they simply come from different sources than he is used to.
- A small proportion of animal protein, such as chicken, heart, egg or quark, for flavour and protein. Meat isn't a must: with eggs and dairy you cook vegetarian, and without any animal products, vegan.
- The rest of the protein comes from plant and microbial sources, such as lentils, peas, soya and yeast.
- The fat comes from algae oil and a little vegetable oil.
This way you shrink your dog's ecological pawprint, while his menu stays complete.
What needs to go in the bowl?
- Good proteins. A mix of sources for muscles and coat. Every recipe is calculated for protein and its digestibility, so your dog gets enough without undigested protein ending up in the large intestine.
- Healthy fats. Algae oil for DHA, in the right balance with other oils.
- Vitamins and minerals. Tailored to what your dog needs and checked against FEDIAF 2025 and NRC.
- Fibre for the gut. Prebiotic fibres feed the good gut bacteria.
- Flavour. A tempting smell and a pleasant texture, even for fussy eaters.
How to switch over gradually
- Start by mixing. For the first few days, give half a portion of the new food together with the current food. The Jus is packed with good nutrients, but some dogs need a little time to get used to the taste.
- Weigh out the portions. That stops your dog from quietly putting on too much weight.
- Watch your dog. Keep an eye on his coat and his stools.
- Keep treats small, no more than 10% of what he eats in a day.
- Not sure? Then ask your vet, or ask us.
Why Jus'Cani makes it easy
- The recipes are tailor-made, taking into account your dog's age, weight, activity level and any sensitivities.
- You cook with little or no animal protein, and your leftovers get used up too. That means less waste, and you decide for yourself where the animal protein comes from.
- The menu is complete and easy to digest, and you choose what goes in the pan.
And your wallet?
Planet-friendly feeding is good for your wallet too. Plant-based protein sources are much cheaper than meat. If you compare the price per gram of protein, rather than per kilo of product, the difference is considerable:
| Protein source | Price per kg (approx.) | Protein per 100 g | Price per 100 g protein (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lentils or split peas (dried) | €3 | 24 g | €1.25 |
| Eggs | €5 | 12 g | €4 |
| Chicken breast | €11 | 22 g | €5 |
| Beef mince | €10 | 19 g | €5 |
| Steak | €25 | 21 g | €12 |
Indicative Dutch supermarket prices, 2026.
So protein from pulses costs only a quarter to a tenth of protein from meat. Because no more than 20% of the protein in Jus'Cani comes from animal sources, you pay the plant-based price for most of the protein. That leaves room to choose quality for that small amount of animal protein: organic, local, or your own leftovers.
Further reading
- Vet and professor Andrew Knight has been researching the sustainability of pet food for years: andrewknight.info
- On the Planetary Health Diet: Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre, in Dutch)
Sources
1. Knight, A. (2023). The relative benefits for environmental sustainability of vegan diets for dogs, cats and people. PLOS ONE.
2. EAT-Lancet Commission, Planetary Health Diet; Voedingscentrum.
Want to know more about planet-friendly and animal-friendly eating? Then read the Caring Movement's Planet-friendly and Animal-friendly Covenant (in Dutch).
