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When your four-legged friend is recovering from surgery, or it has an illness, the veterinarian will ask you to give it prescription pet food. According to the medical practitioner, these products will help your furry companion recover faster. They state that these contain specific ingredients which improve the health of your pets.
You need a prescription from the veterinarian to purchase these products. However, once you see the price tag of these types of pet food, you wonder what kind of ingredients they use in the manufacturing process? Does it have the necessary components to help your four-legged friend to a faster recovery?
Prescription Pet Food – Why do vets recommend it?
When your four-legged friend is suffering from a disease, such as diabetes, arthritis, kidney problems, and heart issues, the vet will ask you to give it prescription pet food. The manufacturers of these products claim that they contain the right ingredients to meet the dietary requirements for various illnesses. They also state that they avoid using substances that are known to cause inflammation or other problems.
What is in prescription pet food?
The best way to know what is in prescription pet food is to take a look at the list of ingredients and compare it with the normal variant. You will find the results weird, as both products use similar substances.
The question which arises in your mind is then what the major difference between these types of pet foods is? However, the reality is that it won't make much of an impact whether you stick to regular or prescription pet food. The diet tends to be the same in either case, regardless of how you look at it.
Should you feed your four-legged friend prescription pet food?
It is challenging to answer this question, as it depends on a lot of factors. In most cases, there is no difference whether you stick to prescription or regular pet food, due to the similarity of the ingredients.
A better option would be to look for an alternative, which will be useful in helping your four-legged friend recover faster. One diet is to feed your pet raw foods, as it provides high levels of nutrition. Also, it is easier for your furry friend to digest these ingredients.
Another alternative would be to go for high-quality pet foods, as they have the right nutritional profile. You can also create a customized and balanced homemade recipe to aid the healing process during an illness. If you have doubts regarding how to make one, you can always consult the pet nutritionist. You can also ask the veterinarian to recommend alternatives to prescription pet food if it is beyond your budget. Make sure you select the right one, to ensure your four-legged friend gets the proper nutrients from every meal!
The Top Prescription Pet Food For Your Pet
Prescription dog diets first started in the early 1900s and became more popular as World War II began and the meat was rationed. Dogs' diets were traditionally made up mostly of meat because people thought they were strict carnivores, Soggy Paws explained. But these prescription diets became successful as people saw the impact of their nutrient-rich ingredients. These primitive prescription diets included many of the ingredients that people think of in modern dog food, including fish, soy, egg protein, and other healthy meatless ingredients. Over the years, prescription pet food has evolved to the point where it's specialized to deal with a number of common canine health problems. Some have been formulated to reduce stomach irritation that can cause diarrhea or constipation, while others work to soothe more severe problems, such as colitis, skin conditions, dental health, diabetes, heart problems, pancreatic disease, obesity, or allergies. Take a look at some of the most popular prescription pet food, their uses, and the best prices available.
Hill's Prescription Diet Dog k/d Dry Food
If your dog has kidney trouble or renal disease, you may want to ask your veterinarian if Hill's Prescription Diet Dog k/d Dry Food is a good choice for you. This dry food is made with ingredients such as pork fat, rice, egg, corn, flaxseed, and various vitamins, specifically formulated to help the function of acutely or chronically damaged kidneys.
- At PetPlus, members can buy a 17.6-pound bag for $52
- Pet360 charges $53.95
- PetSmart sells it for $54.39
- PetFoodDirect charges $53.96
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food
Royal Canin is a well-known prescription pet food brand that veterinarians turn to when prescribing specialty diets. One popular prescription type is low-fat GI-specific canned food. It's been proven effective for use with dogs who have chronic pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia, acute diarrhea, bile deficiency, bacterial overgrowth, and a number of other serious conditions. With low amounts of fat and fiber, this food option helps dogs easily digest it and get the proteins, starches, and probiotics that this food is made to deliver.
- At PetPlus, members can purchase 24 13.5-ounce cans of this food for $59
- Pet360 carries this product for $62.97
- PetSmart sells this food at $2.89 a can or $69.36 per case
- PetFoodDirect has this food marked at $62.98
Hill's Prescription Diet Dog z/d Dry Food
This z/d low-allergen dog food formulation is designed to help any canine companion who suffers from severe food-related allergies. Hill's Prescription Diet Dog z/d Dry Food breaks down animal proteins before they ever get to the dog, so the dog is less likely to have an adverse reaction to the food through the Hill's Hydrolyzed Protein System. This food may help with allergy-related conditions such as skin irritation, gastrointestinal distress, and other autoimmune conditions. Hill's Prescription Diet Dog z/d Dry Food also has omega-3 and -6 fatty acids to help coat health.
- Through PetPlus, members can purchase a 17.6-ounce bag of this dry food for only $67
- Pet360 sells this food for $73.85
- PetSmart carries the same food for $71.99
- PetFoodDirect charges $73.86
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Urinary SO Dry Dog Food
Many older dogs need a little help when it comes to avoiding urinary tract infections and other urination issues. This prescription-only dog food delivers a nutritional diet directed toward urinary health. Royal Canin explains that this formulation is designed to dissolve struvite uroliths and prevent calcium phosphate urolithiasis, as well as regulate urine acidity and lower protein levels. Just because it can help your furry friend's urinary tract doesn't mean it isn't tasty, with ingredients such as chicken fat, corn, fish oil, rosemary extract, and rice.
- PetPlus members can purchase a 17.6-ounce bag for $50
- Pet360 carries this food for $50.97
- PetSmart sells this prescription food for $52.69
- PetFoodDirect charges $50.98
