What are Veterinary Diets?

November 14, 2013   |   By David Jackson, AllAboutDogFood.co.uk

There's no doubt that diet can make an enormous difference to your dog's health so when he's ill, it's only right that your vet should suggest a diet change. Over the last decade or so, the 'veterinary' or 'prescription diet' has become the vet's food of choice but as we will see in this article, they might not be the best options for your dog or your wallet.

prescription veterinary diets article

Veterinary foods are promoted as the ultimate in dietary therapy for your dog - so good in fact that only your vet can give it to you. The pristine packaging, the massive price tag, the fact that they are only available through vets, even the names 'Prescription Diets' and 'Veterinary Diets' all give the overwhelming impression that these are not mere foods but medicinal treatments and must, therefore, be the best choice for your sick dog. Unfortunately, in most cases, this couldn't be further from the truth.

The most important thing to realise is that the majority of veterinary diets are just standard pet foods. Most of them don't contain anything remotely medicinal and no prescription is required to buy them. They are only available through vets because the manufacturers choose not to sell them elsewhere. They could equally choose to sell them in pet stores, feed merchants or at car boot sales if they wanted to but that would damage the air of exclusivity they have worked so hard to create. I repeat, most prescription diets are just standard pet foods.

I say most because there are still a couple of instances where veterinary diets are probably the best choice. This isn't because they are good, nutritious foods (which they certainly are not) but because they contain a certain active ingredient or property that can make all the difference to dogs with certain problems. For example, for dogs with bladder stones (also known as uroliths) specific veterinary diets are able to make the urine more acidic in order to dissolve the stones. Clearly, no normal food is going to have this effect so if your dog has bladder stones, it would certainly be best to stick with your vet's suggested food, at least until your dog gets the all-clear. Another example is dogs with severe intolerance or allergies to a wide range of ingredients. Certain veterinary diets are scientifically tailored to remove or breakdown all potentially problematic molecules so that there is literally zero chance of it causing an upset. Again though, it is best only to use these kinds of foods short term until a safe, more nutritious food can be found.

Nevertheless, these are the exceptions to the rule. Out of all the hundreds of veterinary foods out there, only a handful can claim to have any real medicinal properties. The rest, as we will see, are little more than a collection of run-of-the-mill pet foods in shiny white packaging.


Example: Hill's i/d

Hill's Prescription Diet i/d is probably the most popular veterinary diet in the UK. Vets recommend it for all sorts of gastrointestinal disorders from colitis to pancratitis, IBD to bloat. According to Hill's, it is ideal for these sorts of problems because of its high digestibility, low fat content and its high level of fibre. It also contains electrolytes to help replace losses caused by vomitting and diarrhoea and antioxidants to neutralise free radicals.

That all sounds great but actually there's really nothing unique about it. The market is awash with digestible, low fat, high fibre foods. Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate) are found in abundance in any complete dog food and antioxidants have to be added to dry dog food to stop it going rancid immediately after production. So, contrary to what your vet might tell you, Hill's i/d is just one of many diets that might fit the bill for a dog with digestive upsets but, as we will see from the ingredients, it certainly isn't the best.


Hills i/d dry ingredients: Ground MaizeClick to see what we think about Maize / Corn in dog food, Ground RiceClick to see what we think about Rice - White in dog food, Dried Whole EggClick to see what we think about Egg in dog food, ChickenClick to see what we think about Chicken in dog food and Turkey MealClick to see what we think about Turkey in dog food, Maize Gluten MealClick to see what we think about Maize Gluten in dog food, DigestClick to see what we think about Digest in dog food, Dried Beet PulpClick to see what we think about Sugar Beet in dog food, Animal FatClick to see what we think about Unspecified Animal fats in dog food, Vegetable OilClick to see what we think about Vegetable Oil in dog food, Calcium CarbonateClick to see what we think about Calcium Carbonate in dog food, FlaxseedClick to see what we think about Linseed in dog food, Potassium Citrate, SaltClick to see what we think about Salt in dog food, Potassium ChlorideClick to see what we think about Potassium Chloride in dog food, Dicalcium PhosphateClick to see what we think about Calcium Phosphate in dog food, TaurineClick to see what we think about Taurine in dog food, L-Tryptophan, Vitamins and Trace ElementsClick to see what we think about Vitamins and Minerals in dog food. Contains EU Approved AntioxidantClick to see what we think about Artificial Preservatives in dog food.

It doesn't take a nutritionist to tell you that this is not a great food, but I'm going to anyway. The first, and therefore most abundant ingredient in Hill's i/d is maize - a grain that has become increasingly associated with dietary intolerance and actually causing digestive upsets. Add in the second ingredient rice and the added maize gluten further down and it's clear that i/d is a very grain heavy food. As dogs are primarily designed for digesting meat, this is not the best characteristic for a food to aid digestion. Meat, in fact, is only the 4th ingredient on the list and since the percentage isn't specified, the actual amount in the food could be very low indeed. The remaining ingredients really aren't anything to write home about either - digest, unidentified animal fats, added salt and even artificial antioxidants - all hallmarks of a low grade food. All of this adds up to the fact that Hill's i/d is a pretty bad dog food - by our standards, it scores just 1.8 out of 5 and yet your vet will charge you upwards of £60 for a 12kg bag!


The story is the same for just about all of the veterinary diet ranges out there:

  • Hill's r/d dry for overweight dogs: 2.4 out of 5
  • Hill's j/d dry for joint support: 1.7 out of 5
  • Hill's t/d dry for oral hygiene: 1.8 out of 5
  • Royal Canin Anallergenic dry for reducing intolerances: 1.4 out of 5
  • Royal Canin Dental dry: 2.0 out of 5
  • Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal dry: 2.1 out of 5
  • Purina HA Hypoallergenic: 1.2 out of 5
  • Purina EN Gastroenteric dry: 2.0 out of 5
  • Purina OM Overweight Management 1.2 out of 5

So why do vets sell veterinary diets?

There are several reasons why prescription diets have become so prominent within the veterinary industry: Firstly, as disillusioning as it might be, many vets just don't know any better. Nutrition makes up a very small part of veterinary training and of the few modules that are available, many are 'sponsored' by the manufacturers of veterinary diets themselves. Veterinary undergraduates learn that a dog suffering from condition x must be fed veterinary diet y. Other brands and feeding philosophies just don't get a look in so by the time newly graduated vets join their first vet practice, veterinary diets really are the extent of their dog food knowledge.

Then, of course, there's the money. Veterinary diets are incredibly expensive, the markup for the vet practice is huge and since you can't get them elsewhere, it makes good business sense for a vet to get you on to them. The manufacturers and distributors of the veterinary diets also offer massive cash incentives to practices that meet their sales targets - so large in fact that winning or losing the bonus can make a considerable difference to a practice's prosperity. With so much at stake, it's no surprise to find vets pushing veterinary diets so vigorously.

The Golden Rule

These days, specialist veterinary diets are available for everything from obesity to 'brain ageing' (whatever that is). The golden rule: if your dog is overweight or has problems with his teeth, digestion, joints or skin, he does not need a veterinary diet, he just needs a good diet - in fact, there are dozens of 'normal' foods that will probably be far more beneficial at half the price. You can use our Dog Food Directory to find the best food for your dog.

Prescription diet alternatives

Even a lot of more serious conditions like heart problems, diabetes, kidney disease and liver disease can arguably be managed just as effectively on some normal foods as on veterinary diets. The table below shows some of the biggest selling prescription diets and the characteristics that apparently make them uniquely suitable for dogs with particular health problems. As you can see, there is nothing extraordinary about any of these prescription foods - no medicines or active ingredients at all and every nutritional characteristics that they do have (like being highly digestible or low in fat for example) can be found in other over-the-counter foods at a fraction of the price.


Category of illness Condition Top vet diets Nutritional characteristics
Gastro Intestinal Gastritis / enteritis / IBD / colitis / EPI / Pancreatitis Hill's i/d
Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal
Purna EN Gastroenteric
High digestibility
Hypoallergenic
Low fat
High fibre
Diabetes Diabetes Melitus Hill's r/d
Royal Canin Diabetic Dog DS37
Purina DCO Dual Fibre Control
High fibre
No added sugars
Kidney Chronic kidney disease Hill's k/d
Royal Canin Renal
Purina NF Kidney Function
Low phosphorus
Low sodium
High fibre
Urinary stones / crystals Urate / cystine / oxalate - prevention only Hill's u/d
Royal Canin Renal
Low protein (high quality)
Low calcium
Low nucleic acids
Low phosphorus
Low Sodium
Struvite / calcium phosphate - prevention only Hill's c/d
Royal Canin S/O
Low protein (high quality)
Low magnesium
Low phosphorus
Liver Liver disease Hill's l/d
Royal Canin Hepatic
Low protein (high quality)
Low copper
High fibre
Low sodium
Heart Heart disease Hill's h/d
Royal Canin Cardiac
Low sodium
High taurine / l-carnitine

The bottom line

Vets are there to help so we certainly recommend following their advice in all aspects of your dog's health but when it comes to diet, it's always best to ask a few questions. If your vet suggests moving to a veterinary diet (or any other diet for that matter), make sure you ask them why. Don't take "because it's specially designed for dogs with this condition" as an answer - we need specifics. If there's a genuine reason why that food would be the best choice for your dog, then go for it. If not, look for alternatives and if in doubt, get in touch.


Comments

20 Comments AADF Privacy Policy Sign in to comment
KateB0505 6 months ago
Good article but would be much more helpful if the "better alternatives" where named.
Karen McGovern KateB0505 4 months ago
Totally agree as my vet has said I need to do a food trial with my French bulldog as he's got itchy skin, ear infections in one ear only and has diarrhea. They've told me to put him on purina HA or hills or royal canin but the nutritional values are like 18% but they don't want to keep him on steroids as he's only a young dog. £66 for 11kg of purina. I give him wainwrights superfood sensitive salmon for £50... £16 extra a month.... is it worth it????
Jill Adger 9 months ago
Excellent article
carrotdude one year ago
There's so much wrong with this article I don't even know where to start.
JCW737 carrotdude one year ago
Can you be specific?
Jill Adger carrotdude 9 months ago
Why?
Beverly 2 years ago
How long can I keep my chowowa on prescription food ,she has problems pooping ,since she has been on hills prescription she is now going 3 times a day ,before she could go 3 days without pooping ,this food really is good for her but ,need to know how long she can stay on it ,shei 12 months old thanks
Liz meehan 2 years ago
Hi ,after some advice please ,my 10month lab has had constant gastro problems & Guardia x 2 ,long story short vet now thinks it's allergies problem & has recommended strict 6-10 wk tried trial on allergenic food ie Royal Canin, & then reintroduce 1 food a fortnight ,I'm concerned about the cost ,we have tried various hypoallergenic foods but still results in very offensive pop ,sometimes form other times Ice cream consistency,am I going to have to go with royal cabin or does know of alternative allergenic food ? ,TIA
Karen McGovern Liz meehan 4 months ago
Same here with my French Bulldog.
Adrienne Jane 2 years ago
Hi, we have just been advised that our nearly 10 year old lurcher has early stage kidney disease, following urine and blood tests due to excessive drinking and urination. We have been recommended putting him onto a renal diet, such as royal canin, which a quick search shows to be very poor nutritional rating. He also doesn't tolerate wheat/grain well. Which is a major make up of this food. We have had him on step up naturals which has a much higher nutritional rating and he seems to get on well with. Any advice? Many thanks, Adrienne
Bob 5 years ago
Our Cavalier has digestive problems, even when on gluten free food, and he is ok when on Hill’s I’d or Royal Canin Anallergenic.
These foods definitely seem to suit him, but no alternatives are mentioned here
Christine 8 years ago
I have read this site with interest but feel it is dangerously misleading! The scoring system is floored as diets designed for specific problems may well have lower percentages of the ingredients this system rates highly – for example renal diets use more soya and gluten proteins than meat protein as they are more easily assimilated than meat proteins but because this system scores meat protein high and vegetable based protein low they are bound to score poorly. Of course, they authors use the argument that in the wild a dogs diet would contain a higher percentage of meat than vegetable/grain but then, in the wild animals wouldn’t live as long as our pets do and so probably wouldn’t suffer the diseases of old age!
.
Team AADF Christine 8 years ago
Hi Christine and thanks for posting. I'm not sure what gave you the impression that soya and gluten proteins are easier for dogs to assimilate than meat proteins? It has long been established that proteins form vegetable origin and ESPECIALLY gluten and soya proteins are much harder for dogs to digest and absorb than proteins from animal sources which has given rise to a relatively high incidence of gluten and soya intolerance in dogs. These are not ingredients that I would recommend for any dogs, let alone sick ones.
Christine Team AADF 8 years ago
I cannot speak for all prescription diets, my interest and experience lies mainly with the renal/diabetic specific diets, I was making the point that your use of the points system is misleading, if people do not read behind the figures. Even without the argument of animal vs vegetable protein a diet lower in protein will automatically score lower.
However whilst the quantity of protein in renal diets was the major focus in the past, recent research points to the type of protein holding the key and you can find numerous papers indicating that substitution of soy protein for animal protein results in less hyperfiltration and glomerular hypertension in both animal and human diabetic subjects and may reduce urine albumin excretion.
I have actually found it considerably harder to find many scientific studies supporting the hypothesis that proteins from vegetable proteins are harder for dogs to digest and much of the information available still appears to be anecdotal.
Team AADF Christine 8 years ago
The rating equation doesn't actually factor in protein content (or any other nutrient level) at all. It is based purely on assessing how healthy a food is likely to be for the majority of dogs based on the stated ingredients.The studies you mention sound very interesting indeed. Could you direct me to the papers in question?
Christine Team AADF 8 years ago
Oh, I'm sorry, I must have misinterpreted your faq's where it states "the more meat a food contains, the better it will score." as one of the "overriding principles of your rating program" and "carbs like maize and wheat always lose points". Which confirms to me that a scoring system is simply too simpistic to fully encompass the pros and cons of feeding specific foods - particularly where there is an underlying health concern.
The studies I refer to are all to be found on the ncbi website.
Team AADF Christine 8 years ago
Really no need to apologise Christine.The NCBI website is a big one. Could you be more specific?
Shirley 11 years ago
A family members cat was put on hills food when they took him for his inoculation. 3 months down the line the cat became diabetic and thousands of pounds later in vet bills they discovered it was due to the food.... they changed the food to a non-cereal based wet food,and hey presto the cat was no longer diabetic!!!! However several months later the cat had a stroke and had to be put to sleep... Makes you wonder doesn't it???

Advertisement

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Advertisers | Site map | Contact Us

Copyright © 2011 - 2024 All About Pet Food. All Rights Reserved. Company registered in Finland (why?) #3230956-3