Recently, prescription diets, referred to as ‘’veterinary diets,’’ have become very popular. These diets address the needs of dogs with specific health or medical issues. There are diets for almost all the conditions you can think of, including joint, cardiovascular, digestive, kidney, liver, skin, and many others.
Watching your furry friend struggle with health issues is frustrating as a dog parent. That’s why you try all possible ways to alleviate your dog’s pain. A good prescription diet may be all you need.
But, with so many options available, which product is best for your dog?
This article lists some of the best prescription dog foods available to help you make a choice.
Ready?
Let’s get started.
The Golden Rule
Dogs’ most common issues can be easily sorted through the right diet. If your dog has medical issues, it’s important to try out a good, well-balanced food before opting for the prescription diet. Consult your vet and find out the best way to handle the issue. Most normal foods are more beneficial for these issues at more affordable prices. Try these first before opting for prescription diets.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet
Royal Canin is among today’s most renowned prescription diets. This brand crafts special diets that address specific health issues such as digestive, renal, skin, joint, and weight issues. These are the most common prescription diets that the brand offers.
- Digestive Health: This formula is designed specifically for dogs with digestive issues. It’s crafted with an ideal balance of fibers to suit your dog’s size and digestion. This food also contains highly digestible proteins and a blend of prebiotics that encourages the growth of good bacteria in a dog’s gut and helps improve digestive health. This food ensures maximum nutrient absorption from your dog’s food.
- Weight Management: Royal Canin offers various formulas that help dogs maintain a healthy weight. These are formulated with low fat and calorie amounts plus ideal protein levels to supply your dog’s energy while ensuring it doesn’t pack unnecessary calories.
- Urinary Track Health: This food is designed to offer nutritional support to dog’s urinary tract and bladder health. It creates a urinary environment that discourages the formation of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. It also increases the amount of urine a dog produces to help dilute excess minerals that can cause crystals and stones.
- Skin and Coat Health: This formula is designed to feed your dog’s skin and coat from the inside, helping it look better. It is crafted with omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids plus amino acids to keep the skin and coat well nourished. It’s further enriched with ideal levels of tyrosine to enhance your dog’s beautiful color.
- Kidney Care: These formulas are tailored to support kidney health with antioxidants, fatty acids from fish oil, low phosphorus, and targeted protein levels. It is formulated to support kidney health and stimulate the appetite of adult dogs.
Pro
- The diets are available in both wet and dry forms
- Offers a wide variety of prescription diets
- Every recipe is crafted following proper nutritional research
- Offers diets for different breed sizes and ages.
Cons
- Has a history of past recalls due to melamine in the dog food.
- Limited flavor options for sensitive diets.
Hill’s Prescription Diet
This is a specific food line by Hills pet food brand. The brand offers dogs therapeutic nutrition to cater to specific health conditions. These formulas are crafted by a team of Ph.D. nutritionists and veterinarians for premium nutrition backed by science. These are some top Hill’s prescription diets available.
- Weight management: The Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management Formula is designed to activate your dog’s metabolism and help them lose weight. The food encourages your dog’s natural fat-burning process making it more active. Additionally, it includes a unique fiber blend that makes dogs feel full and reduces the need for between-meal snacks.
- Joint care: Hills Prescription diet J/D canine diet is specially formulated for dogs with joint and mobility issues. The formula contains controlled calorie content and L-carnitine to help maintain a healthy weight and avoid extra joint stress. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids are added to keep the cartilage well-nourished and improve joint health.
- Digestive care: These formulas are formulated for dogs with digestive system issues for various reasons. Hills Prescription diet I/D foods are crafted to help improve digestion. The foods address specific causes of digestive upsets like stress, food sensitivities, or changes in diet. Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Stress Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food is one such formula.
- Urinary care: Hill’s Prescription Urinary Care formulas support the urinary health of dogs by minimizing the risk of struvite stones and calcium oxalate formation in the urinary tract. These foods include controlled levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. This Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food is one of Hill’s urinary care formulas.
Pros
- A wide range of products for varied health conditions is available
- All the products are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Both wet and dry food varieties are available
- All the foods are made in the USA.
Cons
- Chicken is the main protein source in most recipes which is a major cause of allergies in some dogs.
- The brand often makes formula changes causing negative reactions in some dogs.
Pro Plan Veterinary Diets
Pro Plan Veterinary diets are a product of Purina Pet food, a renowned brand. These come in a wide range of products that include:
- Dermatologic management Nutrition: This 100% natural food is formulated to help nutritionally manage dogs with dermatological issues. It’s crafted with added vitamins and minerals plus generous omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to help nourish your dog’s skin and coat. Additionally, this diet is free from corn, wheat, or artificial colors and preservatives.
- Critical nutrition: This antioxidant-packed formula helps dogs recover from surgeries or prolonged treatment. The energy-dense food contains high-fat amounts to supply the calories your dog needs and a high protein content of amino acids that aid tissue repair.
- Gastroenteric dog food: Designed to promote optimal nutrient absorption and total digestibility, this formula is ideal for dogs with gastrointestinal issues. It’s made with a moderate fat content, antioxidants, medium chain triglyceride (MTC) vegetable or coconut oil plus prebiotic fiber to promote digestive health. The healthy antioxidants added to this food help to keep your dog’s immune system in check.
- Dental health: This high-quality nutrient blend has a crunchy texture and a great taste. It promotes your dog’s dental health by minimizing tartar buildup. This prescription dog food also contains proteins and antioxidants to support healthy muscles and overall body wellness.
- Calming care: This is a probiotic formulation crafted with a strain of beneficial bacteria to help dogs maintain calm behavior. The formula canines with anxious behaviors like jumping, pacing, spinning, and excessive vocalization. It also helps dogs cope with external stressors like changes in routine and location, separation, strangers, and unfamiliar sounds.
Pros
- Made with high-quality ingredients like real animal meat
- Available in both dry and wet variations
- Free from artificial ingredients
- Formulated to meet all FDA and AAFCO guidelines
Cons
- Some products contain filler ingredients like corn
- They have lower protein levels than some other prescription diets
- Past recalls of some formulas
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet
Blue Buffalo offers a range of veterinary diets to address different health issues in dogs. Some of these include
- HF Hydrolyzed food for Food Intolerance: Formulated for dogs experiencing food sensitivities, this food is designed to minimize the chance of severe reactions to common proteins. The formula features easily digestible ingredients hydrolyzed salmon, pumpkin, and whole potatoes. Vitamin E, C, and other antioxidant-packed ingredients like kelp are included to boost the immune system. Additionally, the food is free from grains, chicken by-product meals, corn, soy, wheat, and artificial colors or preservatives.
- KS Kidney support: This is crafted with controlled protein and mineral levels and enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to support your dog’s kidney health. Kidney care food starts with real chicken as the first ingredient and is completely free from corn, soy, wheat, chicken by-product meals, and artificial flavors. It also has controlled levels of phosphorus and sodium to support kidney health.
- WU Weight Management and Urinary Care: This diet is made with ideal levels of fat and calories to aid in weight management, plus high amounts of fiber to keep your dog fuller for longer. With controlled mineral levels such as magnesium and sodium, this grain-free meal supports your dog’s urinary health. Moreover, the food avoids troublesome ingredients such as wheat, corn, and soy, making it great for sensitive tummies.
- GI Gastrointestinal Support: Formulated for dogs with digestive issues, this formula is made with easily digestible proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to support optimal nutrient absorption. It includes prebiotic fibers to help balance and maintain a healthy GI microflora.
Pros
- These foods are free from fillers like soy, wheat, or corn hence gentle on your dog’s tummy.
- They do not contain any animal by-products.
- No artificial colors or preservatives are included.
Cons
- No formulas for anxiety relief
- The formulas are very expensive
HI-TOR Veterinary Select Neo Diet
HI-TOR offers a small range of specially formulated diets to address specific health issues. These include
- The hi-Tor Neo diet is for dogs with kidney issues like kidney disease or kidney failure. The food is for dogs that need a diet with low protein, phosphorus, and sodium levels to manage the renal disease. The restricted protein levels help to reduce the strain on the kidneys.
- Hi-Tor Reduso diet: This formula helps in the dietary management of overweight adult dogs. The food has controlled fat and calorie amounts.
- Hi-Tor Felo diet: This food contains reduced magnesium, phosphorus, and 100% natural ingredients to promote your dog’s overall well-being.
Pros
- The diet includes rice bran as a rich source of fiber to promote digestion.
- Formulated with chicken fat which is not only nutritious for dogs but also a good source of omega fatty acids that promote healthy skin
- The products are made without artificial colors or preservatives, making them ideal for sensitive digestion.
Cons
- No chelated minerals to enhance nutrient absorption in the blood.
- Some formulas have filler ingredients, such as corn which has a low nutritional value.
- The food does not contain ingredients that foster healthy gut bacteria.
Darwin’s Natural Pet Products
These are some of the prescription diets offered by Darwin dog food:
- Cancer support diet: This is formulated for dogs undergoing cancer treatment or as a preventive measure. The food is high in proteins and antioxidants but low in starch and carbohydrates. It’s additionally free from any inflammatory ingredients. Superfoods like blueberries and raspberries help fight free radicals and boost your dog’s immunity.
- Kidney support: This formula supports kidney health. It has ingredients that help to stop or slow down kidney failure in canines. This kidney care diet contains a balanced protein and low carbohydrate and starch content. It also has higher calcium levels to ensure lower phosphorus absorption and promote proper kidney functioning.
- Joint and musculoskeletal support: This high-protein formula supports dogs’ joint and muscular health. The food also is enhanced with fatty acids and antioxidants to boost immunity and improve overall health. With low carbs and calorie levels, this diet can help your dog maintain a healthy weight and improve mobility.
- Liver support: With high zinc levels plus other essential vitamins, including E, B, D, and K, this formula supports healthy liver functions. The food contains licorice root powder which lowers liver damage and protects it.
Pros
- The diets are made using responsibly sustained ingredients
- Has very few processed foods
- No fillers, hormones, grains, or preservatives, making it suitable for sensitive digestion.
- Made with cage-free and pasture-raised animal meat
Cons
- Past possible contamination recorded by the FDA
- Some products have been recalled
Calibra Veterinary Diets
Calibra offers a wide selection of prescription diets that address different health issues in dogs, such as skin and coat, liver, stomach, intestinal, kidneys, heart, diabetes, and obesity.
- Calibra Renal and Cardiac diet: This food slows down the speed of kidney failure. It helps in the dietary management of renal failure and insufficiency, support during the treatment of cardiac diseases, and support during the treatment of hypertension. It contains adjusted levels of protein, phosphorus, and sodium. It also has high arginine and taurine to improve blood flow and cardiac muscle condition.
- Hypoallergenic skin and coat support: Consists of formulas designed for dogs with skin and coat allergies. These highly functional ingredients, including salmon oil, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, and vitamin A, support skin and coat health. These diets support skin function by reducing ingredients and nutrient intolerance.
- Hepatic: This supports liver functions for dogs with chronic liver insufficiency. The food contains low protein and sodium content, and it’s enriched with high levels of vitamins, prebiotics, L-carnitine, and silymarin to support your dog’s hepatic function.
- Gastrointestinal and pancreas support: This diet helps to alleviate pancreatic disorders, diarrhea, sensitive digestion, and acute or chronic digestive issues. It contains highly digestible proteins such as eggs, hydrolyzed salmon, and low-allergenic carbohydrates. It also has low-fat amounts to help reduce pancreatic irritation.
- Struvite formula: Ideal for dogs under struvite stones or other UTIs treatment, this formula has lower phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium content to lower the RSS index essential for dissolving struvite stones.
- Diabetes and obesity support: This has high protein and fiber content but low carbohydrates, fats, and calorie levels. It’s also added with L-carnitine in dog food to enhance fat metabolism.
Pros
- Offers a wide range of prescription diets
- Made with high-quality ingredients
- It has no artificial colors or preservatives
Cons
- It’s costly
- Some formulas have chicken which is a major cause of allergies in dogs.
Farmina Vet Life Dog Food
These are some of Farmina’s prescription dog food formulas:
- Derma management: These formulas help reduce adverse reactions and allergies to some ingredients and foods. Formulated with easily digestible and hypoallergenic ingredients, these foods support the trophic function of the skin and its appendages like eyes, ears, and anal sacs.
- Diabetic canine formula: This helps in the regulation of glucose intake and aids in the reduction of excessive body weight. The formula is made with low glycemic carbohydrates and high levels of soluble fiber to keep your dog feeling fuller for longer. With high protein and soluble fiber levels plus low energy density, this food is ideal for the control of obesity in dogs.
- Obesity canine formula: Farmina vet life obesity dog food is helpful for overweight dogs. This low-calorie food contains high amounts of fiber to keep your dog feeling satiated, hence reducing its appetite, which aids in weight loss. High-quality proteins and carnitine prevent the reduction of muscle mass during weight loss.
- Renal support: This food is for dogs with kidney issues. It supports renal function in dogs with chronic or temporary renal insufficiency. The food is crafted with low protein, sodium, and phosphorus levels to ensure your dog gets all the nutrition it needs without straining the kidneys. It also has high levels of antioxidants to neutralize free radicals and boost overall body well-being.
- Skin and coat formula: This formula has no allergy-triggering ingredients. It contains enhanced levels of vitamins and minerals to promote healthy skin and coat.
Pros
- Manufactured in the US using responsibly sourced ingredients.
- Available for dogs of different sizes.
- Free from fillers, GMOs, hormones, and artificial colors or preservatives.
- All the products utilize high-quality ingredients.
Cons
- The products are not easily accessible.
- The products are very costly.
JustFoodForDogs
JustFoodForDogs offers a good range of health-specific formulas. Check out some of these below.
- Kidney care: This supports your canine’s kidney health with carefully controlled phosphorus, protein, sodium, potassium, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, and enhanced levels of B vitamins. This meal is highly palatable and has the right balance of electrolytes to maintain optimal kidney health.
- Critical care support: This is a highly digestible and palatable nutrient-dense food formulated with high amounts of calories and fats to support a healthy appetite in dogs. This food is ideal for dogs undergoing treatment for some diseases to help them maintain a healthy weight.
- Hepatic support: This low-diet formula supports healthy liver function with controlled protein, copper, phosphorus, and calories. The food has no fillers, hormones, BHT, BHA, artificial colors, or preservatives.
- Skin and joint care: This food includes lean protein sources such as pork loin, tenderloin, and other ingredients supporting skin and coat health. It’s made with lower calories to manage weight and adds type II collagen to support joint health.
- Metabolic support: The food is formulated with complex sources of carbohydrates and high amounts of fiber to promote healthy metabolism
Pros
- The food has no fillers and preservatives
- All the products are shelf-stable
- The products contain human-grade ingredients
- The formulas contain fish oil to support bone health
Cons
- The food requires freezer space
- The food is not pre-portioned
Forza 10
Forza 10 has many health-specific formulas, including
- Renal support diet: This has low protein, phosphorus, and sodium to cater to dogs with kidney issues and heart disease. This complete and balanced food contains limited ingredients and single-source proteins and carbohydrates that are easy on your dog’s tummy. It’s also devoid of by-products or fillers that can trigger allergies.
- Skin relief: This formula supports dogs with sensitive skin. The food contains high omega fatty acids to help stop scratching, redness, dry and dull fur, paw licking, hot spots, and tear stains. It has no artificial ingredients, additives, or fillers, making it great for skin issues.
- Digestive care: Featuring a single protein and single carbohydrate, this diet is for dogs with sensitive digestion. This easy-to-digest formula can help minimize upset stomach, diarrhea, bloating, and flatulence.
- Defense active: This helps dogs with immune disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, keratoconjunctivitis, lupus erythematosus, stress, excessive fatigue, sarcoptic or demodectic mange, and leishmania. The food is made with selected proteins and carbohydrates to help reduce intolerances to ingredients and nutrients.
Pros
- Provides complete and balanced nutrition.
- All formulas utilize high-quality ingredients.
- The food is supported by scientific evidence.
Cons
- Some dogs don’t like the food’s flavor.
Do You Really Need a Prescription for Dog Food?
No, getting a prescription for dog food is not a legal requirement. This is because the manufacturers of prescription foods are not required to follow and complete the FDA clearance procedure when modifying the ingredients. You can easily find prescription dog foods online at Amazon, Chewy, and other popular pet supplies retailers.
When to Give a Dog Prescription Pet Food?
Most dogs thrive on the pet foods found in pet stores. However, dogs with specific health issues like digestive problems, food allergies, obesity, pancreatitis, and bladder stones may need specialized nutrition to help address these issues. You should seek the advice of an experienced veterinarian before going for prescription diets.
The following are the most common issues that prescription diets address:
- Obesity: Excessive weight poses serious health risks like cardiovascular issues, joint problems, breathing difficulties, and intervertebral disc disease in dogs. A prescription diet low in carbohydrates and fiber can help dogs maintain a healthy weight.
- Food sensitivity: Dogs can be allergic or sensitive to certain foods or ingredients. Consuming these may lead to adverse reactions, including itchy skin, diarrhea, or vomiting. To address this issue, a prescription diet that’s made with highly digestible ingredients, including novel proteins and carbs, can help ease and relieve the symptoms associated with these issues.
- Kidney disease: With the right diet, dogs with chronic kidney disease can live up to several years. An ideal diet for these dogs contains a moderate amount of high-quality protein plus controlled phosphorus and sodium levels to reduce the workload on the kidneys. It should also be fortified with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote kidney function and overall body wellness.
Are Prescription Dog Foods More Expensive?
Yes, compared to regular dog food, prescription diets are much more expensive. This is because they address specific health concerns, are based on research and development, and utilize beneficial bio-available ingredients.
Why Do Some Dog Foods Require a Prescription?
While you don’t need a prescription for dog foods, it’s necessary to consult a qualified veterinarian before feeding some of the prescribed dog foods. A thorough understanding of a dog’s health issue must provide the right food to address its health concern.
What Ingredients are in Prescription Dog Food Diets?
While different prescription dog food diets utilize different ingredients, they come without grains, artificial flavors, or preservatives. The most popular ingredients in prescription dog food diets include high-quality and lean proteins such as chicken and chicken liver, complex carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamin E supplements, pork fat, flaxseed, and potassium chloride.
The FDA does not regulate prescription dog food diets. As such, they do not need to abide by FDA regulations regarding food safety and quality.
Prescription diet alternatives
| Category of illness | Condition | Nutritional characteristics | Top vet diets |
| Kidney | Chronic kidney disease | High in fiber, low sodium, low phosphorus | Royal Canin RenalHills k/dPurina NF kidney function |
| liver | Liver disease | Low amounts of high-quality protein, high fiber, low sodium | Royal Canin Hepatic Hills i/d |
| Diabetes | Diabetes Mellitus | Low glycemic carb, high fiber | Purina DCO dual fiber control Hills r/dRoyal Canin Diabetic |
| Gastrointestinal | Pancreatitis, gastritis, colitis, IBD, or EPI | Low fat, high digestibilityHigh fiberHypoallergenic | Royal Canin GastrointestinalHills i/d |
| Heart | Heart disease | High levels of taurine and L-carnitineLow sodium, low fat | Royal Canin Cardiac Hills h/d |
| Urinary stones | Cystine/Urate | Low sodium, low protein, low phosphorus | Royal Canin RenalHills I/d |
Best Prescription Dog Foods: FAQs
So why do vets sell veterinary diets?
There are a couple of reasons why vets sell veterinary diets. They may think they are the best option due to their limited knowledge. It could also be for the money as they get very high markups from the food manufacturers for promoting these diets.
Can a healthy dog eat prescription food?
Since prescription dog food diets address specific health issues, feeding them to healthy dogs does not make sense. They only need high-quality and well-balanced food to thrive.
What do I do if my dog won’t eat his prescription food?
While prescription dog foods are healthy, they are not very palatable. To encourage your dog to eat his prescription food, you need to improve the natural aroma of the food to tempt your dog to eat it. You can thus add some warm broth or water and heat it to bring out flavor and aroma. You can also switch brands till you find the one your dog likes.
What is the difference between Hill’s Prescription Diet and Science Diet?
While Hill’s prescription diet addresses the needs of dogs with specific health or medical conditions, the science diet caters to the needs of healthy dogs at different life stages. Additionally, prescription diets require a vet’s prescription, while science diets are available through vets and pet stores.
Is prescription pet food worth it? Final Thoughts
Yes, prescription pet food is worth it if your dog has specific health or medical conditions.
These diets address specific health issues such as weight management, kidney, liver, joint, and cardiovascular issues.
However, before switching to prescription foods, you must consult your veterinarian to determine if this diet is the best solution. Don’t rush; ask the relevant questions and understand the benefit your dog will derive from the food.
Healthy dogs with no medical or health issues do not need prescription food. All they need is a high-quality and well-balanced diet to thrive.