tabular array of Contents
When your dog is diagnosed with a diseasethat require dieting change , a veterinarian may recommend a prescription dog intellectual nourishment mark .
These food for thought are costly .
Sometimes , it ’s your only pick , but only sometimes .
Here ’s what you probably did n’t get it on about prescription medicine dog solid food
Prescription Dog Food: 16 Things You Didn’t Know
What Are Your Dog’s Needs?
Sometimes , your dog will call for a significant variety in his diet , whether due to allergic reaction , new or older wellness conditions , a raw stomach , or other reasons .
If you ( and your pet ) are in this position , start by looking into veterinary products and over - the - counter solution for unlike dog-iron food for thought diets before adjudicate what ’s right for you and your dog .
Do your own research using your veterinary ’s diagnosis as a starting point ?
There ’s a lot ofmisinformationfloating around the internet about preferred nutrition .
Research , learning , and understanding are of the essence to avoid being duped into something you do n’t need .
Even though your vet will often counsel prescription hound intellectual nourishment diet for specific illnesses , you most likelydon’t take to grease one’s palms these expensive click food for thought brands .
That ’s just reality .
I ’ll explain why below , but mostly , it comes down to the fact that there aregood foods for the moneythat are formulate likewise to prescription medicine foods .
Differences Between Over-the-counter and Prescription Dog Food Diets
Obviously , prescription medicine veterinary dog foods are only uncommitted from veterinarians .
Prescription detent food for thought manufacturers are govern by a jumble of individual State Department provender control officials under theFDA ’s Center for Veterinary Medicine .
Other labeling standards are fix by the Association of American Feed Control Officials ( AAFCO ) for prescription medicine pet food diet and over - the - buffet products .
If a product says it can prevent or deal a disease , research to essay it should be submitted to the Center for Veterinary Medicine ( CVM ) under the FDA .
Sadly , many dog foodsuse more general termsto get around that .
They will say they underpin and promote ripe wellness in wiener rather than make specific medical claims .
favored owners , in the meantime , take on this will help their dogs with a specific disease , which is often not the case .
The bottom seam is to be vigilant , read those recording label closely , and do research .
Pet Food is Big Business for Veterinary Clinics
I ’ve writtenthis articlebefore about how close related veterinary clinics and vets are to preferred food maker and how they sour together .
It ’s important to be aware thatyour veterinarian may have a vested interestin getting you to buy prescription medicine dog nutrient diets at their clinic .
Moreover , it might storm you that many veterinary only havebasic animal nutritioneducation .
Since the 1980s , pet food sales have bumped their profits significantly .
The trend top out between 2000 - 2005 , as pet food costs increased by more than 30 percentage .
This stalled sales , pushing best-loved food manufacturers to become even more involved in veterinary care to remain in the loop .
We ask to voice our concern over this and remain sceptical .
Pet Food Manufacturers, Retailers, and Veterinary Chains are Sometimes Connected
Some with child preferent good retailer in the USA own certain veterinary chains . This makes veterinary surgeon infirmary the largest veterinary chains in the country .
According to Banfield Pet Hospital , Mars is the owner of Banfield Pet Hospital and Blue Pearl under its veterinary wellness section .
These are disjoined from its favourite care air division , which include prescription and over - the - tabulator pet food ( source ) .
As these multinationals are showing the way to higher net , other pet food for thought conglomerates are survey their instance and buy up veterinary clinics too .
Prescription Pet Food Manufacturers are Sometimes Sued for Price-fixing
Due to the incestuous nature of the prescription drug dog food business , it is easy to falsely promote its use and control its price .
The stick with company have beennamed in a lawsuitaccusing them of conspiring to do so illegally :
The complainant in the class natural process suit desire restitution , threefold indemnification , and to blockade how the defendants market their prescription pet food diets .
Prescription Dog Food Doesn’t Contain Drugs That Require a Prescription by Themselves
Another ivory of disceptation is that prescription dog food dieting ( as well as cat food ) should n’t postulate a prescription medicine at all since they contain no peculiar drugs , control substances , or unique ingredients , compared to over - the - rejoinder intersection .
Many are n’t even evaluated by the FDA .
Since the product comes with a prescription , most best-loved possessor assume it will treat and prevent wellness problem better than what ’s available over the counter .
Many dog possessor also dread the outcome for not following their vet ’s advice , give the products what ’s debate as an unfair advantage .
PetSmart Allegedly May be Illegally Charging Tax On Prescription Animal Foods
A lot of pet food manufacturers have been in hot water over the last few years .
PetSmart has a freestanding and unrelatedclass activeness lawsuitagainst them .
They were litigate because their receipts show that prescription medicine pet food is non - taxable , but revenue enhancement is still charged .
Plaintiffs want free burning pecuniary recompense , court costs , and further fill-in from the court , but looking at the history of how these things sour out , it does n’t look serious for the preferent owner either way .
Pet Food Labels Aren’t Always Accurate
Did you know that what you take on the label of your dog ’s food is n’t always the truth ?
Both prescription dog food brands and over - the - counter preferred food can be contaminated with ingredients , not on the label , and the FDA does n’t seem to have an issue with that .
For example , the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutritionpublished a studyin 2011 where three of the four soy - free venison pet food for thought they testedhad soya bean in them .
One preferent nutrient producthad unlisted gripe in itas well .
Hydrolyzed Proteins in Prescription and Specialty Foods May Contain Meat Byproducts and Feathers
A product ’s Leontyne Price and the quality of its ingredient do n’t always follow each other as consumer might expect .
Some special over - the - counterpunch and prescription dog food brands use hydrolyzed center , particularly allergen - free and limited component formulas .
This is also lie with asfeather meal .
The feathers and other meat by - product are broken down into basic aminic acids under very gamey heat , and then “ palletizers ” are added to make them taste more attractive .
The theory behind this is that some pets are sensitive to certain variety of intact animal protein . Still , such problems are often stimulate by hapless - quality protein and other constituent in many pet food in the first position .
The digestibility of the resulting amino group acidsis dissimilar from the essential nutrient ' bioavailability , though .
Along with other ingredients not instinctive for our pet ’s body , like corn whiskey , straw , soy , potato , and other amylum , the resulting product are not biologically appropriate or nourishing , accord to some experts .
They create barren products in the blood that the kidneys and liver have to deal with .
Dogs and cats feed too much or only ironical pet food are desiccate at a low level .
That ’s hard on their organs and results in many diseases in dogs .
Let ’s cover a few of the most common diseases and health issues in dogs and when prescription medicine dog food is often counsel for these illnesses .
You ’ll also discover how you’re able to pick alternative or even good dog solid food brands that arenotexpensive prescription drug dog food diets ) .
Kidney Disease & Chronic Renal Failure Foods
Dogs with kidney disease and renal failure require avery specificdog food dieting .
Prescription dog nutrient diets for kidney and heart disease are common solutions prescribed by veterinary surgeon , as well as some weighting loss and senior dog food formulas .
But expensive prescription medicine andiron foodsaren’t the only agency to go in this case .
The good pick for dogs with nephritic problems is high - quality foods with restrained to miserable levels of protein .
These foods must also have fiddling to no daystar and Na . There are plenty oflow - protein dog foodsthat fit well and will not be you an arm and a peg .
Homemade frump food ( specifically design for wienerwurst with kidney problem ) may also be a great treatment , although it often turns out to be more expensive than computer memory brands .
Allergy Diets and Gastrointestinal Disease Dog Foods
Many pawl breedsare very susceptibleto allergies and gastrointestinal diseases .
As a result of these diseases , symptom in dog may include skin problem , allergic reaction , intolerances , or gastrointestinal issue .
Once you see these symptoms and visit your veterinarian , you ’ll be notify to prescribe dog solid food , but you do n’t actually ask it .
To crusade this , search forlimited - ingredient dog foodsandnovel protein recipe .
Hydrolyzed protein hot dog diet are a common solution for this , but a controversial one .
Moderate or low fat and soluble fiber levels are often recommend for dogs with these problems ; however , some pets may necessitate more fibre , not less .
There are exceptional products forInflammatory Bowel Disease , but tryout and error is often demand to encounter the right diet .
Foods for Canine Arthritis, Hip & Joint Problems and Diseases
Canine arthritis is a disease that most dog owners fear as their favorite age .
Fortunately , there are fashion to foreclose it or alleviate the symptoms using a right diet .
One proven way is givingfish oil to dogs .
Pisces the Fishes oil color contains omega-3 fatty acids ( EPA and DHA ) , which have been shown in clinical trial to behighly effectiveagainst dogtooth arthritis and joint problems ( source ) .
Somesupplementsfor dogs with arthritis will also hold in glucosamine , chondroitin sulphate , and vitamins , all of which are the key ingredients to a healthy diet for dogs .
New Zealand ’s green - lipped mussels are popular , too , for their glycosaminoglycans .
But when it comes to ethical drug dog intellectual nourishment , it ’s a bit different .
The frankfurter ’s weight must be carefully curb , so always check the number of calories and fortune size .
Over - the - riposte and prescription weenie solid food senior formulas , turgid breedpuppy foods , or other diets for joint support are usually “ urge . ”
But glucosamine and chondroitin levels in prescription medicine wienerwurst food diets are usually so low that they may have little or no effect whatsoever ( source ) .
Therefore , it ’s a waste of money .
moreover , they ’ve never even been approved by the FDA or AAFCO as pet food ingredients .
These supplements do n’t get approved because there is n’t enough scientific evidence that they prevent or treat joint issues or arthritis in cats and dogs .
The loony toons is also challenge to operate if your pet does n’t always finish his food for thought .
Weight Control & Diabetes Management Dog Food Brands
corpulency and weight problems in dogs are becomingincreasingly commonin the US .
But choosing a high-priced weight departure ethical drug dog food diet is n’t your only choice .
You need to bang that the samara to weighting personnel casualty in dogs without famish them is choosing the right eccentric of nutrient that will keep them full and quenched .
high fiber will always make pawl ( as well as man ) feel more full without more Calorie . Between 200 - 300 Calorie per cup are vulgar .
It also slows digestion , which is excellent for maintain steady blood glucose level .
In addition , some dogs ' weights will improve with gamy - protein diets that are very down in saccharide .
This will command some thought and calculate on your part .
If you ’re not up for it , ethical drug frankfurter food formulas are made specifically for dogs with diabetes and glucose control .
Senior Prescription Dog Food vs. Over-the-Counter Diets
I havewritten beforeabout why you must always view your hotdog ’s age before picking the correct type of diet .
Senior hotdog will postulate specific nutrition to keep them level-headed .
As indicated above , Pisces oil will be highly good to fourth-year domestic dog .
Omega-3s help with joints and arthritis in sr. dogs . These fat acids and antioxidants keep going dogs ' brain health and many other bodily functions .
Mostsenior dog foodswill carry these ingredients .
gloomy - fatty and calorie recipe areusually advisedfor older dogs , but not all fourth-year pet are overweight .
Thus , some senior bounder may require the contrary .
Many of these ethical drug dog nutrient will include glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for the joints , but remember what I said about these additives above ( i.e. , they may not needfully work ) .
Urinary Tract Disease and Kidney Stones Dog Foods
Problems with urinary tract disease and kidney stones are less prevalent , but they ’re still around , and you should know how to change your dearie ’s diet if you encounter them .
Wet dog food is the unspoilt choice in these cases due to the eminent degree of liquid .
Canned blackguard foodwill thin the urine better than kibble .
Prescription wiener intellectual nourishment is specific to the type of mineral regain in a urinalysis or the stones .
Over - the - counter solutions for these issues are rare , so in this case , prescription brand may be the room to go .
Cardiac Diets for Dogs
This is another issue that elderly cad are more probable to have . Still , not all veterinary - recommended prescription medicine detent food diet will work to deal with this .
Kidney and gerontological prescription diets and dog heart disease - specific products are sometimes recommended .
Low sodium is the common factor in these dog food recipes .
Still , thereisn’t much scientific evidenceproving its benefit for hypertension in frump .
Its effect are evendoubtfulin human blood pressure level , other than in uncommon someone tender to sodium ( reference ) .
Taurine and Carnitine are two ingredients with potential ( but still unproven ) benefits for core disease in cad and Pisces oil color with omega-3 butterball acids .
Prescription Dog Food: A Final Word
My contention in this clause is not that veterinarians are n’t all-important partner in the treatment and prevention of health problem of our bounder .
You should never seek to name issues yourself , no matter how alluring that is with the ease of use of the internet .
But , since it is a partnership , you need to do your part .
Alwaysread bounder intellectual nourishment label , then talk to your vet about anything you do n’t understand , especially the ingredients .
enquire themspecific questionsand address your concerns .
Your veterinarian ’s responses will tell you a lot about how much they have a go at it about canine nourishment and the products they recommend for your dog .
If your favorite ’s health does n’t ameliorate after a few weeks , it might not be the right intersection .
He might do better with supplements or a different approach .
Every pet is different , and it might take trial and error to find the good way to help your wienerwurst .
Never experience you ’re modified to the product available from your specific veterinarian .
There are many health products for cad , and the numbers are constantly growing .
Most significantly , if you do n’t see any positive changes and your veterinarian does not address that , go to a different vet clinic or find a honorable professional .
Like this infographic ? Spread the Holy Writ ! Share it on your website :
< p> Please include attribution to TopDogTips.com with this graphic.
