Medicinal dog food for various diseases
Every dog owner knows about dry, ready-to-eat foods for their pet, but not everyone knows about specialized veterinary diets. Simply put, these are therapeutic dog foods whose formulas help the animal overcome illness or support the dog during periods of exacerbation of chronic, untreatable conditions.
Not every manufacturer offers such diets, as producing such food requires a robust scientific base and complex formula development. All of this is extremely expensive, so only a major dog food manufacturer with significant financial resources and a strong R&D base can afford a full line of veterinary diets.
Among all the companies producing therapeutic dog food, three standouts stand out: Royal Canin, Hills, and Purina. Several other companies also offer veterinary diets, but due to their high cost and limited availability, they have not gained widespread popularity in our country. In this article, we'll look at the most popular therapeutic dog foods and discover how they differ fundamentally from regular pet food.
Royal Canin therapeutic dog food
Royal Canin is a leading French pet food manufacturer with production facilities worldwide. Since 2002, it has been part of a group of companies owned by Mars Inc.
Royal Canin's line of veterinary diets includes approximately 20 different diets. These include many designed for overweight and obese dogs, as well as dogs with sensitive digestionI'd like to pay special attention to the most popular therapeutic foods that help with chronic illnesses. Specifically:
- Cardiac is a nutritional supplement for dogs with heart failure. This food supports blood vessels thanks to its polyphenol content, while its high levels of L-carnitine and taurine improve cardiac contractility. Its low sodium content also reduces stress on the heart.
- Gastro Intestinal is a therapeutic food for dogs with gastrointestinal disorders. This diet is available in two versions: Regular and Low Fat. Highly digestible proteins combined with prebiotics help reduce the risk of digestive upset. Low Fat also contains a low percentage of fat, which also promotes digestion.
- Diabetic Special is a food prescribed for diabetic dogs. It's high in protein and low in sugar. Also, thanks to a low-glycemic index grain blend, this food doesn't spike blood sugar due to starch breakdown.
- Hepatic is a food for animals with liver disease and piroplasmosis. Thanks to its low copper and high zinc content, this food helps relieve stress on the liver. Soy protein isolate is an ideal protein source for dogs with liver problems. This food also contains a complex of antioxidants that slows liver cell degradation.
- Urinary – for dogs suffering from urolithiasisThere are two types of this food: U/C and S/O. The former is designed to reduce the risk of cystine stones by lowering the sodium content and alkalizing the urine.
- S/O – dilutes urine, providing a diuretic effect. This reduces the number of struvites and oxalates (stones that cause urinary tract obstruction). Reduced magnesium levels also prevent the development of struvites.
- Renal by Royal Canin is a therapeutic food for dogs suffering from chronic renal failure. This food is virtually phosphorus-free, significantly slowing the progression of the disease. Furthermore, the protein balance is carefully balanced, as exceeding the required protein intake significantly increases the burden on the kidneys. The alkalizing effect accelerates the elimination of hydrogen ions and the reabsorption of bicarbonate ions, which also reduces the risk of further kidney damage.
The rest of Royal Canin's diets are aimed primarily not at treating diseases, but at supporting the body during special conditions.
Hills therapeutic dog food
Another well-known manufacturer of veterinary dog food is the American company Hills, known for its Prescription Diet diets. They offer nine different diets, each designed to treat a specific ailment in pets. Due to their high-quality ingredients and widespread availability, these diets are often prescribed by veterinarians as a complement to medical treatment.
The most popular Hill's therapeutic dog foods are:
- Canine k/d is a therapeutic diet prescribed by veterinarians for dogs with kidney problems. Its low protein content prevents kidney strain, and its antioxidant content slows the progression of the disease.
- Canine c/d is a nutritional supplement for dogs with urinary tract problems. Its properties effectively combat oxalates, struvites, and calcium phosphate uroliths. This food also reduces the recurrence of urolithiasis in pets.
- L/d is a food prescribed for dogs with liver disease. It is effective for hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic sulphate (copper accumulation in the liver). It contains easily digestible proteins and fats that do not form metabolic toxins during digestion.
- Hill's d/d is a therapeutic food for dogs prone to food allergies, as well as for pets with dermatological issues. There are two d/d diets: with salmon and rice, and with rice and duck. Thanks to the dietary protein sources and the replacement of wheat with rice, the pet's stomach digests the food much easier. Another feature of this diet is the high content of omega-3 fatty acids, which help stop any dermatological inflammatory processes.
The remaining diets not included in our list are aimed at supporting dogs during recovery, or are designed to combat excess weight and obesity.
Purina therapeutic dog food
This American company, part of the Nestlé group, is a global leader in pet nutrition. The company's product line includes Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, a special diet for veterinary patients. The most well-known and popular of these are:
- NF Renal Functions is a food for dogs with chronic renal failure. It effectively reduces phosphorus levels in the body and helps slow the progression of the disease. Additionally, it contains a minimum amount of protein, which is difficult for kidney disease to digest, and contains many beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
- Hepatic HP is a therapeutic food for dogs with liver disease. It contains minimal proteins that can trigger toxin formation and helps reduce copper levels in the body, which negatively impacts liver cells.
- JOINT MOBILITY is a special diet designed to alleviate the pain of senior dogs, as well as large breed pets with joint problems. Containing DHA and EPA fatty acids, it effectively reduces inflammation in the joint capsule, thereby reducing pain. It is rich in antioxidants (vitamins C and E), which help slow the aging of canine cartilage.
- URINARY is a highly popular therapeutic dog food for urolithiasis. It effectively increases urine acidity, promoting the dissolution of struvite stones. It also contains a strictly limited amount of protein, which can serve as a breeding ground for urease-producing bacteria.
- CONVALESCENCE is a nutritional supplement that promotes rapid recovery in dogs after injuries and surgeries. It's rich in high-quality animal protein, providing plenty of energy without the risk of fat accumulation. It's easily digestible, even in weakened dogs.
In addition to the diets listed above, there's ProPlan, a therapeutic dog food designed for obese and overweight dogs. The list of veterinary diets also includes a nutritional supplement—a probiotic blend called FortiFlora—which helps combat dysbiosis and digestive disorders while boosting the dog's immunity.
So, we've briefly reviewed the main veterinary diets that can help a sick pet. However, we feel it's our duty to remind you that such diets should only be introduced into your pet's diet as prescribed by a veterinarian, and all dosages and feeding times for therapeutic food must be strictly followed! This is crucial, as violating these rules can not only fail to help your dog fight the disease, but can also significantly worsen its condition. We wish you and your pets good health!
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