If your pet has recently been diagnosed with a health condition it’s likely your vet has recommended a veterinary (also known as clinical or prescription) diet. Being introduced to a new pet diet can be overwhelming, especially if you’re used to a specific brand that you trust. If you’ve never heard of a veterinary diet before it’s understandable you’ll want to know what makes it different to a regular diet and if it really does improve your pets health.

To help explain we answer some of the most common questions about veterinary diets, tell you more about other advanced nutrition foods and introduce you to some of our current ranges for both.

What is a veterinary diet?

Pet food manufacturers such as Hill’s and Royal Canin have produced a wide range of veterinary diets clinically tested and backed by scientific research developed by a team of nutritionists and veterinarians.

These diets have been designed to help pet’s with certain conditions, this could be anything from kidney or urinary issues to digestive and weight management. Each diet provides nutritional support that is specifically formulated to help maintain health and manage symptoms.

For example, a diet for weight loss or obesity tends to have less fat and calories than standard diets, yet contain ingredients which help your pet feel fuller for longer (aiding their weight loss).

Hill’s nutritionists & veterinarians developed Prescription Diet r/d weight reduction to be specially formulated to support dogs’ weight loss. In fact, r/d is clinically proven to reduce weight loss in just 8 weeks.

Diets for pets with renal issues tend to have lower levels of good quality protein, controlled phosphorus and sodium to help ease kidney function, whereas pets requiring support for their liver (hepatic diets) will contain increased levels of antioxidants.

Many commercial diets do provide total nutrition, however they won’t include the ingredients formulated to support the health condition.

By giving your pet a recommended veterinary diet, you’re ensuring they receive the best possible nutrition for their condition.

Do clinical diets replace medication?

Your vet may recommend that you need to give your pet prescribed medication and a veterinary diet, or they may just suggest that a veterinary diet is enough to treat the condition – it really is individual to each pet. You should only ever medicate or feed veterinary diets as per your vet’s recommendation, and ensure you have regular reviews.

Are these veterinary diets only available via vets? Do you need a prescription?

No diet needs a prescription. Your veterinary surgeon only writes a prescription for certain licensed medicines.

It can be a little confusing as pet food brands often have ranges with the words “Prescription” or “Veterinary” in the name, but this is so that customers realise that these are clinical diets and should only be given to pets following a recommendation from a vet, for example “Hills Prescription Diet“, “Royal Canin Veterinary Diet” or “Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet“. Once you know the diet that’s been recommend by your vet, you’re free to buy it from where ever you choose.

Animed Direct offer a wide range of diets and deliver directly to your door, so there are no issues with transporting big bags or large cases of food around a store or home.

Can my pet start a veterinary diet immediately?

Your vet will advise how to introduce a new diet to your pet. Usually it’s recommended that you switch diets gradually over a few days to prevent sudden tummy upsets. Follow our guide How to introduce new food to your pet for some helpful tips.

Does it matter if my other pets eat some of it?

Yes, if you have a pet on a veterinary diet you must ensure that other pets in the household do not eat it.  A quick grab or occasional nibble won’t harm them but longer-term, regular eating of a specialist diet when there’s no need, can result in other pets becoming either deficient in certain minerals and calories or having too many (as the veterinary diet will be supporting an individual condition).

Try to give the pet on a bespoke diet somewhere private to eat and clear away uneaten food or invest in an automatic feeder which recognises individual pets and only opens and exposes the food when the correct animal approaches the bowl. SureFeed is one example and can easily cater for up to 32 different pets in the household.

How long should my pet stay on a veterinary diet?

It all depends on your pets condition. Your vet may recommend your pet stays on a veterinary diet forever, or it may be that your pet has improved and could possibly switch to a different maintenance diet. Even if you think your pets condition has improved, it’s important you consult your vet first before you change your pets diet.

Can I mix wet and dry diets?

Yes you can. Most brands offer both dry and wet choices of veterinary diets, so if your pet prefers a mix, it’s recommended you keep to the same brand and diet, as they’ll have been developed to work together in the same way. If you’re not sure how to mix them up, talk to your vet for advice.

Animed Direct stock a large range of Hills Prescription wet diets and Royal Canin Veterinary wet diets.

Be careful with mixing a regular diet with a diet tailored to your pets health condition. If your pet is struggling to eat a veterinary diet, there are some food supplements you can mix with regular food which will mimic the effects of a veterinary diet.

Advanced nutrition

If your pet doesn’t need a veterinary diet but could do with a little extra support, it’s worth looking at the wide range of advanced nutrition diets that are specifically made to cover the following areas:

• Neutered pets  – These diets are usually lower calorie to help prevent weight gain after hormone changes
• Life stages – There are diets for young/junior, adult, pregnant, mature and senior pets. All contain different mixes of nutrients to support the life stage changes e.g rapid growth or stiffening joints.
• Size or breed – There are a wide range of diets which have been developed to cater to breeds individual needs.
• Lifestyle -Diets for active or indoors pets.
• Common conditions – These diets can be given to maintain health and in some cases prevent conditions such as hairballs, digestion and skin problems.

Whether  it’s a veterinary diet recommended via a vet or other advanced diets, it’s a well-known fact that giving pets the best nutrition you can afford, which is suitable for their individual needs or life stage/style will keep them healthy for as long as possible.

Always discuss changes in veterinary diets with your vet before altering your pet’s food and remember to book regular reviews to keep their dietary needs relevant.

Below are just a few of our best-selling veterinary diets. The following links will take you to our full range of clinical diets from Hills, Royal Canin , Purina Pro Plan, Specific and Eukanuba.