Veterinarians often recommend prescription diet dog food, with some reports suggesting that 35% to 45% of their patients are placed on these specialized diets. A 2011 Pet Food Industry survey indicated that 83% of dog owners consider their vet the most important source of information on pet nutrition. However, the quality and necessity of these prescription diets have come under scrutiny. This article aims to explore the ingredients found in these diets, question their purported benefits, and provide a balanced perspective on whether they are truly superior to regular dog food.
The Veterinary Nutrition Education Gap
Veterinarian Debbie Phillips-Donaldson points out that most US veterinarians receive limited formal education on companion animal nutrition, often consisting of just one basic course. Further information is frequently supplied by pet food manufacturers who sell through the veterinary channel, which can lead to biased and limited perspectives. This raises concerns about the basis on which vets prescribe these diets.
Ingredient Analysis: A Blind Test
Pet food expert Marion Smart, PhD, proposed a challenge: could vets identify prescription diets based solely on their ingredient lists? To find out, several vets were presented with four ingredient labels, one of which was a veterinary diet, without knowing the brands.
The Results
The vets' evaluations revealed some stark opinions about the prescription diet's ingredients. Below are the ingredients of Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Dry Adult Dog Food that was rated the lowest.
- Corn
- Chicken By-Product Meal
Dr. Marty Goldstein ranked the prescription diet (Food #3) last due to its corn-based primary ingredient and by-product meal.
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Other vets had even harsher criticisms:
- Dr. Jodie Gruenstern: Called it the "lowest quality in the list," citing GMO corn and soy, synthetic vitamins/minerals, cellulose (sawdust), and potentially harmful "natural flavors."
- Dr. Jean Dodds: Deemed it a "poor quality food" due to corn as the first ingredient and chicken by-product meal instead of whole chicken.
- Dr. Judy Morgan: Described it as a "Pet Store Food" with GMO corn and soybean, waste fillers, and synthetic vitamin/mineral supplements, considering it overpriced for its poor quality.
- Dr. Dee Blanco: Criticized the corn for increasing inflammation and the addition of soybean products and poor-quality protein, along with synthetic supplements.
- Dr. Peter Dobias: Called it the "worst recipe" with corn, by-product, flavors, and wood chips, questioning if it was a veterinary diet at all.
Major Players in the Prescription Diet Market
The primary companies in the prescription diet category include:
- Hill’s Science Diet
- Purina
- Royal Canin
- Iams
These are also major players in the regular pet food market, and some are known for producing lower-quality grocery store foods. This raises questions about whether their prescription diets are significantly better.
A Direct Comparison: Regular vs. Prescription
To illustrate the point, let's compare two Hill’s foods:
- Regular Food: Hill's Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult
- Prescription Food: Hill's j/d Canine Joint Care
A 30lb bag of the regular food costs $47.99 at Petsmart, while a 27.5lb bag of the prescription diet costs $84.95. Here are the key ingredients of Hill's j/d Canine Joint Care:
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Ingredients: Ground Yellow Corn, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Flaxseed, Soybean Oil, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Fish Oil, Lactic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols (preservative), Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
The prescription diet contains by-product meal and a lot of soybean and corn products, while the regular food contains more expensive, higher-quality ingredients.
Questionable Health Claims
The FDA does not review or verify the health claims on veterinary diets, practicing "enforcement discretion." This means that the benefits claimed by prescription diets are not necessarily backed by rigorous scientific evidence.
The Problem with Fish Oil
Fish oil is often added to prescription diets, particularly those aimed at joint health. However, fish oil is highly susceptible to oxidation when exposed to air, and it can become inflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory once the bag is opened.
Identical Manufacturing
Both regular and prescription diets are often made in the same plants, using the same suppliers. This raises concerns about whether the quality of ingredients is truly different.
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A Call for Transparency
If a vet recommends a prescription diet, it's crucial to ask them to review the ingredient list and provide evidence that the ingredients are superior to those in regular diets.
Hill's Commitment and Options
Hill’s is dedicated to making foods pets love and offers a satisfaction guarantee. If unsatisfied with a product purchased from an authorized seller, customers can return the unused portion for a refund or replacement. Hill's also emphasizes the importance of prebiotics in their food, as they nourish gut bacteria and may influence overall pet health. Two of their popular prescription diet foods are:
- i/d Chicken Flavor Dog Food: Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Dry Adult Dog Food is highly digestible, great-tasting nutrition, clinically proven to help manage digestive upsets. Made with chicken for a delicious taste.
- i/d Chicken & Vegetable Stew Dog Food: Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Wet Adult Dog Food is highly digestible, great-tasting nutrition, clinically proven to help manage digestive upsets. Made with chicken for a delicious taste.
An Alternative Prescription Diet Example
Another example of a prescription diet is Hill's Prescription Diet z/d Food Sensitivities Dry Dog Food. Here are the ingredients and guaranteed analysis of this product:
Ingredients: Potato, rabbit meal, coconut oil, hydrolyzed soy protein, potato protein, natural flavors, vegetable oil, monocalcium phosphate, fish oil, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, DL-methionine, salt, potassium chloride, vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), niacin supplement, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], taurine, trace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, copper proteinate], rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.
Guaranteed analysis: Crude Protein (min.) 19.0%, Crude Fat (min.) 10.0%, Crude Fiber (max.) 3.4%, Moisture (max.) 10.0%, Eicosapentaenoic + Docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) (min) 0.12%, Omega-3 fatty acids* (min.) 0.3%.
tags: #prescription #diet #canine #ingredients