Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, we’ll receive a percentage of the proceeds. Water Sufficient for Processing, Pork By-Products, Chicken Liver, Wheat Gluten, Powdered Cellulose, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Phosphate, Natural Flavors, Calcium Sulfate, Fish Oil, Taurine, Vitamins [Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement], L-Carnitine, Trace Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Marigold Extract (Tagetes Erecta L.), Chondroitin Sulfate. The Proactive Health line targets specific dietary needs including dental care, hairball management, and digestive health, but these foods don’t require a veterinarian’s prescription. Water, Pork Liver, Pork By-Products, Chicken, Chicken Fat, Egg Product, Corn Starch, Pork Protein Isolate, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Fish Oil, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Brewers Dried Yeast, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Powdered Cellulose, Iodized Salt, Taurine, Calcium Sulfate, Dried Beet Pulp, Locust Bean Gum, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), DL-Methionine, Carrageenan, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate), Magnesium Oxide, L-Tryptophan, Beta-Carotene. Anyhow, thank you for advising caution with labels and vet recommended, prescription brands that will drain your wallet and in my experience, not benefit your furry family members! Dry vs. Sara says that when picking cat food, she looks for “an AAFCO statement saying that it is a full balanced diet,” adding that “there are certain low-end foods that do not meet these requirements.” The brands she recommends are Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina Pro Plan, and Eukanuba. According to the veterinarians who endorse them, that doesn’t matter. Dr. Lisa Pierson is a strong proponent of proper feline nutrition as a basis for good cat health. For example, I once found a cat food that only contained beef, lamb, and pork lung, kidneys, liver, and meat plus potato starch and fiber, and a form of calcium carbonate. Raw: Which Is The Best? Veterinarians have an obligation to discourage foods that could potentially harm humans as well as pets, and a raw diet, even if properly balanced, represents a public health hazard. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry and grains are considered safe and do not require pre-market approval. It’s species-appropriate, made by a trustworthy company, and, if it’s a prescription food, keeps its therapeutic promises. Therapeutic diets that help to maintain the health of cats with diagnosed health problems. Lisa Pierson, DVM. I was reading a website that listed Hill’s Science and Iams as 2 of the worst cat food brands on the market. All Iams recipes are crafted for cats of specific life stages and activity levels. That story related to dog food, but the rules apply to vet recommended cat food selections as well. Factual information must be provided on pet food labels but it is important to be aware that the label is also a promotional tool to attract pet owners. Click here for a comprehensive review of Purina Pro Plan cat food. Most of this course focused on which prescription diet to recommend for which disease and why. “Iams once flew me to Dayton, Ohio, to tour its plant. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Always bear in mind why a specific food is recommended for a given condition. Created by a French veterinary surgeon in the late 1960’s, this pet food company enjoys a reputation for rigorously investigated, scientifically formulated foods for cats and dogs. In addition, wet food is usually higher in protein than dry food, which cats also find delicious. https://catinfo.org/ Is a great place to start. Hill’s Prescription Diet foods are only available with a veterinarian’s prescription. She’s one of the founders of Wildernesscat – a site for happy, healthy, and adventurous cats who are fueled by nature. The food gets primarily positive customer reviews, though some complain that the portion size is too small or their cat won’t eat it. A cornerstone of the anti-veterinary cat food belief system is the idea that after years of free pet food in veterinary school, continuing education events sponsored by pet food manufacturers, and the availability of certain brands for sale in veterinary offices, veterinarians are left with an allegiance to certain pet food companies based not on nutritional merit, but dollars, cents, and good marketing. The “guaranteed analysis” is required information on all dog and cat food labels and sounds very official and scientific. They’re all made to do something different. Though I know some will object to any dry kibble for urinary issues, I have to say, both my cats are sleek, soft, bright-eyed, high energy, low excretion (once a day) felines who pass their annual physicals with flying colors. To understand what veterinarians think about feline nutrition, I set out to talk to real vets about cat food, asking how they choose the best food, which brands they trust, and what they feed their own cats. A Weight Management Tool for Adult Cats This tool was designed to aid the veterinary health care team in making nutritional assessments and recommendations to help their patients maintain or achieve their healthy weight. Royal Canin has foods for almost every ailment, cat type, and condition you could think of and this one’s for cats who need to lose weight. Royal Canin owns several research centers around the world, allowing it to formulate recipes targeting specific health conditions and needs. This educational content is not veterinary advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified veterinarian. Vet Recommended Cat Food: In Most Cases, It’s Anything but Raw. $26.64. Your email address will not be published. A growing percentage of the cat guardian population would rather consult informational websites or Dr. Google than ask their vet for food recommendations. Your email address will not be published. In addition, educational materials for pet owners have been developed. The three key negative issues associated with dry food are: 1) water content is too low 2) carbohydrate load is too high Wet Food Tastes Good To Most Cats. While zoonotic risks can be associated with feeding both commercial and home-prepared diets, if a pet owner, for example, develops a Salmonella infection from feeding a contaminated commercial diet, the pet food manufacturer is generally at risk of legal action. In this article, we’ll take a look at the foods most commonly recommended by vets and why a growing percentage of the pet guardian population is no longer seeking out vet recommended food. Canned cat food has a moisture content of at least 75 percent, making it a good dietary source of water. With the exception of some of their canned recipes, Science Diet products tend to be carbohydrate-heavy and full of plant ingredients. These include practical aids for the veterinary healthcare team to make Nutritional assessment and recommendations more efficient, such as a diet history form, hospitalized patient feeding guide, body condition score charts, and calorie recommendations for dogs and cats. If your cat doesn’t have any special dietary needs, this Pro Plan recipe is a standout option. Royal Canin’s more than one hundred cat food recipes are available in veterinary offices around the world. Their cat food lineup includes dry and canned food. These diets require a veterinarian’s prescription. This makes them a particularly useful resource in the quest for the perfect food. Patient Assessment; Creating a Nutrition Plan; Delivering Nutritional Recommendations; Understanding Pet Food; PNA Recommended Links; Support. It contains fish oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids and is relatively low in carbohydrates. Pet food consumer advocacy sites like TruthAboutPetFood claim that veterinarians only go through a couple of hours of nutrition classes, and that almost all of these classes are sponsored by large pet food companies like Hill’s Pet Nutrition, giving the vets of the future a biased perspective on companion animal nutrition. They’re complete and balanced. Google, by so-called experts, is rampant, and we are no longer the only opinion on animal nutrition and health,” said Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. But when we talk about veterinarian recommended foods in general – referring to the unit of all foods most often associated with veterinary office sales – things get a little bit questionable. Unlike many other Royal Canin recipes, the food is relatively low in carbohydrates at roughly 11% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. It’s hard to encourage a cat to exercise more, so it’s all about getting the food right.”. The largest chain of veterinary clinics (Banfield Pet Hospitals) is owned by the largest pet food manufacturer.”. Veterinary schools publish scientific papers funded by the largest manufacturers – supporting the system. In addition to Hill’s Prescription Diet, we’ve reviewed four other vet-recommended cat food brands and chosen top recipes from each. And very few of them are experts on nutrition. In the following segment, we’ll review each of the top vet-recommended brands and their best recipes. The formula meets AAFCO nutritional guidelines. The Veterinary Diet line is only available with a veterinarian’s prescription and targets specific health conditions and requirements. Like it or not, this message is losing resonance in cultures increasingly focused on natural, organic, and ancestrally-inspired foods for both people and their pets. Part of the pet food giant Nestle Purina, Purina’s Pro Plan Veterinary Diet line is a line of wet and dry foods formulated for specific health conditions, including diabetes, urinary tract health, and allergies. Visit Wildernesscat for radically natural cat nutrition, home remedies, and lifestyle inspiration. Purina Pro Plan is manufactured in the United States in Purina-owned facilities. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In an article posted on the Feline Nutrition Foundation website, Andrea Tasi, VMD, a 1988 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, says that “In my 4 years of veterinary school, I had one class, one semester long, on nutrition. Dog Cat. When asked what she recommends to her clients, Joanna emphasizes the importance of weight control, noting that “It’s important to select the right food for your cat’s age and neuter status. Junk food poisoning of pets is the worldwide norm, thanks to veterinary protection for the economic colonialists Mars, Nestle, and Colgate-Palmolive.”. Its paté texture is creamy-soft for sensitive cats or those with bad teeth. If these brands are too expensive for her clients, she recommends “any of the Purina lines such as Purina One, or Purina Cat Chow. This should help you better understand the frequently touted term, Veterinary Nutritionist, and many of their common cat food recommendations. In the same video, Dr. Lonsdale goes on to state that major veterinary colleges are inappropriately linked to and influenced by Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Colgate-Palmolive), Nestle Purina, and Mars. Water Sufficient for Processing, Beef, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Meat By-Products, Turkey, Natural Flavors, Fish, Xanthan Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide. These cookies do not store any personal information. 11 Best Cat Foods in 2021 – [Expert Reviewed & Rated], Popular Cat Names – The Top 100 Most Popular Cat Names in 2021. The best vet-recommended cat food is more than a prestigious label. Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg Product, Guar Gum, Added Color, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Magnesium Sulfate, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Salt, L-Carnitine, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Potassium Iodide, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K). It’s a telling commentary on the current state of the client-veterinarian relationship. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, currently owned by Colgate-Palmolive, is a well-respected leader in cat and dog food. These foods are scientifically formulated for optimal nutrition. Because it has so many benefits for underweight or sickly cats, we’ve chosen Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d as the overall best vet-recommended food. Best Limited Ingredient Cat Food : Information & Analysis. Here’s a brief summary of the qualities we look for: We’ll also be looking at a few prescription cat foods. Royal Canin has been recalled at least three times. Derm (skin) signs related to a food protein is always then a food allergy. First Time Customer? For most kittens, growth is almost complete by six months of age. Vet Recommended Pet Food | Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets ... Purina® Pro Plan Veterinary Diets® has formulated a wide range of nutritional solutions, ranging from therapeutic diets for pets with complex health issues, to wellness formulas that meet the needs of dogs in all life stages. Some don’t even recommend foods with the words “vet-recommended” on the label. AAFCO notes that some companies have earned “vet recommended” labeling with a survey of around 300 veterinarians. On the negative side, the food contains “added colors”, a vague term typically referring to synthetic dyes. Cats should have a maximum of 15% of their food intake as carbs while brands such as Hills often has corn as the number 1 ingredient. Dry foods are well-represented in the vet-recommended category, and like all kibble, these invariably contain hefty doses of carbohydrates. You and your vet should work together to understand the why behind the recommendations. Ask three different people about the best foods for cats out … The company uses ingredients sourced from around the world. Click here to read a comprehensive review of Hill’s Science Diet. Click here for a comprehensive review of Iams cat food. They’re manufactured in company-owned facilities from what the company calls “carefully selected” ingredients. What is Human Grade Cat Food…and Which Brands are Best? I often hear from pet owners, breeders, and even veterinarians about how they’ve selected a particular pet food based on the food’s guaranteed analysis. Contact PNA; More From PNA; Custom Tools Created for You by PNA. Each Pro Plan formula is created with the combined expertise of over 400 scientists, including pet nutritionists, vets, and animal behaviorists. This beef-based canned food from the True Nature line contains a mix of named meats like beef and turkey and vaguer items such as liver, meat by-products, and fish. In 2017, a survey of over 2,000 raw feeders revealed that people who fed their pets raw food reported lower trust in veterinary advice both “in general” and “with respect to nutrition” than those who fed their pets non-raw food. She blogs about it at WildernessCat.com. The non-prescription Science Diet line has the distinction of being the #1 veterinarian recommended pet food brand. Supplements. Because it has so many benefits for underweight or sickly cats, we’ve chosen Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d as the overall best vet-recommended food. The brand is all about “nutrition that’s tailored to bring out their unique best”. Your veterinarian should be a feline nutrition ally—an expert who can help you to make smart decisions to ensure your cat’s long-term health. Sometimes, this means that a prescription food is good for sick cats, but deviates from the nutritional standards we’d look for in other foods. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises that “…veterinarians must also consider the potential legal implications of recommending raw meat–based diets. The food has increased potassium levels and increased B vitamins to give an energy boost. Continued Raw meat Diet: a recipe for healthy cats have pre-market approval by the largest chain of veterinary (... Use cookies on your team store. ” what does sara feed her own cat brand has its... 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