Last Updated: 01/12/2025
Prescription Diets for Dogs and Cats: A Vet's Guide
Why did your vet recommend a 'prescription diet'? This vet guide demystifies veterinary diets for dogs and cats, explaining how they differ from 'retail' foods and how they therapeutically manage conditions like kidney disease, allergies, anxiety, and more.
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 13 minutes - short read
You’re likely familiar with prescription medications, but have you heard of prescription food? The idea of using a specific, targeted diet to help manage a serious medical condition first emerged in the 1930s.
A veterinarian named Dr. Mark Morris designed a special diet for a dog suffering from kidney disease. This single formulation was the beginning of Hills Prescription Diet and a whole new approach to managing pet health.
Fast forward to today, and multiple brands now produce a wide variety of these therapeutic foods to support pets with a range of health conditions.
A note on terms: For this article, the terms 'prescription' and 'veterinary' are both used to describe food that must be prescribed by a vet. 'Retail' is used to describe food that does not require a veterinary recommendation.
What is a veterinary prescription diet?
A prescription diet, also known as a veterinary therapeutic diet, is a pet food specifically formulated to help manage a specific medical condition.
These diets are not just "premium" or "high-quality"; they are precise medical tools designed to be used as part of a treatment plan. Because they are intended to address specific health issues, they should only be fed on the recommendation of a veterinarian after a proper diagnosis.
Prescription vs retail diets: What's the difference?
You may have noticed there are pet foods labelled for a health condition that require a veterinary recommendation and are sold in vet clinics ('veterinary' diets), while some other diets seem to treat the same condition but don't require a veterinary recommendation and sold in pet stores ('retail' diets). To further confuse us, one brand may even have a retail line and a veterinary line - for instance, Hills Science Diet provides non-veterinary diets available from pet stores, while Hills Prescription Diet provides veterinary diets that require a veterinary prescription.
Typically, the difference lies in the approach:
Retail diets are preventative - they aim to prevent a condition from developing. This approach may be suitable if your pet is healthy but likely to develop certain health conditions, for reasons such as a previous injury, family history, or breed predisposition. Retail diets tend to contain relevant health-supporting ingredients, but in lower concentrations than a veterinary diet.
Veterinary diets are restorative - they aim to provide a 'treatment' or 'cure' for an established condition. This approach may be needed if your pet is already suffering from a medical issue. Veterinary diets are often used alongside veterinary prescribed drugs or treatments. Compared to retail diets, veterinary diets tend to contain stronger concentrations of relevant ingredients.
How do prescription diets work?
Prescription diets are not "medicated" in the way a tablet is. Instead, they work by having a very specific and precisely controlled nutrient profile. Each formulation is the result of extensive scientific research and is clinically tested to support pets with a particular condition.
This might include:
- Carefully controlled mineral levels, such as low phosphorus for kidney disease or managed magnesium and calcium for urinary issues.
- Altering the urine pH (acidity or alkalinity) to help dissolve or prevent the formation of certain urinary crystals or stones.
- Using hydrolysed proteins (proteins broken down into tiny pieces) or a single novel protein (like venison or goat) for managing food allergies and skin sensitivities.
- Specific fibre blends and highly digestible ingredients to support pets with gastrointestinal upsets.
- Added therapeutic ingredients, such as high levels of omega-3 fatty acids for joint support or antioxidants for cognitive health.
Common conditions managed with veterinary diets
The way veterinary diets work depends on the specific formula and the condition they are treating. To help categorise and delve deeper into veterinary diets, we have separated them into the particular health conditions they address.
FAQs
Navigating the world of pet food can be overwhelming, especially when your pet is unwell. Prescription diets are powerful tools, precisely formulated to therapeutically manage specific health conditions, working alongside other treatments your vet recommends.
While 'retail' diets are fantastic for supporting general health or preventing issues, veterinary diets are often essential for restoring or managing health during a medical challenge. Always follow your veterinarian's advice when selecting food for a specific health condition, as they are best placed to recommend the right nutrition for your pet's unique needs.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Mon 3 Nov 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
