Prescription diets are especially formulated to meet the specific needs of pets with diagnosed underlying health conditions. To meet these needs, prescription diets may have different levels of certain nutrients or minerals that if fed to a healthy pet, may be detrimental.

If your pet has been prescribed a veterinary prescription diet, it means your veterinarian has made a diagnosis based on physical examination, history and  any supporting diagnostic tests.

It is important to remember, that these diets are not maintenance diets for healthy pets, or pets with other diseases. Some of these diets may make other diseases or health conditions worse, and it is essential we recognise this.

When asking for a prescription diet, you should know:

• What the diet is for. You should be aware of the underlying health condition the diet is treating.
• How long your pet should be on the diet. Most of these prescription diets will be life long, but some are short term only.
• What (if anything) you can supplement the diet with. All supplements (including any treats or toppers) should be discussed with your veterinarian as they may reduce the effect of the diet in question. In some cases, your pet should get nothing else but the diet and water.  Just as we know that too much salt or fat in the diet can be a bad thing, an excess of specific nutrients or minerals can also be too much, especially when the diet has been designed for animals with underlying health concerns.
• When your pet should be reviewed by your veterinarian. In some cases this may be every month. Your veterinarian will provide guidance as to how often a review is needed.

If you have any questions, please contact your regular veterinarian.

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