Is Your Dog Getting All the Nutrients They Need From a Prescription Diet?

You follow your vet’s advice to the letter, carefully measuring out each scoop of your dog’s prescription food, convinced you’re giving them exactly what they need. But lately, you’ve noticed something—maybe their coat isn’t as shiny, their energy seems lower, or they’re just not as excited about mealtime. 

Could their diet be missing something essential?

Prescription diets are formulated for specific health conditions, but do they always provide complete, balanced nutrition? Is your dog genuinely getting all the vital nutrients they need—or is there more to consider beyond what’s on the label?

What are Prescription Diets for Dogs?

Prescription diets for dogs are marketed as specially formulated foods designed to help manage specific medical conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes, food allergies, or digestive disorders. 

However, their origins reveal that they were not created out of necessity for pet health but rather as a marketing scheme.

Before the emergence of commercial dog food, dogs ate diets based on anything ranging from table scraps to raw meats. As pet ownership became more common in the Victorian era, there was a shift in perception. The first commercial dog food appeared in 1860, and from the beginning, marketing efforts sought to convince dog parents that these products were superior to natural diets.

This culminated in the introduction of “prescription diets,” a term trademarked by Science Diet to create an aura of exclusivity and medical necessity. Other companies, like Royal Canin and Purina, followed suit with their own “veterinary diets.” Despite the name, these foods contain no pharmaceutical ingredients and are not regulated as medications.

Unlike regular commercial dog food, prescription diets cannot be purchased off the shelf at a pet store. They are only available through a veterinarian or with a prescription, as they are thought to be designed for dogs with specific health concerns.

These diets come in various forms, including dry kibble, canned (wet) food, and dehydrated or hydrolyzed options. Prescription diets may include limited ingredients to reduce allergens or sensitivities and control protein, fat, or carbohydrate levels. 

Are All Prescription Diets Nutritionally Complete?

While prescription diets are formulated to address specific health conditions, they are not always nutritionally complete for every dog. 

Some prescription foods focus on managing a particular issue, such as kidney disease or allergies, but may lack optimal levels of essential nutrients like specific vitamins, minerals, or healthy fats. 

Because these diets are designed for medical purposes rather than overall canine wellness, they might not always provide the best balance of macronutrients for long-term health. It’s essential to consult with your veterinarian to determine if your dog needs additional supplementation while on a prescription diet.

Low-Quality Ingredients in Prescription Diets Affect Nutritional Value

Many pet owners assume that prescription diets contain only high-quality, premium ingredients. Some diets include lower-quality components, such as meat by-products, corn, wheat, or soy, which can serve as cheap protein sources rather than high-quality, digestible nutrients. 

 

These ingredients may not provide the same bioavailability as whole, natural proteins and could contribute to digestive issues or food sensitivities. Reading ingredient labels and discussing concerns with your vet can help ensure your dog gets the best possible nutrition.

Processing Methods Deplete Nutritional Value in Prescription Diets

Like commercial pet foods, prescription diets often undergo heavy processing, including high-heat cooking and extrusion, which can deplete essential nutrients such as amino acids, omega fatty acids, and vitamins. 

 

While manufacturers may add synthetic vitamins and minerals to compensate for this loss, these nutrients are not always as easily absorbed as those from whole-food sources. The level of processing can also affect the digestibility of the food, meaning your dog may not be getting the full benefit of the ingredients listed on the label.

Fillers and Additives Dilute the Nutritional Quality

Some prescription diets contain fillers and additives that do not contribute to your dog's overall health. Ingredients like corn gluten meal, wheat flour, and artificial preservatives are sometimes used to improve texture, extend shelf life, or reduce production costs. 

 

While these fillers can provide calories, they do not always offer high-quality nutrition and may lead to weight gain, digestive upset, or unnecessary exposure to synthetic ingredients. Choosing a prescription diet with minimal fillers and high-quality, natural ingredients can help ensure your dog gets the best possible nutrition while managing their health condition.

 

Alternatives to Prescription Diets

Volhard’s Natural Diet Foundation 

NDF2 is a dehydrated, all-natural diet that allows dog owners to add their own meat options, making protein rotation easy and flexible. Once protein is added, this diet provides a fresh, healthy, and balanced meal every time.

NDF2 contains USDA-inspected freeze-dried organ meat, vegetables, purposefully chosen grains, and supportive herbs that support essential organs such as the liver, kidney, heart, lungs, stomach, and digestive tract.

NDF2 is suitable for adult dogs of all breeds, sizes, and activity levels and can also be used for puppies, including large-breed ones. This diet is made in the USA using human-edible, food-grade, non-GMO, and preservative-free ingredients. A single-step cold dehydration technique preserves essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring top-tier nutrition.

Volhard's Endurance

Endurance is a nutrient-dense supplement that enhances homemade, raw, or processed diets. It contains cold-pressed amino acids, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants that help maintain a healthy digestive system while increasing stamina and energy.

This supplement can be used as a topper for kibble, canned food, or raw diets. It replenishes essential nutrients lost during the cooking process of commercial pet food, ensuring a correct acid/alkaline balance in the digestive tract.

Endurance is made with non-GMO, preservative-free ingredients and uses a single-step cold dehydration process to preserve vital nutrients. Adding Endurance to your pet’s diet ensures they receive the amino acids and micronutrients needed for optimal health and vitality.

Volhard’s Veggie Pak

Veggie Pak is a blend of dehydrated vegetables and herbs that can supplement homemade, raw, or commercial diets. Veggie Pak provides an extra boost of whole-food nutrition and is available in different varieties, including options with or without liver.

Veggie Pak expands to four times its weight when rehydrated, delivering the same nutritional benefits as fresh vegetables and herbs.

Veggie Pak provides fiber, live enzymes, and phytonutrients, such as sulforaphane (from cauliflower and spinach), a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compound. Made from human-edible, non-GMO, and preservative-free ingredients, this supplement is cold-dehydrated to retain essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring top-quality nutrition for your dog.

Supplements 

Even the best diets can sometimes lack specific nutrients, which is where supplements come in. High-quality supplements can help address deficiencies, improve digestion, and support long-term health:

• Krill Oil: A superior source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA), krill oil helps reduce inflammation, promotes heart and brain health, and keeps your dog’s coat shiny and skin moisturized. Unlike fish oil, it contains astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant.
  
  

• Vitamin B Complex: Essential for energy production, nerve function, and metabolism, B vitamins help maintain a strong immune system and support brain function. Dogs on processed or low-quality diets may require additional B vitamins to avoid deficiencies.
  
  

• Digestive Enzymes support gut health by breaking down food more efficiently, aiding nutrient absorption, and reducing issues like bloating and gas. They are particularly beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those eating cooked or processed diets.
  
  

• Probiotics help maintain a balanced gut microbiome, strengthen immunity, and support digestion. Probiotics can benefit dogs with allergies, skin issues, or a history of antibiotic use.
  
  

• Glucosamine & Chondroitin: Essential for joint health, these compounds help protect cartilage and reduce inflammation, making them beneficial for senior dogs or breeds prone to joint issues.

Choose Nutrition That Matters With Volhard!

For more advice on dog nutrition, health, and training, contact us and check out our blog!

Volhard Dog Nutrition and its expert canine nutrition coaches offer online consultations to help more dog parents discover why and how to feed their dogs the healthiest foods!

Speaking to a Volhard canine nutrition coach will help you understand the inseparable relationship between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy mind. 

If you want to contact one of our Volhard canine nutrition coaches, don't hesitate to access our consultation page! 

References

1. “Does Your Dog Really Need a Prescription Diet?: Grub Club.” Grub Club Pets, mygrubclub.com/blogs/pet-welfare/does-your-dog-really-need-to-be-on-a-prescription-diet. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
   
   

2. Mori, Akihiro, et al. “Comparison of the Effects of Four Commercially Available Prescription Diet Regimens on the Fecal Microbiome in Healthy Dogs.” The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Dec. 2019, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6943313/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
   
   

3. Seitz, Sara. “Are Prescription Diets for Dogs Worth the Money?” Ultimate Dog, 6 Oct. 2023, blog.ultimatedog.com/are-prescription-diets-for-dogs-worth-the-money/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.