We often get asked if we carry "Prescription Diets". The answer is no because those can only be sold thru veterinary practices or big box. Quite honestly, after looking at the ingredient panel we don't see the fuzz. If it wasn't for Hill's, makers of Science Diet, who trademarked the term "Prescription Diet", we wouldn't even know of other "veterinary" or "therapeutic" formulated diets which other pet food manufacturers had to come up with to keep up with the demand in that segment. You know what's ironic? There is no medicine, drugs or herbs in these diets. It is just another marketing strategy to advertise these diets at premium price.
In case you wonder, pet food profits are not what you think they are...however, these "prescription", "veterinary" or "therapeutic" terms on the packaging and perception of accesibility will inflate the price and make better profits than the average kibble in the market. I wanted to see it for myself and compare a product of each line and here's what I found at looking at the first 5 ingredients:
HILLS I/D: INGREDIENTS: Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Corn, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Egg Product, Corn Gluten Meal....
PURINA VETERINARY EN FORMULA: Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Chicken Meal, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols...
ROYAL CANIN RENAL: Brewers rice, chicken fat, hydrolyzed soy protein, dried chicory root, natural flavors
Hmm....corn, soy, rice, animal fat and natural flavors is not what I had in mind for a ~$90 to $115 bag. If that's not enough, find the word salt in the ingredient panel and anything after it is 1% or less which you will find a bunch of synthetics and words you cant even pronounce.
Our pets won't thrive on these diets. We need to reconsider what we are feeding either by providing a fresh food diet and cutting out all carbohydrates or simply choosing a better kibble with clean ingredients and nutritional values. Our pets always get the short end of the stick, after all these years the large pet food manufacturers have not come up with over the counter affordable solutions? Suspicious right?
Come visit Miss Kibbles Natural Pet Supplies located at 13841 Heathcote Blvd Ste 110 in Gainesville or 10390 Bristow Center Dr in Bristow for more information how we can help your pet transition to a healthier and better diet.