Question
Hill's, Royal Canin, or Purina: what are people comparing?
Sunny, owner notes“I wish my dog lived as long as I do.”Updated
I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.
Short answer
Hill's, Royal Canin and Purina all make diabetic diets, and most vets treat them as similar choices. The best one is usually the one your vet suggests and your dog will actually eat. Once you've found it, stick with it. Swapping bags every few weeks to chase better numbers just means more changes for his body to deal with.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What you might notice at home
A friend swears by one bag and the shop is out of it. He likes the wet version and won't touch the dry. Someone online says the ingredients look wrong.
Some owners notice his glucose go up after starting a prescription food. That does happen, and it's worth writing down with dates, but it doesn't mean the food is wrong for every dog.
What to write down for the vet
- The full product name, not just the brand.
- Dry or wet, and whether you mix them.
- How keenly he eats it.
- Anything else the food is meant to help with, like weight, pancreas or urine crystals.
What to take with you
Take the bag, or a photo of the name on the front. Your vet can tell you more than any online ranking, and can help you read the back of the bag too.
Sources
- Does my diabetic dog have to eat a prescription food?Whether prescription food is needed
- How to read the labelReading what a label tells you
- Should I keep my diabetic dog on the same food?Why to keep one food
- My diabetic dog's glucose looked higher after a food changeHigher glucose after a food change
- My diabetic dog won't eat the prescription foodWhen he will not eat it
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
Does my diabetic dog have to eat a prescription food?
Not always. Most vets say a steady, balanced food can work, but your vet makes the call.
Q&A
My diabetic dog's glucose looked higher after a food change
Write down the foods and the dates, and ask your vet before you switch back.
Food
How to read the label
What the label tells you, and what to ask your vet.
Q&A
My diabetic dog won't eat the prescription food
If he won't touch the food your vet prescribed, call your vet and tell them what he will eat.