
Specialized pet diets, often called therapeutic diets, are becoming increasingly common as pet sciences develop. Though most pet owners will accept the challenges associated with specialized diets, it can be a challenge to get it right. Fortunately, there are a few steps and strategies you can adopt that will help make a therapeutic diet easier on both you and your companion animal.
Conditions That May Require Special Pet Diets
There are several health conditions that benefit from putting a pet on a specialized diet. Therapeutic diets may help to improve pet health when used to manage the following conditions:
- Advanced age
- Heart or GI issues
- Kidney disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Urinary issues
- Obesity
- Food allergies
Several dog food brands offer pet food options that have specialized nutrient composition. Additionally, for some health conditions, a veterinarian can prescribe therapeutic food that can only be obtained through a healthcare provider.