Royal Canin gastrointestinal Loaf - Opinions

Renno123

Hi All,

Does anyone have any experience with Royal Canin Gastrointestinal dog food? https://www.royalcanin.com/uk/dogs/products/vet-products/gastrointestinal-pack

I have been given this by the vet because my dog has a suspected stomach bug. I was not happy to take this but did in the end. I am aware that a lot of vets are not well informed on dog nutrition and get commission for selling these type of foods.

My dog has been on 80/20 meat/veg foods for 8/9 years now and has been doing great on these.

I have used Eden Dog Food and similar over the years.
I currently use Essential Dog Food
https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/1326/essential-nautical-living

I was horrified to be given royal canin as I know it is one of the poorer dog foods out there. The ingredients for this food are full of animal by-products.:eek: Is there something i am missing which makes the 'medical' range of royal canin acceptable food? I am open to opinions on this.

Pork by-products*, poultry by-products*, salmon*, rice*, sunflower oil refined, pork blood products*, powdercellulose, minerals, dried beet pulp, fish oil, yeasts and part thereof, marigold extract (source of lutein)

I am very reluctant to give this to my dog.
Any opinions/ experience welcome.

DBB

I completely understand how you feel op, as a raw feeder, I'm not keen on having to use RC!
But, I have 2 observations based on experience I suppose... First is that the food you've linked to is highly palatable for dogs whose tummies are feeling irky, and they'll often eat it whilst turning their nose up at anything else.
Second, I think the RC prescription foods are probably pretty effective for dogs with the condition they're targeted at!
Having said that, I also feel that the food you've been given is extremely expensive, and... to put it bluntly... is probably a glorified version of boiled chicken and rice that we're often told to give dogs with sick tums. So, when I've uses it before in the same situation as you, I quite quickly start mixing it through said boiled chicken and rice (with some very diluted stock pot), before gradually getting back on to the usual food.
I might be shot for admitting to this, but it always seems to work
I hope your dog is feeling better soon!

Renno123

DBB wrote: »

I completely understand how you feel op, as a raw feeder, I'm not keen on having to use RC!
But, I have 2 observations based on experience I suppose... First is that the food you've linked to is highly palatable for dogs whose tummies are feeling irky, and they'll often eat it whilst turning their nose up at anything else.
Second, I think the RC prescription foods are probably pretty effective for dogs with the condition they're targeted at!
Having said that, I also feel that the food you've been given is extremely expensive, and... to put it bluntly... is probably a glorified version of boiled chicken and rice that we're often told to give dogs with sick tums. So, when I've uses it before in the same situation as you, I quite quickly start mixing it through said boiled chicken and rice (with some very diluted stock pot), before gradually getting back on to the usual food.
I might be shot for admitting to this, but it always seems to work
I hope your dog is feeling better soon!

Thanks for the reply. I will take that on board. What I have done today is split his current food into 2 msmaller meals. He has eaten this and managed to keep it down. I will hang onto the royal canin for a few days incase things change. But yes a very expensive addition unfortunately, so not happy about that.
He seems to be on the mend so fingers crossed.

muddypaws

Can I please just address the misconception that is in your post and appears over and over again. Vets don't get commission to sell RC, they stock it as they do everything else they retail. They buy it at wholesale price and sell it at retail, just like every dog food retailer, whether raw or 'processed.

Springwell

I keep gastro food (Usually cans from Rocco) on hand for dodgy tums - the food appeals to them and is easier to digest than normal food. I usually add boiled rice and some stock or bone broth (no stock cubes, too much salt). It's the dog equivalent of tea and plain toast when you're feeling off yourself.

As an aside - vets don't get any commission for selling RC or any other food, it's against the Veterinary Council rules and completely unethical. Most vets carry these brands to have access to the prescription diets for specific diseases