Similar to humans, dogs who don’t receive enough proper nutrition may develop a number of problems that will unavoidably lower their quality of life.
Naturally, we only want the best for our dogs, so we go to great lengths to ensure they eat only the best food.
When this occurs, pet owners may notice changes in the types of food served to their dogs as well as their budget allotment for dog food.
And yes, some pet insurance covers prescription dog food. Click here for our recommended pet care plan.
In contrast to other regular types of dog food, prescription food is created specifically to address specific illnesses or health issues in dogs, or to fill and improve a specific nutrient deficiency.
Additionally, unlike regular dog food, prescription dog food—as its name implies—must be purchased from a store with a veterinarian’s prescription.
Additionally, it would contain detailed instructions on how to feed the dog and the recommended serving size for each meal.
The hope is that your dog’s condition will start to improve with this specially crafted diet, and that it will be a diet that can be sustained over the long term.
Annual Cost of Prescription Pet Food
Determining the annual cost of prescription pet food can be very challenging. This is due to the fact that the price depends on the brand of prescription pet food, the kind of animal, its size, and how long the pet must consume the food.
Pet owners would need to calculate the price per pound or per kilogram, depending on the situation, using the total cost of the bag of pet food as their starting point. Then they would multiply that number by 365 to arrive at the number of pounds or kilograms the dog should receive each day.
If a 15-pound (6. A prescription pet food bag (weighing 8 kilograms) costs $60, or $4 per pound. If the dog needs to eat a half-pound of food every day, the owner would have to pay $2 per day, or $730 per year ($2 multiplied by 365 days). Remember that the cost will be greatly influenced by the dog’s size because a smaller dog or pet will consume less food each day. Additionally, depending on the dog’s health or health issue, some dogs require prescription pet food for the entirety of their lives, while others may only require it for a few days or weeks.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Prescription Dog Food?
Your pet insurance provider may provide coverage for special diets. If you want your prescription food covered, make sure the pet insurance provider you choose offers it because it is occasionally excluded from coverage.
Are There Alternatives to Prescription Pet Food?
While prescription pet food may have alternatives, you are paying for certainty and convenience. Alternative therapeutic diets frequently call for you to prepare your own homemade pet food from scratch, buy upscale foods with fewer ingredients, or buy dietary supplements. Additionally, you should consult your veterinarian to ensure that any alternative diets are comparable to the prescription food.
Standard pet insurance options include accident-only plans, accident-and-illness plans, and wellness add-ons to cover regular care. You can select the level of coverage, deductible, and reimbursement percentage when enrolling your pet in a plan. You’ll receive a monthly premium based on these elements and the age of your pet.
Prior to coverage starting, all providers have a waiting period, which is typically a few days. If your veterinarian diagnoses your pet with a condition that is covered after this time has passed, you must pay the bill and submit a claim to your provider. Then, your provider will pay you back anywhere between 70% and 90% of the price. If you add this coverage when you enroll, insurance may also cover preventive services like checkups, vaccinations, and heartworm medication.
FAQ
Are prescription pet foods worth it?
Prescription pet foods are essentially misleading and price gouging. There is nothing in them that cannot be found in other, superior diets that require no medical approval at all, despite the fact that they are marketed as medicines and require veterinary approval to be fed to your pet.
What is the difference between prescription dog food and regular dog food?
There are no drugs, no medications, and no herbs, according to Becker. Therefore, “by prescription” implies that you must purchase it from your veterinarian. However, the ingredient list on the back of the food is typically not significantly different from that of regular pet food. “.
What is the point of prescription dog food?
Prescription diets are defined as those that are labeled and/or marketed as intended for use to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases as well as those that are labeled and/or marketed to provide all of the animal’s total daily nutrient requirements by acting as the pet’s sole diet.
Does many pets cover prescription food?
Additionally, it excludes things like prescription food, euthanasia, microchipping, anal expression, supplements, and vitamins. We also won’t reimburse for elective or cosmetic procedures.