Royal Canin is expensive due to its specialized, science-backed formulas, extensive research (R&D) with vets and scientists, premium ingredients for targeted needs, strong vet/breeder recommendation marketing, and production costs for tailored nutrition (breed-specific, health-specific kibble shapes). While costly, its high digestibility and precise nutrient balance aim to provide cost-effectiveness in daily feeding for specific health or breed requirements, say The Basil Pet Care and Royal Canin.
Many pet owners hesitate to buy Royal Canin because it's costlier than brands like Pedigree or Drools. But why is it priced higher? ✔ Specialized Nutrition: Formulated for specific breeds, sizes, and health needs.
You can try the websites for Royal Canin and Hills Prescription Diet for coupons. He can also sign up for their email list, and have them occasionally delivered via email. If he asks his vet office, they will sometimes have coupons as well. Hills especially sends them to vets a lot.
Royal Canin has announced a price increase on their veterinary diets starting June 1, 2025. This decision comes directly from the manufacturer due to rising production costs and is unfortunately out of our control.
Nutritional excellence
Royal Canin pet food formulas are created to deliver the right balance of nutrients essential to your pet's unique health needs, including proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals and also contain optimal levels of antioxidants and prebiotics.
Vets often recommend Royal Canin (and brands like Hill's Science Diet) because they invest heavily in research, use veterinary nutritionists, and provide extensive support and education to vet clinics, creating strong brand loyalty and perceived clinical efficacy, though some critics argue financial incentives, marketing, and the cost of these often grain-heavy foods are also significant factors. These brands meet rigorous standards, like those from World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), by conducting feeding trials and having board-certified nutritionists formulate diets for specific health needs, making them reliable for clinical situations, even if ingredient lists aren't always "whole food" focused.
There's no single "number 1" healthiest dog food, as the best choice depends on your dog's age, breed, and health; however, look for foods meeting AAFCO standards (Association of American Feed Control Officials), with real meat as the first ingredient, and vet-recommended brands like Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin are often cited for balanced nutrition. Freshly prepared or raw diets can also be healthy but carry risks, so always consult your vet.
Royal Canin is involved in a significant class-action lawsuit, Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, concerning deceptive marketing of its "prescription" pet foods as medicinal when they allegedly contained no unique drugs, only premium ingredients, leading to inflated prices for pet owners. A key recent development was a January 2025 Supreme Court ruling clarifying that if a plaintiff removes federal claims from a case, the case must be sent back to state court, even if it was initially removed to federal court based on those federal claims. This case highlights ongoing consumer concerns about prescription pet food marketing and pricing.
Average vet prices across the market rose by 63% between 2016 and 2023 – well above the rate of inflation. The CMA also found that pet owners pay 16.6% more on average at large vet groups than at independent vets.
For nutrition tailored to smaller dog breeds, our vets recommend Royal Canin, another brand that's science-backed, and formulated and balanced by a board-certified nutritionist. As with other dry dog foods on the list, it meets AAFCO's nutritional guidelines for adult maintenance and does long-term feeding trials.
Royal Canin: Best Overall Dog Food Brand 3. Pedigree: Affordable and Best Dog Food in India 4. Orijen: Best Animal-based Dog Food 5. Acana: Rich in Minerals and Nutrients 6.
The 95% rule in pet food labeling, set by AAFCO, means if an ingredient is in the product name (e.g., "Chicken Dog Food"), that ingredient must make up at least 95% of the total weight (excluding added water); if it's a combination like "Chicken & Rice," those ingredients together must hit 95%, with the main ingredient listed first. This rule helps consumers understand the actual meat/main ingredient content, distinguishing it from foods labeled with "Dinner," "Entree," or "with," which have lower required percentages (25% and 3% respectively).
There's no single "number one" food, but chocolate, grapes/raisins, and foods containing the artificial sweetener xylitol are among the most dangerous and common toxic items, causing issues from vomiting and seizures to kidney failure or death; other major threats include onions/garlic, alcohol, and fatty/cooked bones that can splinter. Always contact your vet immediately if your dog eats anything suspicious.
When you spend $100 or more on ROYAL CANIN® products in a three-month period, you will receive a promotion code via email for instant savings on your next order. The instant savings are based on the amount spent per quarter and are our way of thanking you for proudly feeding and recommending Royal Canin.
If your pet has breed-specific needs or unique habits, Royal Canin's tailored approach is a clear winner. For pet owners seeking high-quality, sustainable options without the complexity of breed-specific formulas, Hills Science Diet offers a straightforward, reliable choice.
Vets in Australia are expensive due to a lack of government subsidies (unlike human healthcare), high operating costs for advanced equipment and facilities, significant investment in highly trained staff, rising demand from increased pet ownership, and workforce shortages, all while delivering care comparable to human standards. Clinics are private businesses, covering expensive technology (MRI, X-ray, etc.) and 24/7 emergency services, with no public funding for these essential, high-skill services.
The key is to shop around as costs will vary. The CMA report even found that some vets do not have a price list. So, if your pet needs treatment, ask for a quote and then present it to other practices to see what they would charge.
If you can't pay a vet bill, vets may offer payment plans, work with financing options like CareCredit, or refer you to charities, but they can also send unpaid debts to collections, impacting your credit. Your options include discussing payment plans with your vet, exploring third-party lenders, seeking help from animal welfare groups, or considering lower-cost clinics, but be aware some vets may limit non-urgent care if you can't pay upfront.
Our History. Veterinarian Jean Cathary founded Royal Canin in France in 1968.
While specific rankings fluctuate, J.M. Smucker Company and Midwestern Pet Foods have faced significant, large-scale dog food recalls, with Smucker's recalling massive amounts of canned food (millions of pounds) and Midwestern Pet Foods recalling huge volumes of dry food due to aflatoxin and Salmonella, leading to pet illnesses and deaths. Other manufacturers like Sunshine Mills have also had major recalls impacting many brands, often linked to contamination issues.
Unfortunately with the increase of feeding grain free diets there has been an increase in the incidence of serious heart disease, with a recent study revealing that feeding a grain free diet may lead to heart failure (Journal of Veterinary Cardiology 2019) in previously healthy dogs.
The worst dog foods often contain cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy; unspecified "meat meals" or by-products; excessive sugar; and artificial colors/preservatives, with brands like Kibbles 'n Bits, Beneful, Gravy Train, and some Purina/Iams varieties frequently cited for low nutritional quality and questionable ingredients. Focus on avoiding poor-quality protein sources (unspecified meat meals), fillers, artificial additives, and dangerous human foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol.
Based on Dr. Marty's advice, Oprah says she now feeds her dogs a mixed diet of chicken, beef, lamb, brown rice, potatoes and carrots. Dr. Marty says most people feed their dogs diets that go against their animal nature.
Due to the range of benefits that wet and dry diets boast, a mixed feeding approach can help your dog get the most out of mealtime. Combining both wet and dry to their diet can give them some variety, where they are exposed to different textures that they will generally be more tempted to try.