If your practice is like the majority of veterinary hospitals, you treat acute cases of vomiting and diarrhea every week. Gastrointestinal disorders are so prevalent, that 34% of dogs experience vomiting or diarrhea in any two-week timespan, adding up to 2.3 million dogs seen by veterinarians each year.[1]

And gastrointestinal cases aren’t limited to dogs; 2.6 million cats also suffer from vomiting and diarrhea each year.[2]

While common, gastrointestinal disorders can be complex and encompass a wide range of acute and chronic disease conditions.

Food therapy is a cornerstone in managing these cases.  Choosing the right food that is tailored to each condition is essential.[1]  The four formulas within the Hill’s® Prescription Diet® i/d® Digestive Care canine portfolio each have a specific function and role, and as a group provide nutritional solutions for almost any GI disease or disorder.

A highly digestible food, like Hill’s Prescription Diet® i/d®,can help support  the gastrointestinal tract. Prescription Diet® i/d® Canine and Prescription Diet® i/d® Feline can be used for the most common GI disorders, especially when a specific diagnosis has not been made. These formulas also have appropriate levels of nutrients to meet the special nutritional needs of puppies and kittens.

i/d® Canine is clinically proven to settle digestive upset in as little as 3 days.[3] It is primarily recommended for the short-term management of acute GI upset and recovery/urgent care.

Hill’s has improved formulas of i/d® Canine and i/d® Feline to contain an optimal blend of soluble and prebiotic fibers to help support proper intestinal function. Prebiotic fibers can significantly increase beneficial gut bacteria and support a healthy microbiome balance. Psyllium, a soluble fiber, has been added to promote healthy motility and regularity.

The new i/d® Canine formulation also features a rich aroma and kibble shape that dogs can’t resist.

There are three additional formulas within the Hill’s® Prescription Diet® i/d® Digestive Care portfolio with specific functions and roles, offering a nutritional solution for almost any GI disease or disorder.

-Prescription Diet® i/d® Low Fat Canine is recommended for the management of chronic diseases that benefit from a low-fat diet (eg, pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia, protein-losing enteropathy, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency). The formula contains ginger, which helps to calm and soothe the digestive tract and has been shown to decrease fasting serum triglycerides in hyperlipidemic dogs.[3]

-Prescription Diet® i/d® Stress Canine is recommended for the management of acute, intermittent, or chronic stress-related GI disorders as well as for long-term control of anxiety in otherwise healthy dogs up to 30 pounds. Beneficial ingredients of i/d Stress Canine include hydrolyzed casein to manage anxiety[4], prebiotic fiber to restore the balance of intestinal microflora[5], and ginger to soothe the GI tract.[6]^,[7],[8]

-Prescription Diet® i/d® Sensitive Canine is the only food in the Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care portfolio that contains a single intact animal protein and select carbohydrate source. It is recommended for the management of chronic enteropathies, including chronic food-responsive enteropathies and mild-to-moderate inflammatory bowel disease.

This content was provided by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. 

For more information, visit HillsVet.com.

Photo credit: © iStock/Miro Pernjakovic