Hospital Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-6pm | Saturday: 8am-4pm
(519) 896-0532
The right food does more for your pet's health than almost anything else you control. We help you choose food that fits your pet, backed by clinical evidence and over 50 years of local care.
Food affects weight, joint health, kidney function, skin condition, and how your pet ages. The right food at the wrong life stage can cause issues over time.
Most pets we see in Kitchener do well on store-bought commercial diets. That said, a lot of the weight gain, itchy skin, and digestive issues we deal with regularly have a dietary component that’s worth looking at. At Kingsdale Animal Hospital , nutrition is part of how we keep pets well, not just how we treat them when they’re sick.
“Choosing the right food is one of the simplest, highest-impact decisions you make for your pet every single day.”
We help you make that decision with clinical evidence instead of packaging claims.
Diet is one of the most effective tools we have for managing chronic disease. It works every meal, not just when you remember to give a pill.
Choosing the right food
Filtered by age, breed, health, and budget
How much to feed
Based on actual body condition, not bag averages
Weight management
Targets, progress checks, and adjustments over time
Therapeutic & prescription diets
Kidney, urinary, GI, and food allergy conditions, matched to your pet's diagnosis
Switching foods safely
Phased transition plans that prevent GI upset
Discussion on diet trends
Grain-free, raw, and boutique brands. What the evidence actually says.
We see overweight pets every day, and most owners don't realize it. Extra weight is hard on joints, organs, and lifespan, and it gets there slowly enough that it's easy to miss. By the time it shows up in how a pet moves or how they feel, it's already been building for a while.
At every visit we weigh your pet and score their body condition. If the number isn't where it should be, we set a target and check in on it. We set a plan with realistic expectations.
We stock and prescribe veterinary therapeutic diets for a range of medical conditions.
Kidney Disease
Renal SupportLow-phosphorus, controlled-protein formulas that reduce the workload on the kidneys.
Diabetes
Glycemic ControlHigh-protein, low-carbohydrate diets for cats; controlled-fiber formulas for dogs.
Allergies & Skin
DermatologyNovel protein or hydrolyzed protein diets that remove the reactive ingredient. See our dermatology and allergy page.
Urinary Disease
Stone PreventionFormulas that reduce stone-forming minerals and help manage urine pH.
GI Disease
Digestive HealthHighly digestible, low-residue diets for IBD, colitis, and chronic vomiting.
Joint Issues
Mobility SupportOmega-3 enriched formulas, often paired with joint supplements.
Dental Disease
Keeps teeth cleanOne of the single most, best ways to help keep your pets teeth clean is by using a dental diet. Learn more at our dentistry page.
“Grain-free,” “ancestral diet,” “biologically appropriate”, these are marketing terms. Not clinical ones.
The FDA investigated a link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, particularly in larger breeds. That research is still ongoing. We follow WSAVA guidelines, which means we look for manufacturers with dedicated nutrition staff and real feeding-trial data behind their formulas.
If you have a question that isn't here, bring it up at your next visit or give us a call.
How much should I be feeding my dog or cat?
Bag guidelines are written for the average pet. Most pets aren't average. The right amount depends on their actual weight, age, activity level, and whether they're spayed or neutered. We work it out at your visit and adjust it as things change.
Is grain free food bad for my pet?
For most pets, grain free isn't necessary. Some grain free diets have also been linked to DCM, a heart condition in dogs. Real grain allergies exist but they're not that common. If there's no diagnosed reason to avoid grains, skipping them doesn't do much. Bring the bag and we'll give you our read on it.
How do I switch my pet to a new food without upsetting their stomach?
Slowly. Mix a small amount of the new food into the old, then shift the ratio over about a week to ten days. Most GI upset during a switch comes from moving too fast. Sensitive stomach? We'll slow it down.
Does my pet really need a prescription diet?
Only if there's a medical reason. Prescription diets are built to manage specific conditions like kidney disease, urinary stones, and food allergies, and they work well for those cases. We won't put your pet on one without a reason, and if we do, we'll explain what it's actually doing.
Are raw or home cooked diets a good idea?
They can work, but both are easier to get wrong than people expect. Home prepared diets are frequently unbalanced. Raw diets carry a real bacterial risk for the pet and anyone handling the food. Talk to us before you start.
When do I switch from puppy or kitten food to adult food?
Depends on size. Small and medium dogs, and most cats, switch around twelve months. Large and giant breeds need longer, often eighteen to twenty four months, because their skeleton is still developing. We'll sort it out at a puppy or kitten visit.
Can I buy the food you recommend through you?
Yes. Prescription and regular diets are both available through our online store, shipped or picked up at the clinic. We'll make sure you have the right food and the right amount.
Not sure you're feeding the right thing? Bring it up at your next visit, or book one. We'll look at what your pet eats now and tell you what we'd change.
Or call us at (519) 896-0532
