Nutritional Services in Prescott, AZ

Nutritional services at our hospital cover the full picture: choosing the right life-stage food, building a weight-loss plan that actually works, transitioning to a prescription diet for a specific medical condition, and helping you separate evidence-based feeding advice from the noise on the internet. Nutrition is one of the highest-leverage things you can change about your pet's daily care.

What we help with

• Choosing a complete and balanced diet appropriate for life stage (puppy, kitten, adult, senior, large-breed puppy)
• Body condition scoring and weight management plans
• Prescription therapeutic diets for kidney disease, urinary disease, allergies, GI disease, diabetes, joint disease, and more
• Feeding plans for pets with multiple medical conditions
• Caloric calculations and portion guidance based on actual activity level
• Treat and table-food guidance (the hidden source of most weight gain)
• Transitioning between foods safely
• Discussion of grain-free, raw, home-cooked, and trending diets in the context of your pet's actual needs and AAFCO standards

Body condition and the weight problem

Roughly 60 percent of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Most owners genuinely cannot see it because "average" has shifted. Body condition score (BCS) is a 1 to 9 scale that measures whether your pet has the right amount of fat over their ribs, spine, and waistline. We will score your pet at every wellness visit. The single highest-impact change for most overweight pets is portion control combined with measured treats and a structured feeding schedule. Crash diets are not safe, especially for cats. We build plans that lose weight at a healthy 1 to 2 percent of body weight per week.

Prescription diets we routinely recommend

• Renal (kidney) diets for cats and dogs with chronic kidney disease
• Urinary diets for FLUTD, cystitis, and stone prevention
• Hydrolyzed protein and limited-ingredient diets for food allergies
• Highly digestible GI diets for IBD, pancreatitis, and chronic diarrhea
• Joint and mobility diets with omega-3s, glucosamine, and chondroitin
• Glycemic-control diets for diabetic cats and dogs
• Hepatic diets for liver disease
• Weight-loss prescription diets that maintain muscle mass during loss

Life-stage feeding

Puppies, kittens, adults, and seniors have different caloric and nutrient needs. Large-breed puppies need a specifically formulated food to control growth rate and protect developing joints. Senior diets emphasize lean muscle preservation, joint support, and cognitive support. Indoor-only adult cats need different calorie density than outdoor working cats. Generic "all life stages" food is rarely the right choice once a pet is past the puppy or kitten stage.

The truth about trending diets

Marketing has gotten ahead of the science on a lot of pet nutrition. Grain-free diets have been linked to a heart condition called diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), particularly in dogs. Raw diets carry real risks of bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria) that affect both pets and the humans handling the food. Boutique brands sometimes have minimal feeding-trial data behind their formulations. We are not anti-any- brand and we will not lecture you. We will give you our honest read on what the current evidence says for your specific pet, and help you choose accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

Is my pet overweight?

The simplest at-home check: with your pet standing, you should be able to feel ribs easily without pressing hard, see a visible waist when looking down from above, and see a tucked abdomen from the side. If you can't, your pet is likely overweight. We can give you an objective body condition score at any visit and tell you exactly how many pounds need to come off.

How do I safely transition to a new food?

Over 7 to 10 days. Start at 25 percent new food and 75 percent old, mixed together. Move to 50/50 around day 3, 75/25 around day 6, and 100 percent new food by day 10. Slower for pets with sensitive stomachs. Watch for soft stool, vomiting, or appetite changes during the switch.

Do you carry prescription diets?

Yes. We stock the Hill's, Royal Canin, and Purina therapeutic lines we use most often, and we can order any veterinary prescription diet within 24 to 48 hours. Most prescription diets are also available through our online store at granitemtnvet.myvetstoreonline.pharmacy/shop with delivery to your home.

What about a homemade or raw diet?

Homemade diets can be done well, but they have to be formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to be complete and balanced. Recipes from the internet are nutritionally inadequate the vast majority of the time. Raw diets carry real bacterial risks and we generally do not recommend them, especially in homes with young children, immunocompromised family members, or pets who interact closely with people.

How many treats can I give?

Treats should make up no more than 10 percent of daily calories. Above that, you start unbalancing the diet and adding weight. Most commercial treats are calorically dense, so a single jerky stick can equal a full meal for a small dog. We can show you lower-calorie treat options and how to use bits of the regular kibble as treats during training.

How often should I weigh my pet?

For pets at a healthy weight, every six to twelve months is enough (we weigh at every visit). For pets in a weight-loss program, every two to four weeks gives us the data we need to adjust portions. We are happy to do quick weigh-in visits at no charge.

Related services: Preventative Care, Internal Medicine & Diagnostics, Pain Management.

Reviewed by Dr. Katherine Siens, DVM. Last reviewed May 1, 2026.