The food our pets eat can have a powerful influence on their overall health, especially when they are dealing with chronic conditions. Diets built around fresh, minimally processed, species-appropriate ingredients may help reduce inflammation, support digestion, and provide the nutrients the body needs to heal and maintain balance. This guide highlights dietary approaches and food options commonly recommended for dogs and cats facing specific medical conditions, helping pet parents make more informed choices.
When considering a suitable diet for your pets, it's essential to explore options for pet food by medical condition.
Many chronic health issues improve when pets eat foods with higher natural moisture levels. Fresh, gently cooked, raw, or freeze-dried foods rehydrated with water or bone broth can support digestion, kidney health, and overall hydration far better than dry ultra-processed foods.
Pets with chronic conditions often benefit from diets with fewer ingredients and clearly identified animal proteins. Avoid foods filled with vague ingredients, by-products, synthetic vitamins or unnecessary additives that may trigger inflammation or sensitivities.
When switching diets, gradual transitions help protect the gut microbiome and reduce digestive upset. Mixing small amounts of the new food into the current diet over several days can help pets adjust comfortably. We also recommend you always have Adored Beast Gut Soothe or Adored Beast Feline Gut Soothe on hand in case of gastrointestinal upset.
What we feed our pets can play a powerful role in how their bodies heal, respond to inflammation, and manage chronic disease. Many common pet foods are highly processed and filled with ingredients that may worsen digestive issues, allergies, metabolic problems, and other health conditions. Choosing fresh, minimally processed, species-appropriate foods can help support the body’s natural ability to restore balance. Below you’ll find diet guidance and food options often recommended for dogs and cats dealing with specific medical conditions. We do not recommend kibble.
We have extensive information and recommendations for pets with environmental and food allergies and yeast overgrowths. Feed a raw or gently cooked diet with a novel protein (venison, lamb, rabbit, duck, turkey or bison). Rabbit is excellent for a pet with allergies. Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
See our allergies and itching page. If your pet has other symptoms as well as loose stools and vomiting they may have a leaky gut. Also, if your pet has an ear infection caused by yeast visit our ear page.
Raw or gently cooked diets are best for dogs and cats with digestive issues. Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
Visit these webpages for more information on these medical conditions: Leaky Gut, Pancreatitis, IBS, Gastroenteritis and Diarrhea, Vomiting and Loose Stools.
Raw or gently cooked diets are best for kidney disease and urinary issues (UTI, urinary crystals and bladder stones and urinary incontinence). Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
Visit these webpages for more information on these medical conditions: Kidney Disease, Urinary Crystals and Stones, UTI and Urinary Incontinence.
Raw or gently cooked diets are best for dogs and cats with metabolic and endocrine disorders (Diabetes, Cushing’s Disease, Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism). Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
Visit these webpages for more information on these medical conditions: Diabetes, Cushing’s Disease, Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.
Raw or gently cooked diets are best for dogs and cats with joint and mobility issues (Arthritis, IVDD and ACL injuries). Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
Visit these webpages for more information on these medical conditions: Arthritis and Hip Dysplasia.
A traditional and holistic approach to treating cancer in dogs and cats focuses on supporting the whole body, not just targeting the disease itself. This integrative path often combines conventional veterinary care with gentle, natural therapies such as species-appropriate nutrition, immune-supportive herbs, medicinal mushrooms, homeopathy, detox support, and lifestyle adjustments that reduce inflammation and stress. The goal is to strengthen the body’s innate healing ability, improve quality of life, manage symptoms, and help pets better tolerate conventional treatments when they are used. By addressing nutrition, gut health, emotional well-being, and environmental factors alongside medical care, this balanced approach empowers pet parents to support their pets in a thoughtful, compassionate, and individualized way. See our cancer webpage for more information.
Raw or gently cooked diets are best for dogs and cats with heart disease, congestive heart failure, heart murmur and mitral valve disease. Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
Visit our Heart webpage for more information.
Raw or gently cooked diets are best for dogs and cats with liver disease. Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
Visit our Liver Disease webpages for more information.
Raw or gently cooked diets are best for dogs and cats with neurological disorders. Avoid foods that contain sugar, honey, white potatoes, grains, peas, chickpeas, lentils, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. We do not recommend kibble.
Visit our seizure and cognitive dysfunction syndrome webpages for more information.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Feeding Pets with Kidney Disease.”
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Cancer & Gut Health with Dr. Judy Jasek.”
“Liver Disease in Dogs: 5 Real Cases, 5 Different Solutions (What Actually Works)” by Dr. Steve Marsden.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Let’s Talk About Seizures.”
“Thyroid Problems in Dogs & Cats” by Dr. Katie Woodley.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade) “ EP33: Heal Hip Dysplasia and Cruciate Tears Without Surgery Using Chinese Medicine With Dr. Steve Marsden.”
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Making Dog Food To Support Kidney and Bladder Health and MORE.”
“Dog Arthritis And Joint Inflammation: Signs, Causes And Natural Solutions” by Dr. Nick Thompson.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Helping Diabetes through Pet Foods with Dr. Morgan — Webinar 11.”
If you have a question on this topic that wasn’t answered here, we invite you to ask it in our Facebook group.
Many pets with chronic health issues benefit from diets built around fresh, minimally processed ingredients. Foods that contain high-quality animal proteins, natural sources of vitamins and minerals, and adequate moisture may help support digestion, reduce inflammation, and provide nutrients the body can use more efficiently than heavily processed foods.
Prescription diets are often recommended, but they are not the healthiest option for your pet. They benefit the vet financially more than they benefit your pet. Many pet parents explore fresh, gently cooked, freeze-dried, or balanced raw diets that use whole food ingredients and fewer synthetic additives. Working with a knowledgeable holistic veterinarian or integrative practitioner can help determine the most appropriate diet for your pet’s specific condition.
In many cases, adjusting a pet’s diet can be an important part of supporting overall health. Different conditions may benefit from different nutritional approaches, such as lower fat diets for pancreatitis, lower carbohydrate diets for metabolic conditions, or moisture-rich diets for kidney and urinary issues. Diet changes should always be made gradually and tailored to the individual pet.
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