Hi guys. Freya has been spayed today and she has some royal canin recovery food for the next few days. She had to be sedated as she was v nervy. I had bought some naturediet optima gold but vet said this stuff would perk her up. Any thoughts on it please?

I've never heard of it. Did the vet say what was in it that would "perk" her up,or why she would need a different food than the one she was on before after a routine spay? :)

Is the actual name of it RC recovery food? I would be interested to look up the ingredients and i cant seem to find them on royal canin's site.

I'd be a bit concerned about a total change of food after an op or is that just me being fussy

Me too.  Sounds like a gimic to me.  People in hospital after surgery aren't given any special "recovery foods" - why would it be necessary with dogs? 

RCW recovery is marketed for dogs post-operatively. 

I went in to Pets at Home a week ago and there on display with lots of pretty leaflets was Hills Dental Care designed to prevent tooth and gum problems in dogs.   Maybe I'm being cynical but I shook my head in disbelief.  If people want to prevent tooth and gum problems, then give their dogs toys/chews/raw bones and brush their teeth if required.  The food manu's would do better if they concentrated on using real wholesome foods and feed the dogs properly, instead of these marketing gimmicks.  

I agree - after an op more than at any other time, your dog need the food she's used to and familiar with.  The last thing you want is a dog which reacts badly to a new food while recovering from an op!

I would agree, though I have often heard people say when collecting their dogs after ops, "I've been out and bought some fresh fish/chicken for her," or "Bland food?  Yes, I'll give her some scrambled eggs."  Which would constitute a change of diet for some!

I don't know what's in the recovery food but I would expect it to be bland and easily digested by most dogs.  However, you could still run into trouble if your dog has particular senstivities - one of mine would have diarrhoea after eating chicken and I often hear that being recommended for invalids.

I have always favoured giving the usual food but a reduced amount.

I've always given something easily digested such as white fish and rice.  I would imagine this food is the same idea but for people who can't cook, won't cook ;).  There are plenty of those about these days :)  I don't have any issues with fulfilling the needs of that client base in the short term if that is what they want let them have it, why not?

I was always told (by human doctors [medical family! ;)] as well as vets) that during abdominal surgery the gut is rearranged and doesn't always function properly for a while, so easily digested 'invalid food' is a good idea.

The diet you are referring yo is a canned mix of rice, fish and chicken. It is expensive, but I have used it on my dog and it is very gentle and easy to digest. I used it after my dog very nearly died after a reaction to something she had eaten, and I know many vets recommend it as a post-operative food because it is gentle, easy to digest and settles the stomach, and I was also told by my vet exactly what Jeangenie has said, that the function of the digestive system can become a little ropy after such surgery. It is about £1 - £1.50 a can, and I had to feed my girl about 3 cans a day, but post-operatively it is rare to have to keep up with it as a diet long term, and after two days we started to reintroduce her normal kibble again and she was fine.

Oh, and you can get this Royal Canin diet both canned and as kibble too.

Canned rice, fish and chicken? Sounds like Chappie - which is also recommended for dogs with delicate digestive systems! :)

Might look at giving to Molly who has a sensitive tum always! She loved licking the bowl today!

Yes he apparently said it would perk her up. Its a tinned chicken and rice that is also for dogs with digestive problems. Well she has eaten it but had to be cohersed into eating so am going to add some of her arden grange tonight. Although with all said and done she is very perky today and i haven't given her any of the rimdyl that the vet prescribed. Maybe the food has helped!!! :)

I use it all the time as it settles the dogs stomachs. I also use Waltham Sensitivity Control for the same
reason. My vets give either away after an animal has had an operation.

Thanks. Even if she doesn't seem too keen Molly is olving likcking the bowl and even tried to steal it this mor ning. Like I said she is definately perky. :)

yes, it is like Chappie, accept my dog won't eat Chappie but will eat Royal Canin sensitivity/recovery formula, so there must be something about the balance of the ingredients that gets her eating one and not the other!

They're certainly better at detecting differences than we are! Glad you found something that did the trick. :)

Whilst haven't used RC Recovery - I did try GSD 24 by Royal Canin, when I was having real trouble with my girls coat thinning last year. I have to say the turnaround was fantastic. She's overly hairy if anything now (long haired GSD) and won third in best condition at a GSD rally 2 weeks ago (my boy came first ), and he has it too.
Kat

Does anyone have the ingredient list to this recovery food,or a website that has it listed? Is the American ingredients the same as here? As i know the other RC ingredients are different to the US,theirs are much better !

The UK site has the ingredients of each food in downloadable pdf at the bottom of the page. Here is the page where you can find Adult Medium breed as an example.

Hi Lori,i have been to both the UK and American sites and i cant find any food called recovery or it's ingredients,it doesnt come up on the search engine either

I think it is only available from vets so not sure you will find more information than this on the net.

It is the Royal Canin veterinary forumla. The canned variety has this information on the can:

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Senstivity Control
Sensitivity control is a complete dietetic foodstuff intended for dogs for the reduction of ingredient and nutrient intolerances. This dietetic  feedingstuff contains selected protein and carbohydrate sources. Protein source: chicken. Carbohydrate source: rice.

Feeding instructions: Feed for 3 - 8 weeks. If signs of intolerance disappear this feed can be used indefinitely. It is recommended that a veterinarian's opinion be sought before use.

Ingredients: Meat and animal derivatives (chicken 55%), cereals (rice 10%), oils and fats, derivatives of vegetable origin, minerals, vitamins. Vitamin levels guaranteed until best before date.

Analysis:

Protein: 9.00%
Oil: 6.00%
Ash: 2.20%
Fibre: 0.50%
Moisture: 73.00%

I have also used the dry kibble version but I had to use the can after my dog had a problem with a food intolerance, and also after she had to have exploratory investigation of her throat when she had a throat infection. She ate it well, and seemed very happy with it (in fact, she eats it with some gusto!) and it was particularly helpful in both instances when I used it, as particularly with the food problem, it stopped her from having the runs and normalised her bowel movements, as well as proving to be very digestible. It also helped with her throat problem because of how mushy it is.

I hope that helps.

Sorry Ktee, I actually spent the weekend away from my computer. (I know, shock and horror). I found downloads for the vet foods on Waltham USA. It's hidden away in small type under Other Links.

My girl had a c-section & was spade at the same time, When we brought her home she eat her normal food & was alright. Feed her what she is used too.