Pet Food
Veterinary Nutrition - Custom, Controlled, & Convenient Diets for Every Scenario
We work with veterinary practices and veterinary brands to engage in clinical recipe development and innovative formats while supporting their adherence to targeted options and therapeutic nutrition.
Pet Food Formulation & R&D Services
Veterinary / Prescripition Formats
Prescription or veterinary diets are pet food products that are developed on a scientific basis for the management and support of animals diagnosed with medical conditions. These formulas are considered part of a comprehensive management regimen, prescribed by veterinarians and formulated based on clinical research, rather than being classified as maintenance diets. Commonly diagnosed conditions which could be treated by veterinary diets may include renal (kidney) disease, hepatic (liver) insufficiency, joint issues, gastrointestinal sensitivities, allergies, diabetes and urinary conditions.
The precision in formulation allows for optimized nutrient delivery for systems that may be compromised by condition, symptomatic management and an overall support for a pet’s quality of life. These diets are balanced recipes for essential vitamins and minerals, protein quality, fat types, and relevant additives (e.g. antioxidants, omega-3s, joint protectants). And mise in place and texture options have been chosen with palatability and compliance in mind, since taste, smell, and ease of feeding are essential to long-term compliance.
Food Research Lab ensures compliance with changing regulations (i.e. AAFCO, FDA/FSMA, FEDIAF) around clinically validated, safe and accurately labeled, prescription diets. Through veterinary collaborations and stringent quality controls, we can guarantee products that meet all safety, clinically effective treatment for the pet and market access.
Scientific and R&D Approach
At Food Research Lab, developing diets for prescription use follows a meticulous, evidence-based method:
Medical Collaboration:
Our formulations start with input from veterinary specialists, who establish clinical endpoints prior to recipe development (e.g., phosphorus for renal diets, or lower copper for hepatic disease, or hydrolyzed protein for sensitivities)
Multiple Forms:
Rehabilitative diets designed as dry kibble for routine use, wet foods for hydration or improved palatability, individual packets, or pouches to accommodate convenience and precise feeding.
Compliance:
A combination of dry and wet foods, creating new flavor and palatable texture, yields of better acceptance for clients with a sick pet or an older pet as well as ease of transition between feeding schema.
Therapeutic By Nature:
Because of the nature of veterinary diets, they may include hydrolyzed proteins, novel protein and carbohydrate combinations, antioxidants, distinct fiber sources for gastrointestinal health, or botanicals for inflammation or puri-lyarian care.
Quality Control:
Veterinary diets are prepared under very good quality guidelines including safety, analysis verification, and maintaining efficacy of therapy.
- Kibble: Great for ongoing management, weight management, and oral health. Ideal for multi-pet households where convenience and portion control are priorities.
- Wet/Canned: Soft, high moisture recipes designed to enhance hydration, increase appetites, and provide ease in the administration of medications or supplements.
- Pouches/Sachets: Single serve, hygienic and convenient packaging in a well-liked option for cats and small dogs receiving frequent, calorie measured meals or to hide medication in a consumed meal.
- Combo Feeding Example: Renal diets are available as dry and wet pairs to increase the likelihood of acceptance by pets who are not interested in their food—dry adds a crunch or interest and wet is more flavorful and aromatic and adds hydration. [5]
| Product Form | Description | Key Clinical Use |
| Kibble | Specific condition, dry formatted, excess/fast extruded | Longevity, weight, dental support, daily |
| Wet (Canned) | Soft, high-moisture, palatable (very flavorful) recipes | Hydration, appetite stimulation |
| Pouches/Sachets | Easy dose, single-serving, unit packages | Portion control; masking medication |
| Combo Feeding | Dry + Wet as a paired dietary system | Increases acceptance, flexibility, compliance as prescribed |
| Specialized Treats | Prescription-functional (expanded) joint or dental snacks | Supplemental therapy and reward application |
Life-Stage & Functional Nutrition
Puppies/Kittens
Adults Pet
Senior Pet
Therapeutic Fresh Meals
FRL Service Scope
| Service Area | Description |
| Custom Formulation | Development of tailored therapeutic recipes for renal, hepatic, joint, and other conditions based on veterinary specifications. |
| Pilot-Scale Trials | Small-scale fabrication focused on how the end product will hold up in terms of nutrient stability, palatability, and texture. |
| Microbial Validation | In-depth evaluation to determine pathogen control and safety as it pertains to the end product format (i.e., kibble, canned, etc.) for prescription diets. |
| Nutrient Analysis | Complete composite analysis of therapeutic nutrient content, vitamins, minerals, and functional ingredients relevant to clinical viability and dose tracking. |
| Sensory Trials | Testing of palatability and acceptance with clinically challenged pets, combined with long-term adherence assessments. |
| Packaging Solutions | Innovative packaging designed for maximum shelf life, nutrient retention, and convenience of feeding with kibble, wet, and single-serve packages. |
| Regulatory Support | We provide global regulatory guidance for veterinary diets, covering AAFCO, FEDIAF, FDA/FSMA, and FSSAI, including ingredient approval, labeling, claim substantiation, and dossier preparation. |
| Scale-Up & Production | Support for transitioning from development through to commercial manufacture with accompanying quality assurance necessary for medical diet manufacture. |
| Research & Innovation | All-encompassing development for new therapeutic ingredients, multi-format feeding systems, and provision of clinical trial support for improved patient outcomes. |
Regulatory Landscape for Pet Digestive Health Products
Veterinary or prescription diets fall under more stringent regulatory review due to their medical purpose and targeted nutrient profiles. Key authorities include:
- AAFCO: Specifics nutrient profiles and labeling requirements for veterinary diets in North America, with very specific requirements regarding therapeutic claims and product substantiation.
- FEDIAF: Provides detailed nutritional guidelines and supports the use of veterinary diets in the EU with special emphasis on clinical validation of evidence-based claims.
- FDA/FSMA: Regulates veterinary diet safety, manufacture, and labeling under the premise of robust clinical evidence of a therapeutic claim and strict adherence to GMP.
- FSSAI (India): Responsible for the regulation of food safety and labelling of veterinary diets, be it under the general law on food safety or special guidelines related to therapeutic formulations.
- BIS (India) – References IS 11968:2019 for pet food quality, which can be applied to veterinary diets for quality benchmarks, though additional clinical validation may be required for therapeutic claims.
The prescription diets may require clinical trials, comprehensive dossier submissions, and stricter labeling, reflecting their medical use in ensuring safety, efficacy, and transparency for the practicing veterinarian and pet owners.
Process flow
Clinical Needs Assessment:
Partner with clinicians to discuss important therapeutic indications and performance characteristics.
Ingredient &
Product Selection: Identify appropriate functional proteins, limited or enhanced nutrients, and applicable clinical background research.
Small-Trial Evaluation:
Evaluate palatability, digestibility, nutrient microbiome availability, and texture in appropriate clinical populations.
Stability & Safety Testing:
Examine nutrient stability, microbial safety, and shelf life across all product forms.
Labeling &
Regulatory Support: Ensure labeling and documentation meet requirements set by AAFCO, FEDIAF, FDA/FSMA, and FSSAI, with all claims backed by clinical evidence.
Scale-Up, Production & Efficacy Review:
Transition products from pilot to commercial scale, ensuring consistency in quality and therapeutic claims, while actively soliciting feedback for ongoing efficacy improvement.
Why Choose FRL
- Collectively developing clinical products with veterinarians for targeted medical applications.
- Robust multi-format delivery patterns (dry, wet, pouch, treat) for positive client compliance.
- End-to-end service from a scientific-backed recipe developed and tested through sensory analysis global compliance and launch.
- Prioritization around safety, nutritional integrity, and improvements in pet health outcomes.
Let’s create something Innovative and Delicious together
Food Research Lab strives for excellence in new Food, Beverage and Nutraceutical Product Research and Development by offering cutting edge scientific analysis and expertise.
