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Yorkshire Terrier standing in black and white

Tailored Nutrition for Unique Needs

We put our 50 years of scientific knowledge at the service of the health and wellbeing of pets. Founded by a veterinarian in 1968, Royal Canin has always been an expert in animal health nutrition. We place cats and dogs at the heart of each step of the innovation process to develop precise, tailored nutritional solutions for them.

Cat lying down on a bed

Understanding a pet's nutritional needs

At Royal Canin, we know that Persian cats use the lower side of their tongue to pick up kibble, and Yorkshire Terriers generally show fussy eating habits. Dalmatian dogs do not process dietary purines like other dogs, and the weight of Maine Coon cats means their joints often need greater support. By understanding these nuances in their health and behavior, we can tailor each diet to provide genuine support to each pet.

Dalmatian sitting outside

Finding the right diet

Food can be safe and nutritious and still not be the best choice for your cat or dog. The right food will address the specific needs of the individual animal. It should respect the sensitivities of the pet, keep them in good, on-going health, fulfill dietary preferences, and remain palatable as the pet’s needs change.

The science behind Tailored Nutrition

Royal Canin develops a diet when we identify a need, which is then translated into a precise nutrient profile adapted to pets depending on their size, breed, age, lifestyle, and sensitivities. As well as precisely measured individual nutrients, new developments also take into account palatability factors, including the shape, size, and texture of kibble adapted to the shape and size of the pets’ jaws. Find out more about Royal Canin's diets for specific needs below.

Nutrition adapted to your purebred pet

Pure breed cats and dogs are unique by nature. That’s why we’ve studied cats and dogs from purebred families and developed tailored nutrition to support their specific health requirements.

Tailoring nutrition for purebred pets isn’t just about finding the optimum nutritional balance. Our technical experts have collaborated with experienced pet professionals to develop specially shaped and textured kibbles for purebreds. Examples of these adaptations include:

Royal Canin Labrador Retriever kibble illustration
Dog

LABRADOR RETRIEVER Adult kibble

Labrador Retrievers have a tendency to eat quickly and not chew their food. An exclusive shape helps reduce the rate of food intake. An adapted calorie content helps maintain an ideal weight and EPA and DHA support healthy joints.

Royal Canin Persian kibble illustration
Cat

PERSIAN Adult kibble

Persian cats are brachycephalic and as such have a unique flat face which leads to difficulty gripping food. Almond-shape kibble allows for optimal contact area to pick up and chew. PERSIAN Adult is also enriched with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support the Persian's unique coat, and a specific blend of fibers to stimulate transit and help control hairball formation.

Nutrition adapted to your pet's size

Unlike many other species, dogs can be vastly different sizes, from the extra small Chihuahua, through to the giant Great Dane. But even the slightest size differences can require adaptations to a pet's nutrition. 

Duration and magnitude of growth, size of jaws, energy requirement and physical activity, relative size of the digestive tract, predisposition to certain sensitivities, and average life expectancy can all be affected by a dog’s size. It is important, therefore, for all of these factors to be taken into account when choosing their food.

Royal Canin's Size Health Nutrition range has been exclusively adapted to dogs of all sizes, to accommodate their varying jaw sizes, energy, growth speeds, life expectancy, and behavior, for example:

Royal Canin extra-small adult dog kibble illustration

X-SMALL Adult dog kibble

Our X-SMALL Adult diet contains a balance of fibers and highly digestible proteins to facilitate intestinal transit in a dog's smaller digestive system. The unique palatability is designed to stimulate fussy eaters.

Royal Canin giant adult dog kibble illustration

GIANT Adult dog kibble

The GIANT Adult diet is enriched with highly digestible proteins, adapted nutrient levels for heart health, and a calorie content to support their much larger size.

Nutrition adapted to your pet's age

Your pet goes through a lot of changes over the course of their life. From kittens and puppies to mature cats and dogs, age is a key factor in determining your pet’s nutritional needs. Whatever the breed, a puppy or kitten’s energy, protein, mineral, and vitamin requirements are much greater than those of an adult. Their digestive functions are different from an adult’s too, as their digestive capacity has not yet matured.

As cats and dogs move into adulthood and eventually aging life, good nutrition remains key to their health. Their energy intake should be adapted to their activity level, which can often be impacted by age-related health concerns. An senior pet with joint sensitivities, for example, will move around less and so expend less energy.

Some examples of how we've developed unique diets to support a pet's specific lifestage include:

Royal Canin kitten kibble illustration
Cat

Kitten kibble

Our kitten diets contain highly digestible proteins and prebiotics to support their digestive system and aid rapid growth and antioxidants to support the immune system. Appropriate size, form, and hardness are developed specifically for smaller mouths.

Royal Canin senior dog kibble illustration
Dog

Senior Aging dog kibble

Our Aging diets are highly palatable and easily rehydrated, and contain a blend of fibers to support digestive function. An adapted phosphorus level supports renal health in older dogs.

Nutrition adapted to your pet's lifestyle

Pets can have very varied lifestyles. Some cats stay indoors; others like to go out and explore. Some dogs are highly active; others live in inner cities. But how do these behavioral differences affect their nutritional needs? Each of these lifestyles can require very varied energy levels which, if not appropriately accounted for in your pet's diet, could lead to problems like obesity and poor digestion.

In the case of indoor cats, for example, a lack of exercise may lead to a slower intestinal transit and smelly stools. Dogs living in urban environments may feel stressed by their busy surroundings, get less physical activity, or have less space, than dogs living in more rural areas.

Royal Canin products are developed to help complement your pet's lifestyle and help support their long-term health, for example:

Royal Canin indoor cat kibble illustration
Cat

Indoor Adult cat kibble

Our diets for indoor cats contains specific fibers to help stimulate elimination of ingested hair, adapted calorie content for lower activity levels, and highly digestible proteins to help reduce quantity and odor of stools.

Royal Canin Relax Care Canin Care Nutrition kibble illustration
Dog

Canine Comfort Care Nutrition kibble

A precisely balanced diet which is enriched with nutrients known for their soothing effects to help your dog feel calm in a changing environment.

Nutrition adapted to your pet's sensitivities

A cat or dog’s diet should support their ongoing health and wellbeing. Specific nutrients can be introduced to your pet’s diet to benefit their digestion, weight management, skin and coat health, and much more.

Some of the ways that Royal Canin have developed diets adapted to support pet health and sensitivities include:

Royal Canin dermacomfort cnn kibble illustration
Dog

Canine Sensitive Skin Care Nutrition kibble

The Sensitive Skin Care diet is nutritionally formulated with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, including GLA, EPA and DHA to help support and nourish their sensitive skin.

Royal Canin oral care cat kibble illustration
Cat

Oral Care cat kibble

The size, texture, and shape of our Oral Care kibble encourages crunching to clean teeth. This diet is enriched with nutrients specifically chosen to help support dental health.

Cat stood on a wooden surface while at the vets

Your pet's changing needs

As your pet grows and ages, there are many different factors that can affect their nutritional needs. Responding to these changes in the short term can make all the difference to their long-term health. That’s why it’s so important to maintain regular appointments with your veterinarian.

A nutritional assessment should be performed by a pet care professional before making any changes to your cat or dog's diet. The goal of this assessment is to review your pet's lifestyle, feeding history, sensitivities, and anything else that could impact their nutritional needs. Following this, you and your veterinarian will be able to make nutritional decisions for a cat or dog based on scientific facts, respecting the unique needs of your pet.

Royal Canin kibble illustration

Royal Canin's Nutritional Philosophy

Our approach to pet nutrition has always been based on scientific facts and is constantly driven by research from nutritionists, veterinarians, and scientists from across the world. Find out more about our nutritional philosophy, how we put the needs of cats and dogs first, and how we ensure our products are nutritionally precise through rigorous, continuous observation and innovation.
Chocolate Labrador Retriever and ginger cat

Nutrients explained

By understanding nutrients and their benefits, you can make informed decisions about your pet's diet. Royal Canin has spent countless hours researching the nutritional needs of cats and dogs. As such, each of our tailored diets includes at least 50 individual nutrients, adapted to a pet's unique needs. Find out more about individual nutrients and their benefits for cats and dogs.
Cat stood on a wooden surface while at the vets

Your pet's changing needs

As your pet grows and ages, there are many different factors that can affect their nutritional needs. Responding to these changes in the short term can make all the difference to their long-term health. That’s why it’s so important to maintain regular appointments with your veterinarian.

A nutritional assessment should be performed by a pet care professional before making any changes to your cat or dog's diet. The goal of this assessment is to review your pet's lifestyle, feeding history, sensitivities, and anything else that could impact their nutritional needs. Following this, you and your veterinarian will be able to make nutritional decisions for a cat or dog based on scientific facts, respecting the unique needs of your pet.