Royal Canin Pet Foods Reviews

Chewy has been amazing but they keep sending me replacement cases but it doesn't do any good because three different are two different Lots of dog food with different expiration dates have the same problem so if something going on with the manufacturer. I'm calling my Dad to see if I can get a different hepatic dog food for my 14 year old little dachshund who has extremely high liver enzymes so she has to be on some kind of prescription dog food and this is not it. I do not recommend it.

Tater Tot has a history of food allergies, Addison’s, and serious chronic GI issues. He is under the care of a Veterinary Internist, with upper and lower GI endoscopy and biopsies planned to figure out why he has frequent vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. These “Addi crisis’” have led to ER stays, hospitalizations, medication regimens, and around the clock care. Because he’s medically fragile, even a short bout of vomiting can set him back, worsens his quality of life, and potentially lead to a premature death.

Below is what I reported to Royal Canin: I’m writing as a long-time Royal Canin customer with a serious concern about the Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf for Dogs. I believe several cans I recently purchased may have been compromised/tainted, putting my dog’s health at risk during an already fragile time. We have been loyal Royal Canin customers for years. Both my current silky terrier, Tater Tot, and my previous silky terrier (who had Cushing’s disease and kidney disease) have done well on your prescription diets. Because of that history, Royal Canin is a brand we’ve trusted with our pets’ most critical health needs.

Tater Tot is an active and loving three-year-old who has experienced ongoing gastrointestinal issues, including frequent vomiting, dehydration, and diarrhea. He is currently under the care of a Veterinary Internist and is scheduled for upper and lower GI endoscopy and biopsies to determine the cause. His condition is delicate enough that even short periods of vomiting or diarrhea can significantly impact his stability with detrimental long-term consequences.

About two years ago, after an elimination diet, our vet prescribed Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein P/S (dry kibble) and Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf along with hydrolyzed food from other food brands. We chose Royal Canin because of our positive prior experience. Tater Tot has continued to tolerate the Hydrolyzed Protein P/S dry kibble well, and the Loaf consistently until two weeks ago. I purchased several cans of Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf for Dogs from PetSmart on 11/24/25. We mix the loaf with the dry kibble during his picky periods. Under normal conditions, one can lasts 2–3 days with proper storage in the refrigerator using a sealed lid.

• First incident: After opening a new can and feeding Tater Tot, he vomited the next morning. To be safe, I discarded that can and switched him temporarily back to only the dry kibble, along with medications (Sucralfate and Cerenia). • Subsequent cans: Over the following ~10 days, we alternated between dry kibble and new cans of the loaf. When I opened the fourth can, I noticed it had a different smell and a thinner, more watery texture than usual, with the loaf being mushier and less firm. I fed a small amount, and Tater Tot vomited again shortly afterward. I discarded that can as well.

• Strong odor from the refrigerator: Last night, we noticed a strong, foul odor coming from our refrigerator. We cleaned it thoroughly, discarded perishables, and used baking soda, but the smell persisted. This morning, we tracked the odor to another newly opened can of the Hydrolyzed Loaf (opened two days earlier and stored in an airtight container). The contents smelled extremely rotten, like a decaying animal.

Fortunately, Tater Tot had not eaten any of the wet food for the past two days, and he has not vomited during that time. His health appears more stable at the moment.

We are extremely meticulous about his diet and routine due to his conditions. He does not receive any treats or table food, and he only drinks purified bottled water. The only variable that changed during these episodes was the introduction of these particular cans of Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf. While I can’t conclusively prove that the cans caused his vomiting and diarrhea, the pattern, texture changes, and foul odor strongly suggest that these cans were not safe for consumption. The smell permeated the airtight lids as well, so I threw them away to avoid cross-contamination/pathogens.

This situation has been terrifying, exhausting, and costly. Tater Tot’s planned procedure is now on hold until he is strong enough to undergo anesthesia. I am deeply concerned that other pet owners and their dogs, particularly those with serious or terminal conditions could experience similar or worse outcomes if there is a quality issue with this product. Even a brief period of vomiting from tainted food can trigger a domino effect of complications in medically fragile dogs, and possibly result in heart-breaking loss of life. As a concerned pet parent, I feel it is my responsibility to share this experience so that any potential quality assurance or safety issues can be investigated and addressed.

4. Provide guidance on next steps for further investigation, as I am happy to share any additional information your team needs. I have retained photos for documentation.

For reference, the cans were purchased on 11/24/25 at PetSmart (Bethany Home location) in Phoenix, AZ. Thank you for your time, and for taking this concern seriously. I hope this is an isolated incident, but I would appreciate your prompt investigation and response so we can determine whether it is safe to continue using this product.

My cousin has a Havanese that is seven weeks younger than my two year-old. She too had serious intestinal problems three weeks before my dog. She too was changed to Royal Canin. The vet was never able to determine the cause, just said it was due to inflammation and irritation. I’m convinced the food is the culprit. While my dogs like the food, I believe possibly Havanese are sensitive to grains, Orijen is grain-free. I believe food compatibility depends on your breed. I write this review to warn Havanese‘s owners. It’s been very costly and traumatic. The dogs were seriously ill.

My cat became more and more lethargic, and not because of the arthritis. Those symptoms actually improved, and she could jump onto high spots without trouble. But she started eating less, sleeping much more than usual, and worst of all, she began shedding excessively. Very excessively. When I brought this up with my vet, he just brushed me off and sent me a generic ChatGPT-generated response about grooming, completely ignoring my concerns. I decided to wait a bit longer, thinking maybe it was just shedding season. But after a few months, nothing improved. In fact, the shedding got even worse. So I decided enough was enough. I stopped feeding her that food.

I switched her to a normal grain-free food, added an omega-3/6 blend (UBAMEG), and started giving her Cosequin supplements to replace what she had been getting from the Royal Canin. And guess what? After just four days, I started noticing a change. Her appetite came back, she became playful again, and the excessive shedding began to improve. So from my experience: yes, Royal Canin was a complete garbage. Even though it was prescribed, it ended up doing more harm than good.