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hills dog food

Read and learn more about hills dog food. For more, visit the Dog Health website DoggyDogHealth.com

Q: I’m looking for a comparable dog food to Hills Science Diet. Is there anything comparable for less cost?
I got a puppy a couple of months ago and was feeding her Purina Puppy Chow. She developed a bladder infection and the vet said it was probably the food I was giving her. She recommended Hills Science Diet. We got the pup meds and she is all better now but the food is about 3 times as expensive as most brands. Does anyone know of a comparable dog food for less cost?

A: I have researched this in depth since my poor dog died of kidney failure due to poor quality dog food!! (this is the only reason I answer these questions … to try and save a dogs life or at least to not let him/her suffer because of bad food)
Fromm Dog Food is Great for dogs and cats …http://www.frommfamily.com/ $42- $45 per 30 lb bag
NO fillers….some good quality grains….NO corn….gluten or by-products or wheatNO BHT, BHA OR ETHOXYQUINNO artificial colors or flavors!!!
ALL human grade food….fruits…veggies and probiotics!! WHOLE fruits and veggies!!!! Just like the kind we get at our grocery stores!MEATS ARE DEBONED BY HAND!!!! NOT BY A MACHINE
check it out you wont regret it ! FROMM 4 STAR product line is the best!!!!!!! FROMM is a 100% holistic dog food. FROMM also has a grain-free option called surf & turf
All meats,fish,fruits and veggies are from local vendors delivered as needed.to maintain freshness

TOTWhttp://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/ … has a high protein content (not recommeded for non athletic dogs) Some TOTW choices have lesser amounts of protein.
Taste of the Wild contains Ethoxyquin which is a toxic fish preservative. (TOTW says that the cooking process kills all of it but it scared me away from their product)
around $42 for a 30 lb bag …. its the cheapest 6 star food ..

Remember : You get what you pay for. Keep in mind the top quality foods cost more but you feed less because there are no fillers or
unwanted ingredients. So in the long run you will be saving money with food and vet bills because your dog/cat will be healthier.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ lots of great dog food choices on this site !!(keep in mind this site rates on high protein and grain free foods)

Here are the best of the best:Fromm, Blue Buffalo, Canidae, Halo, Holistic Blend, Newmans Own Oranics, Wellness,
(all the above mentioned foods have ” ALL LIFE STAGES” formulas)
http://www.best-dog-food-guide.com/
http://www.petfoodratings.net/dogs.html

http://www.dogfoodscoop.com/

Orijen and Welness are great but it is $60 – $80 for a 30 lb bag… high protein as well ..not good for non athletic dogs Orijen is WAY to high in protein for a non working/non-agility dog ..

Fromm Is what my puppy gets it has a lower protein % and great ingredients! 5 outta 6 stars due to lower protein (but most dogs should not have high protein levels …. It makes their kidneys work overtime for no reason)
You can get it online and if you go to the website you can find stores near you .. they wont be at walmarts and the like… they are in feed stores .. Agway..tractor supply stores etc

IF your dog is not going to be a hard working/agility dog all this high protein can do more harm than good in the long run,,, you wont notice it now but it can take its toll on a dogs kidneys as it ages.

http://4healthdogfood.tripod.com/ …
there is also a brand called 4health at the tractor supply store.. it is only $30 for a 35 lb bag.. and it seems to be of good quality. (not as good as the foods mentioned above but it good for the price if you are on a tight budget.)
It is very close in ingredients to the more expensive brandsCheck out the ingredients for yourself… no corn, wheat or soy.A Very good choice if you cant afford Fromm, Wellness, BB, TOTW, etc…etc.
also if you go to http://www.tractorsupply.com you can get a printable $5 off coupon!!
(they have Blue Buffalo, TOTW and 4Health)

GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FURRY FRIENDS!!!

Q: Is it okay to feed a cat Hills dog food in an Emergency.?
A stray cat came into my garden on Saturday night and was driving my dog wild, because she looked rather thin and hungry I fed her with some kibble from my Westie and then she went away. She now came back this morning and is looking rather thin and is crying again but I dont have anything to feed her also she seems to be deaf as she doesnt pay any attention to the dog or to my husband trying to shoo her away i
p.s shes all white

A: if you feed her she will continue to come back, if I were you I would do my best to get this cat, if you can go out and pick it up GREAT, do that or call animal control to come and set up a live trap for this poor cat. this poor cat isn’t going to survive very long out there especially if it is deaf. it needs to find a home where it can be looked after and taken care of and not be outside.

Q: My dog was put on hills ud prescription dog food and no treats.I am looking for a treat that my dog can have.?
Our dog had bladder stones removed by surgery.The vet had our dogs stones analized and determined the problem was protein in his diet.Our dog is a 3 year old chihauhau and loves his treats. I hope to find some other option so he is not confined to eating this one kind of food for the rest of his life.

A: Talk to your vet — if there’s a “no treats” rule, there’s probably a medical reason for that and you shouldn’t override it without consulting an expert.

Q: Is there a comparable hills rx kd cheaper dog food to buy?
I’ve heard mixed reviews on this dog food. It’s bad and the rx ones are good. I can’t afford 48.00 a bag dog food consistently. ofcourse i want the best for my dog, but the kids come first. does any one have suggestions?

A: Hills’ Science Diet is… CRAP! Just because a vet recommends it, doesn’t mean it’s good.

Some good quality foods are :

Canidae $44 for a 40 pound bag

http://www.canidae.com/

Wellness – $28 for a 15 pound bag
Wellness CORE

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/

Solid Gold

http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/

Taste of the Wild – $25 for a 15 pound bag

http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/

Innova
Eagle pack Holistic
Chicken Soup for the dog Lovers Soul
Orijen
EVO
Merrick $12 for a 5 pound bag
Blue Buffalo
Avoderm

Never get low quality foods like :

Cesar
Ol’ Roy
Purina
Pedigree
IAMS
Eukanuba
Science Diet
BilJac
Beneful
Purina Dog Chow
Alpo
Nutro
Dad’s
Royal Canin
Kibbles ‘n Bits
Mighty Dog
Or ANY grocery Store brand

For they all have, Corn,Soy, By-Products, Artificial Colorings/Flavors, and other crappy stuff.

*** Vets are NOT animal nutritionists. ***

This website should be able to help you on picking out a good quality food. Stick on the 4-5-6 star range.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

This website is good to!

http://www.thedogbowl.com/

Purina ONE ingredients :
Lamb, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, oat meal, fish meal (source of DHA), whole grain corn, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), poultry by-product meal, calcium phosphate, animal digest, potassium chloride, salt, caramel color, calcium carbonate, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, zinc sulfate, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite

Eww! By-Products, Corn, Brewers Rice, and a whole lot of crappy stuff!

Taste of the Wild Ingredients :
Salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, canola oil, salmon meal, smoked salmon, potato fiber, natural flavor, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Way better then Purina! And, if you feed a better quality food, the less you have to feed! Also, better coats to!

Q: Is there an alternative to prescription dog food – specifically Hills c/d. Its extortionate!?
My dog is having hills s/d for one months to clear up struvite crystals (which is £160 for one month!!!) and then needs to go on to a maintenance diet for the rest of his life of hills c/d which is even more expensive.

What i want to know is whether there is an affordable alternative or i am happy to cook food for him myself if that is an option. Has anybody tried this, or is there something extra special about hills food that my dog needs? I expect not, but i will afford it if i have to.
My dog is insured, but dont want to go that route unless i have to. How does it affect insurance premiums?

A: The person who suggested adding cooked chicken gives sound advice. Chicken is about the best supplement to any prescription diet in my experience.

Two, more commercial, foods to be recommended are Royal Canin and Burns. A very dear (Internet) friend of mine, has a Yorkie who had to be put on a special hepatic diet following a number of severe problems. He was given one of the extensive Burns range, and he just went from strength to strength. My friend also added cooked chicken after a while and it turned out 100% successful besides economical.

Royal Canin is also a top quality diet if you want to check out the website. I know, practically all vets opt for Hills Science Diet … but not all dogs (or cats!) will eat it readily!!! None of these ‘better’ foods come particularly inexpensive but I always feel they are worth a try. I know, for a fact, you can get discounts if you order online.

Hills c/d, as far as I know, comes in a canned and dry variety. I am not sure if Burns or Royal Canin do ‘canned’, so please check all your options and always consult your vet first.

Good luck and hope your dog stays healthy & happy!

Q: What other choices of ID dog food can I get for my Shitzu,the vet gave him Hills ?
My dog is making these weird sounds from his tummy or belly, he burps,
the vet said that he may have allergy reaction to this premiun food he eats, so he gave him Hills ID,any other choice of food that will help him get better.

A: Every single formula that Hills makes are absolute crap. It makes me laugh that they say their products are “prescription”, and that they can help particular health problems when each and every one of their foods are nothing but corn and animal byproducts. Corn is the most common allergen, which can give your dog severe digestion problems. Look at the ingredients of Hills ID:

Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Dried Egg Product, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Powdered Cellulose, Dicalcium Phosphate, Chicken Liver Flavor, Iodized Salt, Potassium Citrate, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract.

Everything after the corn and rice are only minor ingredients. Rice can be great on a sensitive stomach, and a lot of the high quality dog foods on the market have rice in them. Blue Buffalo has a chicken and rice formula, and it contains real chicken as the first ingredient. I switched my dog from Ol Roy to Blue Buffalo, and it made a huge difference in his digestion. California Naturals is also great for dogs with touchy stomachs, as it has no corn and a very short ingredient list.

Just to let you know: Most vets are not educated in dog diet, and what foods are better than others. Most vets get paid to endorse particular products, most of the time it is Science Diet.

Q: does anyone know who i can contact at science diet dog food (hills) if i want to become a dealer in the phils?
We are putting up a dog grooming and day care spa here in manila

A: Both SD and Hills are low end/ low quality foods. Why would you want to sell crap dog food to your clients?

Q: HELP My dog is on Hills Z/D dog food, I need recipes for treats I can make @ home to save $?
the vet just put my dog on Z/D hypoallergenic dog food. I need hypoallergenic treat recipes I can make at home
Are ther other sources to buy Z/D from that are not as expensive as the vet?

A: Trash the Hills Z/D. Hills/Science Diet is an expensive, crappy quality dog food and your vet only recommended it because he/she likely gets kickbacks from the company for pushing it. Vets get very little nutritional training during veterinary school and tend to have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to dog nutrition.

If your dog has food allergies, you should look into a high quality dog food.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics

Some of them have excellent allergy formulas. Natura, a very high end dog food company, puts out a great allergy diet called California Natural. Natural Balance (another better quality dog food company) puts out some good allergy formulas as well.

Another option would be to try a grain-free diet: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Merrick Before Grain, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now!, Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Ziwipeak, and Taste of the Wild.

As for treats, that depends on what your dog is allergic to. Here’s what I found searching:

http://www.best-dog-treat-recipes.com/hypoallergenic-dog-treats.html

Darksong~

Q: ARGH… vet prescribed Hills food for my dog… yuck?
So here I am, $25 poorer and with a 10 pound bag of crap (or, Hill’s prescription diet i/d)… Anybody have any experience or knowledge about this food? Where is it on the dog food analysis list because the FIRST ingredient is some weird corn product. GROSS… and I did ask if there wasn’t a better quality food for her needs, but the vet said he felt it would work.
Am I right to be leery of feeding my 6 year old lab Hills food? Has anyone had any bad experiences with it? I’m just so worried… she was on science diet as a puppy and had so many allergy flair ups. She was on Natural Balance Duck/Potato, but that’s when her intestinal problems began, so that’s why they switched her to this…
Like I said, she was on Natural Balance, but it was the Duck and Potato so I’m wondering if something in the ingredients-either the duck or potato, bothered her…
I think I’m going to switch her to a lamb/rice formula…
Which brand has a good lamb and rice formula since she seems to do fine on that?
And in terms of “kick backs” from Hills, I’m sure my vet’s clinic does. Like (unfortunately) many other vets. Sadly as my mom put it, “most vets aren’t nutritionists”… and honestly, in terms of “needing” to switch vets, I’d be foolish at best to do that. Aside from disgusting food, I feel very blessed to have this clinic for my pets. They are honestly one of the best I’ve experienced/heard of… :)
Sorry, yes, it is for GI trouble… our vet said she probably is just hyper sensitive (my wording, not his) to what she eats… that’s why they put her on it.

A: Barf…. You’re better off cooking her oatmeal or rice/chicken(or beef)/egg mixture for a while.

http://metropetservices.com/product_detail.php?mcid=1&scid=36&pgid=316&sid=7a1eaac2207af8e0a6f0d74c8f5e57d0

If he suspects sensitivity, do as someone else said and cook for her for a while. Try different things and see how she does. You might consider switching to a raw/homemade diet. Lamb and rice is probably going to be your best bet as far as kibble goes. Try finding a lower protein lamb and rice formula.

http://metropetservices.com/product_detail.php?mcid=1&scid=36&pgid=348&sid=7a1eaac2207af8e0a6f0d74c8f5e57d0

ADD: I am in no way saying to mistrust your vets diagnosis. Just his suggestions on food. My vet doesn’t know squat about food, because he is interested in MEDICINE. He’s a wonderful vet, and still sells Science Diet. He no longer tries to sell it to me, but if something was to come up, he would let me know that I need to change foods temporarily and let me figure it out on my own…

Q: Is the a comparable substitute for Hills W/D dog food?
Vet recommended W/D because the dog is diabetic and requires 2 shots of insulin per day

A: + The best substitute for Science Diet would be another food, Science Diet is not a very good food and has a lot of junk and fillers. Here is some more info.

+All dog foods are not created equal. There is a huge difference in ingredients, quality of ingredients and company standards. When wondering what to get or comparing your current food it is best to do as much research as possible.

Your options are a raw diet, which is one of the greatest diets for dogs. To learn more go to www.barfworld.com. Raw really means nothing cooked; meat, bones and organs. This is not to be confused with allowing your dog to eat cooked bones, cooked bones are harmful, raw bones are not. This is the dog’s ancestral diet. If you think a dog should not be eating raw meat, go back and study wolves. Ask yourself what year was dog food made and then how long have dogs been around without our help of over processed dog food and gravy.

Another option is kibble and wet food. I think a good choice is both. Feeding Kibble 2x a day 12 hours apart and wet food 2x a week in place of 1 feeding of equal calories is a good balance. When you are looking for a healthy dog food it is important that not only the kibble be high quality but the wet food, treats and chews be high quality as well.

Foods to avoid: Pedigree, Beneful, Purina, Iams, Nutro, Alpo, Ol Roy, Mighty Dog, Ceser, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canin, Eagle Pack (not to be confused with Eagle Pack Holistic) and of course all grocery store brands i.e. Publix brand dog food, Winn-Dixie brand dog food etc.

These foods have low quality ingredients that can cause allergies, diabetes, bloat, overweight, oily skin, excessive and or runny stool and a myriad of other problems. Most of these brands are owned by companies like Del Monte, Proctor and Gamble, Mars and Nestle. Do you really believe that a company like Proctor and Gamble who makes beauty products, household cleaning supplies, baby items, prescription drugs and many others is the best suited company to make quality products for dogs? 50% of Mars is pet food, 45% is unhealthy snacks like candy bars. Does this sound like the best company to make dog food? All of these companies have one thing in common, they have the advertising to make you believe pictures of meat and veggies and healthy dogs running around on the commercials is what you will get. Knowing the truth about what is in these foods is devastating.

Quality dog foods: Innova, California Natural, EVO, Karma, Wellness, Wellness Core, Orijen, Canidae, Merricks, Artemis, Taste of the Wild, Nature’s Variety, Solid Gold-Barking at the Moon and Timberwolf.

Here are several websites to do your own research, which I highly suggest. A lot of questions here about dog’s health problems are a direct result of the food you are feeding. Read the ingredients label on the back, go to the website and see who owns the dog food, look up the ingredients and learn why it is used and what the pros and cons are. Changing to a healthy low grain, no grain dog food will relieve most of your dog aliments and give you a healthier and happier dog.

www.naturapet.com

www.dogfoodproject.com

www.dogfoodanalysis.com

www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1

www.feedmypet.com/dog-food-comparison.html

Q: Where can I find the hills z/d dog food?…?
My dog is now on it and it is extremely expensive! Any place where I can get it cheaper?

A: i think this one may help

http://www.petsupplyonlinestore.com

Q: Side effects of hills prescription diet food for dogs?
Are there any known side effects with hills prescription diet dog food.
My spaniel has been put on this from our vet, since this she has come out in what looks like septic spots.
Any advice?

A: I am with Bobby, it’s possible that your dog has an allergy to one of the ingredients in the new diet. This type of situation isn’t because the food is “bad for dogs” but rather that an individual’s body has an abnormal reaction to something. You should discuss the issue with your vet.

Q: Tricks to get my dog to eat bland food?
My dog was recently diagnosed with a heart murmur. As part of his new health regiment, he has been put on a prescription low sodium dog food (Hills k/d). The problem is he won’t eat it.

He ate it when I was mixing with his old dog food but since we have gone full blown on the K/D he won’t eat.

I would add something to it but the whole idea is to decrease his sodium intake…so I’m looking for suggestions on what to add.

I talked to my vet and their response was to add canned dog food of the same prescription…which I am leary of because it would also be low in sodium and tasteless.

Any suggestions?
I’ve already talked to my vet and they said some dogs just won’t eat the food. The rule that they will eventually eat it doesn’t apply to ALL dogs. The vet admitted that.

A: I would definitely try the canned K/D. Although it is much more bland than other types of canned food, it will be much less bland to your dog than just the dry kibble. I prescribe K/D and other Hill’s prescription diets at my practice, and I find that often the dogs do not take well to that particular type. Try the canned, and if it doesn’t work, try adding salt-free canned green beans to his dry food. If this still doesn’t work, ask your vet for other alternatives.

Good luck!

Q: Is hills science diet a good dog food?
Recently we saw a vet who recomended it. She said the food we had our puppy on (blue buffalo) was new and she knew very little about it. She then tried to push hills on us saying that it was the best brand out there. Is it good? Does anyone know anything about it?
Lots of good answers. Thanks everyone. Could anyone recomend another good food in case we decied to switch him off blue buffalo?
Altttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
We also feed our dog charlie bear dog treats..are those healthy good treats?

A: No it is not good, Blue buffalo is excellent but if you want better try blue wilderness

The only reason the vet recommends science diet is because they get the food for free

Blue wilderness is the same company as blue buffalo, its just blue wilderness is a 6 star and blue buffalo is a 4-5 star

try this website http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/index.php

Q: my dog has a sensitive stomach (hills id food)?
i keep hearing its crap and people keep talking about the raw diet but that sound scary to do to my dog raw food couldn’t be good with all that bacteria…what dog food can i give him with out upsetting his stomach i didn’t really trust the doctor with hills id

A: A raw diet is anything but scary.

A dogs stomach is naturally designed to digest bacteria and germs that naturally occur in meat, a dogs stomach is not like a humans. The organ, meat and bones provide wonderful essential vitamins that can help with a dogs overall condition and teeth.

I recommend a raw diet over any kibble food.

You have a sense to not trust Science Diet, its nothing but expensive crap some do well on it but it is fileld with fillers and perservatives that can harm or cause serious allergic reactiosn in dogs. There are healthy all natrual kibbles like:

Taste of the Wild
Orijen
Blue Buffalo
Blue Diamond
Blue Wilderness
Canidea
Wellness

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