Hills To Relaunch Prescription Diet Line
TOPEKA, KAN. Hills Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, announced a relaunch of its Prescription Diet pet food line on Feb. 24. According to Colgate-Palmolive, the relaunch will focus on new formulations, packaging redesigns and stronger veterinary outreach.
What were most proud about is that weve been true to what the brand really represents, which is that science is the way to lead to healthier lives for pets, said Noel Wallace, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Colgate-Palmolive at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York 2022 Virtual Conference. While the pet food category is obviously benefiting from underlying trends like the humanization of pets and premiumization, we believe it is also continuing to swing back toward science and expertise, and Hills is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this trend.
Although Wallace didnt address specific formulation changes to Hills Prescription Diet, the company stressed a priority on science-backed and veterinarian-developed pet food. Currently, the therapeutic line is developed to help pets with specific health concerns, including weight management, joint care, liver care, kidney care, urinary care, glucose management and many more, with 66 total dry and wet foods and treats for dogs and 53 total dry and wet foods and treats for cats.
The relaunch of Hills Prescription Diet will begin in Europe before rolling out to the United States and the rest of the world in 2022.
Are Are Therapeutic Or Prescription Diets For Cats Necessary
The ingredients in Hill’s Prescription Diet for Cats raise even more eyebrows. The diet for kidney care lists the following components:
“With Chicken: Brewers’ rice, animal fat, maize gluten meal, chicken and turkey meal, pea protein, wheat, dried whole egg, minerals, digest, dried beet pulp, rice protein concentrate, fish oil, soybean oil, L-carnitine, vitamins, taurine, trace elements, and beta-carotene. With a natural antioxidant .”
Firstly, while dogs are carnivores with the ability to digest certain plants, cats are true carnivores. So it’s disconcerting that the label lists the first ingredient as “with Chicken,” rather than just chicken.
According to the FDA, protein sources that stipulate “withe th”, such as “with salmon,” only need to have 3% of that ingredient in the food.
Adding the word “with” makes all the difference. If the label only said chicken, then 70% of the product would have had to be chicken, accounting for water added during processing.
So chicken as the first ingredient is misleading. After that, most of the ingredients look pretty similar to the canine digestive diet. Various plant and cereal by-products make up the bulk of the food and protein.
Note that the animal protein mentioned is chicken and turkey meal. This can be misleading since it is not clear whether 18% of all the food is chicken or just 18% of the meal ingredient.
Who Produces Hills Cat Food
Hills has undergone a massive metamorphosis since its humble beginnings as a rendering service in Kansas. Theyve become an international corporation with products being sold in 86 countries around the globe.
Today, Hills is owned by the Colgate-Palmolive company a purchase that took place in 1976. Despite being owned by such a massive corporation, Hills still produces all of its food in company-owned manufacturing plants in the United States.
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The Primary Ingredients Of Hills Science Diet
The best way to tell whether you want to feed Hills to your cat is to take a look at the ingredient list. Ingredients at the top of the list are the most prevalent, with the ingredients at the bottom being present in the smallest amounts.
- Chicken Meal
Animal Protein
Out of the five main ingredients in this blend, three of them are from animals, which is perfect for cats since theyre obligate carnivores. Cats get all of the nutrition they need from animals they dont need to eat carbohydrates.
Whole Grains
Youll also notice two ingredients that arent derived from animals. Cats might not need carbohydrates, but all dry cat foods contain them. They provide calories for your cat, though most of them arent utilized well since your cat cant effectively digest carbohydrates. But they also bind the food together and serve as a filler.
If your cat is going to eat carbohydrates, then whole grains are the best option. As you can see, whole grain wheat is obviously a whole grain, making it one of the better options for a dry cat food filler.
Cheap Filler Protein
Corn gluten meal, on the other hand, isnt an ingredient we like. Its a cheap filler protein that boosts the overall protein content of the food. However, cats have a hard time making use of the protein from corn since its a carbohydrate, so that protein isnt as beneficial as animal protein.
Want to see more cat food reviews? Check out our review page here!
May Not Be An Ideal Diet For Cats
The dry y/d® contains no meat. Cats are obligate carnivores, raising the question, is this adequate for their needs?
Per Hills, the protein is supplied by corn gluten meal and eggs. Animal protein apparently contains too much iodine. The canned formula includes more meat , so would be the better choice of the two. Hills compares the protein content of y/d® to that in g/d®, which is moderately protein-restricted. It is not likely to provide enough protein for thin cats recovering from hyperthyroid malnutrition, and not low enough for cats in later stages of renal failure. We do not recommend protein-restricting debilitated carnivores unless they are in moderately azotemic renal failure.
Is iodine deficient
Iodine is a required nutrient for a reason. We do not know what impact iodine deficiency will have long term upon either normal or hyperthyroid cats.
May be impractical in a multiple cat household
y/d® cannot be fed exclusively to normal cats
y/d® must be fed exclusively to the hyperthyroidcat in order to achieve significant lowering of thyroid hormone levels. Even minute levels of iodine from other sources can diminish the effectiveness of the diet.
Therefore, feedings for cats in a multiple cat household should be separate.
Hills® allows that normal cats may eat y/d® if supplemented with maintenance cats foods. Even so, feeding y/d® to an entire household could be cost prohibitive, increasing the food cost by hundreds of dollars per cat per year.
Summary
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The Were All About Cats Standardrating Hills On What Matters
Weve analyzed Hills and graded it according to the Were All About Cats standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Heres how it rates in each of those six key areas.
We give Hills cat food a 39 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.
As part of our review process, weve submitted samples to an independent lab. You can see the full report here.
In addition to performing our own qualitative analysis of the brand, we submitted a sample of Hills Science Diet Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Cat Foods for analysis at an ISO 17025 certified food testing and analysis lab. We bought the product at full retail price, and the entire testing process was funded by All About Cats without direct input or influence from the cat food company.
Analytical testing in a food chemistry lab gives us the products exact macronutrient and micronutrient content, painting a clear picture of what youre putting in your cats bowl.
Remember that, when it comes to nutrient content, the cat food label only gives us a guaranteed analysis, which is a set of minimum and maximum valuesnot a description of whats in the food. In reality, the foods nutrient content may be substantially different from what you see on the label.
Hills Cat Food Reviews
It is unfair to complete an assessment of Hills brand without reviewing a few of its top products. A comprehensive cat food review of a few of Hills products will help users understand the pet food manufacturers products.
- The dry cat food features natural flavors.
- It features mixed tocopherols to help maintain its freshness
- It is free of artificial flavors
- It helps improve your felines urinary health
- Features healthy fat due to the presence of fish oil
- Vitamin e helps boost the immune system
Cons
- The dry cat food has a high carbohydrate content
- Some felines are allergic to chicken
- It contains gluten due to the presence of corn gluten meal
As its name suggests, the Multicare Urinary Care with Chicken Dry Cat Food from Hills features chicken as the primary source of high-quality protein. This Hills cat food product is formulated to target your felines urinary health and is available upon a veterinary practitioners prescription. According to the manufacturer, the diet can reduce the recurrence of most symptoms by close to ninety percent.
- Enhances urinary tract health of your felines
- It mostly features natural ingredient
- It features mixed tocopherols to help maintain its freshness
- High-quality protein content
- Protein is primarily from animal ingredients
- It contains chicken liver flavor, which cats find tasty
- Helps in weight management
- Features folic acid that helps boost the immune system
- It has a healthy source of fat in the form of pork fat
Cons
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Groundbreaking Nutrition For Urinary Health
Hills Prescription Diet Urinary Care foods give you effective options for managing your cats urinary health. Prescription Diet c/d Multicare dissolves struvite stones in as little as 7 days and reduces the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate stones. Prescription Diet s/d reduces the risk of struvite stone formation and supports a healthy immune system. These foods offer both dry and canned foods, in a variety of flavors, to support your cats urinary health.
Why Is Hills Science Diet Cat Food Out Of Stock
Hills Science Diet cat food is out of stock at many stores. There are a few possible explanations for this.
One possibility is that Hills Science Diet has been discontinued. This is not the case, however, as the company has simply been experiencing high demand.
Another possibility is that there is a shortage of ingredients needed to make the food. Again, this is not the case, as the company has plenty of ingredients in stock.
The most likely explanation is that Hills Science Diet has been experiencing high demand due to its quality ingredients and reputation. The company is doing its best to meet this demand, but it is taking some time. Hills Science Diet cat food is definitely worth the wait, as it is one of the best cat foods on the market.
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Hills Science Diet History
This pet food brands history is intertwined with the career of the first Seeing Eye dog, Buddy.
Buddy, guide dog to Morris Frank, a young blind man, developed kidney failure in the 1930s. Frank suspected that the dogs health condition was the result of poor nutrition. So, he corresponded with lauded veterinarian .
Dr. Morris and his wife set to work on a kidney diet recipe for dogs. They worked up the formula in their own kitchen.
The first consignment of renal dog food was shipped to Frank in glass jars. However, glass tends to break during transit, so Frank sent the Morrises a canning machine as well as a commission for thousands of orders. After a while, Buddys health improved.
And thats how the worlds first veterinary diet for dogs was born.
It was called Raritan Ration B, and it was the dog food that would become the basis for Hills Prescription Diet k/d Canine.
The Hill Name Is Added
With demand for his dog food growing, Dr. Morris was finding this to be a much bigger operation than a single canning machine and a husband-and-wife team could handle.
So in 1948, Dr. Morris took his Raritan Ration B dog food to the Hill Packing Company in Kansas for a dog food canning collaboration.
Founded in 1907 by a man named Burton Hill, Hill Packing Company had begun manufacturing dog food, as well as horse meat for human consumption, in 1930. Before that, the packing company was known as Hill Rendering Works.
Corporate Changes And the Launch of Science Diet
Purina Pro Plan Focus Urinary Tract Health Formula
Key Benefits:
- The specialized recipe is made with real salmon provides exceptional taste your cats will love.
- Fortified with 25 key vitamins and minerals necessary to promote a balanced diet whether served alone or as delicious toppings on the kibble.
- It helps keep the urinary tract healthy by cutting urinary PH while providing low dietary magnesium.
- Additional care for a healthy immune system
The name Purina already speaks volumes about the quality of the food they formulate for cats . A household name, they are well respected and loved by pet owners globally.
This company offers Purina Pro Plan FOCUS range a series of cat food that targets specific health problems in cats.
One of which is their Urinary Tract Health Formula. This cat food is specially formulated to aid in maintaining your felines urinary health.
It manages by reducing urinary PH and offering low dietary magnesium. Not only is it beneficial for urinary tract health it also cares for skin and coat for good health inside and out.
Analysis:
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Effects Of Hills Prescription Diet Cat Food
Hills Prescription Diet Cat Food Urinary Care is a prescription diet for cats that reduces urinary tract symptoms and helps prevent the recurrence of urinary tract disease. Your veterinarian may recommend Hills Prescription Diet Cat Food Urinary Care to help your cat maintain healthy urinary function, reduce the formation of crystals in the urine, and prevent struvite stones from forming in the bladder.
- Prevent recurrence of urinary tract disease
- Reduce crystal formation in urine
- Help prevent the formation of struvite crystals
Hills Prescription Cat Food Cd
Looking for a great diet for your cat? Check out Hills Prescription Cat Food Cd. This diet is specifically designed to help cats with urinary tract problems, and it can also help cats who are overweight or diabetic.
The Hills Prescription Cat Food Cd diet is made with high-quality ingredients that help keep your cat healthy. It contains plenty of protein to help your cat maintain a healthy weight, and it also has added minerals and vitamins to help support your cats overall health.
Plus, the Hills Prescription Cat Food Cd diet is specifically designed to help cats with urinary tract problems. It contains plenty of moisture to help keep your cats urinary tract healthy, and it also has added antioxidants to help protect your cats urinary tract from damage.
If youre looking for a great diet for your cat, be sure to check out the Hills Prescription Cat Food Cd diet. Its a great way to help keep your cat healthy and happy.
Contents
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How The Diet Works:
Urine stones form in a certain pH range when concentrations of minerals are too high. Hills c/d works by modulating the pH of the urine and controlling the amounts of minerals in the food. If you feed only the prescription diet, then your pet will have a much less chance of developing bladder stones.
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Hills Cat Food Review: Conclusion
No doubt, Hills is one of the most prominent grocery store brands available on the market today. They have impressive product lines, including Hills Prescription Diet, Hills Science Diet, Hills Ideal Balance, and Hills Healthy Advantage. However, like any other brand, it is vital to practice due diligence as a pet parent and review the quality of their products before attempting to feed anything to your beloved feline as this will help safeguard your cats health.
Undoubtedly, Hills cat food products have some merits, but it is important to note that the brand is not immune to criticism. It has experienced product recalls, suffered several high-profile lawsuits, its products have missing information online, and side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea are commonly reported. One must bear all of these issues in mind when making dietary decisions that are in a cats best interests.
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Mishkas Story: Bladder Stones
Mishkas first visit at MetroPet was one that consisted of every cat owners biggest fear Mishka was urinating out of the litter box. The cause was unclear, but not only was she urinating everywhere around the home, there was also blood in her pee. After a thorough examination by Dr. Alice and taking x-rays of her bladder, we discovered she had two stones causing the inappropriate urinating and discomfort in her bladder . Urinary stones are potentially deadly if they obstruct the ureter, so we gave her some pain medication to keep her comfortable, scheduled a surgery to remove them used a prescription diet until the surgery day to avoid surgery if possible. We used Hills Science Diet c/d urinary care food, which has been shown to dissolve certain types of bladder stones.
List Of Hills Science Diet Recalls
Cause: Elevated levels of Vitamin D. Announcement: FDA report dated Jan. 31, 2019 company webpage updated May 15, 2019 . What was recalled: In the United States, the following Hills Science Diet canned dog foods were recalled:
Hills Science Diet :
Note that Hills Prescription Diet canned dog food was also recalled. See our Prescription Diet page for details.
Of special note to anyone outside the United States:
Impacted products outside of the United States will be subject to separate notices on the country-specific website. If you are outside of the United States, please check your own countrys Hills website for more information.
Cause: Unknown minor issue, but possibly labeling issues. Announcement: Notice posted in select PetSmart stores, Nov. 28, 2015 . What was recalled: This was technically a withdrawal rather than a recall. According to the FDA, a market withdrawal takes place when a product has a minor violation that would not be subject to FDA legal action. The firm removes the product from the market or corrects the violation.
All date codes of the following canned dog foods were withdrawn:
In addition, all date codes of one canned cat food were withdrawn:
- Hills Ideal Balance Slim & Healthy Chicken, 2.9 oz., SKU #5209202, #UPC #5274230780
If you have not done so already, we urge you to sign up now for Petfuls FREE recall alerts by email. Our free alerts are saving pets lives.
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