Hills Science Diet dog food
October 8, 2008
Filed under Dog Food Reviews, Science Diet
Hills Science Diet Dog Food Review
Science Diet dog food is manufactured by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the same company which makes Hills Prescription Diet formulas. The different rations of Science Diet dog food have been tailored to meet the different nutritional and special health requirements of different life stages, although there is no mention that the products have met the AAFCO nutritional adequacy profiles required for specific breed size, activity level, life stage or lifestyle.
The first major ingredient in most Science Diet products may either be lamb, chicken, or turkey which are considered excellent sources of animal-based protein. However, these are utilized in its raw forms which means they contain high amounts of water (approximately 80%) which can be lost during the manufacturing process.
In an effort to increase protein levels, chicken by-product meal, soybean meal, and/or lamb meal was added. These ingredients are considered meat concentrates because they contain about 300% more protein compared to raw or fresh meat.
There may be some reservations on the use of chicken by-product meal because most by-product meals are made from beaks, feathers, feet and other parts from which the prime cuts have been removed and have been deemed unfit for human consumption.
One of the controversial ingredients of Science Diet is corn which is often listed as the first ingredient. Although corn is a desirable source for the carbohydrate component of the feed, the question lies on the possible source and type of corn which was used. There is a big possibility that the corn used in the Science Diet formulations is of the feed grade like the one which is used in livestock feeds. Corn, of whatever grade or type, has been linked to food allergies in dogs. This is another point which makes corn a controversial ingredient.
Science Diet dog food formulas also utilize soybean meal which is a source of plant-based protein, albeit an inferior one. The addition of soybean meal will help boost the protein level of the dog food.
Soybean oil is another plant-based protein source but has been linked to food allergies in many dogs.
Animal fat which is preserved by mixed tocopherols and citric acid is also another controversial ingredient because the source has not been established. Animal fat is another by-product , which if the source is not mentioned, may come from anywhere including restaurant grease, euthanized animals, dead or dying livestock animals, or even from slaughterhouse waste.
Science Diet dog food products provide healthy sources of omega-3 fatty acids from chicken liver flavor and flaxseed. However, flaxseed is almost indigestible in humans and since we have the same digestive systems with dogs, there is a high probability that it is also indigestible in dogs. Thus dog food manufacturers who want to take advantage of the omega-3 fatty acids present in flaxseed often use flaxseed oil or powder.
Unlike most top-rated dog food formulas, Science Diet dog food products apparently have not been coated with probiotics. These are friendly bacteria which enhance the integrity of the digestive system and boost the digestive process.
There is also no mention that the minerals present in the Science Diet formulas has been chelated, which means that minerals are not as easily absorbed and assimilated into the body as when they have been chelated.
Customer Reviews
Many dog owners decry the fact that Hills Science Diet is marketed as being recommended by veterinarians. They also noted that the prices of Science Diet are comparable to some top-rated brands even though its ingredients are not top brass.
On the brighter side, there are also positive reviews from dog owners who switched to Science Diet and have not met any problems. Some also liked the fact that the dog food brand has been prescribed and/or recommended by their veterinarians.
Overall, we do not recommend Hills Science Diet and do not believe that it represents a good quality or good value dog food.
Science Diet Puppy Formulas:
- Science Diet Puppy Original Dog Food
- Science Diet Puppy Small Bites Dog Food
- Science Diet Puppy Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dog Food
- Science Diet Nature’s Best Lamb & Brown Rice Dinner Puppy Dog Food
- Science Diet Nature’s Best Chicken & Brown Rice Dinner Puppy Dog Food
- Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Dog Food
- Science Diet Puppy Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Large Breed Dog Food
Science Diet Adult Formulas:
- Science Diet Active Adult Dog Food
- Science Diet Adult Original Dog Food
- Science Diet Adult Small Bites Dog Food
- Science Diet Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Adult Dog Food
- Science Diet Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Adult Small Bites Dog Food
- Science Diet Nature’s Best Chicken & Brown Rice Dinner Adult Dog Food
- Science Diet Nature’s Best Chicken & Brown Rice Dinner Adult Small Bites Dog Food
- Science Diet Nature’s Best Lamb & Brown Rice Dinner Adult Dog Food
- Science Diet Nature’s Best Lamb & Brown Rice Dinner Adult Small Bites Dog Food
Science Diet Mature Adult Formulas:
- Science Diet Mature Adult 7+ Original Dog Food
- Science Diet Mature Adult 7+ Small Bites Dog Food
- Science Diet Mature Adult 5+ Large Breed Dog Food
Science Diet Consumer Rating
give your dog raw lean mince beef and his normal dog food i know this doesn’t seem right but my dog had kidney failure and was said to only have 2 weeks left to live and he was 8st 4pounds and then we put him on raw lean mince beef and this is one year on and he is still healthy his kidneys have recovered and he is 9st which is the heaviest he has ever been and of course raw beef is a wolf natural diet therefore it is also very healthy for a dog so i would always recomend raw or cooked lean minced beef and your normal dog food.
I have had my dogs on hills prescition diet t/d for oral health because my vet told me that if I didnt put them on it that they would have to get teeth scaling done (very expensive) my one dog has been pulling the hair out of his feet, the vet said that maybe outside allergies are the reason, I dont know what to do because I only want whats best for them , My first dog who is now 7 years old was raised on pedigree and I know some people say this is a bad food she and my other two did fine on them, I also cook ground beef and rice twice a week, but was thinking of going back to pedigree but not sure what to do, my dog food cost 86 dollars a bag and does not even last a month,any suggestions,
I got my Lab at 8 weeks old and started her on the Hills Science Diet for Larger Breeds Lab Meal and Rice Recipe. She is now 12 weeks old and gaining the proper amount of weight and has a excellent coat of hair. She eats it all every time she is fed, has normal stool movements, and tons of energy. She does not try and eat non-edibles and only chews on her chew toys. From talking to some breeders and vets some recomend HIlls Science Diet others do not. I believe it is all personal opinion if the dog likes it and appears to not have any problems associated with it keep feeding it. If she does not like it get another dog food there are plenty out there. We can argue about more meat in the diet but just think back in the day when the dog would get a bowl of leftovers from dinner and still lived 12-15 year how properly balance was that diet and those dogs would live long happy lives.
Hey Dan. I have not looked at what is in this food but I’ll tell you this CORN is bad for your dog. Wheat is really bad. Any thing with the name brewers in is bad and soy is bad. If it has a meat by-product that is really not meat at all. So now saying that I well look to see what is in this stuff.
Dan,
There really is no such thing as a holistic food as the word serves no purpose.
Natural balance was recalled and it was considered a holistic food. Same as Natural choice and others. Look for a food with 1)no byproducts, 2) no separated grains 3)No bad fats or bad prservatives 4)1st ingredient should a good quality meal 5) Just because it is expensive, does not mean it is good.
Science Diet fails some of these rules which is better than 5 years ago when they failed all of them. Opinions are ***holes, everyone has them, but following these rules usually get you on the right track.
Sean:
One comment, yes historically dogs ate table scraps 30, 40, 50 years ago but this was also before the take over of fast food and the death of home cooking. It was also before a handful of companies controlled almost the entire food industry. People use to feed their dogs table scraps but those table scraps were coming from home cooked meals with ingredients grown usually much more locally with less chemicals(in the last 30 years pesticide use has tripled, while crop loss from pests has doubled-hmmmm). I work at a vet clinic and when people ask me about table scraps I always tell them, if its lean meats and veggies and the like(stuff low in bad fats, sugar, salt, etc) its ok if your dog has some too. So comparing these table scraps of the past to today’s commercial pet food, the table scraps of years gone by kick the ass of most commercial pet food ingredients today.
Science Diet is just… ugh.
There are peanut hulls in this food, for God’s sake!!!
Corn, 4D’s meat, etc…
It’s outrageous how vets recommend & sell this food, only because they are paid to!!
I would *never* feed this food… far too overpriced for a bag of crap!
While it is true that many dogs have lived long lives on diets of foods like Pedigree or Science Diet, many more will have allergy or digestive problems with these types of dog foods than with premium foods. Pedigree is cheap, Science Diet formulas are not. If you are willing to pay around $40 a bag or more for dog food why spend the money on such cheap ingredients (with little or no nutritional value) like those found in Science Diet formulas? Personally I absolutely refuse to pay premium prices for corn,gluten of any source, dried beet pulp(by-product of the sugar industry), brewer’s rice(by-product of the brewing industry), soybean mill run (by-product), peanut hulls(by-product), or by-products from any animal source. ALL of these cheap ingredients are found in Science Diet formulas and you pay through the nose for them. In MY book that is just plain stupid.
I really did not realize how bad this food is, until I read the
■First Five Ingredients. Geez, pretty hard to get worse than this. I guess you could have some wheat in it that would make it worse. The sad thing is millions of people are fooled into thinking this is good stuff. This is what they want me to feed to my German Sheperd Puppy? It would be a really cold day in he!! before I would feed him this poison.
1.Whole Grain Corn….Everyone knows this is bad.
2.Chicken By-Product meal. Sweep up the floor and put it in his food.
3.Corn Gluten Meal…Man, 2 bad ingredients in one.
4.Liver Flavor…A Synthetic flavoring as a main ingredient.Wow
5.Dried Beet Pulp….Damn, a lousy filler, as #5, Ugh
They even threw in some Iodized Salt for flavoring, how thoughtfull of them.
Their really is NO meat in this food, if you wanna call it food.
I have a malti-poo who suffered from colitis after the age 1 consistently. We fed him Solid Gold, Eagle Pack, EVO, Orijen, raw food diet etc…the only food that has seemed to work is Hill’s Science Diet w/d formula. I’ve spent a lot of money at the vet getting him hydrated after the previous foods. I agree the ingredients aren’t the best but he no longer poops blood and mucus and has so much of his energy back. I do give him treats of hormone free turkey, sweet potato, and carrots, he is now 7 years old and runs laps through the house and all over the yard. He is healthy and happy….so to me it’s like some humans have certain diets they follow that are better for them, and dogs the same.
My standard parti-poodle does fine on Eagle Pack Power Formula…no need to change there.
thank you so much on the info about beneful it is 1-10-10 and at midnight my sharpei pitbull mix of which i have had since he was 4 weeks old and is now 12 people years old gave me a horible shock i caught him as he was having a kidney shut down. i gave him the brown rice and raw and some slightly cooked ground beef he is now urinated and pooped and drank and is breathing and sleeping comfortable. thank you for the gift of my best friend and his feeling so much better. i will change his diet and thank God for your info.
My vet put my miniature poodle on SD prescription i/d food after a serious pancreatitis attack. Now he haaas been itching his eyes, paws and bottom ALOT.
I’m concerned about allergies but am also worried about a recurrence of pancreatitis. Any info re: this prescription formula? I also have to add enzyme powder to his food. Don’t know what food to change to that will address the possible allergy and pancreatitis issues. Any ideas??
I changed vets because of the vicious cycle of skin problems, acne, antibiotics, yeast infection, probiotics, etc. That vet suggested Hill’s Science Diet z/d. I got a second opinion, and the second vet started the same treatment cycle and also encouraged a diet change to Hill’s z/d. I reluctantly acquiesced. Fast forward six weeks; my 65-pound, active, otherwise healthy Lab has exploded with the worst case ever of raw, slimy, itchy rashes all over her underside area and has lost 8 pounds and is terribly lethargic. I attribute this to the Hills z/d. She has slowly been starving, and yet I have been feeding her twice as much food. She has been off the SD for 4 days and is slowing recovering. I am now feeding her Canidae grain-free Salmon because I do think she may have developed a food allergy to her lamb/rice meal, but Hill’s is not the way to go.
Here is a list of some real good foods and I highly recomend Orijen and for the money Taste of the Wild can not be beat, these are in no order
Good
Artemis
Blue Wilderness
Go
Horizon
Evo***
Innova*
Instrinct
Orijen****
Taste of the Wild***
Wellness
Acana*
Fromm*
Merrick
Canidae
Evanders
Earthborn
Natrures Logic
Natures Variety
Solid Gold
Pinnacle
Timberwolf*
Blue Buffalo*
Halo
Natural Balance
California Natural*
We were feeding my oldest dog science diet and he was doing fine, we thought, but once he started having ear infections constantly and was always chewing between the pads of her feet we became concerned. After countless trips to the vet an old woman in a pet store saw us buying Bitter Apple spray and asked if our dog had a chewing problem and we told her about our dogs feet and she asked what kind of food we were feeding her, and said the dog had a food allergy and showed us natural balance and said to try it for a month. It was amazing, not only did his symptoms go away but he looked like a grand champion Schnauzer. After this I became obsessed with dog nutrition and have been ever since. Last year he was diagnosed with diabetes and the vet wanted to immediately put him on SD prescription W/D. The first thing I asked her was does it have corn in it. After she had to get the bag and look at it the first ingredient in it is corn. I asked if I was going to have to make his food, because of his allergies, and her response was no keep him on the food he was on and monitor his glucose levels and he would be fine. Since we got his insulin dosage figured out he acts as if nothing is wrong and unless someone sees us give him the shot they can’t tell that he has any problems at all.
I am a big fan of Natural Balance because of all of my dogs’ special needs. All of my dogs have food allergies and the youngest one has epilepsy and he does excellent on it as well. There are quite a few brands there that are better but if your dog has allergies especially to meat proteins this is the best I have found in 7 years worth of research.
I cannot stand SD and I would not feed it to chickens let alone my babies. It is terrible that so many vets promote it; generally if they do they get incentives from the company. Not only is it crap food it is expensive crap food, especially the prescriptions. There are so many more foods that are out there that are exponentially better than this sorry excuse for food.
And for all of you with the foot chewing dogs if you have questions on allergies or anything else I am now a dog nutritionist and would be happy to answer any questions you have, my E-mail is [email protected]