How Good Is Hills Dog Food

Kal Kan Complete Adult

This dog food makes the list because of questionable ingredient quality that is not nutritional and is somewhat harmful to dogs.

The primary ingredient is corn, which we just mentioned does not provide the proper nutrition your dog needs.

The second ingredient is meat and bone meal which is a dry product from the mammal tissues, including bones, exclusive of any added hair, blood, hoof, hide trimmings, horn, manure, rumen contents, and stomach.

Meat and bone meal may have a lower digestibility than most of the other meat meals.

Scientists believe that this decreased absorption may be because of the lower essential amino acid and higher ash content in the ingredient.

The meat itself can come from any mixture of cattle, pigs, goats or sheep, making classifying impossible for particular food allergens.

Although meat and bone meals are still considered meat concentrates rich in protein, a generic ingredient like this cannot be considered a quality item.

Kal Kans third ingredient is a soybean meal which a by-product or leftover of soybean oil production more often found in farm animal feed.

Although soybean meal comprises about 48% of protein, this ingredient would be estimated to have a lower biological value than meat.

Inexpensive plant-based ingredients like this can boost the total protein, an element that must be considered while judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

I think you get the point that these types of ingredients are not ideal for your furry friend.

Hill’s Prescription Diet W/d Multi

Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Digestive, Weight, Glucose, Urinary Management Chicken Flavor is a dry dog food formulated for dogs who need weight and glucose management, and have digestive and urinary issues.

Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit has an optimal blend of soluble and insoluble fiber. This dry food is clinically tested nutrition for conditions that respond to fiber such as weight management, glucose management, and gastrointestinal issues.

This multi-benefit formula has therapeutic L-carnitine levels to help metabolize fat and maintain lean muscles. The blend of soluble and insoluble fiber helps keep weight at ideal levels. It also helps manage blood glucose.

• Grain-Free Chicken and Potato

Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Food

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Yorkshire Terrier Puppy is one of 16 dry recipes studied in our review of the Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, chicken fat, corn, dried plain beet pulp
• Type: Grain-Inclusive
• Profile: Growth
• Best for:Yorkie puppies

This Royal Canin Breed Health recipe derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken by-product meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe includes 30% protein, 20% fat and 42% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.

Formulated to meet the precise nutritional needs of purebred Yorkie puppies. Featuring a specialized kibble size thats optimized for a smaller muzzle and bite. Enthusiastically recommended.

Sample buyer reviewI have a 4.5 month old adorable, but extremely skinny, Yorkie puppy! With oversight from her vet, we have tried and she has rejected FOUR brands of puppy chow, as well as supermarket canned and frozen dog food. Overriding my vets advice to NOT use Royal Canin puppy chow because of some of its less than stellar contents, in desperation I ordered it and it just arrived this morning. I mixed some with Science Diet and Victors and gave it to her. She TURNED THE BOWL OVER and happily picked out the Royal Canin. Now I can quit feeding her home cooked chicken, close my eyes to Royal Canins content list, and rely on the other Yorkie parents glowing reviews! Should have made this decision months ago

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Nutrition Every Dog Needs

Maybe your dog has gained a few pounds, his breath could be fresher, or perhaps you’re interested in a dog food that uses natural ingredients. Either way, the best dog food is the one that puts your pet’s health first.

Everyday health and vitality is important for any dog, which is why Hill’s provides a variety of foods designed for common health concerns:

• Weight management

Check with your veterinarian regularly to make sure your dog gets the nutrition he needs.

What Is Meant By A Natural Organic Holistic Or Human Grade Pet Food

According to the American Association of Feed Control Officials , the term “natural” requires a pet food to consist of only natural ingredients without chemical alterations except for added vitamins and minerals.

The term “organic” was legally defined for human foods by the USDA. While final rules have not yet been made, pet food companies can currently use the term “organic” if they follow the same rules as applied to human foods. Foods that are “100% organic” or “organic” will carry the USDA Organic Seal on the package. Currently Hills® does not offer an “organic” pet food product.

Natural and organic are not interchangeable terms.

“Holistic” has no legal definition. There is no regulation defining what the word holistic means with regard to pet foods.

The term “human grade” was determined to be misleading by AAFCO. The use of “human grade” or “human quality” is not allowed in pet food marketing unless the food is made in a human food approved plant.

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Are You Looking For Tasty But Healthy Snacks For Your Dog

Everyone likes to please their four-legged friend by rewarding and spoiling them with tasty treats. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to consider the needs of the dog. Hill’s has therefore developed, in addition to Hill’s Science Plan and Hill’s Prescription Diet, its own Hill’s Snack line for dogs, whose composition is optimally adapted to individual conditions. This makes Hill’s Snacks suitable for dogs with food sensitivities, overweight or even older dogs with dental problems. From grain-free, hypoallergenic to joint-supporting, there really is something for every canine companion!

What Does The Intermittent Feeding Statement On The Hill’s Prescription Diet Pet Food Package Mean

The statement “This food is intended for intermittent feeding only or as directed by your veterinarian,” is a reflection of AAFCO regulation. The Association of American Feed Control Officials requires that a feeding statement be included on all pet food labels. The key phrase in the statement is “as directed by your veterinarian.” Most of our Hill’s® Prescription Diet® pet foods have been shown to be adequate for long-term feeding in animal feeding trials, but this does not mean that all animals should be eating therapeutic foods long term. We wish to make it clear to each pet owner that the advice of a veterinarian is essential for proper utilization of Prescription Diet® brand products.

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The Downsides Of Hills Dog Food

The only real drawback to buying Hills is working out which combinations are best for your dog. However, there is clear guidance on their website so that you can do some research and make your decision before you head out to stock up. You can even call their helpline if you need further advice, meaning that your dog will end up with the perfect food every time.

Up Next: Carnilove dog food is an excellent choice for pet owners. Read our review and find out why.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Senior

Rating:

This Small Breed Senior formula is one of 23 dry recipes included in our review of the Blue Buffalo product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Senior Yorkies

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Senior obtains most of its meat protein from deboned chicken and chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 26% protein, 14% fat and 52% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

With just 371 calories per cup and only 14% dry matter fat, this recipe makes an excellent food for a senior Yorkie. Reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

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Hills Science Diet Dog Food Top 5 Recipes Reviewed

• Hills Science Diet makes a diverse range of foods for dogs of different ages, sizes, and health conditions
• Hills Science Diet makes its own foods at its own manufacturing facilities
• The company invests in nutritional research and has veterinary nutritionists on staff. Hills Science Diet foods have been recommended by veterinary cardiologists who are researching the dietary form of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs

• Hills Science Diet uses ingredients for nutritional purposes many of them will not appeal to customers reading the label
• The company does not discuss where they source their ingredients
• The company has had some serious recall problems at times something you would not expect from a company that operates its own manufacturing facilities

• Hills Science Diet makes a diverse range of foods for dogs of different ages, sizes, and health conditions
• Hills Science Diet makes its own foods at its own manufacturing facilities
• The company invests in nutritional research and has veterinary nutritionists on staff. Hills Science Diet foods have been recommended by veterinary cardiologists who are researching the dietary form of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs

Our reviews are based on extensive research and years of professional knowledge of dog food brands. In order to remain objective, we do not accept gifts of free products or write sponsored posts on this site.

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small Bites Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food

This recipe is packed with quality nutrition for your buddy. It is ideal for small breeds from ages one to six years. The kibble has been designed for easy picking up by your pooch, plus their consistency is also just right to accommodate the size of your dog’s mouth and bite strength of her jaws.

Your pooch will love the savory real chicken taste, in addition to enjoying lean muscle development. Other ingredients include a clinically-proven blend of antioxidants as well as vitamin C and E for a healthy immune system.

Whats more, the presence of amino acids and fatty acids in the diet contribute to a shinier skin and coat. Also worth mentioning is that the kibble is dense with nutrition that fills your little buddys tummy faster.

Honestly, this is one formula that will have your furry buddy looking forward to meal times. If youd like to place your order, visit chewy.com to take advantage of their great offers.

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Hills Science Plan Canine

The Hills Science Plan Canine is great dog food for adult small breed dogs. Unlike other Hills dog food products, it is well suited for general feeding. It is digestible and tasty.

The croquettes are very small and therefore very suitable for small breeds. They are also easy to bite so that the little four-legged friends have no problems with them. The meat part consists of chicken, which makes the feed rich and at the same time easy to digest. In addition, rice and corn are used for sufficient satiety.

While dogs are generally very fond of this food, it also contains grain. This means that you should first see whether your four-legged friend can get it before you order it in larger quantities.

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Kal Kan Complete Adult Food For Dogs

Touted as a complete and balanced dog food diet, the Kal Kan Complete Adult Food For Dogs is advertised to contain all the protein necessary to provide dogs with enough stamina and energy.

While it does make good on its promise, we cant help but check the label to see if it really is as good as it sounds. And thats where it went downhill.

The first ingredient in this recipe is ground yellow corn. Now a dish that doesnt start with meat is already low-quality in our opinion , but the corn is supported by many more carb ingredients in the food.

Aside from corn, there is one more corn product , two grain products , and one legume ingredient. Three of them are in the first five of the ingredients list.

Now lets move on to the meats. Theyre both unspecified. Meat and bone meal does not refer to which animal contributed to the meal.

Its a vague term that could mean either one type of animal meat was used or a lot. If your pet is particularly sensitive to some types of animal protein, then it becomes even more worrying. You dont know what youre feeding your pup.

Another thing is the use of the term chicken by-product meal. When meat is simply stated as chicken then it refers to the chickens muscle meat.

Throw in the word by-product and that becomes open to interpretation. Anything leftover from processing meat is considered a byproduct. So you can get meat and organs, but you could also be getting entrails, feathers, and more.

Recall Info: None yet.

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Understanding The Shelf Life And Expiration Date Of Dog Foods

All foods designed for dogs, whether they are dry kibble or the canned dog food variety, come with a best before or expiration date. Like foods designed for human consumption, such info can give you knowledge of the products longevity. In dog foods, you can see the date somewhere on the bag or can. It could be at the back or the side. It should be noted, though, the date indicated does not necessarily mean the dog food is officially expired and is no longer safe for consumption.

What it means is that the food can no longer offer the quality and nutrition indicated in its guaranteed analysis. In other words, the highest level of nutrition the product can provide to your dog is the one before it is officially expired. As for the food, you can still expect it to be good, just not the same quality the manufacturer initially advertised.

As for the shelf life and expiration date of a specific dog food, take note that it varies significantly from one manufacturer to another. Dry dog foods, for instance, can be expected to have a shelf life that ranges from 4 months to three years. The pouched or canned varieties, on the other hand, have a shelf life of around 1-5 years. As for dog treats, they usually have a similar shelf life as to the dry food products offered by the same manufacturer.

Purina Dog Chow Complete With Real Chicken

Its proudly tagged as having 23 vitamins and minerals as well as containing real chicken, so youd expect it to be a healthy chicken-based dish for your pup. But that would be wrong.

There is no chicken to be found within the first five ingredients. But wheres the chicken? Its in the 7th slot, after the corns and legume.

Well list down the first five ingredients here: Whole Grain Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Soybean Meal. Thats a significant amount of corn and soybean when put together.

We dont have a problem with corn. We recognize that corn contains nutrients and is not a filler. In most cases. However, for a recipe thats not formulated to target specific canine medical conditions, wed expect the corn to be merely a supporting ingredient and not the main one. Quality dog food should always contain more meat than carbohydrates.

The second thing weve noticed is that most of the meats are unnamed. Thats a red flag in dog food. While an unspecified meat ingredient will not harm your pup, its kind of worrying that you dont know whats going in your pets food. Itll even be more worrying if your pet turns out to be sensitive to the ingredient included.

Theres Meat And Bone Meal and Poultry By-Product Meal. What meat do these refer to? Pork, beef, chicken? What kind of poultry? Turkey or chicken?

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How Do I Figure Out The Number Of Cups In A Bag

There are a couple of ways to do this calculation. One method is to multiply Cups per pound x pounds in the bag, where the Cups per pound can be found in Hills Key to Clinical Nutrition.

Another method is to multiply Bag size in pounds x 16 to find the number of Ounces in the bag. Then divide: Ounces in the bag / Ounces per cup of product to find Cups per bag, where the Ounces per cup of product is found in the Hills Key to Clinical Nutrition.

Worst Adult Dry Dog Food: Iams Proactive Health

The primary ingredient in IAMS Proactive Health Adult Chunks dry dog food is chicken.

Though chicken is a quality item and raw chicken comprises about 80% water, but when cooked, most of the water is lost, which reduces the meat content to just a portion of its initial weight.

After processing, these ingredients would probably account for a smaller fraction of the whole content of the finished food.

The second ingredient is cornmeal which is coarse ground flour made from the dried corn. Corn is a controversial and inexpensive cereal grain of low nutritional value to a dog.

For that reason, it is not a preferred part of any dog food.

The third ingredient of this product is sorghum , a starchy cereal grain with a similar nutrient profile to corn.

Because it is gluten-free and claims a smoother blood sugar performance than other grains, sorghum may be considered a satisfactory non-meat ingredient.

The fourth ingredient is chicken by-product meal, which is a dry product of the slaughterhouse waste.

This meal is made after all prime cuts have been separated, which includes almost anything left, including beaks, feet, and even undeveloped eggs, anything except the feathers.

But on the bright side, these portions are meat concentrates and comprise protein approximately 300% more than the fresh chicken.

The fifth ingredient is beet pulp, a controversial ingredient, as it is a high fiber by-product made of sugar beet processing.

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