Is Hills Science Diet bad for dogs

Hills Science Diet Dog Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons, Recalls & FAQ

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Hills Science Diet Dog Food a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Most people are somewhat familiar with Hills Science Diet dog food, which has been around since the 1930s. Thats when Morris Franka man promoting the concept of using dogs to enable the blindmet Dr. Mark Morris, Sr.

Franks dog was suffering from kidney failure, and Frank was desperate for a way to save him. Dr. Morris discovered that the issue was a lack of proper nutrition and that the fix was a dog food he and his wife created in their kitchen. This dog food led Franks dog to recovery, and thats when Dr. Morris realized that the idea of how nutrition affects health issues in dogs was one to explore further. So, in 1948, he decided to partner with Burton Hill to mass-market the dog food recipe he created for Franks dog.

In 1976, the Colgate-Palmolive Company (which you are also likely familiar with) purchased the company but carried on the tradition of nutritious dog food for pups with health issues. Each recipe is created with the help of nutritionists, vets, and scientists to ensure the best quality possible. Although Hills benefits dogs with specific health issues, the brand has a few downsides.

At a Glance: The Best Hills Science Diet Dog Food Recipes:

Hills Science Diet Dog Food Reviewed

Hills Science Diet dog food has been around for a bit, so youre probably familiar with the brand (or have at least heard of it). Its always a good idea to learn more about a formula before buying it. Hills focuses on making dog food recipes according to common health issues dogs face, so while it may be suitable for most dogs, it may not be ideal for every dog.

Also, several of Hills formulas contain peas and legumes (which have been linked to heart disease in dogs) and grains that dont necessarily add a lot of fiber.

Who Makes Hills Science Diet, and Where Is It Produced?

Hills Science Diet is made in Topeka, Kansas. They have a food processing plant, animal hospital, and nutrition center where they test and study how their food affects dogs. Their Global Pet Nutrition Center employs around 200 scientists who research the best foods for dogs dietary needs.

Which Type of Dog Is Hills Science Diet Best Suited For?

Hills is suitable for pretty much any dog. They make food for dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, and for all breeds. Their recipes are particularly good for dogs with health issues, and they carry a range of recipes meant to help with common health problems such as obesity, joint issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues, and more.

Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?

While most dogs should do well on Hills, those that are overweight might do better with a different brand, if only because many Hills recipes contain grains, which can equal extra calories. If thats your pup, they might do better with food such as Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food, which is grain-free.

Dogs that dont have health issues that need to be addressed might do well with healthier regular dog food, such as the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Knowing whats going into your pets food is vital, as some companies use less than stellar ingredients, so heres a look at the good and bad of Hills Science Diet dog food.

Proteins

Most Hills Science Diet dog food recipes use real meat as the first ingredient, which means your pup is getting an excellent source of protein. Thats always a plus! However, dogs with food sensitivities may have problems eating formulas with common protein sources such as chicken. Several of Hills recipes for dogs with sensitivities contain chicken. There are a handful of other options, such as turkey and lamb, to choose from.

While most of Hills recipes list meat as the first ingredient, a few list meat meal (such as lamb meal) as the first ingredient instead. Meat meal is also a good protein source for your dog, but some dog owners prefer recipes with whole meats.

Peas & Legumes

A downside to Hills Science Diet dog food is that many recipes contain ingredients such as yellow peas, pea fiber, soybean meal, and other legumes. Peas and legumes have been linked to heart disease in dogs. More research is needed to determine how large of a link it is, but you should be aware of it when purchasing food for your pet.

Grains

After the main ingredient of meat or meat meal, grains are the most common ingredients in Hills recipes. However, they arent necessarily the best grains that provide fiber. While several are whole grain ingredients such as whole grain wheat, there are also others such as sorghum and corn gluten meal. While not necessarily harmful, they provide more empty calories than fiber, so these ingredients could be improved. However, many recipes contain dried beet pulp, which will boost the fiber your dog receives.

Targeted Recipes

While targeted recipes for specific health and nutritional issues can be good, if your dog is generally healthy, they may not benefit from these recipes. Pups that dont have specific health issues may find themselves better off with food with better grains and fewer legumes. However, dogs with digestive or urinary issues may benefit from Hills Science Diet dog foods.

A Quick Look at Hills Science Diet Dog Food

Pros

• Good for dogs with specific health issues
• Most recipes use real meat as the first ingredient for quality protein
• Wide range of recipes

Cons

• Contains peas & legumes
• Not the best grains are used
• Healthy or overweight dogs may not fare well on Hills

Recall History

Hills Science Diet dog food has been around for a while, which means it has also had a few recalls in its history.

In March 2007, Hills was part of the melamine scare that caused multiple recalls. Thousands of animals died from eating pet foods containing this chemical found in plastic, but its unknown how many consumed Hills formulas.

The next recall came in June 2014, when 62 bags of Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Recipe were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination (only in Nevada, California, and Hawaii). Though it wasnt a true recall, Hills did do a market withdrawal in 2015, where they pulled a few canned recipes. The reason is unknown, but its thought to have been because of a labeling issue.

Hills Science Diets most recent recall was in 2019. Over 30 canned recipes were recalled due to the massive (and toxic) amounts of vitamin D in them. Hills company blamed the amount of vitamin D on a supplier. Though an exact number is unknown, it is believed that hundreds of pets died due to this, and a lawsuit soon followed.

Reviews of the Best 3 Hills Science Diet Dog Food Recipes

Here, well take a more in-depth look at the three best Hills Science Diet Dog Food recipes.

1. Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food

This Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Dry Dog Food is for adult pups who have digestive issues or problems with dry, itchy skin. It promises to deliver easier digestibility for your dog by featuring real chicken as the first ingredient and added fiber from beetroot pulp.Theres also a wealth of omega fatty acids and vitamin E to improve the look and feel of your pets skin and coat.

Yellow peas are listed as the third ingredient, so you should weigh the implications of peas and heart disease when making your decision.

Pros

• Designed for pups with sensitive stomachs and skin
• Real chicken as first ingredient
• Added fiber for digestibility

Cons

• Contains peas
• May not be suitable for dogs without digestive or skin issues

2. Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dry Dog Food

If you have a doggo that needs a little help getting their weight under control, this might be the food for you! Hills designed the Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Dry Dog Food to be lower in calories and higher in protein to help your furry friend stay at a healthy weight while maintaining lean muscle mass.

Real chicken and chicken meal provide the protein boost, while fiber keeps your pup feeling fuller for longer. However, the formula contains pea fiber and green peas, so take that into consideration before purchasing.

Pros

• Should help dogs maintain a healthy weight
• More protein to promote lean muscle mass
• Added fiber

3. Hills Science Diet Large Breed Dry Dog Food

If you have a large dog, the Hills Science Diet Large Breed Chicken & Barley Dry Dog Food could be the perfect fit. As with most of Hills recipes, it features chicken as the main ingredient for a quality protein. It also provides an antioxidant blend proven to support your pets immune system and general health.

Since its designed for large breeds, this large-breed recipe also contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support the strength and health of joints and cartilage so your dog can stay mobile for a lifetime. Italso contains green peas, soybean meal, and soybean oil.

Pros

• Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
• Antioxidant blend supports the immune system

Cons

• Not suitable for small breeds
• Contains legumes

What Other Users Are Saying

The previous information should help you decide whether Hills Science Diet Dog Food is best for your dog, but nothing beats hearing what other pet parents say. Here are some examples of what people think of Hills Science Diet.

• Chewy: This food has changed my 9-year-old lab back into a puppy. Previously, he was on really cheap food and just moped around and ignored my 5-year-old heeler, but now he plays with her (and they play hard). I cant believe the difference that this food has made, not only in his demeanor but also in his coat, which is so smooth and shiny. I get compliments on how good he looks now, and I cant help but respond with, Thank you. I feed him Hills Science. Its expensive but totally worth it.
• Hills Pet: I have two bulldogs, one with moderate allergies (what we think is environmental after testing). My French bulldog came from a puppy mill, and she had urinary issues (crystals) when she was first adopted. Both girls have to watch their weight as well. This food has helped my Frenchie lose a few pounds and have no further urinary issues. It also has seemed to help with my dogs allergies (which I assume has to do with the high-quality ingredients). We use the chicken flavor. I think this food is an important choice, especially with a breed such as the bulldog, which has the potential for several health problems.
• Amazon: Amazon is always an excellent source of pet owners reviews. You can check out what others think of Hills here.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we give Hills Science Diet dog food four out of five stars for its nutritious formulas, which target dogs with health issues such as joint problems, digestive troubles, and more. However, Hills may not be best for dogs that are already healthy or those that are overweight. Many recipes have nutritious ingredients, such as real meat as the main ingredient, but they also contain peas, legumes, and grains that dont provide much fiber.

We recommend reading reviews from other pet parents to see how their dogs fared on Hills, weighing your decisions carefully, and consulting your veterinarian if your dog has any health conditions before making changes to their diet.

After Hills Recall, Hundreds of Dogs Dead and Families Left Heartbroken

For 4 years, Donna Nehrenz fed her dog, Macy, the same trusted brand of dog food without a problem: Hills Science Diets i/d and k/d foods.

And during that time, Macy played, thrived and loved. She was a 5-time rescue who Nehrenz guesses was a cross between a Silky Terrier and a Poodle.

But in December 2018, everything changed. Macy took a rapid turn for the worse.

Over a matter of days, the playful white dog who Nehrenz had loved for 10 years became lethargic, nauseous and increasingly disinterested in food.

When Nehrenz brought Macy in to the veterinarian, tests revealed that the dog was having kidney problems.

Nehrenz and the vet did everything they could to save Macy and bolster the dogs kidney function. But without knowing why this had happened, they couldnt figure out the right treatment. On Jan. 6, 2019, Macy took her last breath.

Nehrenz was devastated. Terribly heartbroken, she says.

A few weeks later, on Jan. 31, 2019, Hills Pet Nutrition announced a massive, worldwide recall of certain lots of Hills Science Diet and Prescription Diet canned dog foods.

According to news reports, a jaw-dropping 13.5 million cans of dog food were part of the recall. (The recall was recently expanded get the full list of recalled products here.) No dry foods, cat foods or treats are affected, according to the company.

The reason for the recall was a supplier error that added too much Vitamin D to some of the canned dog food.

Too much Vitamin D, when consumed at very high levels, can lead to serious health issues in dogs, including renal dysfunction, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA). The consequences can be deadly.

Nehrenz rushed to check the list of recalled dog foods. And sure enough, the very Science Diet foods shed fed Macy were on the list.

Macy had eaten i/d and k/d for the last 4 years-plus. I still have 11 cans, she says.

Science Diet Recall Victims

Losing a pet is heatbreaking enough but losing a pet unexpectedly and before their time because of a pet food manufacturing mistake is so much worse.

Unfortunately, Nehrenz was far from alone.

Hundreds of other people have heartbreaking stories. Their pets had been in top health, but then, within a matter of days, their pets well-being took a severe downturn, ending in kidney problems, kidney failure and, in some cases, death.

Nehrenz reached out to Hills, hoping to find answers. I spoke with 2 representatives and a vet 3 separate calls, she tells Petful. Next step, they were contacting my vet. But, she adds, I have not heard anything since.

Some of These Poor Dogs Never Stood a Chance

Claudia Montoya was feeding her Yorkshire Terrier, Dolly, Science Diet as recommended by the dogs vet for pancreatitis.

For 4 years, Dolly had eaten a mixture of wet and dry Science Diet with no issues. On Dec. 20, 2018, Montoya switched Dolly to an all-canned diet because the dog had just had some teeth removed.

Thats when Dolly started vomiting.

At first, this appeared to be another bout of pancreatitis. The vet recommended smaller, more frequent feedings. But Dolly didnt improve.

She would go anywhere from 24 to 48 hours without vomiting and then suddenly get sick again, says Montoya. She was also becoming lethargic and wasnt drinking water as much as she used to.

Montoya took her to the vet again, and they did more testing and prescribed something to help Dolly keep her food down.

Back at home, though, Dolly grew even more lethargic.

She would sleep most of the day and rarely get up from her bed, except when I took her outside or offered her food, Montoya says. If I tried to walk her, she would only go as far as our neighbors house before wanting to turn around.

As the days ticked by, Dolly just kept getting worse.

She still wasnt drinking enough, Montoya says, and by this point, she would simply lift her head from her bed and release the contents of her stomach with no warning.

The cute little Yorkie was getting weaker and smaller shed eventually lose a full third of her weight.

On Jan. 11, 2019, Montoya rushed Dolly to an emergency care facility. The problem was narrowed down to the dogs kidneys, though veterinary staff could only guess at the cause.

They thought she had some sort of toxin in her system, like chocolate or grapes, Montoya recalls. But I knew she couldnt have eaten anything else because I had spent every day with her and, because of her pancreatitis, never gave her anything except her prescription food.

The little dog was given a 50/50 chance of recovering, but the next afternoon, her kidneys started shutting down.

I had to say goodbye to her, Montoya says. The only consolation I have is that I was with her until the very end.

A few weeks later, Montoya got an email from a pet store cautioning customers about the recall, and thats when she knew what must have happened. Both Montoya and her sister have reached out to Hills but have not received a call back.

Montoya wants everyone to be aware of this recall its especially critical, she believes, because so many dogs with pre-existing medical conditions were being fed this food, which in some cases may make them more susceptible to the toxic overdose of Vitamin D.

I think its important to note that a lot, if not all, of the food that was affected in the recall was prescription food, Montoya tells Petful. It was for dogs who already had health issues and pre-existing conditions some of them never stood a chance.

This Is So Horrible

Ana Alberto also believes the tainted food killed her beloved dog, Baby Mashi.

She was the cutest, sweetest dog ever, says Alberto. She was full of life, alert and happy.

Like so many others, Alberto had fed her Science Diet for years without an issue. But in December 2018, when Baby Mashi ate the food, the dog deteriorated frighteningly fast.

Within a few days, Mashi went from being alert and full of life to stage 2 kidney failure. Not knowing the cause of the issue, Mashis vet recommended a switch to Hills k/d food.

Unfortunately, this batch may have had too much Vitamin D and Mashi didnt recover. It was the worst 4 days of our lives, and [there was] nothing we could do to help her, says Alberto.

Alberto has pleaded with Hills to take responsibility for the loss of Mashi and all the other dogs affected. Please be accountable and responsible for all the damage to these innocent souls that are no longer with us and we miss terribly, reads one Facebook post she wrote.

This is so horrible and very irresponsible of Hills, Alberto tells Petful. Mashi is so missed.

The common thread running through all these experiences is the suddenness of the symptoms and how fast these beloved pets deteriorated.

In a short span of time and without explanation the dogs were dead, leaving their stunned families grief-stricken and heartbroken.

Hills Response

The companys response to consumer complaints has been mixed.

Several people tell us they either cannot get through to Hills or that their messages have gone unanswered.

However, Petful has found that Hills has been fairly responsive in its Facebook posts about the recall.

When asked how the company plans to ensure this never happens again, Hills told Petful:

We have identified and isolated the error [that allowed for the toxic levels of Vitamin D] and, to prevent this from happening again, we required our supplier to implement additional quality safety testing prior to release of ingredients to Hills. In addition to our existing safety processes, we are adding our own further testing of incoming ingredients.

According to its website, Hills currently conducts a safety protocol that includes accepting ingredients from suppliers whose facilities meet stringent quality standards and who are approved by Hills.

The company also maintains that it examines and analyzes ingredient profiles, conducts annual quality systems audits for all manufacturing facilities, visually inspects and tests finished product for quality, and demand[s] compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).

On paper, it seems that Hills has a fairly strong quality-control process that its promising to reinforce with additional product testing.

And while some concerned pet lovers report that they cannot get a response from the company, others tell us that Hills has at least reached out to them.

Alberto says she didnt get a reply from Hills for 2 weeks.

Donna Nehrenz, too, has heard from the company, though the situation remains unresolved. Despite getting few answers from Hills, Nehrenz says, I do feel they convey genuine concern and are actively listening.

Dry Food Isnt Part of Recall

Some people have expressed concern that there may be toxic levels of Vitamin D in Hills Science Diet or Prescription Diet dry food, which has not been recalled.

In fact, the company tells Petful that the dry food is completely safe.

First and foremost, its important to emphasize that this issue is restricted to a specific vitamin mix delivered by a supplier that was used in limited production of canned wet dog food, says Thomas DiPiazza, director of corporate communications for Colgate-Palmolive, which is the parent company of Hills Pet Nutrition.

That vitamin mix formula is not an ingredient in any of our dry foods, and there has been no reason to expand this voluntary recall to dry foods, he says.

DiPiazza adds, When we recognized this issue, the vitamin mixes received at Hills plants for use in our products, including other vitamin mixes used in dry foods, were tested and cleared for use. As part of our quality process, we monitor complaints and we saw no trends that would alert us to any other products in our portfolio containing excess Vitamin D.

Multiple Lawsuits Filed

Not surprisingly, multiple lawsuits have been filed by heartbroken families in the weeks after the massive dog food recall was announced.

One such lawsuit listed Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Sales, Inc. and John Does 1-10 as defendants. According to that suit, the John Does are listed because the individuals personally responsible for the manufacture and sale of the tainted foods are currently unknown.

The suit was filed on behalf of several people whose pets died after eating the affected dog food including one womans fully trained and certified service dog named Duncan.

She had fed Duncan Hills food on her vets recommendation to help with the dogs pancreatitis. After Duncan ate the tainted food, he deteriorated so quickly that he had to be euthanized just 5 days later.

The lawsuit makes serious allegations, including that Hills knew that there was a problem as early as February 2018 nearly a full year before the recall was finally announced.

It also states that even after the FDA discovered high levels of Vitamin D in several of Hills pet foods, the company continued to manufacture and distribute the tainted product:

Not only has Hills sold contaminated food, but it has dragged its feet in issuing a recall and in including all contaminated food within the scope of the recall. Hills failure to promptly recall every contaminated product sold under the Prescription Diet and Science Diet lines is particularly egregious because it knew or should have known that these products contained toxic levels of vitamin D. Not only does Hills claim to subject its suppliers, raw materials and finished products to extensive and repeated quality testing, but vitamin D toxicity was a known risk much earlier than January 31, 2019 when Hills first announced its recall: in December of 2018 several other brands of dog food were recalled due to toxic levels of vitamin D found in those products, and dogs eating Hills Specialty Dog Foods began dying of vitamin D toxicity well before that.

The suit goes on to claim, The lethal nature of Hills Specialty Dog Foods has been compounded by Hills excessive and unwarranted delay in warning consumers and regulatory agencies of the dangers posed by those products and caused untold number of pet owners significant emotional distress and financial loss.

These pet lovers are just the tip of the iceberg. An estimated hundreds of pets have died, and the Hills Pet Nutrition Facebook page is a sad scroll through countless photos of beloved and lost pets.

We believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of pets have died or become seriously ill as a result of eating Hills foods with toxic levels of Vitamin D, says attorney Nyran Rose Rasche, according to CBS News.

The VIN News Service quoted a licensed veterinary technician whose 2 Pugs died after eating one of the recalled foods. I am heartbroken, furious and disgusted, she said.

The vet tech added, I have 15-plus years of experience in the veterinary field and because of that, Im probably a little better equipped to handle and understand what has happened, but I cant imagine what the average consumer is going through.

Also according to VIN, several veterinarians are vocalizing concerns, including Dr. Deborah Adelsohn, DVM, who says, I have been a Hills fan for over 25 years. This one is going to take a long time to get my trust back.

Donna Nehrenz is hopeful that, in this situation, justice will prevail to keep future generations of pets safe from tainted pet food products.

It seems a lot of folks are about the money, she says. No amount will bring Macy back or compensate for her suffering, or my thoughts that I didnt recognize it was more than her sensitive stomach or a mouth abscess but putting in place checks and balances to protect our pets in the future is crucial.

In the video below, NBC News speaks with more Science Diet recall victims:

Latest Recall Information

The Hills Science Diet and Prescription Diet recall extends far beyond the United States, with the company confirming that about 20% of the recalled product was shipped or slated to be shipped overseas to countries such as Sweden, France, Germany, Hong Kong and others.

If you live in a country other than the United States, check your country-specific Hills website for more information.

And if youre in the United States and have not done so already, we urge you to sign up now for PetfulsFREE U.S. pet food recall alertsby email. These free recall alerts are saving pets lives.

We sent out our Hills recall alert on Jan. 31 before it became national news. A subscriber named Cyndie M. told us, I immediately stopped giving my dog the affected Science Diet food. Saw nothing on the news, so your alert was a life-saver!

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