Hills dog food

It's no exaggeration to say that Hills dog food is one of the most well-known pet food products not only in Russia but worldwide. These diets first appeared in our country about 20 years ago, and since then, they have garnered a huge number of reviews from customers and veterinarians.

Manufacturer

This brand was born thanks to Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., a company founded in 1907 in the United States where Hill's dog food is still produced today. However, it wasn't until 1939 that the first therapeutic nutrition designed to improve the health of German Shepherd Guide Dogs was developed, marking a breakthrough in pet nutrition. It was after the creation of this successful therapeutic formula that the first Hill's veterinary line of dog food was launched, and judging by the positive reviews, it continues to help animals overcome various ailments to this day.

Since its founding, the company has changed its name, conquered the markets of 86 different countries around the world, and was also bought out by the mega-corporation Colgate-Palmolive and is currently its subsidiary.

For several years now, many dog ​​owners have been puzzled by the question: where is the Hill's pet food sold in our pet stores manufactured? Reviews often suggest that production of this product has recently begun in Russia. There is no confirmation of this, and according to official data, Hill's food is produced in the Netherlands.

It's also possible that this brand's products are manufactured in other EU countries, as evidenced by the markings on some packaging: the letter "S" stands for the Netherlands, while Hill's pet food marked with a "V" indicates the Czech Republic. Judging by customer reviews that pay attention to this aspect, both markings are found on packages of pet food sold in Russia.

Range of rations

Initially, Hill's produced only therapeutic dog food, which served as a therapeutic diet for various ailments. It was these diets that first received rave reviews. Therefore, 60 years ago, an in-house research laboratory was established, where veterinarians developed new diets. It now employs approximately 150 people and is the company's pride and joy. The work of veterinarians and nutritionists in the field of animal nutrition has resulted in Hill's dry and wet dog food, divided into four categories:

Ideal Balance — a relatively new line comprising seven different formulas. Two of them are grain-free with potatoes (with chicken and tuna). The others are unique in that they are free of corn, soy, and wheat. These menus are based on brown rice and chicken.

Prescription Diet This is the Hill's dog food whose veterinarian reviews are worthy of attention. Furthermore, it should only be fed on the recommendation of a specialist, as this diet is intended as a supplemental therapeutic diet during drug treatment. These diets are also used for long-term feeding during convalescence, chronic illnesses, and post-surgical recovery. In addition to dry menus, this Hill's dog food includes canned food, which significantly simplifies feeding for picky or weakened animals.

Science Plan – this brand's core line of diets designed for everyday use. It offers the most extensive range of nutritional options, which is why this Hill's dog food receives the most reviews from owners. All formulas are divided into groups based on the primary criterion—pet size. Within each group, you can choose a menu appropriate for your pet's age and special needs. Additionally, this line offers a range of diets for all breeds, addressing dog needs such as excess weight, sensitive skin, gastrointestinal issues, or increased physical activity.

Nature's best – the smallest category, featuring only five food items. The manufacturer claims that Hill's dog food in this line is formulated with natural ingredients and designed to support digestive health. It is free of wheat, eggs, soy, and dairy products. Nature's Best formulas contain fruit (citrus pulp) and grape (pomace).
Hill's dog food range includes approximately 70 varieties. In addition to the veterinary line, which offers a wide selection of therapeutic canned foods, you can pamper your pet with canned food from the Science Plan segment. For gourmet pets, there's a turkey or chicken diet, plus separate food for puppies and seniors. Despite this, Hill's dog food receives mixed reviews from dog owners. To understand the basis for these criticisms, we need to take a closer look.

Evaluation and analysis of feed composition

In 2016, Hills rebranded its products, eliminating some menu items and significantly improving the composition of many Hills dog food recipes. The ingredient list on the official Russian website differs significantly from the ingredients listed on the English-language website for this brand's products. We are unable to explain this—perhaps the Russian representative has not yet updated all the information. However, another explanation is possible. We present the ingredient list that matches the information on the official Hills website for Russia.

Reviewing Hill's dog food reviews on pet forums, you'll see that pet owners are divided on the question: is Hill's super-premium or not? We'll return to this question after a detailed examination of the ingredients in this brand's product. For this purpose, we selected Hill's Adult Advanced Fitness Medium, a chicken-based food from the Science Plan core line for medium-sized dogs over one year old.

Guaranteed Nutrient Values:

A preliminary assessment of Hill's cat food's composition immediately reveals its insufficient fiber content. This is a significant drawback, as fiber greatly benefits a pet's digestive system, normalizing bowel movements and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Below is a detailed list of ingredients (in order of decreasing quantity) included in Hills dry dog ​​food, so the composition:

• Corn;
• Wheat;
• Chicken 27% and turkey meal;
• Animal fat;
• Corn gluten flour.

This is the base of the recipe, followed by protein hydrolysate, followed by soybean oil. The eighth and ninth ingredients are minerals and dried beet pulp. Finally, flaxseed, along with vitamins and trace elements, are listed.

These are followed by additives: taurine and beta-carotene. Then comes the clarification: with natural preservatives (tocopherols and citric acid). The entire list takes up 15 items, although, in fact, only the first five ingredients have a significant contribution and are of primary importance in the recipe.

The balance of this Hill's dog food is evident in its description. The ingredient listed first is always the one used in the largest quantity. In this case, number one is corn, and number two is wheat. Apparently, the manufacturer believes that dogs need grains much more than meat.

Squirrels

The most valuable and beneficial source of protein for animals is high-quality meat and meat by-products. This Hill's dry dog ​​food contains two ingredients rich in this protein: chicken (27%) and turkey meal, as well as hydrolyzed protein, listed sixth on the list. Chicken and turkey meal, while certainly inferior in quality to fresh or raw poultry, are nevertheless a high-quality ingredient. Unfortunately, it ranks only third on the list, behind two grain ingredients.

Protein hydrolysate is a questionable ingredient included in the Hills dry dog ​​food under review. This is because it's impossible to determine the source of this ingredient. It can be made from either plant or animal protein. Most often, this additive serves to enhance the flavor and palatability of the food, especially since its percentage is too small to improve the nutritional value.

Fats

This product contains two fat sources: animal fat and soybean oil. The latter is a plant-based component rich in omega acids. However, plant-based fatty acids are much less readily absorbed by dogs than those from fish or chicken fat.

Animal fat is a highly questionable ingredient, obtained by processing animal tissues unfit for human consumption. Furthermore, it's impossible to determine the origin of this fat, and therefore, to assess its quality. This ingredient is typically found in the budget food segment and is considered a low-quality component.

Carbohydrates

There's no doubt that this diet contains an abundance of carbohydrates. These are found in corn and wheat, plus corn gluten meal, which is simply a component of corn, is listed under #5. It's the grains in Hill's dog food that degrade its nutritional content and are the source of many negative reviews.

Wheat is one of the main allergens in dogs, along with corn gluten. These grains are also high-glycemic carbohydrates, which can contribute to conditions like obesity and diabetes. Essentially, they're just cheap ingredients added to Hill's dog food, and veterinarians say these grains are practically indigestible.

Additionally, it's worth noting that grains in such quantities detract from the overall protein content, which is typically derived from plant protein. Such ingredients are undesirable in dog food, and we recommend avoiding them altogether.

Additional components

What else has Hill's pet food offered our pets? The list of nutrients includes dried beet pulp, flaxseed, and vitamin and mineral supplements.

• Dried beets provide fiber, but the amount is minimal. This is a controversial supplement, as higher-quality and healthier fruits and vegetables can provide fiber.
• Flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, but animals have difficulty digesting them because they are plant-based. From this perspective, supplementing with fish oil would be much more beneficial.

There's no variety of medicinal herbs or berries here. Everything is rather modest and austere.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of this food include:

• A quality source of animal proteins;
• Preservatives of natural origin.

Another advantage of the Hill's brand of food is the wide range and availability of diets.

Cons:

• The main part of the feed is cereals;
• Source of fats of dubious origin;
• Presence of low-quality ingredients (protein hydrolysate);
• Highly allergenic grains in large quantities – wheat and corn.

Looking at all the flaws and shortcomings of the recipe, it is not difficult to determine what class of food Hill's belongs to – it belongs in the premium dog food category.

Price

Hill's Science Plan line of dry dog ​​food for medium breeds, lamb and rice:

• 3 kg – 1240 rub.;
• 7.5 kg – 2980 RUR;
• 12 kg – 3970 RUR

Nature's Best dog food will cost 100-200 rubles more for the same package weight. For example, the price of Hill's chicken dog food for small and medium breeds is:

• 2 kg – 980 RUR;
• 12 kg – 4230 rub.

For those interested in finding out how much Hill's grain-free Ideal Balance food costs, we offer a chicken and potato-based option:

• 700 g – 450 RUR;
• 12 kg – 4150 — 4430 RUR

Hills Pet Food Reviews

Without a doubt, this brand's pet food is extremely popular; their advertising banners can be seen at virtually every dog ​​show. Partly because of this, Hill's dry dog ​​food has a large following of fans who leave positive reviews. However, there is a downside: pet owners who are dissatisfied with this food. We suggest you read the opinions of both groups before jumping to conclusions:

Olga, owner of a Samoyed:

"I've been buying this food for the past two years, and overall, I'm happy with it, but there are some issues: I think her coat has become less shiny, and sometimes her eyes start to water excessively. She's had digestive issues a couple of times, but I don't know if it's related to the food or not. I bought the lamb and rice variety to try, and if things continue as before, I'll probably try a different brand."

Tonya, the owner of a sheltie:

"I received a bag of Hill's dry dog ​​food as a prize at a dog show. My little girl devoured it with gusto, even though she'd previously been eating RK. Now I'm thinking about getting a larger bag, but I read reviews of Hill's dry dog ​​food and am starting to doubt whether I should change her diet, as we had no complaints about the old one."

Veterinarians' opinion

Interestingly, veterinarians rarely review Hills' everyday dog ​​food online. Their reviews focus primarily on the therapeutic line, which, incidentally, receives high praise from experts. The general opinion of Hill's regular dog food is that it's a good alternative to budget-friendly options. However, veterinarians recommend caution when offering it to pets prone to food allergies or intolerances, as well as to dogs with sensitive stomachs. Here's an example:

In conclusion, this brand's pricing is comparable to many of its competitors. We believe the Hills grain-free line of food is worth considering, but we cannot recommend the Science Plan line for everyday feeding, as we do not consider it complete nutrition for dogs.

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