Hill's Science Diet...what are your thoughts about it? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

kimmiek · 05-21-2008, 04:19 PM

Chewie's vet gave us a 5lb bag sample of Hill's Science Diet at his visit yesterday and he said he highly recommends it. I know there's a jillion different types of food out there and Chewie's used to eating Blue Buffalo. The vet said it should help make him poop less which made me instantly want to try it, LOL! I gave Chewie a few bites and he loved it. I know hollistic is more nutritious and so is home-cooking, yadda yadda yadda...I'm just curious about other people's experience with this product. Thanks!!!

perfectdogbows · 05-21-2008, 04:49 PM

My girls used to be on Hills....before the pet food recall awhile back. After that episode...I was shell shocked and afraid to feed them any store or vet purchased foods. I went out and got a dog cookbook and made them their handmade food for quite sometime. However, that kinda got old and my time these days is short.....so I did some checking and decided upon the Wellness brand of pet food.

Hills is an OK brand but just check the ingred. before committing....make sure their are no byproducts and stuff like that.

Here is a link to the ingredients to avoid when selecting a pet food hope this helps you make your decision:
The Dog Food Project - Ingredients to avoid

fufufashions · 05-21-2008, 04:59 PM

Science Diet is one of the worst foods. Most vets have no clue about nutrition and they push SD since they get kick backs from the company.
Read the ingredients on there and you will probably find corn, wheat/soy or by-products or ALL of those!

There are so many other brands that are better. Just read the ingredients on whatever you decide. They should have none of those items listed above.

kimmiek · 05-21-2008, 05:04 PM

Ahhh....well that certainly makes sense.

It was hilarious at first... I tried to tell the vet that we're happy with Blue Buffalo and he can keep the bag of HSD for some other patient...hahaha! He was like...oh, but we highly recommend this, it's extremely nutritious, blah blah blah....LMAO!

kimmiek · 05-21-2008, 05:09 PM

I read the ingredients and the first thing it mentioned was Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal....can anyone tell me what's so bad about these things? I'm not 100% sure I know...

marcerella02 · 05-21-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimmiek

I read the ingredients and the first thing it mentioned was Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal....can anyone tell me what's so bad about these things? I'm not 100% sure I know...

well yorkies are allergic to corn (MOST yorkies) and it's a filler... something to fill them up with no nutritional value. By products are the part of the chicken they don't sell in the grocery store... head... feet... and soybean meal... another filler.. for the most part dogs don't NEED grains they are just put in there to fill them up.

kimmiek · 05-21-2008, 05:28 PM

What would be some signs of corn allergy?

fufufashions · 05-21-2008, 05:28 PM

Here is a comparison to the SD and what the ingredients are:
COMPARISON

There is also a great video to watch that will tell you about the ingredients that is in most commercial dog foods:

VIDEO

In summary..Corn has no nutritional value and is used as a cheap filler. it also causes allergies
Wheat and Soy are also known allergens
By-products are the parts of animals that are not fit for consumption..these include the beaks, feather and feet from chickens, meat can be the rendered animals from vets including diseased and euthinized pets, maggot infested beef that isn't used for anything else. Overall, by-products of any kind aren't healthy or nutritious.

Just read labels on everything that you are feeding your babies...they have no choice but what we feed them and it is our responsibility to give them the best food/treats we can.

Hope that helps!!

marcerella02 · 05-21-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimmiek

What would be some signs of corn allergy?

itching at their paws, scratching their face, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing...

Yorkiedaze · 05-21-2008, 05:36 PM

I don't recommend any dog food, but if you want a good compairson, here is one since INNOVA is supposed to be the best on the market:

Compare Pet Food to Find the Best Pet Food Brand for Your Dog or Cat – Natura Pet Products

ldenise · 05-21-2008, 05:37 PM

we were on science diet for a long long time and I discovered one of my 4 yorkies has an allergy to anything with corn in it. if i were not for that fact we would still be using it. I had no problem with using science diet. their stool is compacted as they say also.
there will be all sorts of complaints about any of the brands out there but you have to go by what yours likes or can eat. When I realized that my dog had an allergy to corn I read all the ingredients to all the different brands. It is difficult to find one that doesn't used some sort of corn as a filler.
science diet is not the best out there but certainly is not the worst.
In my opinion.

sheilajom · 05-21-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fufufashions

Here is a comparison to the SD and what the ingredients are:
COMPARISON

There is also a great video to watch that will tell you about the ingredients that is in most commercial dog foods:

VIDEO

In summary..Corn has no nutritional value and is used as a cheap filler. it also causes allergies
Wheat and Soy are also known allergens
By-products are the parts of animals that are not fit for consumption..these include the beaks, feather and feet from chickens, meat can be the rendered animals from vets including diseased and euthinized pets, maggot infested beef that isn't used for anything else. Overall, by-products of any kind aren't healthy or nutritious.

Just read labels on everything that you are feeding your babies...they have no choice but what we feed them and it is our responsibility to give them the best food/treats we can.

Hope that helps!!

Eww that's gross!!!

nvnvgirl · 05-21-2008, 05:56 PM

I have heard all the cons of Science Diet foods. And if my dogs weren't doing so well on it, I'd change them to something better, I have to tell you. But they're BOTH doing great on the prescription W/D and at this point in time, I'm not going to try changing them. My Max had pancreatitis once, which is how he got put on it (b/c it's low fat/low calorie/high fiber) and my rescue Madison, has GI issues that aren't specifically determined by bloodwork, other than a "gastritis"; but he's been doing so much better since I started him on the W/D, it's remarkable~ his tummy is much more calm and his poops are incredibly better.

I personally, would go with something higher quality (mine have no allergy issues at this time), but I tried to switch Max over just before getting Madison and he got sick for the first time since he's been on the W/D. Don't know if I went too quickly with it, or what, but I'm just not willing to take anymore chances with his stomach, nor with Madison's. In our case, I have taken the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" approach.

mscat · 05-21-2008, 06:06 PM

the vet did the same thing with me as well. I got one especially for puppies. She is fine on it, But, I mix it with her regular puppy food. There has been no problems, or allergies whatsoever. I am sure there are better ones, however, it is not the worst for a dog either in my opinion.

BamaFan121s · 05-21-2008, 06:56 PM

It's not the best food out there and it's not the worst. Given the choice between the two, I would stick w/ the Blue Buffalo. I have yet to find a commercial food that doesn't have some ingredient in it that I don't like. I don't think there is a such thing as a "perfect" manufactured food.

05-21-2008, 04:19 PM	#1
kimmiek Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Central Texas Posts: 236	Hill's Science Diet...what are your thoughts about it? Chewie's vet gave us a 5lb bag sample of Hill's Science Diet at his visit yesterday and he said he highly recommends it. I know there's a jillion different types of food out there and Chewie's used to eating Blue Buffalo. The vet said it should help make him poop less which made me instantly want to try it, LOL! I gave Chewie a few bites and he loved it. I know hollistic is more nutritious and so is home-cooking, yadda yadda yadda...I'm just curious about other people's experience with this product. Thanks!!! __________________ *~Kim~* Fur-mama to *Chewie (9mo.)* Proud member of the Studly Boys group and the *Spoiled Rotten Club*!

05-21-2008, 04:59 PM	#3
fufufashions LEADER OF MyPACK Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sugar Land Texas - Where there is no Equal! Posts: 2,677	Science Diet is one of the worst foods. Most vets have no clue about nutrition and they push SD since they get kick backs from the company. Read the ingredients on there and you will probably find corn, wheat/soy or by-products or ALL of those! There are so many other brands that are better. Just read the ingredients on whatever you decide. They should have none of those items listed above. __________________ Linda and my MPACK - MEIAH PRINCESS ANGEL CANDY & KISSY FuFuFashions & Healthy Dog & Cat Food and Treats - FREE SAMPLES AVAILABLE

05-21-2008, 05:04 PM	#4
kimmiek Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Central Texas Posts: 236	Ahhh....well that certainly makes sense. It was hilarious at first... I tried to tell the vet that we're happy with Blue Buffalo and he can keep the bag of HSD for some other patient...hahaha! He was like...oh, but we highly recommend this, it's extremely nutritious, blah blah blah....LMAO! __________________ *~Kim~* Fur-mama to *Chewie (9mo.)* Proud member of the Studly Boys group and the *Spoiled Rotten Club*!

05-21-2008, 05:09 PM	#5
kimmiek Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Central Texas Posts: 236	I read the ingredients and the first thing it mentioned was Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal....can anyone tell me what's so bad about these things? I'm not 100% sure I know... __________________ *~Kim~* Fur-mama to *Chewie (9mo.)* Proud member of the Studly Boys group and the *Spoiled Rotten Club*!

05-21-2008, 05:28 PM	#7
kimmiek Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Central Texas Posts: 236	What would be some signs of corn allergy? __________________ *~Kim~* Fur-mama to *Chewie (9mo.)* Proud member of the Studly Boys group and the *Spoiled Rotten Club*!

05-21-2008, 04:49 PM	#2
perfectdogbows Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 12	My girls used to be on Hills....before the pet food recall awhile back. After that episode...I was shell shocked and afraid to feed them any store or vet purchased foods. I went out and got a dog cookbook and made them their handmade food for quite sometime. However, that kinda got old and my time these days is short.....so I did some checking and decided upon the Wellness brand of pet food. Hills is an OK brand but just check the ingred. before committing....make sure their are no byproducts and stuff like that. Here is a link to the ingredients to avoid when selecting a pet food hope this helps you make your decision: The Dog Food Project - Ingredients to avoid

05-21-2008, 05:36 PM	#10
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 6,892	I don't recommend any dog food, but if you want a good compairson, here is one since INNOVA is supposed to be the best on the market: Compare Pet Food to Find the Best Pet Food Brand for Your Dog or Cat – Natura Pet Products

05-21-2008, 05:37 PM	#11
ldenise YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rancho Viejo, Tx Posts: 2,690	we were on science diet for a long long time and I discovered one of my 4 yorkies has an allergy to anything with corn in it. if i were not for that fact we would still be using it. I had no problem with using science diet. their stool is compacted as they say also. there will be all sorts of complaints about any of the brands out there but you have to go by what yours likes or can eat. When I realized that my dog had an allergy to corn I read all the ingredients to all the different brands. It is difficult to find one that doesn't used some sort of corn as a filler. science diet is not the best out there but certainly is not the worst. In my opinion. __________________ Buckeye, Ahia, Tressie, Archie & LDenise Dogs are really people with short legs in fur coats

05-21-2008, 05:56 PM	#13
nvnvgirl Lovin' to the MAX!! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yorkieville Posts: 2,706	I have heard all the cons of Science Diet foods. And if my dogs weren't doing so well on it, I'd change them to something better, I have to tell you. But they're BOTH doing great on the prescription W/D and at this point in time, I'm not going to try changing them. My Max had pancreatitis once, which is how he got put on it (b/c it's low fat/low calorie/high fiber) and my rescue Madison, has GI issues that aren't specifically determined by bloodwork, other than a "gastritis"; but he's been doing so much better since I started him on the W/D, it's remarkable~ his tummy is much more calm and his poops are incredibly better. I personally, would go with something higher quality (mine have no allergy issues at this time), but I tried to switch Max over just before getting Madison and he got sick for the first time since he's been on the W/D. Don't know if I went too quickly with it, or what, but I'm just not willing to take anymore chances with his stomach, nor with Madison's. In our case, I have taken the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" approach. __________________ Seana and Max and Madison too! Member of the Little Gentlemen's Club and Proud Member of the Spoiled Rotten Club

05-21-2008, 06:06 PM	#14
mscat Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Avenal, California Posts: 1,732	the vet did the same thing with me as well. I got one especially for puppies. She is fine on it, But, I mix it with her regular puppy food. There has been no problems, or allergies whatsoever. I am sure there are better ones, however, it is not the worst for a dog either in my opinion.

05-21-2008, 06:56 PM	#15
BamaFan121s YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,798	It's not the best food out there and it's not the worst. Given the choice between the two, I would stick w/ the Blue Buffalo. I have yet to find a commercial food that doesn't have some ingredient in it that I don't like. I don't think there is a such thing as a "perfect" manufactured food. __________________ ...........Misty........... Trixie * Lexi * Chipsie