Science Diet?
 

Hello! I am new here! My mom has a account for my two furbabys, but I myself finally got one yay! So I guess I will go ahead and break my account in :p

I am really curious as to why my vet highly recommends Science Diet. As far as I can see on YT it is not a good food! It is what my baby's have been eating since I brought them home as pups. Thought I was feeding them a really good food but I guess not :(

Does anyone elses vet recommend SD?

SD Makes my baby itch like crazy!! Allthough all dogs are different-

yes i hear that a lot of vets reccommend science diet.
why i don't know.
it is not the worst food out there but there are much better ones too.
if you are thinking of changing i would suggest doing some reasearch.
i try to find a food that is grain free, no by products, or fillers or chemical preservatives.

yes i hear that a lot of vets reccommend science diet.
why i don't know.
it is not the worst food out there but there are much better ones too.
if you are thinking of changing i would suggest doing some reasearch.
i try to find a food that is grain free, no by products, or fillers or chemical preservatives


I have been doing some looking and I think I am going to go with Fromm Four. Going to see if I can find some samples, and see what my two little ones think!

I have been doing some looking and I am going back and forth between Blue Buffalo and Fromm. I think I am going to try and get some samples of both, and let them decide!

I feed my pups Hill's Ideal Balance, Grain Free.

I consider it a well balanced and good food for them. They are healthy, have beautiful coats and doing very well on this food. :)

I might add that it is important to pick a company before the ingredients of a food. Company first...then look at ingredients. :) I chose Hill's because they are a very reputable company that spends a lot of money on research and feeding trials. I have not seen them involved in FDA recalls over and over like some companies. Of course there are others that are good....just giving my opinion because I find it disturbing the negative comments that Hill's gets from some people.

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Same from me.

My vet's office does the Hill's Science Diet as well. I would maybe feel differently about feeding something like Science Diet if Toki was dealing with some health issue that required a special prescription diet...I know these companies do a lot of research in formulating these recipes and that they work very well for particular health problems. But I would still rather do home-cooking or just be given a set of guidelines (protein content/fat content/specific mineral amounts etc) so that I could pick a dog food that I preferred. For long-term feeding though, I would look for a food based largely on the factors that MyOscar stated.

Just find a food that works for your dog- that's all that matters... Everyone and their Mother can tell you what they think a good food is, you can get soooo wrapped up in it, trust me. I have been there and done that- Tried all types of food- Try this it is the best, no try this it is the best, oh this food I thought was good had a recall, now this food is the best- It can really take over your life!

Just find a food that you like, read some reviews, read up on the company and go from there- Don't base what you are going to feed your dog on other opinions.... Once you find that food stick with it and don't change it!

Tibbe is still on the huge bag of Hill's GI I/D Kibble he was put on when he was having so much GI trouble, spitting up foam/bile, mucous-y, awful-looking stools, reflux, reverse sneezing, huge, gassy tummy and laying around all day not playing at all, with little appetite. He seemed to have no life and this is the world's liveliest dog! I tried him on Royal Canin GI for a bit but he scratched so much on that, I switched him to the Hill's as the vet recommended from Day 1 and he had no itching and within 7 - 10 days, his life was turned around and within 2 weeks, he was completely back to himself. Now he has none of those old symptoms and is lively and full of energy, playing and running like a puppy. I will always be grateful to the company that made a food that my dog can eat and get well on. Maybe vets recommend it because it works for so many dogs with less problems? I'm just grateful mine did and while I will probably segue him to Wellness? or Nature's Balance ? -whatever it was Ellie May(Crystal) recommended a while back(it's written down in my Day Planner book for when I go shopping for it) but I will always be grateful to Hill's and their products for helping my dogs during terrible trouble.

Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Kibble was the ONLY food that my Jilly could eat without the worst of the worst GI problems. She had bloody, mucous-y stools and copious vomiting on anything else! So I am a huge fan of the people at Hill's.

That is why I hear Hills is recommended. This came from my vet and the nutritionist who made Rosie's home cooking recipe. I know many on here don't like SD but I will say the RX food helped Rosie when she was really really sick. And I will also say that I feel if a vet nutritionist recommends it then it cant be that bad. She said that Hills would be her top choice for quality control.

You know I wouldn't even mind Science Diet that much if they would take out all the corn, wheat and sawdust... errr, excuse me, powdered cellulose. I know, I know, some say it's great, natural from the earth, etc. But I still don't like it. Sometimes their ingredients just make me ??????? But overall, I like that they have had minimal recalls, are produced in their own plant, and seem to have quality control under control. I don't think I'd ever feed it unless I was desperate or had an ill dog. I really wish they would just offer better options (even their grain-free is not very good, IMO- also find it funny they were totally against grain-free and then to keep up w/ the trends, made a grainfree food). I appreciate how much research has gone into them but I think if a more "holistic" company had the funds to do that kind of research, we could see good results too.

But I DO think it's kind of scary how many new "holistic" foods are coming on the market with no vet on staff, or any professional formulating the foods. Then again, feeding trials are kind of a joke anyways, IMO, from what I've read.

Honestly, I'd really like to see the full actual studies performed on SD foods. There are a lot of BAD and biased studies out there. I think SD's main marketing tool is that they are the only "clinically proven" food and I think vets want to use what "works". They don't have time to do research on all of these foods and companies, and then they be the ones who suggested feeding your dog a food which in turn gives it the runs, or an illness, or something - they don't want to be responsible for that. Vets are also scientists, essentially, who want to promote a product that is "scientifically proven" and highly researched. They also fund a lot of vet schools. I think when people are in school, they just take what they're being told as fact. I've seen many students in my own classes (not veterinary) who listen to a professor and just blindly think that everything he's saying is the truth without looking into it much.

For what it's worth, most vets hardly make money on food, so I really don't think this is the biggest reason like a lot say. Vaccines, however, are a whole 'nother issue and I completely believe vets who still give yearly vaccines are simply in it for the money.

Certain foods will look good on paper, or at least decent, but I personally would never feed (e.g. Merrick and Nutro -- WAY too many quality control problems, imo).

I know it gets to a point where you are going to find a problem with EVERY food you read about, whether it be a small problem or a big problem, so of course in the end, it's about finding what works for your dogs. I've probably spent way too much time researching, etc, but I feel confident that I know enough basics to feed my dog what I believe is right and best for him.

But I do believe that a lot, not all, of these holistic higher end companies are probably not all they are cracked up to be.

Let's be realistic... the meat and ingredients going into ANY of these dog foods is not going to be a prime cut steak that we humans may eat. The prices would be astronomical if they did that. In order to make dog food affordable and sell, price is going to have to be not any more insane than it already is.

Sometimes an ingredient list can look decent, or great, but really the product you are getting is probably not. I'd feed Royal Canin before I fed Nutro. Nutro ingredient list may be superior, but I do not feel their quality or control is.

Basically, there is very few kibbles I feel comfortable feeding nowadays. I've narrowed down a very small list at the moment. There's a few others I may consider but those are what I feel most comfortable with at the moment. One day I'd be happy homecooking but don't have the time or energy right now.

I've kinda changed my mindset a little bit. I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable feeding Science Diet, nor want to personally. But I also do not think they an evil-company that everyone makes them out to be, and no longer do I feel Champion is like the superior all mighty kibble either. All companies are majorly into marketing... all of them will lie, at some point, and use marketing to sell their product. So I dunno, gotta just do what you are comfortable with, and what you feel is right by your dog and what they do best on.


( I copied/pasted what I've written in the past- Sorry it's so long! If you read it all, you deserve a cookie).

It's easy to decide =When you put crap ingredients into food. It simply makes crappy food.

Ok one more thought... I know next to nothing about cats, but I do wonder why SD, with all their research and vets recommendations .. can say that feeding your cat a grain-based kibble diet, is just crazy to me. Cats are obligate carnivores (not like dogs) with a low thirst drive, so eating a meaty, moist diet is best.

It does give you pause to read the ingredients on Science Diet foods and the Hill's GI I/D is just parts of stuff but as long as it keeps my little one from vomiting, diarrhea, runny eyes, gas, etc. and just laying around miserable all day and restless nights of changing position every few minutes, I'm just fine with it. Whatever was wrong with Jilly, the pure foods and raw or even cooked meat was too intense for her system to break down properly apparently. She simply could not digest robust food and on top of that, it irritated her GI tract to bleeding. All her system could deal with were more processed and by-products such as the Science Sensitive kibble had. I must have spent over $300.00 way back in 1991 buying all the different quality foods for her. Wasn't one food that didn't cause blood/mucous in her stool and the diarrhea was constant and copious and that was just one of her severe symptoms. Recurrent vomiting came next. One serving of the quality food mixed with her Science Diet was all it took and she was very, very ill within only a couple to three hours. Still, I don't think Tibbe has the severe digestive and malabsorbtion problems that little Jilly had so I think we will be able to get him on a brand of dogfood that has identifiable food in it, beginning with meat. I just hope and pray he can tolerate his new food and stay the happy, bouncy little tiger he is now once we change over!

It always amazes me when I hear the stories about sick, itchy pups from Science Diet when I have fed so many of them this food without all of the effects people say their pups have had from these foods. My guess is I have handled and fed more pups than the average Joe.
Funny I don't get all of these issues.

I have a neighbor who feeds his "outside dog" (a term I hate because I don't believe in leaving dogs outside) that nasty meaty food that looks like hamburgers. For the life of me, I cannot think of the name of it. That pup is 14 years old and is never sick. And, I think of when I was a kid, so many people were feeding Alpo and their dogs were ok.
I just think way too much focus is on foods....and honestly as someone said: feed what works for your pups.

Dh's pet dog he had as a child ate nothing but leftovers and stuff he found in the trash and still lived to be 12!! He also died by getting hit by a car, not from his diet! I do agree with you on the hoopla of the foods.. seems as it is getting out of control!

That is odd, isn't it? And you get some rescue dogs in pretty bad shape, run down, probably often at death's door, no doubt stressed to the max physically and emotionally, and they manage awfully well on Science Diet it seems. I tell you I am very grateful for that company as they make a product that has served many, many dogs (and thus their owners) so very well.

And if it were just a money thing with vets, why wouldn't some other company with big aspirations of horning in on Science Diet's biz just up the ante a bit and have all the vets recommending their products instead? Yet that hasn't happened.

I was sucked into the negativity about SD when I was feeding it to Rosie. Remember that Linda? ;). But then I stop and think how sick Rosie was BEFORE putting her on the I/D. I home cook now for a variety of reasons. Number one, it works so well for Rosie and her IBS. Number two, I am in control of the quality control. I don't worry about a recall. But with that said, I think SD helped us when we needed it. Bottom line, it saved my baby when she was so sick. When she got better I tried switching foods after reading all the bad stuff in SD. To make a long story short, Rosie got sick again. So I agree with some of the others, it is about what works for YOUR pup. I personally have never had problems with either of my girls when they ate SD.

If pup is doing well I see no reason to switch.

There are opinions upon opinions about what the best foods are. I'm not really interested in companies that don't do studies on their foods, the most basic of which is the feeding trial.

Why no qualified nutritionist on staff, no studies, lack of qc at some of these companies? There will be a debate about holistic vs main brands forever. Feed what you are comfortable with. There are many dogs on the main brands doing well and many doing poorly. The same could be said about olistic brands. Who knows if the food is the culprit in a lot of cases... I don't believe that kibble is optimal for the average dog ingredients aside. I think they can do fine on it though.

I don't think corn and wheat are worse rhan other grains. It is a matter of % carbs. Some byproducts are very good for dogs. Some meat meals are far from fit or human consumption. It just us not so clear cut. As for powdered cellulose, it is allowed in people food and can be from fruit and veg plants and not just trees. It is not something I would worry about.

It seems SD's major recall was over melamine which was not previously a concern because it was intentionally put in the ingredient... I'm not saying they will never have another recall. I'm sure they will like most companies. The same is true for homecooked food. It can be contaAminated too. But I put my eggs in the qc basket and the vet nutritionist basket.

If a company is not doing studies, I have to wonder what they are contributing to the field and why they are unwilling or unable to make rx foods.

I'm just not impressed with these small companies popping up with their nice websites saying their food is clearly best based on what they call science. And when listing ingredients and their quality, it is very obvious that some are very skilled at telling the buyer what they want to hear.

You just have to find what works for you. If a food causes mine itching problems or they wont eat It I dont care about how great it is for someone else. All dogs are different and have different tolerences and tastes

Ahh, I just love this website! So many great opinions! Like I said Science Diet is what my two babies have been eating since I brought them home. One of them is 2 and the other is 1. It has never caused them any problem except Ray is a little on the heavy side. Because I was letting him eat dry kibble whenever he wanted (I know its bad I just didn't/don't like to see him wanting food) We are now on a more strict eating schdule and so far so good!

I def. would not mind cooking them food myself (I actually didn't know people did that until I became a member LOL) if anyone has any receipes on how they cook for there little ones I would love to hear them!

And THANK YOU to everyone who has commented, we sure do appreciate it!

Here's a great sticky! Lots of tips and ideas!
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...od-treats.html

I got mine from Welcome to Pet Diets. It does cost to get them but it is worth it. I also have communicated with Dr. Remillard, a vet nutritionist. About Us
In addition, I use the recommended Balanceit supplement.

Recently my Vet recommended also using Science Diet due to my Yorkie having bloody stools. The Vet doesn't like all of the Science Diet foods, but he does the W/D and highly recommended this to get his stools back in order. Despite the bad talk of being a "bad food" it has helped wonders with my dog. It's isn't the first time he was on it. Just is very smelly of a food and has corn and pork in it, which is probably why it's smelly.

Feed what works for your dog. I agree. But theres good Co like Fromm who have been in business since 1949. So many vets say corn is bad but they sell dog food with corn??
They say to much protein is bad? Not enough is bad?? Guess the health of you dog if it eats ,has shiny coat,and not itchy is the best indicator no matter what u feed?

Vets are like Dr.s if a mainstream major corporation sends them literature and gives them a HUGE discount on retailing a product they do it.

IMHO it's all about the money!

I wouldn't donate a bag of SD to the animal shelter.
I prefer TOTW, or BB now that they have a grainless wilderness flavor...although I feed Raw and BARf in model prey it's not for everyone.


Try here---> http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com

I could still recall that my dog was undergo science diet,It is important part of maintaining a pet's optimal health is selecting a food that provides the right balance of essential vitamins and nutrients. It helps also with brain and vision development.

hmmmmm....so what are you saying about shelter dogs? They don't deserve the best? When I donate, I donate what I would feed my own pups.

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