Hill's Science Diet is a well-known name in pet food and nutrition worldwide. The brand offers a wide range of wet and dry foods, including specialized formulas for different life stages and specific health needs. This review focuses on Hill's Science Diet Puppy canned food, examining its ingredients, nutritional value, customer ratings, and overall suitability for your growing pup.
Overview of Hill's Science Diet
Hill's Science Diet emphasizes "biology-based nutrition," aiming to meet the health requirements of dogs across all breeds and ages. Manufactured by Hill's Pet Nutrition, it is marketed as the #1 veterinarian-recommended brand in the US. With a history that goes back to the 1930s, Hill's uses an evidence-based approach to pet nutrition. The company operates the Global Pet Nutrition Center, where over 200 scientists research the dietary needs of pets.
Product Range and Cost
The Hill's Science Diet range includes a wide variety of wet and dry foods. The Hill’s Science Diet Puppy canned product line consists of several recipes. While prices may vary, a case of 12 Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Vegetable Entree cans typically costs between $29 and $32.
Suitability
Hill's Science Diet Wet Dog Food is suitable for all breeds. Hill's makes dog food for puppies, adults, and senior dogs. There are products in the Science Diet range to suit dogs at all life stages. Hill’s Science Diet for dogs is designed to meet the nutritional needs of healthy pets.
Ingredients and Nutritional Analysis
An overview of the ingredients in Hill's Science Diet wet food reveals key protein sources, minerals, and vitamins. The puppy formulations contain vitamins, including B2, B12, C, D3, and E. Protein sources in the wet foods for puppies include chicken, chicken liver, and pork liver. Minerals like zinc, iron, manganese, and beta-carotene promote healthy skin and fur, red blood cell production, metabolism, and good eyesight. The adult formulations contain a wide range of ingredients and vitamin and mineral supplements. Protein sources include beef and beef by-products, chicken and chicken fat, pork and pork liver, turkey and turkey giblet, and others.
Read also: Hill's Science Diet: Pros, cons, and expert analysis.
Hill's Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée: A Closer Look
Hill's Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée dog food is designed to provide precisely balanced nutrition to support five essential building blocks for lifelong health, including digestion and immune system support. It contains real chicken and wholesome grains.
The first ingredient in this dog food is water, which adds moisture. The second ingredient is chicken. The third item is corn. The next ingredient is barley, which is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. The sixth ingredient is pork liver. The eighth ingredient is fish oil, naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated, potentially making them more difficult to absorb. It also contains taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle.
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food: A Closer Look
The first Ingredient is chicken. The second ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. The third ingredient includes oats. The fourth ingredient is chicken meal. The fifth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. The sixth item is chicken fat, high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. The eighth ingredient is brewers rice, a cereal grain by-product consisting of the small fragments left over after milling whole rice. It also contains fish oil, naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids, taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle, and sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated, potentially making them more difficult to absorb.
Nutritional Benefits
Hill's Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée provides high-quality protein to help your puppy build and maintain lean muscle. It is made with purposeful, easily digestible ingredients. The pup-friendly formula includes a powerful antioxidant blend for lifelong health and promotes strong bones and teeth with balanced minerals. It is made with natural ingredients.
Guaranteed Analysis
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31.5% and a mean fat level of 18.9%. This is below-average protein and below-average fat. As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27% and a mean fat level of 15.7%. This is near-average protein and near-average fat.
Read also: Benefits of Science Diet for Puppies with Sensitive Stomachs
Potential Concerns
Note that both the puppy and adult versions of the Chicken & Barley Entree recipe contain whole grain corn, so avoid it if your pup has a grain allergy. Soy products and added colors and flavors are also found in many of the adult recipes. Some minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Sodium selenite is a controversial form of the mineral selenium.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Hill's Pet Nutrition has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is a BBB-accredited business. In the past 3 years, the bureau has received 14 complaints about Hill’s, with 9 of those regarding a problem with a product or service. Hill's has an overall satisfaction rating of 1.7 out of 5 from over 230 customer ratings. However, it’s worth mentioning that these reviews don’t just refer to Hill’s Science Diet products but to the entire Hill’s Pet Nutrition range.
Alternatives
Other brands that offer comparable wet puppy food formulas include Royal Canin, Purina Pro Plan, and Blue Buffalo. These brands also offer a range of options tailored to different breed sizes, sensitivities, and specific nutritional needs.
Additional Brands
Hill’s sells three other pet food brands - Prescription Diet, Healthy Advantage, and Bioactive Recipe. It also offers a range of dog treats.
Conclusion
Hill's Science Diet Puppy canned food offers a range of options designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing puppies. Hill's Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée dog food is a delicious way to provide precisely balanced nutrition to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health, including digestion and immune system support. Made with real chicken and wholesome grains. The brand emphasizes high-quality ingredients and formulas backed by scientific research. It is made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust.
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