Dog Community

Should I switch to Hill's Prescription?

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:10:36 PM

What do you think about the ingredients in this Hills's Prescription canned dog food? It's z/d ultra allergen free. I've been feeding NB duck & potato canned but thinking of switching to this for awhile, but I would like to know your honest opinion about the Hill's Prescription food.

Ingredients:

Water, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Corn Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, Ascorbic Acid (source of vitamin C), L-Threonine, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Tryptophan, Beta-Carotene, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Ocide, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid.

Crude Protein (Min) 3.0%
Crude Fat (Min) 2.3%
Crude Fiber (Max) 1.5%
Moisture (Max) 78.0%
Calcium (Min) 0.12%
Phosphorus (Min) 0.08%
Calories 360 per 13 oz. can

Would you stay with the NB duck & potato or switch to this food? Jake has been on the NB duck & potato since mid January. He loves it! He does scratch his ears and bites his paws, but just a little bit. (Don't all dogs do that)? Not scratching so bad as to need medication. But with everything going on with NB, I was wondring is I should switch. I don't know what to do. Opinions? I was thinking of putting 1/2 bowl of NB and 1/2 bowl of Hill's Prescription down and see which one he goes to first and let him decide.

jjsmom06

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:15:27 PM

Would you stay with the NB duck & potato

YES! I would stay with NB.. the ingredients are far better than the Hill's.. FAR...

Take a peek at the NB ingredients:

Potatoes, Duck Meal, Duck, Canola Oil (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Potato Fiber, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

Luvntzus

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:16:34 PM

I would never feed it to my dog. There's no meat in the entire food. I also don't think a dog should eat a food that's mostly liver because that's where the body processes toxins. The other ingredients are corn starch and cellulose. [&:] I honestly don't even see how that food could keep a dog alive. I would definitely keep feeding NB Duck & Potato. None of the ingredients are ones that have been tainted and I would personally feel much more comfortable feeding it as opposed to Z/D.

Rebecca Mallory

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:23:49 PM

I would completely understand wanting to change foods b/c of the recall, but if you do switch, go for another premium dog food. The ingredients in Hills would be a major step down from what you are feeding now.

Shelley75

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:26:40 PM

I understand what you are saying, but does that mean you wouldn't even give it to him for 6 weeks and then start adding other food to it? Is it normal for dogs to scratch ears and bite paws occasionaly? How do I know if he is scratching from an allergy or if he's just scratching?

jjsmom06

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:32:04 PM

I understand what you are saying, but does that mean you wouldn't even give it to him for 6 weeks and then start adding other food to it? Is it normal for dogs to scratch ears and bite paws occasionaly? How do I know if he is scratching from an allergy or if he's just scratching?

I see what you are getting at but if you are going for an "allergy formula" I don't think Hills is going to be your best option out ther just my opinion.. but I think there are other higher quality foods available that might solve any potential allergy problems.

First off.. I guess we need more info.. like WHY do you suspect food related allergies and have the symptoms only been on the NB.. how long have you been feeding NB??

Margaret Tyler

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:34:50 PM

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

I would never feed it to my dog. There's no meat in the entire food. I also don't think a dog should eat a food that's mostly liver because that's where the body processes toxins. The other ingredients are corn starch and cellulose. [&:] I honestly don't even see how that food could keep a dog alive. I would definitely keep feeding NB Duck & Potato. None of the ingredients are ones that have been tainted and I would personally feel much more comfortable feeding it as opposed to Z/D.

Ditto. Corn Starch[>:]. That's sugar, sugar, sugar. If you're looking for an alternative allergy can. How about...

Wellness Venison and Sweet Potato ([color="#000000"]also comes in a whitefish and sweet potato, duck and sweet potato and other) [linkhttp://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/wellness/dog_wellness_can_index.html]http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/wellness/dog_wellness_can_index.html[/link][/color]
Venison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Ground Barley, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Ground Flaxseed, Canola Oil, Guar Gum, Salt, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan, Iron Proteinate (source of chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (source of chelated Zinc), Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Cobalt Proteinate (source of chelated Cobalt), Copper Proteinate (a source of chelated Copper), Manganese Proteinate (source of chelated Manganese), Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

Pinnacle Duck and Potato [color="#000000"](also comes in a trout and sweet potato) [linkhttp://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/pinnacle_dog_duck_can.htm]http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/pinnacle_dog_duck_can.htm[/link][/color]
Duck, Duck Broth, Fresh Potatoes, Oats, Oat Bran, Potato Protein, Flaxseed, Grapeseed Oil, Sage, Rosemary, Quinoa, Papain, Sage, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Acetate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Riboflavin Supplement, D-Biotin Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride.

Eagle Pack Duck and Potato [color="#000000"](also comes in a Sardine, Anchovy and Oatmeal, a Beef and Rice, and others) [linkhttp://www.eaglepack.com/Pages/HS_CanDog.html]http://www.eaglepack.com/Pages/HS_CanDog.html[/link]
[/color]Ingredients: Duck, Duck Broth, Oatmeal, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Carrots, Peas, Potatoes, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Carrageenan, Cranberry Powder, Dried Kelp, Vitamins & Minerals, Blueberry Powder, Yucca Schidigera & Marigold Extract

[color="#0000cc"]Merrick[color="#000000"] [color="#0000cc"]Venison Holiday Stew (this company makes a ton of canned foods)
[/color][/color][/color][size="2"]Venison, Water for processing, Fresh Red Jacket New Potatoes, Fresh Carrots, Fresh Zucchini, Fresh Sugar Peas, Fresh Red Delicious Apples, Potato Starch-modified, Egg, Dried Blueberry, Menhadden Fish Meal, Olive Oil, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripoly-phosphate, Flax Seed Oil (for Omega-3), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Choline Chloride, Salt, Natural Caramel Color, Lecithin, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Mixed Tocopherols, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex,Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, d-Calcium Pantothenate,Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite.
[/size]
All of these companies have other allergy formulas as well.

Shelley75

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:37:42 PM

I've been feeding the NB since mid January. I used to homecook before and he got the same amount of infections on home cooked as he does now. Actually I think he had been treated twice for an ear infection and 3 times for paw infections on the homecooked. He actually hasn't had an infection on the NB, but he does scratch and bite his

aws occasionaly. I only suggest food allergies because I did a allergy blood test in 11/05, that tested positive for 7 different foods. He is almost 3 years old.

chewbecca

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:41:06 PM

what were you consistently putting in his home coooked?
Were you putting potatoes in?

It might be a food allergy, but we need to know what all you were feeding before we can even give an opinion. Plus, if you've had a food allergy test done on him, what foods did it say he was allergic to?

Shelley75

Posted : 4/23/2007 5:53:43 PM

His allergy test said he is allergic to chicken, turkey, lamb, wheat, barley, flaxseed, and greeen peas.

When I homecooked he got venison, extra lean ground hamburger, rabbit, duck, lean pork and cod. I would alternate between the meats. I would give the same meat for about 3 weeks. He would also get sweet potatoes one week and wheat free pasta the next week. I would put vegetables in it like zucchini, string beans, cauliflower, green peppers, carrots, etc. He got sardines and I used canola oil (vegetable oil). I also used bone meal powder.

I will definitely not give him the z/d. Too many of you, (actually all of you) didn't have good things to say about it and the last thing I want to do is give him something that is not good quality food. He likes the NB, so I guess I'll just stick with that. He also gets Go! Natual Dry, Salmon & Oatmeal as a snack at night. But I just found out that Petcurean pet food was recalled in 2003. And I'm wondering if I should be feeding it.

chewbecca

Posted : 4/23/2007 6:06:49 PM

could he possibly be allergic to something in your house? or something you're bathing him with? Does he have environmental allergies?

Jessies_mom is very knowledgeable with food allergies, perhaps she'll be able to chime in with some good advice [

]

Because I have NO idea what he could be allergic to.

How accurate are food allergy tests?

Shelley75

Posted : 4/23/2007 6:12:47 PM

I also had a blood test done for environmental allergies which only showed him to be allergic to mold. Our house is only 4 years old. We have all hardwood floors, no mold, never got any water. He is bathed in oatmeal shampoo, fragrance free. He does eat leaves, which I'm sure has a bunch of mold on them. So maybe he is allergic to that and not the food. I can't stop him from eating leaves. We go on a walk and he chases leaves and eats them. He is obsessed with leaves! Maybe that's his problem and not food.

tony

Posted : 4/23/2007 6:33:25 PM

I personally would not have a problem feeding Hills, there prescription foods have been a life saver for many a dog.

willowchow

Posted : 4/23/2007 6:40:06 PM

Here's my [sm=2cents.gif]--
I'm continuing to use Natural Balance fish.
And, for a couple of years Willow ate canned I/D with excellent results. I've only just recently been able to wean her off of it. I doctored it up with extra meat to boost the protein. But, as a base diet she got it completely at first, then half the time, then I stopped. But, if she needed it again I'd go get it in a second.

I don't think being on it for six weeks to see if there is an improvement would be such a bad thing for him. I also think Hill's might make a duck or fish canned food for skin allergies you might want to check those out, maybe the ingredients are better. I know I looked into a few before deciding the i/d was the best out of all of the ones I could use.

sandra_slayton

Posted : 4/23/2007 6:43:43 PM

I would have no problem with Science Diet either. I used it to get weight off KayCee and it did the job and she has kept the weight off. However, she was not overly enthused about it. I used it for Buck with his kidney infection, he didn't like it at all, but it did the trick. I would say it all depends on the dog and the situation.