Opinion on Hill's Science Diet Food?

[M101]

Over the weekend I was in Petco and the rep from Hill's was there. She gave me a sample of their puppy bites to try.

Since giving Babe some during training he seems calmer. Less tearing also.

What brands of dry food are you folks using? Also, brand of vitamins?

Opinions/suggestions...

Thanks

[I Found Nemo]

:D Hi Linda,
I use Wellness or Natural Balance. I can't comment on Science food, cause I have never tried it. I just know Nemo is happiest with Wellness or NB..
You will eventually find the right food for Babe, I know I switched Nemo 2 x's before I did..
Good Luck,
Andrea~

[maltesemum]

I'm trying to find a related article which basically scored well known dog foods! When i find it i will post it here!

Oh & i use Purina Pro Plan, it is recommended by breeders over here & mine seem to like it, i have minimal tearing! Not pure white but nothing to worry about.

[maltesemum]

This tells you how to grade the food & some are already graded for you!

How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100:
1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (I.e. "ground brown rice", "brewers rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to beef), subtract 1 point
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point


Extra Credit:
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the
first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein
source, but "chicken" and "" as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are
pesticide-free, add 1 point




Quote:
Score:
94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 and below = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.

Dog Food scores:
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
**** Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
**** Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A
__________________

[M101]

Thanks much...Babe looks very much like your 2nd furry kid...very close.

Linda

[Kanga]

Scrappy was always on Eukanuba but this past 9 months he has been on Eagle Pack Holistic kibble and is doing very well on it.

His poop is better, his coat is silkier and his tearing has improved. (Though his tearing will never disappear while his tear ducts are blocked).

Hills and Pro Plan are supermarket brands here where I live in Au.

[I Found Nemo]

Scrappy was always on Eukanuba but this past 9 months he has been on Eagle Pack Holistic kibble and is doing very well on it.

His poop is better, his coat is silkier and his tearing has improved. (Though his tearing will never disappear while his tear ducts are blocked).

Hills and Pro Plan are supermarket brands here where I live in Au.
Here in NY also Bren..
Andrea~

[PreciousPerri]

I personally feel that it's really not a great food--there's certainly worse, but there's also better out there as well. I just feel that there is a surprising array of super premium dog foods on the market, and that they should have only the best. Like Andrea said though, it might take some experiementing to find which works well for your dog.

[maltesemum]

Hills and Pro Plan are supermarket brands here where I live in Au.


& is this a good or bad thing:confused:

[I Found Nemo]

& is this a good or bad thing:confused:
It's not a bad thing, it's just not a Premium food thats why it's sold in the grocery store here in the States, although it may be a premuim food in
Scotland. It's not a bad food it's just not on the list of high premium..Nemo was on Iams and that is store bought, it's not a bad food either. There are just better foods out there..
ANDREA~
When you buy a premium food here you can't buy it in the grocery store, you need to go to a retailer..:D thats all it means (Grocery store bought)

[maltesemum]

Well, on that list the ProPlan scored A+ so to me that is a good food!

[I Found Nemo]

Well, on that list the ProPlan scored A+ so to me that is a good food!
Actually I didnt see it on the list, I did not mean to suggest it is not a good food. It's just is sold in the grocery store here, to be honest since it scored so high I dont know why it is sold in the store:confused:

[I Found Nemo]

:confused: I think I got yours mixed up with the regular Purina...

[maltesemum]

:confused: I think I got yours mixed up with the regular Purina...

No problem!!

You can get some brands of Purina in supermarkets over here but the ProPlan is only available at big pet shops or online!

[I Found Nemo]

No problem!!

You can get some brands of Purina in supermarkets over here but the ProPlan is only available at big pet shops or online!
Yup thats why I got mixed up, and probably others are mixed up too. You can't get the one you use in the regular store...:D

[maltesemum]

Yup thats why I got mixed up, and probably others are mixed up too. You can't get the one you use in the regular store...:D

Just dont want anyone to think i dont feed my babies the best thats available to me;)

Offcourse the best would be home cooking but i need to master my cooking first:tongue6: :D

[I Found Nemo]

Just dont want anyone to think i dont feed my babies the best thats available to me;)

Offcourse the best would be home cooking but i need to master my cooking first:tongue6: :D
:confused: me neither... I cook some things really great and others terrible:p Nemo is fine with his food and an occasional table scrap:D

[Kanga]

& is this a good or bad thing:confused:

Oh dear I didn't mean to offend you or anyone just stating where it is sold here. I have no idea if it is a good product or not......

Every country is different and though it may have the same brand name the food is often made under license in that country to the standards of that country.

Now I am going to have to buy some and check it out just to satisfy my curiosity.

[Kanga]

Okay, just read all the thread. I understand now.

They also obviously make a "higher" grade food. Like Lams also make Eukenuba and Masterfoods also make different quality dog foods.

Honestly, I try to feed the best I can to Scrappy but in the end it comes down to what he will eat and if it is a cheaper brand who am I to complain as long as he is getting all the nutrients that he needs from it.

I am not a dog food "snob" Heck my MIL's Bichon lived to I think it was 15 until he passed away last July and her poodle before that lived to 16 or 18 and they were fed on canned and a mixture of dry Pedigree dog food from the supermarket all their lives.

[mia's mom]

Does any one feed there furbaby raw food? I purchased a bag of raw organic chicken food with fruit & veggies....she loves it....but I don't know much about it except what I found on the internet.:confused:

[I Found Nemo]

Does any one feed there furbaby raw food? I purchased a bag of raw organic chicken food with fruit & veggies....she loves it....but I don't know much about it except what I found on the internet.:confused:
No I dont. I dont think its bad or anything I just think it's a personal choice.
If it works for your baby then great.
ANDREA~