Vets recommend Hill's due to its science-backed formulations, extensive research, and specialized diets for health conditions, providing trusted therapeutic nutrition and reliable, balanced food for different life stages, though some argue it's expensive compared to other quality brands. Hill's uses high-quality ingredients and has formulas for specific needs like dental, digestive, or mobility issues, often with clinically proven results, making it a go-to for managing pet health.
Hills is a more legitimate brand than Royal Canin. They employ numerous animal nutritionists. There is volumes of information to support this, Royal Canin is mostly a BS brand - they do have a couple prescription foods that have a good reputation as medicine, but the ingredients are subpar.
Grain free is labeled as bad because generally most contain legumes and potatoes which block the absorption of taurine. This leads to DCM, a heart condition that causes the heart's chambers to enlarge and weaken.
Vets most commonly recommend brands like Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina Pro Plan due to their extensive research, scientific backing, and availability of specialized prescription diets for specific health conditions. Other trusted options often mentioned include Eukanuba, Advance, and some Australian brands like Prime100, with specific formulas tailored for life stages, breed sizes, or health issues like skin sensitivities or weight management.
Lifestage dog foods
Hill's Science Plan is 100% balanced and healthy nutrition, led by science to give pets the best and longest life possible. Not too much, and not too little - just the precise nutrients your pet needs to feel their best at every stage in life.
Veterinarians recommend Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina due to their robust investment in scientific research and testing. These brands have dedicated teams of veterinarians, nutritionists, and scientists who develop and rigorously test their formulas to ensure they meet the nutritional needs of pets.
The worst dog foods often contain cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy; unspecified "meat meals" or by-products; excessive sugar; and artificial colors/preservatives, with brands like Kibbles 'n Bits, Beneful, Gravy Train, and some Purina/Iams varieties frequently cited for low nutritional quality and questionable ingredients. Focus on avoiding poor-quality protein sources (unspecified meat meals), fillers, artificial additives, and dangerous human foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol.
There's no single "number 1" healthiest dog food, as the best choice depends on your dog's age, breed, and health; however, look for foods meeting AAFCO standards (Association of American Feed Control Officials), with real meat as the first ingredient, and vet-recommended brands like Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin are often cited for balanced nutrition. Freshly prepared or raw diets can also be healthy but carry risks, so always consult your vet.
Due to the range of benefits that wet and dry diets boast, a mixed feeding approach can help your dog get the most out of mealtime. Combining both wet and dry to their diet can give them some variety, where they are exposed to different textures that they will generally be more tempted to try.
Price comparison: Purina Pro Plan is generally comparable to or slightly less expensive than Hill's Science Diet, making it an accessible option for most budgets without sacrificing nutritional quality. This balance of quality and affordability makes it a popular choice among veterinarians and pet owners alike.
There are a lot of dog and cat foods sold as grain-free with marketing suggesting that feeding no grains is healthier. This is not true and can, in fact, cause illness for some dogs and cats. There is no medical or physiologic basis to feed dogs or cats a grain-free diet.
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition in which the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber, is enlarged (dilated).
Over 2,000 years ago early Romans were feeding their farm dogs barley bread soaked in milk as well as meat scraps. They fed their war dogs more raw meat and garlic doses to strengthen them. During the Middle Ages, European royalty often treated their hunting hounds better than their wives.
Royal Canin is generally considered a premium brand, and this is reflected in the price. Their breed-specific and veterinary diets tend to be more expensive, but the precision and tailored nutrition they offer can justify the cost.
Royal Canin is involved in a significant class-action lawsuit, Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, concerning deceptive marketing of its "prescription" pet foods as medicinal when they allegedly contained no unique drugs, only premium ingredients, leading to inflated prices for pet owners. A key recent development was a January 2025 Supreme Court ruling clarifying that if a plaintiff removes federal claims from a case, the case must be sent back to state court, even if it was initially removed to federal court based on those federal claims. This case highlights ongoing consumer concerns about prescription pet food marketing and pricing.
Overall, we give Hill's Science Diet dog food four out of five stars for its nutritious formulas, which target dogs with health issues such as joint problems, digestive troubles, and more. However, Hill's may not be best for dogs that are already healthy or those that are overweight.
As long as you're feeding your four-legged friend quality, natural food which provides them with a complete and balanced nutritional meal. For example, you may feed your pet half dry and half wet food, or a larger portion of dry food to wet.
Despite the potential benefits of home-prepared diets, their formulation requires meticulous planning to ensure nutritional adequacy. Diets lacking input from nutrition experts may result in deficiencies or imbalances, posing significant health risks to dogs.
If you are feeding your dog dry kibble food, adding water can help increase water consumption, ensure they remain well-hydrated, and improve their overall health. This is especially crucial for dogs that do not drink enough water on their own.
The worst dog foods often contain cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy; unspecified "meat meals" or by-products; excessive sugar; and artificial colors/preservatives, with brands like Kibbles 'n Bits, Beneful, Gravy Train, and some Purina/Iams varieties frequently cited for low nutritional quality and questionable ingredients. Focus on avoiding poor-quality protein sources (unspecified meat meals), fillers, artificial additives, and dangerous human foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol.
Based on Dr. Marty's advice, Oprah says she now feeds her dogs a mixed diet of chicken, beef, lamb, brown rice, potatoes and carrots. Dr. Marty says most people feed their dogs diets that go against their animal nature.
The best dog food brands are those with research-backed formulas developed with veterinary nutritionists that meet AAFCO nutritional guidelines for dogs of different life stage and health needs. Top picks include Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin.
Heartworm disease is among the top silent killers of dogs and cats, and it's a slow and insidious disease which gradually incapacitates them. By the time pet owners notice the giveaway signs of this disease, serious damage may already have been caused.
The 90/10 rule for dogs means that 90% of their daily calories should come from a complete and balanced dog food, while only 10% should come from treats, chews, and table scraps, preventing weight gain and ensuring proper nutrition. This guideline helps owners manage treat portions, preventing unbalanced diets and health issues like obesity, joint problems, and diabetes, as treats can be surprisingly high in calories, even healthy ones.
What is the Problem? The FDA has become aware of reports of vitamin D toxicity in dogs that ate certain canned dog foods manufactured by Hill's Pet Nutrition and marketed under the Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet brands.