Nutrients and high-quality ingredients are both important in a pet food. However, high-quality nutrients are especially vital because the body absorbs nutrients, not ingredients. The optimum nutrient blend is the result of quality ingredients that, along with careful input from our expert veterinary community, are formulated with these principles in mind:
- Ingredients should be selected for nutrients, quality and taste
- A balance of quality ingredients delivers protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals to meet a dog's nutritional needs
- No single ingredient makes a food better or worse; a dog food is the sum of its parts
Key points
- You can't assume a dog food is right for your dog simply by reading the ingredient list, because appropriate amounts of precisely formulated nutrients are just as important as ingredients.
A delivery vehicle
Nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Ingredients are the delivery vehicles for these nutrients. For example, corn delivers carbohydrates, essential fatty acids and protein — nutrients needed for good health. As ingredient quality increases, so does a dog's ability to absorb and use the nutrients for optimum health.
Tasty Tips
Here's a close look at dog food ingredients, the primary nutrients they deliver and the health benefits they offer to dogs.
- Corn, rice, barley, sorghum — Carbohydrates for energy and other nutrients for healthy skin and coat
- Animal fat, fish oil and vegetable oil — Fats and essential fatty acids for energy, improved taste and healthy skin and coat
- Fresh meat, chicken, chicken meal, soybean meal and egg — High quality protein for muscle tone and development and healthy skin
- Cellulose, soybean mill run and beet pulp — Fiber sources that promote intestinal tract health; some are helpful in weight control
The optimum blend
You can't assume a food is right for your dog simply by reading the ingredient list, because nutrients are just as important as ingredients. Making a high quality dog food requires a precise blend of ingredients to meet a specific nutrient profile based on a dog's lifestage, lifestyle or disease condition. Hill's combines nutrient-rich, high quality ingredients to create balanced foods that have been trusted and recommended by veterinarians for more than 60 years-- just one of the reasons that Hill's Science Diet is the #1 veterinarian recommended dog food over any other brand.
Related products
Small & Mini Mature Adult Dog Food
Hill's Science Plan Small & Mini Breed Mature Adult Dog Food with Chicken is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
Tailored nutrition to support graceful ageing in small dogs. Specially made with a synergistic blend of nutrients for energy & vigor.
Small & Mini Adult Dog Food
Hill's Science Plan Small & Mini Adult Dog Food with Chicken is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
Tailored nutrition for the unique needs of small dogs during the prime of their life.
Light Medium Mature Adult Dog Food
Hill's Science Plan Light Mature Adult Medium Dog Food with Chicken is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
Helps keep your dog fit and active with our low calorie, great-tasting food.
Precise nutrition for less active mature adult dogs that require a low calorie food to help maintain a healthy weight & lifestyle.
Perfect Weight Adult Dog Food with Chicken & Vegetables
Hill's Science Plan Perfect Weight Adult Dog Food with Chicken & Vegetables ia a complete premium dog food for dogs prone to weight gain or who are slightly overweight. This savoury tinned loaf is enriched with ingredients that support healthy weight maintenance & long-lasting weight support.
Related articles
What to Feed Your Pregnant or Nursing Dog
Learn what you can feed your pregnant or nursing dog to keep her and her new pups healthy.
The Advantages of Wet Dog Food
Learn how today's wet dog food blends have gotten a face lift, and how you'll provide your dog the nutrition he needs in the form he loves.
How to Treat Your Dog’s Dry Skin: Dry Puppy Skin Signs, Causes, and Treatments
Learn about the symptoms, causes and treatments of dry puppy skin and how to provide relief for your dog. For expert skin care advice, visit Hill's Pet MT.
Overweight Dogs: A Recent Epidemic
Learn more about the problem of dog obesity and more importantly, what you can do to help your dog avoid becoming overweight.
Put your dog on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your dog on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.