Leena Watts
Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance was a line of dog and cat food manufactured by Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. The Ideal Balance line was introduced in 2013 and discontinued in 2019. It included dry and canned food for dogs and cats, with recipes for different life stages, from growth to maintenance to adult hairball control. The food was marketed as a natural, premium product with fresh chicken or salmon as the first ingredient. However, it received mixed reviews, with some questioning the quality of the ingredients and the amount of meat included.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Product Line | Hill's Ideal Balance |
| Manufacturer | Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. |
| Product Type | Dog Food |
| Product Form | Dry |
| Ingredients | Meat, Peas, Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Oats, Chicken Fat |
| Nutrient Profile | Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified |
| AAFCO Compliance | Yes |
| Rating | 2.5 Stars |
| Recalls | Yes |
| Discontinuation | 2019 |
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What You'll Learn
Hill's Ideal Balance dog food reviews
Hill's Ideal Balance Dog Food is a plant-based dry dog food with added meat. The product line includes 5 dry dog foods. Reviews are mixed, with an average of 2.5 stars. While the ingredients suggest an above-average product, the product's meat content is modest, with a dry matter protein reading of 22% and a fat level of 17%. The product has a fat-to-protein ratio of about 75%, with below-average protein, near-average fat, and above-average carbs.
One review on Amazon gives the product 3.7 out of 5 stars, while another gives it 4.4 out of 5 stars. However, some customers have complained that their dogs lost interest in the food and became ill after consuming it.
In 2019, Hill's Ideal Balance was discontinued, with no clear reason given by the company. Some sources speculate that it could be due to the ongoing grain-free pet food investigation or the hype around corn as a "superfood".
Overall, while some dogs may enjoy Hill's Ideal Balance, the mixed reviews and discontinuation of the product may give potential customers pause. It is always important to carefully consider a product's ingredients and nutritional content before feeding it to your pet.
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Hill's Ideal Balance manufacturer location
Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, manufactured Hill's Ideal Balance pet food. The brand line was discontinued in 2019.
The company is headquartered at 400 SW 8th Ave #101, Topeka, KS 66603.
In 2019, Hill's Pet Nutrition decided to "end the manufacture and sale" of Ideal Balance cat and dog foods. No information was provided on why the company decided to end the production of this line of pet foods.
The Ideal Balance pet foods were feed-grade products that included images of human food on the label. They were marketed as "natural" and fresh, with ingredients such as chicken or salmon to help keep pets "slim and trim."
One theory for the discontinuation of the Ideal Balance line is that the company wanted to jump on the "corn bandwagon," as corn was being hyped as a "superfood" by some veterinarians and brands. However, Hill's Ideal Balance did not include corn in its recipes.
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Hill's Science Diet recall history
Hill's Science Diet is a premium pet food brand that is highly recommended by veterinarians. The brand produces dog and cat food under various labels, including Hill's Science Diet, Hill's Prescription Diet, Hill's Healthy Advantage, and Hill's Bioactive Recipe.
In January 2019, Hill's Pet Nutrition issued a worldwide recall of 33 varieties of its canned dog foods due to toxic levels of Vitamin D, which the company attributed to a "supplier error." This recall affected both the Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet brand lines and did not include dry foods, cat foods, or pet treats. The recall was expanded in March 2019 to include additional lots and varieties of canned dog food, bringing the total number of recalled products to 44.
The presence of elevated levels of Vitamin D in the recalled products was linked to serious health issues in dogs, including kidney problems, failure, and even death. Hundreds of dogs were reported to have died after consuming the tainted dog food, according to some sources.
Prior to this incident, there is no record of any earlier recalls of Hill's Science Diet products. However, in 1987, a study published in the journal Science highlighted a link between popular commercial cat foods with insufficient taurine levels and the fatal heart condition DCM in cats. This study prompted pet food manufacturers, including Hill's Pet Nutrition, to reformulate their recipes to include higher levels of taurine.
Additionally, in 2019, Hill's Pet Nutrition discontinued its Ideal Balance line of cat and dog foods. The reason for this discontinuation was not explicitly stated by the company.
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Hill's Ideal Balance Grain Free reviews
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is a US-based company that manufactures pet food for both cats and dogs. The company has been around for over 75 years and is a subsidiary of the well-known consumer goods company, Colgate-Palmolive.
In 2019, Hill's Pet Food ended the Ideal Balance product line, which included both cat and dog foods. While no reason was given for this decision, it may have been linked to the ongoing grain-free pet food investigation at the time.
Reviews for the Hill's Ideal Balance Grain Free product line are mixed. The product line includes dry and canned dog food, with recipes claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance. The dry dog food receives 2.5 stars, the second-lowest tier rating from Dog Food Advisor. The canned dog food fares slightly worse, receiving the second-lowest tier rating of 2 stars.
The Hill's Ideal Balance Grain Free dog food is plant-based, with a modest amount of salmon or chicken as its main sources of animal protein. The dry dog food has a protein reading of 24%, a fat level of 20%, and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%. It has a fat-to-protein ratio of 83%, with 40% of total calories coming from fat and 20% from protein. This composition may not be suitable for every animal.
The canned dog food has a protein reading of 23%, a fat level of 20%, and estimated carbohydrates of about 49%. It has a fat-to-protein ratio of 70%. The ingredients include potatoes, green beans, chicken fat, and pea protein.
One positive review from a customer with a Boston terrier states that their dog enjoyed the food and devoured it. However, another review mentions that their dog lost interest in the food after a few days and became ill, requiring a trip to the emergency vet.
It is important to note that Hill's Ideal Balance Grain Free dog food has been recalled multiple times, with the most recent recall in 2019. While the reviews and ratings provide valuable insights, pet owners should always consult with a veterinarian to determine the best diet for their dog's specific needs.
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Hill's Ideal Balance discontinued
Hill's Pet Food has discontinued its Ideal Balance product line. In 2019, the company decided to end the manufacture and sale of Ideal Balance cat and dog foods. No explanation was given for the discontinuation of the Ideal Balance line.
The Ideal Balance line was a plant-based dry dog food that used a modest amount of named meat meals as its main sources of animal protein. The product line included 5 dry dog foods formulated for growth, maintenance, all life stages, supplemental, or unspecified purposes. The recipes included optimal levels of over 50 nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, to provide the perfect balance of nutrition for a dog's health.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 17%, and estimated carbohydrates of about 53%. This suggests a carbohydrate content of 51% for the overall product line and a fat-to-protein ratio of about 75%. The product line received a rating of 2.5 stars from Dog Food Advisor, with reviews describing it as a low-protein, high-carb, mostly plant-based, low-nutrition feed.
The discontinuation of the Ideal Balance line has caused some concern among pet owners, with some reporting that their dogs have struggled to adjust to new food formulas.
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Frequently asked questions
Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, manufactures Hill's Science Diet products. The company headquarters are in Topeka, Kansas.
Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance was a line of dog and cat food that was discontinued in 2019.
It is unclear why the Ideal Balance line was discontinued. There is speculation that it was due to the ongoing grain-free pet food investigation or to jump on the corn bandwagon.
