Our First Introduction to Hill's Science Diet Prescription Diet Formulas...Helped for 7 Weeks.
Written: Oct 07 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Veterinary exclusive pet food, low allergen, designed to treat food allergies/intolerances.
Cons: Expensive, but what's a loving, caring pet owner to do?
The Bottom Line: I would highly recommend this food to cat owners whose cats show signs of food allergies/intolerances. Low allergen, single source carbohydrate, small, round brown pellets, easily digested.
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| PalmerLD's Full Review: Hill's Science Diet Prescription Diet Feline z/d L... |
As many of you already know, we have two male indoor cats, Newton (8 1/2 years old) and Shiloh (6 years old). If you are a regular reader of my reviews, then you also know that Newton has had on-going problems with food intolerances and/or allergies for about 9 months, and over about a 5 month period, we have tried a few different veterinary diet formulas (made by both Purina and Hill's). Each food would show some improvement in Newton, but then he would either "turn his nose up" at the food, or his symptoms really wouldn't get that much better. So, we have just had to basically "trial and error" it.
Back around the middle of April, after doing some research and after reading the wonderful review that patriciak had written, I decided (and with our veterinarian's approval) to try Newton on Hill's Science Diet Prescription Diet Feline z/d Low Allergen Dry formula. And now my review begins...
Hill's Science Diet Prescription Diet Feline z/d Low Allergen Dry formula is a veterinary exclusive pet food, and can only be purchased through a veterinarian. The food itself is a small, round brown pellet. I only know of 2 sizes of bags that this product comes in: a 4 lb. size, and a 10 lb. size. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe the 4 lb. bag was between $16.00-18.00, and that the 10 lb. bag was a little over $38.00 (I was fortunate to have a $5.00 off coupon, and this really helped...otherwise, it would have been a little over $43.00...not cheap!).
This product was made for the nutritional management of cats who suffer from food allergy and food intolerance (also called adverse reactions to foods), which can cause serious skin and stomach problems in your cat. This condition is usually an abnormal response to a specific protein in food. Prescription Diet Feline z/d Low Allergen has an exclusive ingredient called Hill's Hydrolyzed Protein System, a process that eliminates animal intact proteins and significantly reduces the possibility of an adverse reaction to food. For cats, most allergic reactions occur as a result of beef, dairy products, and fish. Feline z/d Low Allergen eliminates these.
How much should you feed your cat? As you know, each cat and his/her individual needs are different, and the amounts listed below are a "starting point only." If your cat is currently on another food, then you should mix increasing amounts of your pet's new food with decreasing amounts of the old food over a 7-day period. With Newton's problems, we took about a 2-3 week period to switch him over to this new food.
Adult Maintenance:
Cats weighing 5 lbs. = 1/3 - 1/2 cup daily
Cats weighing 10 lbs. = 1/2 - 3/4 cup daily
Cats weighing 15 lbs. = 3/4 - 1 cup daily
The Product Characteristics are as follows:
Protein
Hydrolyzed protein source
Average molecular weight
No intact animal protein
Digestibility - High
Carbohydrate
Single source
Digestibility - High
Essential fatty acids
Increased
Magnesium
Low
Target Urine pH
Normal Acid (6.2 - 6.4)
The Guaranteed Analysis is:
Crude Protein (Min.).....34.0%
Crude Fat (Min.).........13.0%
Crude Fiber (Max.)........3.0%
Moisture (Max.)..........10.0%
Ash (Max.)................6.5%
Calcium (Min.)............0.5%
Phosophorus (Min.)........0.4%
Magnesium (Max.)........0.085%
Taurine (Min.)............0.1%
So, how did Newton do on this product? In the beginning, he did just fine. He tolerated this food well, and while it did not totally clear up his diarrhea, it certainly helped. He liked, and was on this product, for a total of 7 weeks, and had maintained his 12 lb. weight for a little over 3 months, and we were pleased. All of this changed when we went on vacation in early June, and he was boarded for 2 weeks. During this time, he lost 2 pounds, and refused to eat this food while boarded and also, after he came home! Back to the drawing board! He is now on another Prescription Diet formula and if interested, I have written 2 reviews about his new food: July 21 and August 3, 2004.
While Hill's Science Diet Prescription Diet Feline z/d Low Allergen Dry formula was good for Newton for just 7 weeks, I would not hesitate to recommend it to other cat owners whose cats have food allergies/intolerances. Who knows? Newton might still be eating this food if it were not for his upsetting boarding experience!
Today, 8 out of 10 veterinarians recommend Prescription Diet formulas as theraputic nutrition for pets with specific diseases. There are a total of 31 Prescription Diet feline formulas: some come in both cans and dry, while other formulas only come in either cans or dry.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
1-800-445-5777
www.PrescriptionDiet.com
www.hillspet.com
Some of the above information was taken directly from the actual bag of food, as well as their wonderful web site, to give you...the readers...the most accurate facts/information available.
Even though the cooler weather will soon be here, please remember to continue to keep a clean bowl of fresh water for your pets...both outdoors and indoors.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
PalmerLD
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Member: Margaret
Location: The Pelican State
Reviews written: 154
Trusted by: 50 members
About Me:
First grandchild (beautiful baby boy) born 10/11/06. Will be "out-of-pocket" for awhile...
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