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Review of Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Canine Canned Dog Food
Rating:
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D canned dog food is not rated due to its intentional therapeutic design.
The Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D product line includes one canned dog food, a recipe designed to help with the support of pets with skin or food sensitivities.
Hill's Prescription Diet Z/D Canine
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein = 20% | Fat = 16% | Carbs = 57%
Ingredients: Water, hydrolyzed chicken liver, corn starch, powdered cellulose, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, iodized salt, choline chloride, dl-methionine, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, folic acid), potassium citrate, minerals (zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate), magnesium oxide, l-tryptophan, taurine, beta-carotene
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.9%
Red denotes controversial item
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 20% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 20% | 16% | 57% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 17% | 33% | 50% |
Protein = 17% | Fat = 33% | Carbs = 50%
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The second ingredient is hydrolyzed chicken liver, an organ meat that’s been chemically broken-down into its component amino acids. Hydrolyzed proteins are considered hypoallergenic.
The third ingredient is corn starch, a starchy powder extracted from the endosperm found at the heart of a kernel of corn. Corn starch is most likely used here to thicken the broth into a gravy.
Corn starch isn’t a true red flag item. Yet we’ve highlighted here for those wishing to avoid corn-based ingredients.
The fourth ingredient is powdered cellulose, a non-digestible plant fiber usually made from the by-products of vegetable processing. Except for the usual benefits of fiber, powdered cellulose provides no nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth ingredient is soybean oil, which is red flagged here only due to its rumored (yet unlikely) link to canine food allergies.
However, since soybean oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and contains no omega-3’s, it’s considered less nutritious than flaxseed oil or a named animal fat.
The sixth ingredient lists calcium carbonate, likely used here as a dietary mineral supplement.
The seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Hill’s product.
With 2 notable exceptions…
First, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
And lastly, we find taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Nutrient Analysis
Although this is a prescription product, our review has nothing to do with the accuracy of claims made by the manufacturer as to the product’s ability to treat or cure a specific health condition.
So, to find out whether or not this dog food is appropriate for your particular pet, you must consult your veterinarian.
With that understanding…
Based on its ingredients alone, Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Canine canned dog food looks like an average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 20%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 57%.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 78%.
Which means this Hill’s product contains…
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing just a limited amount of meat.
Our Rating of Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Canned Dog Food
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Canine is a canned dog food using a limited amount of hydrolyzed chicken liver as its dominant source of animal protein.
However, due to its intentional therapeutic design, this dog food is not rated.
Hill’s Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Hill’s Science Diet through March 2024.
- Hill’s Prescription Diet and Science Diet Dog Food Recall Expands to Include 44 Varieties (3/20/2019)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet and Science Diet Dog Food Recall (1/31/2019)
- Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food Market Withdrawal of November 2015 (11/29/2015)
- Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food Recall June 2014 (6/3/2014)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Hill’s Prescription Diet Reviews
The following Hill’s dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Hill’s Healthy Advantage Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet B/D Canine Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet C/D Canine Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet D/D Canine Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care I/D Canine Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet I/D Canine Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Joint Care J/D Canine Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet L/D Canine Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet W/D Canine Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet W/D Canine Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Weight Reduction R/D Canine Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Canine Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Plus Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Plus Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food Review
- Hill’s Science Diet Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Cuisine Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food Review (Canned)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food Review (Dry)
A Final Word
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