Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew Review
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Review of Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew
According to our data, this Hill's Prescription Diet recipe provides complete & balanced nutrition for the maintenance of adult dogs. In other words, this formula is AAFCO approved.
Unlike other AAFCO approved dog foods which rely in laboratory testing to substantiate nutritional adequacy, this recipe has undergone feeding trials. In the pet food industry, feeding trials are often considered to be the superior testing method.
Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew provides complete and balanced nutrition for the maintenance of adult dogs.
Review of Ingredients
In our review of Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew, we'll examine all 59 ingredients and highlight the nutritional contribution of each ingredient.
While the first few ingredients typically dominate the recipe's composition, ingredients in small quantities can still have a meaningful impact on the overall nutritional profile of the recipe.
Water is an essential ingredient in wet dog food, providing hydration and helping to maintain the proper texture of the food.
Beef is a high-quality protein source that provides essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to support your dog's muscle development and overall health.
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your dog. They're rich in vitamin A, which supports healthy vision and immune function, and also provide fiber to aid in digestion and maintain a healthy weight.
Pork liver is a nutrient-rich organ meat that provides a plethora of essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, vitamin A, and B vitamins, which help support your dog's overall health.
Rice is a carbohydrate source that is easy to digest and provides quick energy for dogs. It can also serve as a dietary fiber, supporting gut health.
Chicken fat is a highly palatable source of energy, providing essential fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat, as well as supporting your dog's immune system.
Rice Starch is a highly digestible carbohydrate source that provides energy for your dog.
Dextrose is a simple sugar that can provide a quick source of energy for dogs. It's often used in therapeutic diets or to help dogs recover from illness.
Green peas are a nutritious and low-calorie ingredient that provide a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals to support your dog's overall health.
While sugar can be found in small amounts in some dog food recipes, it is not considered an essential ingredient for dogs. Excessive sugar consumption can contribute to weight gain, dental issues, and other health problems in dogs. It is essential to provide a balanced diet with limited added sugars.
Hydrolyzed chicken flavor is a highly digestible protein source that adds an appealing taste to your dog's food. It stimulates a healthy appetite, ensuring that your dog receives the essential nutrients required for optimal health.
Powdered cellulose is a natural source of dietary fiber that promotes healthy digestion and helps maintain your dog's weight by providing a feeling of fullness without adding extra calories.
Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a healthy skin and coat, supporting brain function, and promoting overall immune system health in dogs.
Dried Beet Pulp is a source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestive health and provides energy for dogs.
Flaxseed is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, and essential nutrients, which can support your dog's skin, coat, and digestive health.
Egg whites are a low-fat, high-protein food that can support muscle development and maintenance in dogs.
Potassium alginate is a natural thickening agent that helps maintain the texture and consistency of dog food, ensuring a palatable and enjoyable meal for your pet.
Caramel color is a natural coloring agent used to enhance the visual appeal of the dog food without impacting its nutritional value.
Calcium lactate is an easily absorbed form of calcium that supports strong bones, teeth, and muscle function in your dog.
Calcium gluconate is a highly bioavailable form of calcium, an essential mineral that supports your dog's bone health, teeth, and overall wellness.
Natural flavor is added to dog food to enhance its taste and make it more appealing to your pet. This can help encourage your dog to eat a balanced and nutritious diet, supporting their overall health and well-being.
Potassium citrate is an essential mineral that helps maintain your dog's electrolyte balance, supports muscle function, and aids in the proper functioning of the nervous system. Additionally, it can help to prevent the formation of certain urinary stones in dogs.
Dried brewers yeast is a natural source of B vitamins and amino acids, which can help support your dog's skin, coat, and overall health.
Choline Chloride is an essential nutrient that aids in brain and liver function, muscle movement, and supports healthy metabolic processes.
Guar gum is a natural thickening agent derived from the guar bean, used to improve the texture of your dog's food. It also serves as a source of soluble fiber, which can help promote healthy digestion and support overall gastrointestinal health.
Betaine is a natural compound that helps support liver function and digestive health, as well as maintain proper hydration in your dog's body.
Soybean oil is a plant-based source of healthy fats in dog food. Rich in omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E, soybean oil helps support your dog's skin and coat health, as well as their immune system. It also provides energy for active dogs and assists in nutrient absorption.
Whole grain oats are a nutrient-rich source of complex carbohydrates, providing sustained energy, and dietary fiber to support healthy digestion in dogs.
Vitamin E supplement is an essential nutrient that helps support your dog's immune system, skin health, and overall wellness.
Thiamine mononitrate is a form of vitamin B1 that helps support your dog's nervous system function, energy metabolism, and overall health.
Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is an essential antioxidant that supports your dog's immune system and helps reduce inflammation.
Niacin supplement is an important source of vitamin B3, which plays a crucial role in supporting your dog's energy metabolism, nervous system function, and overall health. It also aids in maintaining healthy skin and coat, as well as promoting proper digestion.
Vitamin A Supplement is important for supporting vision, immune function, and skin health in dogs.
Calcium pantothenate is a source of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) that helps support your dog's energy metabolism and nervous system function.
Vitamin B12 Supplement is an essential vitamin that helps support brain function and the formation of red blood cells.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is a source of vitamin B6, which is essential for your dog's nervous system function, immune health, and red blood cell production.
Riboflavin supplement is a source of Vitamin B2, which is crucial for your dog's energy production, cell function, and overall growth and development.
Biotin is a B-vitamin that's important for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and nails in dogs.
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic form of vitamin K, which plays a vital role in blood clotting and bone metabolism for your dog's overall health.
Folic acid is a crucial B-vitamin that aids in the synthesis of DNA and supports healthy cell growth. It's essential for maintaining your dog's overall health, particularly during periods of rapid growth.
Vitamin D3 supplement is an essential vitamin that supports bone health, immune function, and overall well-being in dogs. It helps regulate calcium and phosphorus balance in the body, promoting strong and healthy bones.
L-lysine is an essential amino acid that helps support a healthy immune system and aids in the production of enzymes and antibodies.
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of prebiotic fiber that can promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in your dog. They may help support your dog's digestive and immune health.
Calcium chloride is a source of calcium, an essential mineral that supports strong bones and teeth, as well as muscle and nerve function in dogs.
Dicalcium phosphate is a calcium and phosphorus supplement that helps to support the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth in dogs.
Monosodium phosphate is often used in dog foods as a source of phosphorus, a mineral that is essential for bone health and energy production in your dog's body.
Magnesium oxide is a source of magnesium, which is necessary for many processes in your dog's body, including muscle function and nerve transmission.
L-arginine is an essential amino acid that promotes healthy blood flow, immune function, and overall vitality in dogs.
L-threonine is an essential amino acid that supports the immune system, muscle growth, and the production of collagen in dogs, contributing to a healthy skin, coat, and joints.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that supports heart health, vision, and development and function of skeletal muscle.
Ferrous sulfate is an important source of iron for dogs, a mineral essential for red blood cell production, oxygen transportation, and overall vitality. Adequate iron intake supports your dog's immune system and energy levels.
Zinc Oxide is a source of zinc, an essential mineral that supports immune function and skin health in dogs.
Copper sulfate is an essential trace mineral that supports various bodily functions in dogs, including immune system health, skin and coat maintenance, and red blood cell production.
Manganese sulfate is a source of manganese, an essential trace mineral that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy bones, joints, and metabolism in dogs. It also supports the production of collagen, which is vital for healthy skin, coat, and connective tissues.
Calcium iodate is a source of iodine, an essential trace mineral that supports your dog's thyroid function and overall metabolism. It helps maintain proper hormone production and is crucial for overall health and well-being.
L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that helps to support your dog's mood and stress levels.
L-carnitine is an essential nutrient that helps your dog's body convert fat into energy, promoting a healthy weight and supporting their overall well-being.
Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that supports your dog's immune system and overall well-being. It also plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin and vision, making it an essential ingredient for your dog's diet.
Calcium carbonate is a valuable source of calcium, an essential mineral for strong bones and teeth, and for supporting proper muscle function in your dog.
Review of Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis of Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew provides the minimum or maximum amounts of key nutrients in the food.
1. Crude Protein (min) of 15.90%: This value represents the total amount of protein in the food. The primary sources of protein in this food are beef, pork liver, and egg whites. L-Lysine, L-Arginine, L-Threonine, and L-Tryptophan, which are amino acids, also contribute to the protein content.
2. Crude Fat (min) of 23.80%: This is the total amount of fats in the food. The main sources of fat in this food are beef, chicken fat, fish oil, flaxseed, and soybean oil. Fats are essential for energy and support skin and coat health.
3. Crude Fiber (max) of 3.50%: This is the total amount of indigestible plant material in the food. The primary sources of fiber in this food are carrots, green peas, powdered cellulose, dried beet pulp, and whole grain oats. Fiber aids in digestion and helps to manage weight.
4. Calories of 1008.00 per kg: This is the total amount of energy that is provided by the food. All the ingredients contribute to the caloric content, but the primary contributors are the sources of protein and fat mentioned above, along with carbohydrates from rice, rice starch, dextrose, sugar, and whole grain oats.
The list of ingredients also includes a variety of vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for various bodily functions and overall health. These are added separately to ensure that the food meets the nutritional needs of the pet. For example, the Vitamin E supplement is an antioxidant, while the Calcium Pantothenate is a source of pantothenic acid, which is necessary for energy metabolism. The minerals listed at the end, such as Ferrous Sulfate and Zinc Oxide, provide essential minerals like iron and zinc.
Review of Affordability
According to our data, Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew costs approximately $5.76 per pound. The following table provides our estimate of the monthly cost to feed this recipe exclusively as your dog.
| Adult Weight | Adult |
|---|---|
| 5 lbs | $122.41 |
| 10 lbs | $205.87 |
| 15 lbs | $279.03 |
| 20 lbs | $346.23 |
| 30 lbs | $469.28 |
| 40 lbs | $582.28 |
| 50 lbs | $688.36 |
| 60 lbs | $789.23 |
| 70 lbs | $885.96 |
| 80 lbs | $979.28 |
| 90 lbs | $1069.72 |
| 100 lbs | $1157.68 |
Estimates are based on average prices and caloric requirements.
Summary of Customer Reviews
Many customers reported that their dogs, who were often picky eaters or had previously rejected other kidney diet foods, enjoyed the Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew. The food was praised for offering a beef alternative for dogs on a restricted diet. Even dogs that were initially hesitant seemed to take to the food after a few tries.
Some customers noted that their dogs had a positive physical response after starting on this food. There were reports of increased energy levels, weight gain in dogs who were previously losing weight, and overall improvements in health. The food was also appreciated for being easy to serve and mix with other supplements.
Despite the overall positive response, a few customers mentioned that their dogs did not like the food. Some reported that their dogs initially ate the food but then lost interest. Others noted that the food had a strong odor and could cause bad breath in dogs. A few customers also mentioned that the texture of the food was not appealing to their dogs.
Some customers expressed disappointment with changes made to the formula of the food. They reported that their dogs, who had previously enjoyed the food, refused to eat it after the formula change. A few customers also mentioned that the food caused diarrhea in their dogs.
The cost of the food was a common concern among customers. Many found it to be expensive, although some acknowledged that the price was understandable given that it's a prescription diet. Despite the cost, many customers felt that the food was worth it for the benefits it provided to their dogs.
A few customers mentioned issues with the packaging of the food. They reported receiving dented cans or cans with defective pull tabs. However, these issues did not seem to be widespread and did not affect the overall positive response to the food.
Overall, the Hill's Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d Beef & Vegetable Stew seems to be a well-received option for dogs on a kidney diet. While there were a few negative reviews, the majority of customers reported that their dogs enjoyed the food and experienced health benefits from eating it.
