Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Canine Vegetable & Chicken Stew Canned Dog Food

Brand: Hills Dog Food, Prescription Diet Wet

Overall Score

The overall score is an average of the ingredient quality and ingredient safety concerns. For more information, see our evaluation criteria.

Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Canine Vegetable & Chicken Stew Canned Dog Food

Overall Score

The overall score is an average of the ingredient quality and ingredient safety concerns. For more information, see our evaluation criteria.

Brand: Hills Dog Food, Prescription Diet Wet

Ingredient Quality

1 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is calculated to contain 45% carbohydrate ^ⓘDogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrate but they are used for energy, texture and taste. Starch is also required for extrusion in dry foods. Excessive carbohydrate is an indicator of food quality as it can be used to reduce manufacturing cost. Foods that are high in carbohydrate can raise insulin and cause obesity. Some studies also show that dogs fed a high carbohydrate content have changes to their gut bacteria. Learn more
Contains low quality fiber ^ⓘDogs have no known need for fiber, but soluble fiber is fermented by gut bacteria, which supports gut health. Cellulose is an insoluble fiber made from wood pulp and is the least expensive and least functional form of fiber since it's very poorly fermented. It is included to firm stools. Learn more
Contains plant protein ^ⓘPlant-based protein sources are the least expensive substitute for quality animal protein. Whenever possible, animal sources of protein are preferred because they contain a wider array of amino acids than plant based protein sources and are more digestible. Learn more
Contains unspecified animal sources, which are a less expensive source of meat ^ⓘWhile protein from animal sources is an important ingredient that’s highly digestible, the animal source should be named. You will want to see beef, salmon or chicken, not animal, fish or poultry. Unnamed protein sources are of much lower quality, especially meals, which are typically from rendered waste. Learn more
Is fortified with excessive vitamins ^ⓘWhen vitamins come from whole food sources, they include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. While a couple of added vitamins are acceptable, five or more implies the food is of poor nutritional value. Learn more
Product contains two or more added amino acids ^ⓘMultiple amino acids are typically only found in lower quality foods that rely on less complete plant sources of protein. Learn more
Is fortified with excessive minerals ^ⓘFive or more added minerals indicate a lower quality food that’s lacking naturally occurring minerals from whole food sources.

Ingredient Safety

3 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is highly processed ^ⓘCanned foods are heated before and during canning, which will cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Learn more
Contains ingredients known to contain higher pesticide/herbicide residues in the top 5 ingredients including peas ^ⓘPesticides, herbicides and fertilizers pose a significant health risk to plants, animals and soils. Foods with the largest reported amount of residue will be penalized, including crops that are known to be spray-dried with glyphosate. Learn more
Contains rice ^ⓘArsenic contamination is a significant concern with rice since it naturally absorbs arsenic and the water it's grown in can be contaminated with arsenic. Arsenic is linked to chronic health issues. Learn more
Contains known GMO ingredients including corn ^ⓘThere are limited safetey studies on geneticaly modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off. Learn more
Contains Menadione ^ⓘMenadione is a synthetic form of Vitamin K that is not required in dog food. May be linked to immune system dysfunction, oxidative damage to cells, liver toxicity, and allergic reactions. Learn more

Other Concerns

Notable product facts

Omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is not provided. ^ⓘDiets rich in omega-6 fats can cause chronic inflammation and disease. Learn more
Product doesn't specify whether the fish is farmed or wild caught ^ⓘFarmed fish is less nutritious than wild caught fish and does not contain the same healthy fatty acid balance. Fish farming also threatens wild fish species. Learn more
Contains coconut oil, which may be harmful to gut health^ⓘCoconut oil has been shown to cause undesirable changes in the gut lining. Learn more

How It Compares

Food Type

Food Function

Life Stage

Ingredients On Package

Water, Pork Liver, Carrots, Green Peas, Rice, Powdered Cellulose, Corn Starch, Wheat Gluten, Chicken, Flaxseed, Dried Tomato Pomace, Chicken Liver Flavor, Coconut Oil, Potassium Alginate, Calcium Chloride, Egg Flavor, Calcium Lactate, Fish Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Lipoic Acid, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), L-Lysine, Potassium Citrate, Iodized Salt, Taurine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate), L-Carnitine, Beta-Carotene

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)	29.20%
Crude Fat (min)	12%
Crude Fiber (max)	12.40%

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