Is Hill's Science Diet a good long-term food for my dog's allergies?

It definitely is a balanced diet that is safe for long-term use. It is most commonly used in dogs with skin issues or food allergies, so if this is a problem that Kira experiences, it would be a great choice. There are also lots of great foods that are available to you. I have fed my dog Purina Pro-Plan since she was a puppy. She is now 14 and has no health issues! I would discuss the best option with your vet.

Hello, sorry to hear about Snowball. Certain food proteins can definitely cause inflammation of the bowel and thus diarrhea. There are 3 main categories that we consider when we talk about diarrhea that has been going on for a long time. Food Responsive diarrhea is one which responds to a different type of protein or more fiber or gluten free food. A diet trial should be performed for a period of 6-8 weeks with each food change Snowball sees as it takes that long to have a response. Antibiotic Responsive diarrhea is that which responds to long term use of antibiotics such as metronidazole or tylosin powder. Steroid responsive diarrhea is that which is typically caused by an inflammatory process such as autoimmune disease and thus the steroids work by suppressing the immune system. Managing these problems can definitely be stressful for the owner, pet, and veterinarian but with some patience you will hopefully get to the bottom of it. Best of luck and hope this helps.

It is ok to stay on the Hill's diet long-term if that is all that Orcan needs to prevent diarrhea. If you want him on another diet, you can slowly mix the two over 3-4 weeks. The first week it would be 75% Hills and 25% RC. The next week 50/50, etc. If the diarrhea comes back you can try a different RC diet for sensitive stomachs, continue feeding just the Hill's, or discuss food allergies or other possible causes for diarrhea with your vet.

If Snowball is having normal bowel movements and is not vomiting on the Hill's diet then it is likely fine for her. However, Hill's Sensitive Stomach and Skin is not labeled for use in puppies. I'd suspect Snowball is no longer growing at a puppy rate by 10 months old, but it would still be wise to check in with your veterinarian regarding if she can be placed in this adult food at this time. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

As you've experienced, diet changes can certainly cause some changes in stool volume, and for some dogs, can cause a bit of vomiting and diarrhea. When it comes to the countless brands of dog food on the market today, it's overwhelming to pick one for your pup. I recommend brands that have been formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, are manufactured in their own facility (less cross-contamination that facilities that manufacture numerous formulations), conduct AAFCO feeding trials, and meet WSAVA guidelines. When it comes down to it, the brands that meet those criteria include Hill's Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, and Iams. As a result, I would recommend switching Lilly over to the Science Diet puppy food. Just remember that anytime you switch foods, be sure to do so by gradually mixing the old and new foods together over a 5-7 day period. I hope that everything goes well!

I'm sorry to hear of your concerns with Snowball. Inflammatory bowel disease can be a frustrating problem to deal with. The only way to definitively diagnose it is via intestinal biopsies. Food trials with hypoallergenic diets can be helpful in cases of inflammatory bowel disease, but do not always solve the overall problem. Sometimes a course of steroids, supplementation a certain vitamins and even antibiotics are needed to get things back on track. Given that it sounds like Snowball has a sensitive stomach, I would not recommend feeding lettuce as it is difficult to digest. Oftentimes feeding a low-fat, easily digested diet can be helpful. If the diarrhea continues I would recommend having Snowball seen by your veterinarian. There are certain blood tests that can be beneficial to determine if any additional vitamins are needed and they can help you to develop a plan for further diagnostics or management of symptoms in a long term.

Hi and thank you for your question! I would highly recommend a food trial be done with snowball or get her tested for food allergies. This way you know what exactly she is allergic to and can avoid whatever it is. It is possible she could have developed a chicken allergy, yes. My best advice is to take her in for food allergy testing. Best of luck !