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Why do vets recommend Hill's, and how much nutrition training do they get?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Are vets taking more nutrition classes now? Because from the answers I've seen you're all still recommending Hills

1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 13th, 2018

We recommend Hill's because it's an excellent food. There are veterinary nutritionists on staff at Hill's to ensure that each kind of food is specifically formulated to meet a dog or cat's nutritional needs, or to meet the medical needs in terms to medical problems such as kidney disease. They have excellent quality control over their food because they own their own factories, unlike companies such as Blue Buffalo who do not own their own factories, give their recipes to someone else to make, and have publicly admitted to having poor quality control over their food being made. In addition, their recipes are based on scientific evidence, unlike companies who make grain free foods where there is no scientific evidence it's beneficial, and in fact studies are now coming out showing that grain free diets with lentils are actually detrimental to a dog's health long term (leading to taurine deficiency and subsequent heart disease from the taurine deficiency). It's a common misconception that vet's have no training in nutrition, which is often stated by people who have never attended veterinary school. We do have lots of veterinary nutritional training throughout our schooling, and take continuing education classes on nutrition when practicing vets to keep up to date with current research and recommendations. I hope this answers your question.

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