Skip to main content

FAQs

Here's where you'll find a wealth of information commonly requested by Veterinarian Health Care Teams as it relates to Hill's pet foods - everything from company and product information to storage tips and purchasing. Browse the list below and then contact us if you still have a question.

Top Questions

What should I feed my patient and how much should I feed them?

All Science Diet and all dry Prescription Diet foods have a feeding guide on the package to help you determine the proper amount to feed your patient. However, the feeding guide is intended as a starting point. It's critical to your patient's health that his or her physical condition be monitored regularly and the feeding amount adjusted as needed. To access the suggested feeding guide for your pet's Science Diet brand pet food, refer to our Quick Reco product recommendation tool. 

What is the difference between Hill’s Prescription Diet and Hill’s Science Diet brand pet foods?

Prescription Diet brand pet foods are formulated to help manage specific medical conditions that can develop in pets. Science Diet brand pet foods are formulated to meet the needs of healthy pets during various life stages. 

Prescription Diet food is available through several platforms, but only with veterinary authorization, while Science Diet food is available through veterinarians, pet specialty stores, feed stores and some pet grooming facilities. We do not make Science Diet products that serve as substitutions for Prescription Diet products.

Browse Prescription Diet pet foods here.

Where can I buy Hill's pet food for my clinic to sell?

Prescription Diet and Science Diet brand pet foods are available on Hill's Retail Order. 

How do I order Hill's pet food for my personal pet?

All Hill’s Science Diet and Prescription Diet products are available on Pro Staff Feeding.

This unique feeding program gives you and your pets a wealth of benefits, including:

- Buy with confidence knowing that all Pro Staff Feeding orders are backed with Hill’s 100% guarantee 

- Access our full line of Hill’s pet foods

- Free, convenient delivery either to your practice or front door

- Save a substantial amount off the suggested retail price

Join Hill's Pro Staff Feeding here

How do I learn more about Hill's products? How many calories are in Hill's pet foods?

For all the information about a Science Diet or Prescription Diet pet food, visit the Browse by Condition page. Calories vary from one product to another because each of them is designed for a specific life stage and lifestyle. The calorie content for each of our foods is included in our online product selector.

What's the shelf life of the Hill's Science Diet or Prescription Diet food my patients eat? How can I store the food?

Shelf life varies by food type. Please refer to the best before date stamped on the bottom of all canned products. The datecode on our small plastic bags is located on the left gusset, near the four-digit SKU number, toward the bottom of the bag. The datecode on our medium and large bags will be located on the top of the bag, generally the front flap. The information below details the shelf life and storing methods for canned and dry foods.

Storing Hill's canned food

We do not recommend freezing canned food. Freezing canned pet food dramatically changes the texture of products and may adversely affect palatability.

The pet's feeding bowl should be emptied of moist or moistened food not consumed by the pet within four hours if the ambient temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prior to opening, store cans in a place where the temperature is between 50-100 degrees Fahrenheit. We do not suggest storing the pet food in an uncontrolled environment such as a garage or outdoors.

After opening, canned products should be covered and stored in a refrigerator at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. In general, refrigerated canned foods should be used within five to seven days after opening. Canned products with high amounts of rice often have separation of water from the other canned product (free water will be seen at the bottom or around the side of the can) within a few days. This separation of water is called syneresis and does not change the nutritional characteristics of the food, but will affect food texture and possibly palatability. Since freezing dramatically changes the texture of canned products and adversely affects palatability, freezing canned pet food is not recommended either before or after opening.

Storing Hill's dry food

We do not recommend freezing dry food. Freezing dry food may attract moisture, resulting in mold.

Store bags of food in a cool and dry environment. It is best to store the bags off the floor to reduce potential infestation. The food will retain its best flavor if stored in the original bag. We do not suggest storing the pet food in an uncontrolled environment such as a garage or outdoors.

Purchasing Hill's Pet Food

Why is Prescription Diet pet food sold only from veterinarians?

Prescription Diet pet foods are specially formulated to address certain health conditions that can develop in pets. Hill’s always recommends to pet parents that a veterinarian remains involved in a pet's continual care and nutritional management. 

Does Hill's offer online shops for customers to buy through my clinic?

With Hill’s to Home, you can have Prescription Diet or Science Diet conveniently delivered to your patient's home. You can set your own price for Hill's pet food products. This usually is based upon a number of factors, including the expenses incurred in purchasing, handling and storing the product, as well as local market competition. If you are a veterinarian interested in offering Hill’s to Home to your clients, please visit vet.hillstohome.com to register or contact your Hill’s representative for more information.

Are Hill's pet foods guaranteed?

At Hill’s, we stand behind our products as well as the quality controls throughout our authorized sales channels. If for any reason a pet parent is not satisfied with a Hill’s product purchased from an authorized seller, they can contact Hill’s directly to request a refund or replacement product. Please note that because we are unable to control the quality of our products sold by unauthorized sellers, the Hill’s Pet Nutrition 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is not available for products purchased from unauthorized sellers. The Guarantee is also limited to the original, end-user purchaser. Learn more about our guarantee here.

About Our Company

What is Hill's commitment to animal welfare?

At Hill's, we're committed to the welfare of every animal, from those we care for to your pet patients. Learn more about Hill's Commitment to Animal Welfare.

Are employment opportunities with Hill's listed within your site?

Please visit our Careers section for more information about jobs available at Hill's.

What is Hill's mission?

Our mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationship between people and their pets. Hill's does this by providing the best, leading-edge pet nutrition technology, products and expertise to pet owners, veterinary professionals and other key pet professionals worldwide. Learn more about our philosophies.

What is the history of Hill's?

The history of Hill’s Pet Nutrition began in 1939 when a young blind man named Morris Frank was traveling the country with his dog, Buddy. Buddy was suffering from kidney failure, and Mr. Frank asked Dr. Mark Morris Sr. for help.

Dr. Morris believed he could find a nutritional solution to Buddy’s issues, so he developed a new pet food with his wife, Louise Morris, in their kitchen. Their work pioneered the beginning of therapeutic pet nutrition.

Learn more about our history here.

How can I find my sales representative?

For questions about your clinic’s orders or delivery, please contact Hill’s CSC at 1-800-354-4557 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Central Time, Monday - Friday.

About HillsVet.com

How do I reset my password?

To reset your password, visit the central login page and select "Forgot password."

Why does Hill's use cookies on its site?

Hill's has limited use of cookies on its site so that we can offer the best possible website experience to our visitors.

Cookies are a message given to a web browser by a web server. The main purpose of cookies is to "identify" a user's computer so that we can prepare a customized website. The information accessed is used to determine where your interests lie, so we can keep the site relevant, interesting and fresh. Hill's never uses this information publicly. It is used strictly to develop content for this website and remains anonymous.

I've been through all the FAQs and still have a question for Hill's. How can I contact someone?

Contact us here with your question.