Rating: 
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D canned dog food is not rated due to its intentional therapeutic design.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Ultra Allergen-Free canned dog food has been designed to prevent adverse reactions to food and claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
Hill's Prescription Diet Z/D Canine
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Water, hydrolyzed chicken liver, corn starch, powdered cellulose, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium citrate, dl-methionine, choline chloride, iodized salt, vitamin E supplement, taurine, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), l-threonine, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, l-tryptophan, beta-carotene, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin, sodium selenite, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 20% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 20% | 14% | 59% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 18% | 30% | 52% |
The first ingredient in this dog food lists water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The second ingredient is hydrolyzed chicken liver, organ meat that has been chemically broken-down into its component amino acids. Hydrolyzed proteins are considered hypoallergenic.
The third ingredient lists corn starch, a starchy powder extracted from the endosperm found at the heart of a kernel of corn. Corn starch is most likely used here to thicken the broth into a gravy.
The fourth item lists powdered cellulose, a non-digestible plant fiber usually made from the by-products of vegetable processing. Except for the usual benefits of fiber, powdered cellulose provides no nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth ingredient is soil oil, red flagged here only due to its rumored (yet unlikely) link to canine food allergies.
However, since soybean oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and contains no omega-3′s, it’s considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
The sixth ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With one notable exception…
We note the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Even though this is a prescription product, our review has nothing to do with the accuracy of claims made by the manufacturer as to the product’s ability to treat or cure a specific health condition.
So, to find out whether or not this dog food is appropriate for your particular pet, you must consult your veterinarian.
With that understanding…
Judging by its ingredients alone, Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D dog food appears to be a below-average canned dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still prefer to estimate the product’s meat content before concluding our report.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 20%, a fat level of 14% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 59%.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a canned food containing only a limited amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D is a plant-based canned dog food using a limited amount of hydrolyzed chicken liver as its main source of animal protein.
However, due to its intentional therapeutic design, this dog food is not rated.
Special Alert
Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.
A Final Word
The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.
Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.
Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.
However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyze each product, please read our article, "The Problem with Dog Food Reviews".
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.
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Notes and Updates
07/21/2010 Original review
05/09/2012 Last Update
