Rating: 
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D canned dog food is not rated due to its intentional low meat therapeutic design.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Ultra Allergen-Free canned dog food has been designed to prevent adverse reactions to food and to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
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
The first ingredient in this dog food lists water… which (of course) 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.
By the way, please forgive our software’s “red flag” treatment of this otherwise acceptable addition.
The fourth item lists powdered cellulose… a non-digestible plant fiber usually made from cotton or wood. It is used in dog food to add bulk.
Cellulose fiber is sometimes added to dilute the number of calories per serving and to give the feeling of fullness when it is eaten.
Except for the usual benefits of fiber, powdered cellulose provides no other nutrients to a dog.
The fifth ingredient is soybean oil… an inexpensive substitute for animal fat “red flagged” here due to its controversial link to canine food allergies.
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 exceptions…
We note the minerals 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, we continue to limit our judgment to the estimated meat content of the recipe as well as the apparent quality of its ingredients. And nothing else.
Our ratings have nothing to do with the accuracy of claims made by the manufacturer as to this product’s ability to effectively 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 need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 20%, a fat level of 14% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 59%.
Very low protein. Very low fat. And unusually high carbohydrates… when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a wet food containing only a very limited amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D is a carb-based canned dog food using a limited amount of hydrolyzed chicken liver as its main source of animal protein. However, due to its intentional low meat prescriptive design, this dog food is not rated.
Those looking for a comparable kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D dry dog food.
A Final Word
This review is 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 analyzed this product, please be sure to 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 veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
07/21/2010 Original review
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.