I recently started buying Science Diet dog food for my small breed - yorkie poo dog. He had a urinary tract infection with potential kidney damage and it really woke me up to things I could do to make his health better. I don't know that his previous foods were to blame, but I have read and heard so many good things about Science Diet. I have been very impressed as well. Corn is not one of the main ingredients like in most dog foods, which makes me feel more confident about it right away. My dog seems to like it, and it is small kibble so he is able to eat it. He used to occasionally throw up his other food, but this seems to stay down really well. I think he actually has a better appetite since I have started using it as well. His hair seems to be shiny and soft and he seems to be energetic and his urinary tract infection has been improving with antibiotics. I have been pleased with this food and even though I don't know for sure if it is working, I will keep trying it because I have confidence in reading the ingredients, even smelling it, that is is high quality and good for my dog.

mru22

Lexington, MO

We have been giving this to our miniature weiner dog since she moved from puppy to adult food years ago. She still loves it and licks the bowl clean. We have no plans to switch her food. Flavor Selection We always buy the same flavor to make sure our dog's stomach doesn't get upset.

Superstork

USA

Invariably, when you visit your Vet, while you're sitting patiently in the waiting room you'll notice an ample stock of Science Diet Dog & Cat Foods for sale. On our first visit with our Miniature Schnauzer, Brandy, a technician recommended Science Diet Adult Small Bites Dry Dog Food. We bit. We bought a large bag. Honestly, Brandy eagerly devoured the stuff. Seemed fine to us. But about a year later when we got together socially with our Vet and her husband we noticed that she fed her dogs Blue Buffalo (or some other premium food). Curious. "Much higher quality ingredients", she said. That really got me thinking and doing some research. Sure, Brandy virtually inhaled the food, but I'm reminded that I occasionally inhale a Burger King Cheese Whopper or two. It doesn't make me healthier, but it sure tastes good. It turns out that Vets stock Hills Science Diet, not for its inherent quality, but because they're offered a very financially attractive resale program. To put this into proper perspective, Science Diet Dog Food isn't going to kill your dog, but for the premium price charged I'm convinced you can do a whole lot better for your best friend. At best, this is only a low-medium quality food sold at a premium price. Quality of Ingredients Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Brewers Rice, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), DL-Methionine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract. While Chicken is listed as the first ingredient, it is followed by a combination of low-cost, low-quality grains including Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Wheat. The next protein is chicken by-product meal, a protein of questionable source. The guaranteed analysis puts the crude protein at 21.5% and considering that this is intended for young energetic dogs is too low to be seriously taken for a premium or super-premium food. Again, it's probably not going to seriously affect your dog in the short run, but yes you can do considerably better for the price. Flavor Selection This food is only offered in the chicken variety. My dog didn't object to the flavor. Keeping in mind that most pets eat the same food day after day, flavor, as long as it isn't objectionable should take a back seat to nutrition. And, that's where Science Diet seems to come up short.

RudiXeno

Boca Raton, FL

Do you have a smaller breed of dog? Are you concerned about your small dog's unique nutritional needs? It is known that large and small dog breeds differ in what they need to be nutritionally fit and dog food manufacturers have responded by producing dog foods made specially for these breeds. One quality dog food made for the smaller pooches is Hills Science Diet Toy and Small Breed. Hills Science Diet Toy and Small Breed is a food made for the smaller dog and it contains special minerals and other ingredients that are most beneficial to smaller breeds. Small dogs generally live longer than the larger breeds and are less likely to develop certain health problems. But small dogs still need their nutrition monitored and Hills Science Diet Toy and Small Breed contains the right ingredients for the task. Hills Science Diet Toy and Small Breed has better overall ingredients than the bulk of the food sold in pet stores. There are less fillers in this product and more meat, making it a notch better than the majority of popular brands. My small dog likes this food, but I will be the first to admit that he doesn't love the taste of this dog food as much as he loves the taste of the cheaper brands. The scent of this food doesn't seem to appeal as strongly, but my dog will still eat it if he is left alone and allowed to eat when he is ready. Hills Science Diet Toy and Small Breed isn't as easy to find as most dog food brands and that is because it is sold, for the most part, only in pet stores. This means you won't find it at most grocery retailers or other types of stores. However, among the pet store dog foods, Hills products are among the more widely available and with its better ingredients and special attention to smaller breeds, Hills Science Diet Toy and Small Breed is a food worth buying if you own a dog under 25 pounds. Quality of Ingredients The ingredients are specally formulated for smaller dogs and the overall ingredients are better than those of most other dog foods. Flavor Selection The flavors offered are limited

Bryan-Carey

Houston, TX

I am a member of Bzz Agent, and recently received a coupon for a free bag of Hill's Science Diet Small & Toy Breed Dog Food.  We had been buying Hills's Science Diet Nature's Best, and our dog loves both of these dry foods. Reading the brochure that came with my coupon, I immediately became impressed by the quality and thought that went into the manufacturing of this dog food.  One of the most important factors for a small breed dog is the size of the kibble, and these are indeed tiny.  I also love that it is available for every stage of a dogs life.  Small breeds can be fussy eaters, but you can start your puppy off with the *puppy formula* that can be given to dogs up through the first year.  The puppy formula helps their immune system and helps them form strong bones and muscles. For the next six years dogs can be given the *adult formula*, which also supports their immune systems, and assists in healthy skin, ears and eyes as well as strong bones and muscles.  The next stage is *adult light*, which not only helps their immune system but helps mobility and heart function.  Better yet, it helps dogs to maintain a healthy weight.  The fourth and last stage is the *mature adult*, and Science Diet claims this formula helps small breed dogs have a long life expectancy by assisting the immune system.  It continues to help keep the skin, eyes, ears, bones and muscles healthy - but it also helps the heart, kidneys and brain!  This dog food is clinically proven, and each of the stages contain antioxidants that support a healthy immune system.  I know how important antioxidants are for me, now I can be sure my dog gets them too, and I don't have to buy any supplements as they are already in the food! Hill's Science Diet Small & Toy Breed Dog Food comes in 4.5 and 15.5 size bags, and can be purchased at pet specialty stores.  The bag reads "precisely balanced nutrition for small and toy breed dogs up to 25 pounds".  It also states "U.S. Veterinarians #1 choice to feed their own pets". A good pet food is great, but if your pet won't eat it then it's pretty useless.  I am pleased to say our dog really seems to enjoy this small kibble dog food.  She munches on it from her bowl several times a day, and I even have a small bag that I keep by my bed that I give her every evening.  My husband started giving her treats at night, and at the age of 11 she is starting to put on some weight.  I substituted the treats with this dog food and she seems perfectly happy, she thinks these are "treats".  I guess she doesn't realize it is the same food that is downstairs in her bowl! Science Diet has a winner with this new formula, and I am glad to see a dog food that addresses the special needs of small breed dogs.   Quality of Ingredients I really like the real meats that are in this food, the other ingredients seem to be high quality as well Flavor Selection Not many flavors to choose from

Suze51

Eagle River, AK

My dog is a 4 pound teacup poodle and has trouble crunching food as her mouth is so small. I originaly gave her purina little bites but they weren't so little. so I switched to Science Diet Toy & Small Breed food and it is perfect! she has no trouble eatting this food and loves the taste of it. Plus if you are worried about weight issues they offer a light version which can easily be switched to or from since it is the same brand food. amazing product!

CThunder118

North Tonawanda, NY

Hill's Science Diet For Small Breeds is healthy and my veterinarian recommended it. On the packaging, it says that it has been approved by vets and I would not doubt it. My dog, who is now about 2 years old, is a chihuahua and sometimes he has trouble eating his food. For dog food designed with regular bites, he would eat the food and sometimes choke on it because he eats too fast. The food is bigger than his little throat and because he cannot swallow, he has trouble breathing and he has to stop eating. With Hill's Science Diet For Small Breeds, my dog can eat and if he eats the food too fast, he can swallow the bites and continue eating. I feel like my dog is growing with a lot of nutrition in his body.

paper106

San Diego, CA

I have a toy poodle so it is very important that we are able to get him a dog food for small breeds. He enjoys it very much and it was very easy to incorporate it with his current dog food to wean him off of it. THe pieces are very small so you don't really have to worry about cleaning up a lot of crumbs from your dog chomping it. I also like that the bag is resealable. I hate those crummy bags that you have to roll over and clip! It is nice that it is a resealable bag so it stays fresher. I also enjoy that it is easily affordable and that you can find it at almost all pet stores. I especially love that the company puts out GREAT coupons for this product. I was able to get a lot of it for a very reasonable price!

stooph14

Atlanta, GA

I decided to try this food- as they had promotions on their website, even offered a full refund,Total disappointment - for me and my dog. Without exaggeration when she sees the package, she walks away from her feeder. i have cats too - and sometimes they eat dog's food - if there is any left. They would never touch this "science diet". I do not recall any food, which caused similar reaction of my pets. They are not picky at all. The same bad luck with other Science diet food - wet food did not please her either My daughter with her dog came by - her dog did not touch this food either. Finally I decided to try a bit - tastes horrible, whatever they put in that food - it needs improvement.Left in the bowl for 2 days - nobody still wants it. spoke to couple of neighbors - the same opinion, I see it got high reviews here - very surprising! My opinion - keep away, this tasteless thing could not be good for anything in this world. It is food, it should taste good!!!

zsmirnoff

Dobbs Ferry, NY

My vet recommend that I use this for my shi-tzu maltese mix puppy when I got him last spring he was just 3 months old. They gave me a puppy pack to begin with and in mind I was jsut going to use it up since it was free and then buy the cheap stuff. I was a bit skeptical growing up we just bought our dogs the cheap stuff or whatever was on sale, and I never thought it mattered what kind of food I used for my dogs or that it would make a difference for what they would eat. My dog has been on this food for 1 year now and his coat is soft and managble. He doesn't get sick from the food, and he is a nice healthy weight. He loves his food. And I am a firm believer in giving him the best now, just like humans our dogs need a good product and food to eat. With a more good quality food he is healthy so I don't have any extra vet bills from him being sick. He is active all the time never sluggish. A small bag last me at least 1 month.

jess8333

South Whitley, IN