Hill's® New Science Diet® Ideal Balance™ Pet Food Tops Recent GoodGuide.com Rating

TOPEKA, Kan., Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hill's® Science Diet's® newest addition to their line of pet foods, Ideal Balance™, was recently given the highest ranking by GoodGuide.com, an independent website that provides consumers with expert ratings and information about the health, environmental and social performance of products and companies.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111018/NY88843 )

GoodGuide began rating a wide variety of pet food products earlier this year on nutritional performance, caloric content, life-stage specificity and desirability of ingredients. All three life-stage variations of Hill's® Science Diet® Ideal Balance™ brand pet food (Puppy, Adult and Senior) were given the highest rating (7.4 score), which is the same score given to other Science Diet® products that hold the top rank in all four GoodGuide pet food classifications: dry and wet pet food for dogs and dry and wet pet food for cats.

Hill's launched its new Science Diet® Ideal Balance™ dog food in August and the product is now available at Pet Specialty stores, Farm and Feed stores and Veterinary Clinics. Made with natural ingredients, Ideal Balance™ features fresh chicken as its first ingredient and contains whole grains without corn or artificial colors. Ideal Balance provides dog owners a natural food choice while still delivering the right balance of nutrients owners have come to expect from the Science Diet® portfolio of products.

"We are honored that GoodGuide.com has recognized that our newest pet food options for consumers, Ideal Balance, lives up to our commitment to produce precisely-balanced nutrition for pets," said Dr. Chad Dodd, DVM Hill's Pet Nutrition." Hill's® Science Diet® Ideal Balance™ is formulated in precise amounts to provide the exact balance dogs need, nothing more, nothing less, and it's a great option for owners who are looking for food with wholesome, natural ingredients."

In its explanation of its ratings criteria, GoodGuide recommends that pet owners look for brands that test their foods in accordance with feeding trials established by AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials. According to GoodGuide, these procedures guarantee that a pet food's nutrient claims are supported by feeding tests with animals, not just formulation. GoodGuide also cautions that the required "Guaranteed Analysis" box on pet food packaging should not be used to inform any decisions about the nutritional quality of the food, suggesting that only the full nutrient profile can provide a detailed and meaningful assessment of what a pet food contains.

Ultimately, GoodGuide recommends that pet owners should consult their veterinarians for nutrition recommendations for their pets' specific health conditions and unique needs.

About Hill's Pet Nutrition

Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. manufactures Hill's® Prescription Diet® brand pet foods, therapeutic pet foods available only through veterinarians, and Hill's® Science Diet® brand pet foods sold through veterinarians and finer pet specialty stores. Founded more than 60 years ago with a unique commitment to pet nutrition and well-being, Hill's is committed to its mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Hill's produces high-quality, great-tasting pet foods owners can trust and give to their canine and feline companions as part of a veterinary health care team recommendation. This ultimately improves patient health and the health of the practice. For more information about Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., and Hill's Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition™ visit HillsPet.com.

SOURCE Hill's Pet Nutrition