We know you care enormously about your pets' well being, but we also want to help you care FOR your pets so you'll enjoy their company for many years ahead. Even the smallest variations in your care can have a tremendous influence on how your pet looks, feels and acts!

We are continually telling you about the positive effects of balanced nutrition on your dog's health. In this area of our website, we'll explain more about why we're so adamant about your pet's food. And there's a lot more to learn about caring for your pet -- from the youngest puppy to the oldest dog.

To learn about the special nutritional needs of your healthy pet, just click on the lifestage your dog is in, and you're on your way!

Pet owners in the United States own more than 57 million dogs. And as with other dog owners, your dog is an important part of your household. So take care of your dog with love, exercise and balanced nutrition -- all of which are essential to maintain your dog's health for a long and happy life.

The Special Needs of Adult Dogs
A dog between the ages of one and six years of age is considered an adult dog. In general these dogs need controlled levels of phosphorus, sodium, protein and energy. In order to determine the unique nutritional needs for your adult dog, you need to assess your dog's activity level and breed type. Is your dog a hunting, sport or working dog? Does your dog get an average amount of exercise through daily playing and walks? Or does your dog have a low activity level and tend to gain weight easily?

It's important to know that obesity is the most common nutritional disease of dogs. In particular, the breeds with the greatest tendency for obesity are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Cairn Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Pugs, Shetland Sheepdogs, Basset Hounds and Beagles. If your dog is at risk for obesity, you should assess your dog's activity level, body condition score and predisposition to fat. To control obesity, adult dogs need a food that is low in fat and calories, high in fiber to help them feel full without reducing their food intake and has a reduced level of sodium.

Active dogs, who need extra energy for work or play, need a food that meets their higher energy needs, preserves proper nutrient balance and promotes a healthy skin and coat.

A common health concern for adult dogs is kidney disease, which is the second leading cause of non-accidental death in dogs after cancer. Dietary phosphorus, protein and salt excesses may exacerbate the progression of kidney damage that leads to failure and death. Therefore, unbalanced high amounts of phosphorus, protein and salt are all nutritional risk factors once kidney disease exists. Some commercial pet foods contain excess protein, phosphorus, calcium and salt. These excess nutrients must be excreted through the kidneys and become nutritional risk factors.

Hill's Products for Adult Dogs
Hill's offers foods formulated to fit the specific needs of adult dogs.

Hill's® Science Diet® Canine Adult®
Hill's® Science Diet® Canine Adult® was created just for dogs in their adult life stage (one to six years old) with a moderate activity level. This special formula gives the adult dog specially balanced nutrition to maintain proper health and promote healthy skin and coat.

You can purchase Science Diet® Canine Adult® in both canned and dry formulas and Canine Adult® TreatsT .

Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Canine Adult® is also available for dogs whose owners prefer the benefits of a lamb meal and rice formula. We also offer formulas just for active and overweight dogs.

How Much And How Often To Feed Your Adult Dog
It's important to feed your do the right amount of food at proper intervals, but that can be tricky -- feeding requirements vary greatly from one dog to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. It's critical to your dog's health that his physical condition be monitored regularly and the feeding amount be adjusted as needed.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your dog:

• Free Choice: Food is available to your dog at all times
• Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your dog for a limited time
• Meal Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your dog at specific meal times each day

To help keep your adult dog healthy, Hill's recommends following the simple steps in this cycle:

• Weigh your dog
• Feed him based on feeding guide and veterinary recommendations
• Evaluate your dog's physical condition using our body condition scoring system every two to three weeks for the first six months
• Adjust the amount you feed accordingly
• Repeat

We suggest that you or your veterinarian evaluate your dog's physical condition every few months. For some dogs, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's dog food, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.

As in humans, a dog's body and daily activity levels change with age. To keep older dogs healthy, owners must alter the way they care for their pets. Depending on the breed of your dog, you may need to alter your care-taking by the age of five in larger dogs and seven in smaller dogs.

Hill's wants to help you care for your older dog so he'll be around for years to come. Please read on about the special needs of your older pet and how Hill's scientific studies have led to our products that are ideal for maintaining your older dog's health.

The Special Needs of Older Dogs
A dog seven years of age or older is considered a geriatric dog. As your dog gets older, his nutritional needs change. Older dogs have a greater risk of developing health problems, like kidney and heart disease. They also may have special digestive needs. Therefore, a food with lower fat, phosphorus, protein and calories and with increased amounts of fiber is ideal for an older dog.

Hill's Products for Older Dogs
Hill's offers foods formulated to fit the specific needs of older dogs.

Hill's Science Diet Canine Senior®
Hill's Science Diet Canine Senior® was created just for dogs in their older years. This special formula gives the senior dog specially balanced nutrition to maintain proper health and promote healthy skin and coat.

You can purchase Science Diet® Canine Senior® in both canned and dry formulas, and Canine Senior® Treats .

How Much And How Often To Feed Your Older Dog
It's important to feed your older dog the right amount of food at proper intervals, but that can be tricky -- feeding requirements vary greatly from one dog to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. It's critical to your older dog's health that his physical condition be monitored regularly and the feeding amount be adjusted as needed.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your older dog:

• Free Choice: Food is available to your dog at all times
• Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your dog for a limited time
• Meal Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your dog at specific meal times each day

To help keep your older dog healthy, Hill's recommends following the simple steps in this cycle:

• Weigh your dog
• Feed him based on feeding guide and veterinary recommendations
• Evaluate your dog's physical condition using our body condition scoring system every two to three weeks for the first six months
• Adjust the amount you feed accordingly
• Repeat

We suggest that you or your veterinarian evaluate your older dog's physical condition every few months. For some dogs, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's food for older dogs, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.

Puppies often require extra care and attention, as well as balanced nutrition and high-energy food. And there's a lot more to learn about puppy care. Different breeds have different needs. Large breed puppies in particular require special nutrition to ensure healthy skeletal development.

The Special Needs of Puppies
You may already have recognized your new puppy's unique personality, but you may not realize that your puppy has unique nutritional needs, too.

We tend to think of the early years as the "healthy years" and therefore may not give enough consideration to feeding practices. But because of factors like size, breed, age, environment, exercise, heredity and many others, a "one size fits all" approach to nutrition is not appropriate. Improper feeding can increase your puppy's risk of obesity, excessively fast growth, growth-related skeletal problems, poor muscle and bone development and poor immune response.

A growing puppy needs precise levels of essential nutrients to stay his healthiest. To meet the growth and development requirements of puppies, they require a puppy food with increased amounts of energy, protein and calcium compared to adult dogs' needs.

Additionally, different types of puppies have different needs. Large breed puppies -- puppies who will weigh 55 lbs . or more as an adult -- should be fed a food with lower calcium and fat than small- or middle-sized puppies in order to promote healthy skeletal growth for the large breed puppy.

Hill's Products for Puppies
Hill's offers foods formulated to fit the specific needs of growing puppies.

Hill's® Science Diet® Canine Growth®
Hill's® Science Diet® Canine Growth® is formulated for puppies from weaning to about 12 months and adult dogs during pregnancy. It provides a nutritionally balanced, high-energy food to maintain good health and gives increased amounts of protein, calcium and phosphorus to ensure the development of a strong puppy.

You can purchase Science Diet Canine Growth in canned and dry formulas and Canine Growth Treats. There is also Large Breed Canine Growth® for dogs who will grow to 55 lbs . or more at adulthood and Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Canine Growth ® for puppies whose owners prefer the benefits of a lamb meal and rice formula.

How Much And How Often To Feed Your Puppy
It's important to feed your puppy the right amount of food at proper intervals, but that can be tricky -- feeding requirements vary greatly from one puppy to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. It's critical to your puppy's health that his physical condition be monitored regularly and the feeding amount be adjusted as needed.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your puppy:

• Free Choice: Food is available to your puppy at all times
• Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your puppy for a limited time
• Meal Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your puppy at specific mean times each day

To help your puppy grow up healthy, Hill's recommends following the simple steps in this cycle:

• Weigh your puppy
• Feed her based on feeding guide and veterinary recommendations
• Evaluate your puppy's physical condition using our body condition scoring system every two to three weeks for the first six months
• Adjust the amount you feed accordingly
• Repeat

After the first six months, we suggest that you or your veterinarian evaluate your puppy's physical condition every few months. For some puppies, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's puppy food, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.