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Science Diet

jane of Sacramento, CA January 26, 2010

Because of a possible food allergy, six weeks ago my active, fit and trim 65-pound Lab was prescribed Hill's z/d formula. She has a skin problem and is otherwise healthy. Since that prescritption date, she has lost eight pounds and is lethargic. I believe there is no nutritional value to this food and that I have been starving her.

Laura of Wausau, WI January 6, 2010

I took my new puppy to the vet for his first check-up. I had done some research on pet foods that were what I thought to be the most healthy for him-not what wern't; I currently have him on Blue Buffalo which I think is a healthy choice. When we were at the vet, she asked me what food I had him on, and when I said "Blue Buffalo," she gave me a strange look and said she had neaver heard of it, but would "highly recommend Science Diet." (But said her dog is on Purina and it's good too) Without even bothering to ask if my dog was doing fine on his current diet (So why is she recommending this again? He's doing JUST FINE!). She gave me a bag to try for my puppy. Since this is the VET, and I want to trust her, I slowly introduced him to the Science Diet and about 1 hour after his feedings he would make "cow-pies" in the yard. When I switched him back to BLUE, he was just fine.

Later on, I found a website called dogfoodanalysis.com which analyzes ingredients in dog food and rates them on a 6 star scale. I was shocked to find that the Science Diet the vet gave me for my growing puppy is rated ONE STAR. The top 5 ingredients are of low quality, there is no MEAT in this particular food I was given- only By-products, and fillers to name a few. Needless to say it is NOT recommended on the website. The food he is on that the Vet never heard of however, rates 4 stars- and for the price, we will stick with that.

I am blown away that the Vetrenarian would recommend this brand. And I also find it very odd that every vet office I have been inside stocks Science Diet-apparently they all have the exact same opinions? I'm not sure if it's a consperiecy, but I find it VERY hard to believe that every Vet practice I have been to has the exact same opinion on what brand of food is "best suited" for our pets; especially with the first ingredients being corn and by-products. Sure they have vitimans in the food and all, but isn't the "bad stuff" they put in just as significant for our pet's health as all the "good stuff?"

Mark of El Dorado Hills, CA January 4, 2010

I have two 12 year old Corgi's, they are brothers. I also had a Keeshond, who died a number of years ago. All three dogs have been fed one form or another of Prescription Science Diet for their entire life, usually RD and TD for weight management and tartar control. The Keeshond died of a Kidney tumor rupturing, I was too young to know why at the time until recently when my Corgis have become ill and I asked my mother about what had happened.

One of the Corgi's just had his spleen removed because of a large tumor, which upon biopsy has been identified with a type of cancer that usually attacks the liver and not the spleen. And all three have had Cushing's disease.

There are only two things consistent with all three dogs, the water and the dog food. After looking into the ingredients of the dog food I did some research online to find out more. I shared this info and all family members who have dogs have chosen something other than Science Diet for their pets. I chose Nutro Ultra figuring what had happened with the melamine had been fixed and the ingredients appeared to be of good nutritional value.

Well after reading your recent article on Official Secrets related to Nutro I have just decided to make another change. Since changing to Nutro Ultra the Corgi with the splenectomy has been vomiting and been lethargic. The other Corgi has been extremely thirsty, having to go outside to do his business multiple times at night, which has never happened previously and has not been eating his food and opting for anything else he can find, including going through our garbage cans.

This is quite aggravating to find that our government is not protecting our pets with better regulation. What commercial food is good for our dogs? Does anyone have any non vested and honest suggestions? Where can I find an analysis of dog foods to see what is really in there?

Rachel of Harrisburg, PA December 29, 2009

I came home from work and my cat got sick with vomit and diarrhea all over the house. I took him to the emergency vet that evening and they told me he was extremely dehydrated and asked me a lot of questions. I have been feeding my cat Science Diet wet food and dry food for two years. The vet kept him over night gave him an IV and monitored him. They did an X-ray when I got there and 4 hours later. Everything was fine. I checked the Science Diet can it said it was good until 2011. I followed the Vet's instructions and now a week later he is sick again after I put him back on normal food. It is the Science Diet wet food because there is a mysterious white spots in the can which I assume was part of the food but it looks like mold. I will no longer feed him wet food.

Dayna of Warren , MI November 7, 2009

My problem was with Science diet wet cat food. It is the Red can,culinary creations. This paticular can when opened showed a large white area with a jellied substance along the edges. The can was not dented at all.This particular can was ocean whitefish,lot#P25. I contacted the company,and sent pictures.They verified that the white area was definately mold.I was lucky I spotted this and did not feed it to my kitties,I have three. I was hoping the company would recall this product but in return they sent a 10.00 coupon and a letter thanking me for my input in their product.

Michele of Birmingham, MI November 2, 2009

About 4 months ago I changed my cats over to Science Diet Mature Hairball control dry cat food per my vet. I've been mixing it in with their old food and gone completely to Science Diet as of a few weeks ago. About a week ago I purchased a new bag and both cats were immediately sick. One has had diahrrea so badly the past few days that I am taking her to the vet in a few hours.

I find it interesting that both cats were sick immediately after eating the new bag of food. I have gone back to their old food and one cat seems to be back on track, but we'll see today what is wrong with the other. After reading these other posts I am certain that there is something wrong with Science Diet's food. Here's the info from the bag: K2130436 CH 202 Best before 02 2011 Product #7534 LCN 660.08

Tom of Shelby Twp, MI September 15, 2009

Our cat began to vomit and foam at the mouth keeping us awake overnight. We took her to the vet and had to admit her to an emergency clinic to be monitored over the weekend. We brought her home and found her sister in the same state of distress. The only thing that changed was the new bag of Science Diet Adult sensitive stomach food we had started to give them. They were determined to have food poisioning and are recovering on fluid injections, antibiotics, appetite stimulants.

After reading the same complaints on line, I'm amazed of the similarity to the others. If I only had one cat I would have continued to feed her the same food and probably killed her. This is scary! The vet sold us a bag of Science Diet sensitive stomach dry food, which I also threw out after reading the complaints. Thankfully, my cats are recovering after in excess of 2000.00 in vet bills.

David of Roundup, MT September 3, 2009

One of my cats is a bit "large" so we put him on Science Diet Lite. We were given samples by the vet. He started vomiting soon after his first meal and the vomit contained only SD Lite. We reverted to his old diet alternating with SD Lite. The vomiting continued when on SD Lite. We discontinued the SD Lite and put him back on only Purina (but less of it) and the vomiting stopped.

Pat of South San Francisco, CA September 2, 2009

I bought a 20 lb. bag of Science Diet original dry cat food. One cat was vomiting and diarrhea and is still not well, another cat with diarrhea. The other cats are just laying around listless and have lack of appetite. The cats were picking at the food, and soon none of the cats would eat it at all.

I returned the food to Pet Club and bought another of the same food with a different lot number. The cats won't eat that one either. I've been using this food for years too. I told Pet Club not to put the returned food in the donation cat bins. Something has definitely changed. Vomiting, diarrhea, staring into space, depressed, lack of appetite, and won't look up at me.

Jodi of Alvin, TX August 18, 2009

My cat was diagnosed with pancreatitis in March 2009. Although we tried all the sensitive stomach foods the vet prescribed, the only foods that didn't cause vomiting were Science Diet original dry formula and canned Meow Mix tuna and shrimp. Since Science Diet is supposed be better than Meow Mix, we've been feeding that for several months without any vomiting.

In July 2009, we purchased another small bag of Science Diet and within 5 minutes of eating, my cat was vomiting. Thinking she had a pancreatis attack, we withheld food for 24 hours, as recommended by our vet. Withholding food for so long is extremely stressful on our baby and watching her starve is agonizing. She began vomiting soon after eating more Science Diet.

Thinking maybe the bag had gone rancid, we purchased another bag with the same results. Every time she vomits, we have to withhold food for 24 hours to "reset" the pancreas. For the past two months, our cat has had recurring episodes of vomiting with Science Diet. She has not had any episodes of vomiting with Meow Mix.

I suspect there is something wrong with the food, at the manufacturer's level, and strongly encourage a recall. We will no longer feed this food to our cat. After reading all the recent complaints on your website about Science Diet, my suspicions that the food is foul are confirmed.

Veterinarian visits and fees; watching my cat go through unnecessary starvation; I am an attorney and realize there is little I can do -- I just want the general public to know there may be something wrong with Science Diet.

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