Hill’s Launches a New Dog Food to Help Veterinarians with Tough GI Cases

Hill’s Launches a New Dog Food to Help Veterinarians with Tough GI Cases

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 8, 2012) – Hill’s Pet Nutrition announces the launch of new Hill’s® Prescription Diet® i/d® Low Fat GI Restore Canine to support the care of dogs with challenging gastrointestinal (GI) conditions like pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia and protein-losing enteropathy. This new clinically proven pet food is designed for long-term feeding of adult dogs and provides veterinary health care teams with another option to recommend for dogs with a variety of gastrointestinal conditions.¹ The Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat formula contains omega-3 fatty acids to help break the cycle of inflammation,^2,3 prebiotic fiber to restore the intestinal microbiota and ginger to calm and soothe the GI tract.⁴

"We have received numerous requests for a low-fat Prescription Diet product veterinary health care teams can use when dealing with GI conditions," says Janet Donlin, D.V.M., chief veterinary officer at Hill’s. "We knew there was a gap in the Hill’s Prescription Diet line of GI pet food portfolio, so our Hill’s research team developed this new GI low fat pet food to give health care teams an effective additional management option."

Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat pet food contains a probiotic blend to increase bacteria species, such as Bifidobacter and Lactobacillus, which help normalize intestinal flora.¹ These break down fiber to produce short-chain fatty acids, which are a source of energy in maintaining healthy colonic epithelial cells and also inhibit colonization by pathogenic bacteria.

"Low-fat pet foods can play a crucial role in the management of dogs with hypertriglyceridemia and secondary GI disease or in dogs with primary GI disease, but without hypertriglyceridemia," says Jörg M. Steiner, med.vet., Dr.med.vet., Ph.D., DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, AGAF. "Also, since these conditions can be complex, canine patients may also benefit from prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents."

Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat pet food is also clinically proven to decrease fasting serum triglycerides.¹ This reduces a risk factor of pancreatitis in dogs, while providing AAFCO approved complete and balanced long-term nutritional maintenance for adult dogs.

Dr. Donlin added, "We know using a low-fat pet food can be one of the most important elements in GI cases, and we’re confident new Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat will help veterinary health care teams and dog owners achieve long-term success."

In addition to the complete line of Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d pet food products, new Prescription Diet Canine i/d Low Fat GI Restore Canine is available in both dry and canned forms.

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 HillsVet.com, search for Hill’s Pet Nutrition on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @HillsVet.

¹ Hill’s data on file.
² Calder PC, Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation and immunity. Lipids. 2001; 36(9):1007-1024.
³ Digestibility test, September 2011.
⁴ Shibata C et al, The herbal medicine Dai-Kenchu-Tou stimulates upper gut motility through cholinergic and 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptors in conscious dogs. Surgery. 1999; 126(5):918-924.

CONTACT:
Jason Eberly / Marc Vasquez
grey healthcare group for Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc.
816-842-8656 or jeberly@ghgroup.com / mvasquez@ghgroup.com