Our Company
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Who We Are
The Company Inspired by a Guide Dog
Today, Hill's Pet Nutrition carries on the tradition of caring that began in 1939 with one remarkable veterinarian. Our Prescription Diet, Science Plan, and Vet Essentials pet foods offer the highest-quality pet nutrition available. We‘re making a difference for people and their pets all over the world.
The Hill's pet food lines began in 1939. Dr. Mark L. Morris Sr. believed certain diseases in pets could be managed through carefully formulated nutrition. His ideas were visionary in veterinary medicine, and he soon had the chance to prove his theory.
A young blind man named Morris Frank asked Dr. Morris if anything could be done to save his guide dog, Buddy, who was suffering from kidney failure. The result of Dr. Morris' efforts was the nutritional formulation that became the first product in the Hill's Prescription Diet line of therapeutic pet foods, and the world's first pet food designed to help dogs with kidney disease. Soon after, Hill's Pet Nutrition was founded and the field of clinical nutrition sprang to life. That first therapeutic dog food evolved into Hill's Prescription Diet k/d , which is still sold today.
Vision
To make nutrition a cornerstone of veterinary medicine.
Mission
To help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets.
Philosophy
We believe all animals - from your pet to the companion animals we care for - should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes.
Hill's Commitment to Animal Welfare
We believe quality care for pets includes optimal nutrition, veterinary healthcare, daily exercise and an enriching environment with lots of love. All pets at Hill's Pet Nutrition live in such an environment. We only use compassionate, non-invasive methods necessary to develop nutritional technology so dogs and cats around the world live long, healthy lives. Our breakthroughs in pet nutrition are unmatched in the pet food industry and we've built our business and reputation on always practicing the highest ethical standards.
Nutritional Research and Innovation
Hill's employs more than 150 veterinarians, Ph.D. nutritionists and food scientists who work every day around the world to create new products and improve existing ones that will help your pet live a long, healthy and full life. Hill's scientists author more than 50 research papers and textbook chapters each year and teach at leading schools of veterinary medicine all over the world so we can put our knowledge and expertise into every Hill's pet food for you.
Our foods for dogs and cats are formulated for the optimal balance of nutrients and best taste. We know the best nutrition for your pet not only meets nutritional needs, but also avoids excess nutrients, such as fat and salt, that can be harmful over time.
Hill's long-term investment in learning, technology and talented scientists has helped us develop industry-leading product innovations, including the most extensive range of clinical nutrition products for sick, at-risk and healthy pets. Your pet's well-being is our reward.
The Hill's Pet Nutrition Centre in Topeka, Kansas, is a state-of-the-art centre that illustrates our commitment to improving the health of cats and dogs. In addition to a staff of veterinarians and board-certified specialists in nutrition and internal medicine, we also have a staff of companion pets. Our furry team members put our products to the test; ensuring pets get the most nutritious, best-tasting food available. In return, we give them everything a pet could want, including clean, roomy living quarters, exercise areas, an agility course and plenty of friends, both human and animal. Each pet has his own dedicated team. They develop a strong trust and human-animal bond, just like you and your pets do. Learn more about our commitment to animal welfare below.
Consequently, our products have been trusted by millions of pet owners since 1948, and, today, veterinarians recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food.
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Heritage of Caring
The Search for Discovery that Defines Us
In 1928, Dr. Mark L. Morris Sr. established Raritan Hospital for Animals in Edison, New Jersey. At the time, this was one of only two small animal hospitals in the United States. Dr. Morris believed managing nutrition could have a positive effect on the health of companion animals. He developed the first Prescription Diet pet food in an attempt to help one of America's first guide dogs who was suffering from kidney disease. Now decades later, Hill's Pet Nutrition is working to bring pets long, healthy lives. Read the complete story of Hill's Pet Nutrition.
The Story of Hill's Pet Nutrition
We believe quality care for pets includes optimal nutrition, veterinary healthcare, daily exercise and an enriching environment with lots of love. All pets at Hill's Pet Nutrition live in such an environment. We only use compassionate, non-invasive methods necessary to develop nutritional technology so dogs and cats around the world live long, healthy lives. Our breakthroughs in pet nutrition are unmatched in the pet food industry and we've built our business and reputation on always practicing the highest ethical standards.
Every day we prove that quality scientific technology and compassionate animal care go hand-in-hand for the improvement of pets' healthy lives. This is why Hill's only supports and exercises the responsible, caring and humane treatment of dogs and cats. All studies conducted or supported by Hill's - whether at the Hill's Pet Nutrition Center or externally in consumers' homes, veterinary schools or elsewhere - must comply with the following stringent Hill's policies to ensure exceptional animal care:
Hill's does not participate in studies that jeopardise the health of dogs and cats. All Hill's-supported studies are designed to maintain and improve the animals' health. No study will be performed on dogs or cats that require euthanasia.
When studying how a nutrient is absorbed, distributed, stored, used and released by a dog's or cat's body, we only use research methods that are the veterinary equivalent of human nutritional or medical studies. Hill's does not support or conduct studies that cause pain or hurt the dogs or cats. This is based on the belief that what is painful to humans is also painful to dogs and cats.
We only conduct studies if we have compelling evidence that we can improve the health and welfare of companion animals. These studies often result in breakthrough nutritional findings, improving the lives of millions of dogs and cats.
We continually strive to find ways to reduce dependence on animal research. A substantial number of dogs and cats participating in our feeding studies are involved in in-home tests. Our veterinarians and nutritionists are skilled at developing methods that simulate animal systems. For example, we have developed and published a mathematical formula, based on the nutrient profile of the food that accurately predicts the pH of feline or canine urine without animal testing.
To assure pet owners that our therapeutic foods are safe and effective, we support studies using pets with naturally occurring diseases or conditions. We do not participate in studies in which surgical or non-surgical methods are used to create or simulate disease conditions.
The Hill's Pet Nutrition Center and any external facility Hill's supports must meet or exceed all industry regulatory standards for animal care. For all studies conducted at external facilities, we appoint and fund pet advocates, responsible for ensuring each pet's compassionate care, which has the key components of providing exercise and a socially-enriched environment.
We publish the results of our studies to advance the knowledge of nutritional health care and to help prevent the unnecessary repetition of studies involving dogs and cats.
Hill's only uses data from animal studies that are in the public domain, either previously published or were conducted under this Global Animal Welfare Policy.
Hill's Pet Nutrition Timeline
Take a look at Hill's through the years!
1939
Morris Frank meets Dr. Morris Sr., at a luncheon and asks him to examine his guide dog Buddy. Dr. Morris diagnosed kidney failure. He believes Buddy can be helped with a food he had developed, and sends Mr. Frank home with Raritan Ration B. This food was the forerunner of Prescription Diet k/d Canine and is developed to help dogs with renal failure and insufficiency. Dr. Morris cans Raritan Ration B in glass jars.
1948
Dr. Mark Morris works with Burton Hill, of the Hill Packing Company, to can Canine k/d, formerly known as Raritan Ration B and Canine p/d, formerly known as Raritan Ration C. Dr. Morris establishes a charity for small animals that would later became known as Morris Animal Foundation - a foundation where animals are #1, and their welfare and health the sole, unwavering focus.
1949
Prescription Diet i/d is developed for gastrointestinal disorders in dogs. Prescription Diet r/d is developed for obesity in dogs.
1958
Hill Packing Company establishes plants in Kansas, South Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, Arkansas, Massachusetts and Washington.
1960
Dr. Morris Sr. becomes the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) president.
1962
Burton Hill dies; Richard L. Davis replaces him as Hill's Pet Nutrition president.
1964
Prescription Diet h/d is developed for pets with heart failure and heart disease.
1965
Prescription Diet d/d is developed for pets with dermatological conditions associated with certain food allergies.
1966
Richard L. Davis dies; Don F. Hogue replaces him as Hill's Pet Nutrition president.
1968
Riviana Foods purchases Hill's Pet Nutrition and its formulas, contracts with Mark Morris Associates to develop new pet food formulas.
1968
Dr. Mark Morris Jr., creates the Science Diet line of pet foods for healthy pets. The first Science Diet pet food, Adult Maintenance, is marketed.
1971
Prescription Diet c/d is developed for cats with lower urinary tract disease.
1976
Colgate-Palmolive Company acquires Riviana Foods.
1977
Prescription Diet u/d is developed for canine urinary tract disease due to calcium oxalate, urate and cystine.
1979
Science Diet Senior developed for geriatric wellness.
1981
Bob Wheeler becomes President of Hill's Pet Nutrition. Prescription Diet s/d is developed for canine urinary tract conditions due to struvite dissolution. The revolutionary new product could actually help the body dissolve certain types of bladder stones in dogs.
1983
First publication of the Small Animal Clinical Nutrition textbook, co-authored by Dr. Morris Jr., which would become the definitive text on nutrition for dogs and cats and used in veterinary colleges worldwide.
1987
Prescription Diet w/d is developed for pets needing weight control and fibre-responsive diseases and digestive troubles.
1992
Prescription Diet a/d is developed for assisted feeding and recovery.
1993
Dr. Mark Morris Sr. passed away at age 92.
1994
Prescription Diet t/d is developed for oral care.
1996
Science Diet Large Breed Growth puppy formula is developed.
1998
Prescription Diet n/d is developed as the only therapeutic pet food clinically proven to increase the survival time of dogs undergoing a cancer treatment and improve their quality of life.
1999
Hill's Pet Nutrition becomes a $1 billion company. Science Diet Hairball Control is developed.
2000
Prescription Diet z/d is developed for pets with food allergies. Science Diet Sensitive Skin and Sensitive Stomach are developed.
2001
Prescription Diet z/d is developed for pets with food allergies. Science Diet Sensitive Skin and Sensitive Stomach are developed.
2002
Hill's Science Diet Shelter Nutrition Partnership established.
2003
Prescription Diet m/d developed for cats who are in need of weight loss and/or who have diabetes. Science Diet Advanced Protection launches as an extraordinary line of pet foods with the highest levels of antioxidants of any pet food on the market.
2005
Prescription Diet j/d is developed for dogs with mobility problems. Science Diet Indoor Cat is marketed.
2007
Dr. Mark Morris Jr. passed away. Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Feline developed for cats with lower urinary tract disease
Dr. Mark Morris Sr.
Born in 1901, Dr. Morris was a founder of Hill's Pet Nutrition. A visionary in the area of clinical nutrition, he believed nutrition could be used to aid pets with certain diseases. At a time when most veterinary work revolved around farm animals, he cared for companion animals and their owners, opening Raritan Hospital for Animals in Edison, New Jersey, in 1928. This was the second exclusively small animal hospital in the United States.
Dr. Morris had new ideas for the management of diseases in companion animals. He worked with Dr. Jim Allison at Rutgers University's biochemistry department to develop techniques for diagnosing diseases in small animals. His ideas were new and not always well received, but Dr. Morris soon established himself as an expert in pet food.
After he joined with the Hill Packing Company in Topeka, Kansas, to can his pet foods, Dr. Morris established a charity for small animals. The Morris Animal Foundation continues to provide funding for small animal research, wildlife research and funding for veterinary student scholarships. Today it's the largest nonprofit foundation in the world for companion animal and wildlife health studies, with funds approaching $50 million since its founding in 1948.
Throughout his life, Dr. Morris was active in the small animal arena. He was the first president of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). He also led a committee to establish nutritional standards for pet foods and these efforts later formed the basis used today be the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Dr. Morris died in 1993 at the age of 92.
Dr. Mark Morris Jr.
Dr. Mark Morris Jr., son of Hill's Pet Nutrition founder Dr. Mark Morris Sr., continued the legacy his father began in pet nutrition.
Growing up in a house where his mother was cooking his father's Prescription Diet pet foods, Mark Morris Jr., decided to continue his father's lifelong work in pet nutrition. Dr. Morris Jr., noticed a demand for consistent, high-quality pet food for use in research. At the time, pet food was not carefully regulated, so research scientists had difficulties maintaining the integrity of their work.
As a result, Dr. Morris Jr., developed a food formula for healthy pets. In 1968, the food line was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals as Hill's Science Diet. The line has continued to expand, and today includes more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods and more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods formulated for many life stages and special needs in healthy pets.
Dr. Morris Jr., is widely considered the father of small animal wellness nutrition, and also worked to establish standards for feeding prepared foods to zoo animals. He was a founding member of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) and authored numerous publications on nutritional management of disease, lecturing around the world to practicing veterinarians, veterinary students and companion animal owners. Dr. Morris Jr., co-authored "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition," the definitive textbook for companion animal nutrition and the most widely used source on the subject around the world.
Dr. Morris Jr., died on Jan. 14, 2007 at the age of 72.