Science Diet
A Hill's Pet Nutrition brand of scientifically formulated cat and dog foods, sold under the Science Plan name in the United Kingdom and Europe. Hill's Science Diet is Hill's mainstream pet-nutrition brand for dogs and cats, organized around life-stage, size, lifestyle, and selected health-support needs. Science-based pet food line from Hill's Pet Nutrition.
Last updated October 14, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Science Diet is a brand of cat and dog food marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. Its positioning is built around nutrition informed by veterinary science, with formulas intended for different life stages, sizes, and everyday health objectives. The portfolio includes dry and wet foods for cats and dogs and is distinct from Hill's Prescription Diet range, which is designed for specific medical conditions and is generally associated with veterinary guidance. The brand's development is connected to the Morris family's work in clinical veterinary nutrition. Mark L. Morris Sr. became known for developing specialized nutrition for animals with health problems, including a diet created for Buddy, an original seeing-eye dog that had kidney disease. His son, Mark L. Morris Jr., later helped expand this approach into a broader range of life-stage and condition-oriented pet foods. Science Diet emerged alongside Prescription Diet as part of Hill's effort to translate veterinary research into commercially available pet nutrition. Science Diet has historically competed in the premium and science-led segments of the pet-food market. Its communications emphasize research, nutritional formulation, and veterinary recommendation rather than simply taste or commodity pricing. The brand has offered products for puppies, adult dogs, mature dogs, kittens, adult cats, and senior cats, as well as formulas associated with weight management and other nutritional needs. In the United Kingdom and Europe, the comparable Hill's brand is called Science Plan. The brand experienced strong market participation during the 2000s. Reference material reports that Hill's Science Diet and Prescription Diet together reached a peak share of 10.7% of dog-food sales in 2008, before the reported share declined to 9.4% by 2011. The decline was associated with changing consumer preferences for foods marketed as natural and with perceptions among some consumers that science-led products were artificial. Science Diet has also been affected by several product recalls, including recalls involving melamine contamination, possible salmonella contamination, labeling problems, and elevated vitamin D levels. Despite these events, the brand remains an active Hill's offering and continues to serve the mainstream veterinary-nutrition and premium pet-food markets.
History
Science Diet developed from the Morris family's work in veterinary clinical nutrition. Mark L. Morris Sr. pioneered specialized feeding approaches for animals with medical needs. One important early case involved Buddy, an original seeing-eye dog with kidney disease. Morris Sr. formulated a specialized diet for the dog, helping establish the idea that carefully designed nutrition could support the management of animal health conditions. Mark L. Morris Jr., a veterinarian and researcher, continued this work and helped broaden the family's nutritional approach. During the 1960s, he was associated with the development of formulas intended not only for particular health conditions but also for different stages of an animal's life. These efforts contributed to the creation and expansion of the Science Diet and Prescription Diet brand families. Science Diet became the more broadly marketed line for everyday and life-stage nutrition, while Prescription Diet focused more directly on diets connected with specific medical conditions. The brands were subsequently developed under Hill's Pet Nutrition, which became part of Colgate-Palmolive. Science Diet's commercial proposition combined the accessibility of a retail pet-food brand with the authority of veterinary science. Its products were formulated for cats and dogs and included dry and canned or wet formats, with lines differentiated by species, age, size, and nutritional objective. In the United Kingdom and Europe, the brand operates under the name Science Plan. The brand's market position strengthened during the 2000s. Reference material reports that Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet together represented 10.7% of dog-food sales in 2008. By 2011, the reported figure had fallen to 9.4%. The change was linked to increased consumer interest in foods promoted as natural and to perceptions that science-oriented pet foods were overly artificial. This reflected a broader tension in the pet-food category between evidence-based formulation and consumer demand for simpler or more natural ingredient narratives. Science Diet has also experienced a number of recalls. Events cited in reference material include melamine-related recalls in 2007, a limited 2014 recall for possible salmonella contamination, a 2015 recall connected with labeling problems, and a 2019 recall involving elevated vitamin D levels. These incidents affected selected products and, in some cases, other Hill's lines as well as Science Diet. They form part of the brand's documented operating history but do not change its current classification as an active Hill's Pet Nutrition brand.
- 2019
Elevated vitamin D recall
[1]Selected wet Science Diet products and Hill's Prescription Diet dog foods were recalled because of elevated vitamin D levels. Hill's voluntarily recalled selected canned dog foods after a formulation error led to potentially elevated vitamin D levels. Certain Science Diet products and Hill's Prescription Diet dog foods were affected. The recall was later expanded.
- 2019
Selected canned dog foods recalled
[4]Hill's recalled selected canned dog foods because of potentially elevated vitamin D associated with a formulation error. Certain Science Diet products were affected.
- 2014
Limited salmonella-related dog-food recall
[1]A limited number of Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog-food bags were recalled over possible salmonella contamination.
- 2011
Reported sales-share decline
[1]The combined reported share of Science Diet and Prescription Diet declined to 9.4%, amid changing consumer preferences in favor of products marketed as natural.
- 2008
Reported peak combined dog-food sales share
[1]Hill's Science Diet and Prescription Diet reportedly reached a combined 10.7% share of dog-food sales.
- 2007
Melamine-related product recalls
[1]Selected Science Diet canned cat food and a Prescription Diet feline dry-food product were recalled in connection with reported melamine contamination.
- 1976
Colgate-Palmolive acquires Hill's
[3]Colgate-Palmolive acquired Hill's, establishing the ownership relationship under which Hill's Pet Nutrition and its brands operate.
- 1960
Science Diet development begins
[1]Reference material places the development of Science Diet in the 1960s under the influence of veterinarian Mark L. Morris Jr. and the Morris family's work in veterinary nutrition.
Origins of Hill's veterinary nutrition business
[2]Hill's identifies veterinarian Mark L. Morris Sr. as central to the origins of its specialized pet-nutrition business. A precise founding year for the Science Diet brand itself is not established in the available references.
Products and positioning
A premium, science-led pet-nutrition brand emphasizing veterinary research, life-stage formulation, and health-oriented nutrition for cats and dogs, with products segmented by life stage, size, lifestyle, and selected wellness needs.
Dog food
Science Diet dry dog food
Dry-food formulas for dogs are organized around life stage, body size, and nutritional goals. The range has included puppy, adult, mature, and small-and-toy-breed products. Science Diet presents these foods as research-based everyday nutrition rather than as a single formula for all dogs. Wet dog foods provide canned or entrée-style formats within the Science Diet portfolio. Referenced products include adult, mature-adult, and small-and-toy offerings, with recipes differentiated by life stage and product format. Dry cat-food products are designed for different feline life stages and everyday nutritional requirements. The broader Hill's portfolio also includes specialized Prescription Diet formulas, which should not be treated as interchangeable with the Science Diet retail line.
Cat food
Science Diet wet cat food
Wet cat food includes canned and savory entrée-style products. Science Diet has marketed formulas for adult and other life-stage needs, with product variety intended to combine complete nutrition with a different texture and feeding format.
Life-stage nutrition
Science Diet life-stage formulas
Life-stage nutrition is a core organizing principle of the brand. Products have been offered for puppies, adult dogs, mature dogs, kittens, adult cats, and senior cats, allowing the brand to adapt nutritional specifications to age-related needs.
Specialized everyday nutrition
Science Diet weight-management formulas
Weight-management products address a common nutritional objective for companion animals. The line has included formulas marketed for adult weight control and related body-condition goals, while medical diets remain associated with the separate Prescription Diet brand.
Dog food
Science Diet Puppy
A group of dog-food formulas intended for puppies. Product variants may differ by expected adult size, recipe, and market. Hill's presents puppy products as supporting growth and development, but individual nutritional claims and feeding instructions should be checked on the applicable product label.
Cat food
Science Diet Kitten
A group of cat-food formulas for kittens, offered in dry and, in some markets, wet formats. The range is designed for the nutritional requirements of growth, with exact recipes and availability varying by country.
Dog and cat food
Science Diet Adult
The adult life-stage range provides routine nutrition for mature dogs and cats. It includes species-specific products and may include variants for size, flavor, lifestyle, or selected wellness objectives.
Dog and cat food
Science Diet Senior
Senior formulas are intended for older dogs or cats and are positioned around the changing nutritional needs associated with later life. Exact age ranges, recipes, and product names differ among markets.
Weight-management pet food
Science Diet Perfect Weight
A weight-oriented family within the Science Diet portfolio. It is marketed for weight management or maintenance of a healthy body condition, with feeding amounts and suitability dependent on the individual animal and veterinary guidance where appropriate.
Specialized everyday pet food
Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin
A family of everyday formulas positioned for pets with sensitive digestive systems or skin and coat concerns. The products are part of the retail Science Diet range and should not be confused with therapeutic diets prescribed for diagnosed medical conditions.
Controversies
2019
Vitamin D recall affecting selected canned dog foods
Hill's voluntarily recalled selected canned dog foods after a formulation error led to potentially elevated vitamin D levels. Certain Science Diet products were included. The FDA described the affected products and lots in its recall notices.
Brand decisions
2019
Voluntary recall of selected canned dog foodsOtherBackground
Hill's identified a formulation error that could result in potentially elevated vitamin D in certain canned dog-food products.
Action taken
The company issued a voluntary recall and provided affected product and lot information; the recall was later expanded.
Aftermath
Consumers and veterinarians were advised to check affected products and contact Hill's or their veterinarian. The recall applied to specified products and lots rather than the entire Science Diet portfolio.
1976
Colgate-Palmolive acquisition of Hill'sM&ABackground
Hill's had developed a specialized pet-nutrition business with veterinary and consumer products.
Action taken
Colgate-Palmolive acquired Hill's and became the parent company of Hill's Pet Nutrition.
Aftermath
Hill's continued as a pet-nutrition business within Colgate-Palmolive's international consumer-products portfolio.
Recent events
- 2019
Science Diet wet food and Hill's Prescription Diet dog food recalled over elevated vitamin D levels[1]
Recall
Selected wet Science Diet products and Hill's Prescription Diet dog foods were recalled because testing identified elevated vitamin D levels.
- 2015
Several Science Diet products recalled because of labeling problems[1]
Recall
Hill's issued a manufactured recall involving selected adult, mature-adult, small-and-toy, and entrée products because of labeling issues.
- 2014
Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food recalled over possible salmonella contamination[1]
Recall
A limited recall concerned 62 bags of selected Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food distributed in California, Hawaii, and Nevada because of possible salmonella contamination.
- 2011
Reported decline in Hill's brand dog-food sales share amid changing consumer preferences[1]
Other
Reported share for Hill's Science Diet and Prescription Diet declined to 9.4% by 2011, amid increased consumer interest in products marketed as natural and concerns about artificial ingredients.
- 2008
Science Diet and Prescription Diet reported to have reached peak dog-food sales share[1]
Other
Reference material reports that the Hill's Science Diet and Prescription Diet brands together reached 10.7% of dog-food sales during 2008.
- 2007
Science Diet Savory Cuts canned cat food recalled over melamine contamination[1]
Recall
A recall affected Science Diet Savory Cuts canned cat food because of reported melamine contamination.
- 2007
Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food recalled over melamine contamination[1]
Recall
Hill's recalled Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry cat food in connection with reported melamine contamination. The product was part of the broader Hill's nutrition portfolio rather than the Science Diet line itself.
Sources6 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/science-diet · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled