"Best treat ever!" ‒ Amanda
We have an 11-year old cat, Amanda, who has a chronic habit of excessive scratching, chiefly at her neck, head, and eyes, a condition that has grown worse over the past couple of years. We first thought it might be alleviated by a grain-free diet, but, while that may help, the problem persists. Now, the vet has us trying to convert her to a "hypoallergenic" diet, which is basically rabbit, duck, or venison. (My God! They slaughtered The Easter Bunny, Donald Duck, and Bambi all in one bloodbath!) The next step will be a visit to the kitty dermatologist, who will likely do skin testing for specific allergens for a larcenous fee.
Just between you and me, I suspect we'll never discover the cause ‒ just another intractable problem to deal with ‒ and will have to put her on a lifelong regimen of oral immunosuppressives.
When it comes to the dining restrictions, Amanda has taken to the duck canned stuff (Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Hypoallergenic Potato & Duck (PD) Formula Canned Cat Food 24/5.9 oz case), but dry food has proved problematic. (Indeed, the other two cats, Sissy and Rags, will eat the dry "hypoallergenic" kibble we leave out for all three, but not Amanda to save her life.) So, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that she loves the HILLS PRESCRIPTION DIET HYPOALLERGENIC TREATS. Best yummie ever, apparently. And even better than the various treats handed-out in the good old days before diet became an issue. According to the Daily Feeding Guide on the packaging, it's to be 9-13 treats per day for a cat weighing 6-10 lbs ‒ Amanda's size. Hmmph, you think? Amanda would eat the whole bag if I let her.
The first thing you'll notice about the labeling on the 2.5 ounce package is that it comes in three languages ‒ English, French, and Spanish. Lucky for Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. they weren't attempting to meet the European Union labeling standard, which is for 20+ languages.
This treat is made with hydrolyzed chicken, the "hydrolized" being what makes it hypoallergenic. Then, there are the other tasty ingredients: Brewers Rice, Starch, Soybean Oil (preserved with BHA, Propyl Gallate and Citric Acid), Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Liver Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Glyceryl Monostearate, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, Calcium Sulfate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Iodized Salt, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid, Beta Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
Um, did you want me to give you the ingredients list in French and/or Spanish? I like to think it's the Rosemary Extract (extrait de romarin, extracto de romero) which "helps nourish skin and coat."
There's this warning on the 5 x 7 inch pouch: "To prevent suffocation, keep this plastic bag out of the reach of pets and children." Everything is a toy to Sissy; she'll be disappointed.
And finally, in case you're wondering, the treat is compatible with Hill's z/d(tm), d/d(tm), and i/d(tm) lines of prescription pet foods. Along that line of thinking, see my review of Hills Z/D Low Allergen Cat Food 4 lb.
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