This is our review of the best alternatives to Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care in 2024.
If your dog has urinary health issues or needs support for their bladder, liver, or kidneys, look no further. Many dog food formulas can help support their dietary needs. Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care dry dog food is a popular option.
This recipe is low in calcium and phosphorus to prevent bladder and kidney stones. And it’s low in protein and higher in healthy fats to reduce inflammation and keep the kidney from overworking.
But this food contains grains and requires a vet’s prescription. We’ll talk about Hills u/d alternatives that you can speak to your dog’s veterinarian about with our guide.
5 Best Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care Alternatives
- Best Alternative for Urinary Care – Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care
- Best Alternative for Picky Eaters – Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet
- Best for Small Breeds – Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Small Breed
- Best Budget Alternative – Forza10 Nutraceutic Active Kidney Renal Support Diet
- Best Non-Prescription Urinary Support – FirstMate Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free
Dog Food Similar to Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Reviewed
Here are our top picks for the best alternatives to Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care dog food. Each meets AAFCO’s nutrient requirements for dogs. Always consult with your vet before changing your dog’s diet.
1. Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Dog Food
If you love Hill’s Prescription Diet but need to switch up the flavor or formula, it’s easy to do! They have a similar food — c/d — that offers urinary care.
However, keep in mind that the c/d formula does contain higher protein and fat, so it may not be suitable for all dogs with urinary issues.
Both diets reduce the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate stones. And, they contain omega fatty acids from healthy fats — with the c/d formula offering both chicken fat and fish oil. These reduce inflammation and aid joint, heart, and brain health.
While the u/d formula uses soybean oil for omega-6 fatty acids, c/d includes the oils I mentioned above and flaxseeds. These offer omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered healthier overall.
It’s important to note that c/d Multicare includes whole-grain corn and wheat gluten. So if your pup is sensitive to these ingredients, there are other choices on this list that may be better for them.
But both recipes include l-carnitine and taurine for muscle strength and heart health. And both are low in sodium content and calcium to help maintain a healthy weight and urinary health.
Parents with active or working dogs say this food is the best of both worlds. Their pup gets a higher protein diet but doesn’t have to worry about bladder or kidney stones.
But those with fussy dogs say it’s hard to feed it to them, so they recommend a topper.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet Dog Food
Even if you have a fussy pup, there are still options that can support their urinary tract. Our favorite option is Purina Pro Plan’s Veterinary Diets Urinary Ox/St wet dog food. This diet aids in reducing the risk of urinary stone formation in dogs.
Like Hill’s u/d, Purina provides added taurine and high levels of l-carnitine to help maintain healthy heart function. And both foods have reduced levels of calcium to limit the formation of bladder stones.
But there are a few differences too. While both formulas offer rice as a healthy grain, Purina offers actual animal products. These include chicken and chicken liver, which you won’t find in Hill’s.
Since it’s canned, Purina Pro Plan’s recipe also has plenty of moisture — aiding in better water intake for your dog. This aids in helping your dog’s urinary tract flush out excess vitamins and minerals.
Both Hill’s and Purina focus on helping dissolve mineral crystals that combine in the urinary tract. These crystals can turn into struvite stones if your dog isn’t able to pass them, and this can cause discomfort. In extreme cases, it may require surgery to remove these stones. But these foods can keep those issues at bay.
It’s important to note that Hill’s does have lower protein content than Purina. Hill’s may be a better option if your furry friend has issues with their liver or kidney since Purina clocks in around 26% Crude Protein.
Picky dog parents love that this food is easy to portion and feed. And many exclaim that their dog finally eats food that’s helpful for them. But some pet owners say the food stinks and causes the whole house to smell.
3. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Many small breeds are prone to urinary issues. But unfortunately, most formulas that support the urinary tract are more significant in size and hard to eat.
https://www.chewy.com/forza10-nutraceutic-active-kidney/dp/209820If you have a small dog that needs dry kibble, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Small Breed dry dog food is a perfect choice.
Like Hill’s, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Small Breed focuses on preventing calcium oxalate stones. While it has shown that it can dissolve pure struvite stones, it’s used as a long-term urinary tract health food. So if you have a tiny pup, you won’t have to worry about switching their food over time.
Unlike Hill’s u/d, Royal Canin’s formula is only for small breeds. So larger dogs would need to stick to u/d instead. And Royal Canin does have real meat — including chicken fat and chicken by-product meal. But it’s still lower in protein at 18% Crude Protein. So it’s safe for dogs with kidney problems.
It’s important to note that each of these recipes uses different oils too. Healthy fats are essential, especially for urinary health. They provide anti-inflammatory benefits that can decrease excess urination and aid in urinary tract health.
But omega-3 fatty acids are better, like those found in the fish oil that Royal Canin offers. Hill’s contains soybean oil, which is higher in omega-6 fatty acids.
Royal Canin also has corn and corn gluten meal for prebiotic fiber. But if your dog is sensitive to corn products, this may not be the best option.
Dog parents love that this food eliminates bladder and urinary stones. Many say that even though it can be pricey, it’s cheaper than constant vet bills.
4. Forza10 Nutraceutic Active Kidney Renal Support Diet Dry Dog Food
Are you looking for a budget option to protect your dog’s urinary health? Give Forza10 Nutraceutic Kidney Support dry dog food a try. This formula focuses on dogs with lower kidney and liver function and still aids in removing extra minerals in the urine.
Unlike Hill’s, Forza10 focuses on more than urinary health. They’re also focused on cardiac health. So this is a terrific option for larger breeds or senior dogs.
But like other urinary tract concentrated foods, it’s low in protein, phosphorous, and sodium. This helps lower the risk of kidney disease and calcium stones.
Forza10 is also free of corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, and GMOs. So many pet parents with dogs who have allergies will find it beneficial. And if you’re looking to avoid corn and wheat (which Hill’s includes), you can still support your dog’s other dietary needs.
Similar to Hill’s, Forza10 includes whole grains like rice, offering dietary fiber and prebiotics. These aid in helping the digestive tract move smoothly, which keeps the urinary tract clear too — and avoids bacteria growth.
And Forza10 is one of the few foods that don’t require a vet’s authorization to provide hydrolyzed proteins. It contains hydrolyzed fish — an excellent option for omega-3 fatty acids and to protect dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Dog parents say Forza10 keeps their senior dogs happy and healthy, especially those with poor kidney function or heart murmurs.
5. FirstMate Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
If you don’t want a vet’s authorization to buy food for your dog’s urinary health, there are other options. One of our favorites is FirstMate Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free dry dog food.
First, it includes real fruits and vegetables that offer natural antioxidants, unlike Hill’s u/d. They include blueberries and Norkotah potatoes. These offer vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants — and all of these aid in immune and urinary health.
But Hill’s and FirstMate have plenty in common too. Both contain chicken fat as a healthy fat-filled with essential acids. These acids include arginine and leucine — aiding in lean muscle mass and healthy weight loss.
Along with their fatty acids, both formulas also have B vitamins. These provide energy and aid heart and brain function.
FirstMate is a limited ingredient diet too. It contains less than 9 ingredients (not including supplemented vitamins and minerals). So if you have a pup sensitive to grains or specific proteins, this may be a good option.
Many pet owners say the kibble is larger, so it may not suit small pups. But many love it as an alternative to vet-prescribed food.
How To Transition To A New Dog Food
When you switch your pup to a new food, keep in mind to do it slowly. It should take 5 to 7 days to transition to a new formula fully.
You’ll start by adding a small amount of the new kibble to their current food. Each day, you’ll increase the amount of new food until it’s being fed exclusively.
As always, consult with your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet.
Our Verdict
While Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care dry dog food is a great option, there are other choices. And we’ve listed many of our favorites, including Hill’s c/d formula.
It’s the closest to their u/d recipe and contains similar ingredients. But it also offers a higher protein diet for more active pups.
However, any formula on this list can benefit your canine’s needs and keep their urinary tract happy and healthy.
