In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best alternatives to Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care that can help provide similar benefits to your furry friend.
If your dog has urinary health concerns, you’re probably familiar with Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care Dog Food.
Made by veterinarians and nutritionists, the special formula supports bladder health by using good ingredients and the right levels of minerals.
But, the manufacturer has changed the packaging and many dog parents noticed the food had changed too which makes them want to try different options.
Well, our mission was to research and test several foods for dogs with urinary problems in order to find the best Hill’s u/d dog food alternatives.
Our verdict?
The following dog foods are our favorite picks because they check most of the boxes when it comes to quality ingredients, urinary health support, veterinary approval, and good value for money.
Check out the list of the best Hill’s u/d Urinary Care substitutes.
Best Hill’s Prescription Diet U/d Urinary Care Alternatives
- Best Overall – Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Loaf Canned
- Best Value – Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care
- Best for Picky Eaters – Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet
- Best Budget Choice – Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U Weight Management+Urinary Care Grain-Free
- Best Non-Prescription Option – FirstMate Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Food
5 Dog Foods Similar to Hill’s Prescription Diet U/d Urinary Care Reviewed
Continue reading our review of the 5 best Hill’s u/d Urinary Care dog food alternatives.
1. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Loaf Canned Dog Food
Key Takeaways
- A nutritious food that helps dissolve pure struvite stones
- Low RSS to lower ions which contribute to struvite and calcium oxalate stones
- Reduced levels of magnesium to dissolve and prevent struvite stones
- Exclusive S/O index which prevents stones from forming
- High in moisture useful to increase urine volume
This brand’s wet food recipe offers a balanced meal for your adult dog with urinary health problems.
It’s our top pick as an alternative to Hill’s PD u/d Urinary Care dog food.
What’s special about this formula is that it creates an unfavorable environment for struvite and calcium oxalate crystals to form thanks to the exclusive S/O Index.
Whatsmore, the high percentage of moisture (73.5% max) is beneficial for dogs with urine problems since it helps increase urine and reduce the saturation of urine with struvite crystals and calcium oxalate.
Royal Canin uses the RSS (Relative Super Saturation) method to reduce ions in urine to prevent calcium oxalate and struvite stones.
The ingredients chosen for this formula are water, chicken liver, chicken by-products, pork by-products, corn grits and starch, vegetable oil, fish oil, cellulose, vitamins, and minerals. If your dog is sensitive to corn you should skip down to another food from this list.
Both Hill’s and Royal Canin’s formulas contain water, cellulose, vitamins, and minerals, but Hill’s formula provides protein from egg products and pork liver, while Royal Canin’s provides it from chicken liver, chicken by-products, and pork by-products.
Therefore, Royal Canin’s formula has 5.6% crude protein content whereas Hill’s has 2%.
Although some dog parents prefer their canine’s food without any by-products, Royal Canin’s formula is specially made to give dogs with urinary concerns enough nutrients as well as help them dissolve struvite stones and prevent calcium oxalate stones from occurring.
Royal Canin’s wet formula is a vet-prescribed diet for adult canines with UT problems that can benefit from this recipe’s high moisture content, enough protein to stay active, nutrients, and omega fatty acids to maintain overall health and shiny coat.
Both recipes have similar prices, but dog parents claim dogs love the taste of Royal Canin’s loaf and that it aids in the battle with urinary problems.
2. Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
Key Takeaways
- It helps lower the concentration of building blocks for bladder stones
- Low sodium levels to support the UT
- Balanced levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to avoid high amounts of minerals that could lead to forming crystals
- Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil and flaxseeds promote skin and urinary health
- Made in the USA
Hill’s improved formula has dog parents more satisfied due to the kibble size change and taste.
This is our favorite alternative to Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care dog food.
Dogs seem to do better with the new size, plus they like eating this formula developed by vets and nutritionists who had dogs with urinary problems in mind.
The recipe helps dissolve struvite stones and prevent them from reoccurring.
In fact, it reduces the risk of forming and reoccurring calcium oxalate stones.
And, the formula is specially made to support the bladder and urinary tract.
The ingredients include whole grain corn, brewers rice, chicken meal and fat, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, egg product, chicken liver flavor, soybean oil, flaxseed, fish oil, pork liver flavor, vitamins, and minerals.
This means that your canine gets protein, nutrients, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids to stay strong, healthy, and have a radiant coat.
Also, both u/d and c/d have L-carnitine and taurine for muscle strength and heart health. For more details see our article on Best Hill’s C/d Dog Food Alternatives.
Compared to the u/d formula, c/d contains 10% more crude protein (18% vs 8%) which helps your pup maintain muscle and stay active, but might not be appropriate for all dogs with urinary issues.
Adult dogs of any breed can benefit from this vet-prescribed food that helps reduce the formation of struvite and calcium oxalate stones.
Similar to Hill’s k/d Kidney Care dog food, this kibble is made with balanced levels of minerals, fat, and sodium to promote health and support the bladder.
One disadvantage is that some dog parents report bad breath after their dogs switched to this food.
Nevertheless, this formula is less expensive than Hill’s u/d recipe.
3. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet Dog Food
Key Takeaways
- Premium quality protein from chicken
- A special formula developed by vets to help reduce the risk of sterile struvite and calcium oxalate stones formation and recurrence
- Helps dissolve sterile struvite stones
- High moisture content
- Tasty
Purina Pro’s recipe is a terrific substitute for Hill’s P u/d Urinary Care dog food.
Both recipes have high levels of L-carnitine and taurine which help maintain strong muscles and a healthy heart.
Besides, the two formulas are crafted with low levels of calcium to aid prevent crystal formation.
Furthermore, vets, researchers, and nutritionists developed Purina Pro UR wet formula with a notable 78% max moisture to help your pup intake more water and increase urine volume. This feature is very important because it can help dilute urine and flush tiny stones.
Another vital point is that the first ingredient is chicken. Dog parents who like to buy their fur buddies food made with real meat will appreciate this recipe.
Chicken provides your dog with quality protein to build muscle and stay energized.
In comparison, Hill’s formula has 2% crude protein from pork liver and egg product, while Purina Pro has 7.5% protein from chicken, liver, and meat by-products.
If you are not a fan of meat by-products, you can opt for a different food from our list.
In addition, the formula lowers the risk of developing both sterile struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.
Also, it helps dissolve sterile struvite stones and it helps reduce the risk of sterile struvite and calcium oxalate stones occurring again.
Purina Pro Plan’s tasty formula is enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to boost overall health.
Well, we found this brand’s formula to be suitable for adult dogs of any breed that have urinary problems and need a vet-prescribed diet to help them battle stones and prevent them from forming.
Dogs with UT concerns can benefit from the high-moisture amount and great taste that even fussy dogs like and dog parents will be glad to know that it’s a bit more affordable than Hill’s.
4. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U Weight Management + Urinary Care Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Key Takeaways
- High-quality ingredients that provide protein, fiber, and nutrients for overall health
- Controlled levels of minerals to promote urinary health
- Increased fiber; reduced fat and calorie content to help dogs lose weight
- LifeSource Bits to boost the immune system and healthy oxidative balance
- Grain-Free
- No artificial flavors, preservatives
Blue Buffalo’s kibble is one of our favorite alternatives to Hill’s u/d Urinary Care dog food due to several reasons.
First, it’s made by vets and nutritionists with natural ingredients such as deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas, turkey meal, flaxseed, cranberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, turmeric, and lots of vitamins and minerals.
On top of that, both formulas have chicken fat, but Blue Buffalo has flaxseed – a source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that promotes urinary and skin health.
The two recipes also have Vitamin B which is beneficial for the skin and metabolism.
Moreover, Blue Buffalo’s kibble has more crude protein and crude fiber than Hill’s recipe.
Protein helps your four-legged buddy build muscle and fiber helps him stay full longer.
Plus, Blue Buffalo’s formula doesn’t contain meat by-products, while Hill’s has chicken by-product meal.
Dogs with sensitivities can also enjoy this flavorful food since it’s grain-free.
Actually, Hill’s formula contains soy and corn whereas Blue Buffalo’s doesn’t contain wheat, soy, or corn.
Additionally, Blue Buffalo’s recipe is made with controlled levels of magnesium and sodium to support urinary health.
This brand’s food also takes care of dogs who need to lose weight and provides them with a nutritious meal with the perfect levels of fat, fiber, and calories.
Note that if your dog doesn’t need weight management or weight loss, this formula may not be the right fit and you can check out the other dry food listed that can help with urinary problems solely.
Blue Buffalo’s veterinary diet is an excellent choice for adult dogs of any breed who struggle with extra weight and urinary problems.
The natural ingredients promote well-being, and controlled levels of minerals, fat, and calories support a healthy urinary tract and weight.
5. FirstMate Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula Dry Dog Food
Key Takeaways
- Limited ingredient formula great for dogs with allergies or digestive issues
- High in protein from free-run chicken to maintain healthy muscle
- Whole blueberries boost immune health, urinary health, eyesight
- Grain-free; no wheat, soy, corn
- No by-products, gluten-free
This family-owned company makes food with a few natural ingredients to suit dogs with allergies or digestive problems.
Compared to Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care which contains by-product ingredients and grain, FirstMate’s formula is grain-free and without by-products.
You may know that some vets recommend a diet with grain, so discuss with your vet what’s the best option for your dog.
Nonetheless, the recipe has 84% protein from chicken meal and 16% protein from vegetables like Burbank and Norkotah potato. As a result, your dog gets plenty of protein to stay healthy and strong.
Furthermore, the mix of blueberries improves the taste of this kibble and makes it a wholesome meal rich in antioxidants.
Antioxidants are beneficial for your canine’s immune system, urinary health, and brain, and they help fight free radicals and protect your pal from illnesses.
FirstMate’s kibble offers various health benefits for your pup and it can help prevent diseases, including urinary tract problems by providing a nutritious meal for dogs of all breeds at any life stage.
Bear in mind that this recipe is not vet-prescribed, you can choose it as a maintenance diet that promotes health and it’s good for sensitive stomachs.
Consult your vet before introducing new food to your dog with urinary or any other health issues.
This is our favorite non-prescription choice and it has a reasonable price.
How to Transition to New Food
We all know pets can often be picky and not react well to changes.
That’s why you need to make the transition to new food gradual.
For that reason, a 7 days transition plan is recommended.
Take a look at our mini guide:
Start by mixing 25 % new food with 75 % old food for 2 days. Then, add 50 % new food to 50 % old food for the next 2 days.
On the 5th day mix 75 % new food with 25 % old food.
On the 7th day give your dog only new food and pay attention to his reactions.
Consult your vet for advice on how to switch to new dog food for the best results.
Which food is good for urinary problems?
First things first, let’s see what urinary problems in dogs mean.
What’s UTI?
Dogs often have Urinary Tract Infections and pet owners need to know the symptoms so that they can react promptly.
The various symptoms include
- Straining when urinating
- Blood in the urine
- Drinking more water than usual
- Frequent urination
You need to pay attention to your dog and contact your vet immediately if you notice any of these signs.
However, some dogs don’t manifest any signs of UTI, so the best you can do is to provide high-quality food, lots of water, and routine physical exams with urine analysis to prevent infections and the formation of bladder stones.
What are bladder stones?
Bladder stones can be painful and they can cause UTIs and can lead to other serious illnesses if not treated.
They form as a mixture of minerals and other materials.
The most common bladder stones are struvite, calcium oxalate, and urate. (1)
Although struvite stones can be solved surgically or with a therapeutic diet specially made to dissolve stones, calcium oxalate stones that can’t be flushed require surgical removal and can’t be dissolved through diet. (2)
So, what food is helpful for dogs with urinary problems?
Dogs with UTI or bladder stones after treatment get vet-prescribed food for up to 3 months, or they continue with the special diet to make sure the stones disappear entirely and don’t form anymore.
In general, your dog needs fluids to stay healthy, so you need to get your fur baby to drink plenty of water.
Additionally, a well-balanced diet is required for every dog, especially for dogs with health problems.
If your dog has urinary problems, choose food that is high in moisture if you need to dilute their urine, wheat-free food if your canine has calcium oxalate stones or food that supports optimum pH balance which is helpful for dogs with UTIs.
The foods on our list support urinary health and they are made of quality ingredients that maintain overall well-being.
Don’t forget to consult your vet about any dietary changes or any concerns regarding your dog’s health.
Final Thoughts
Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care dry dog food is vet-prescribed food that helps with urinary problems and it is suitable for many dogs.
However, if your dog isn’t a big fan of the taste, or smell, or for some reason you think they could benefit more from different dog food, you can try some of the best Hill’s u/d Urinary Care alternatives listed above.
The food reviewed here has quality ingredients, and it provides urinary health support and overall health benefits.
The specially made formulas help prevent stones from forming and reduce the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate stones formation and reoccurrence.
But, always consult your vet about the best diet plan for your pooch.
Do you want to read similar articles? Check out our Dog Food Comparison page!