Hill’s Veterinary Nutrition Blog

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 Hill’s Prescription Diet and Science Diet 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 health conditions 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 having kidney health issues. 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 for kidney health. 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.