Hill's Prescription Diet vs Natural Balance
Hill's Prescription Diet is made by Hill's Pet Nutrition (owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company), and Natural Balance is branded by Natural Balance Pet Foods (owned by Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital)) and made by third-party co-packers, and both make food for cats and dogs. Hill's Prescription Diet meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer, while Natural Balance does not. Hill's Prescription Diet is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Natural Balance is not.
Hill's Prescription Diet and Natural Balance compared
| Attribute |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hill's Pet Nutrition | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Parent company | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital) |
| Founded | 1907 | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Topeka, Kansas, USA | Burbank, California, USA |
ManufacturingWhether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer. |
In-house | Co-packer |
| Made in | United States | United States |
| Manufacturing region | Kansas | California |
| Products listed | 44 | 118 |
| Serves | Cats & dogs | Cats & dogs |
Price tierA relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost. |
$$$$$ | $$$$ |
WSAVA guidelinesThe World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands. |
Yes | No |
PSC accreditedThe Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality. |
Yes | No |
ScoreThe average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science. How scoring works . |
Not yet rated | 8.6 (avg of 118) |
Recalls on recordWe track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here. |
1 | None |
| Where to buy |
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Hill's Prescription Diet vs Natural Balance: how they compare
Scores
Natural Balance averages 8.6 out of 10 across 118 scored foods on KibbleLab, while Hill's Prescription Diet does not have a score yet. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.
Who makes them
Hill's Prescription Diet is made by Hill's Pet Nutrition, owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company, based in Topeka, Kansas, USA, founded in 1907. Natural Balance is a brand of Natural Balance Pet Foods, owned by Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital), based in Burbank, California, USA, founded in 1989. Its food is made by third-party co-packers in United States.
Standards and range
Hill's Prescription Diet meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria, while Natural Balance does not. Hill's Prescription Diet is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Natural Balance is not. KibbleLab lists 44 Hill's Prescription Diet foods and 118 Natural Balance foods.
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Hill's Prescription Diet
Common Questions
Who makes Hill's Prescription Diet and Natural Balance?
Hill's Prescription Diet is made by Hill's Pet Nutrition, which is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company. Natural Balance is a brand of Natural Balance Pet Foods, which is owned by Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital). Its food is made by third-party co-packers in United States.
Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?
Natural Balance has 118 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 44 for Hill's Prescription Diet.
Where is each brand based?
Hill's Prescription Diet is based in Topeka, Kansas, USA. Natural Balance is based in Burbank, California, USA.
Do Hill's Prescription Diet and Natural Balance meet WSAVA criteria?
Hill's Prescription Diet meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer; Natural Balance does not, based on public information. WSAVA publishes criteria; it does not certify or endorse brands.
Are Hill's Prescription Diet or Natural Balance PSC Accredited?
Hill's Prescription Diet is a PSC Accredited business. The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that Accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification.
Have Hill's Prescription Diet or Natural Balance been recalled?
Hill's Prescription Diet has 1 recall on record in the KibbleLab database; Natural Balance has no recalls. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
See the full profiles: Hill's Prescription Diet and Natural Balance .
More comparisons
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KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.
This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either brand. KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through links. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.
Brand and manufacturer details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing. Recall data is compiled from public FDA filings, and a filing may name the parent company rather than the brand. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
KibbleLab scores and commentary are editorial opinions based on published data. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us. See our Terms.