Led By Science
Since The Very
Beginning

See Hill’s Through The Years

Hill’s Brand Horizon
Image of Morris Frank walking with his dog Buddy

Photo provided courtesy of The Seeing Eye®

The year was 1939 when a young blind man named Morris Frank was traveling the country with his dog, Buddy. Buddy was suffering from kidney failure, and Mr. Frank asked Dr. Mark Morris Sr. for help.

Dr. Morris believed he could find a nutritional solution to Buddy’s issues, so he developed a new pet food with his wife, Louise Morris, in their kitchen.

Follow the timeline to see how Hill’s has evolved since to create differences you can see, feel and trust.

40s (anchor only visible for authoring)

can of k/d ration wet dog food

1948

Hill’s Pet Nutrition officially goes into business

Dr. Morris contracted with Burton Hill of the Hill Packing Company in Topeka, Kansas, to can the food with a new name, Canine k/d, and licensed Hill to produce his pet food formulas.

Prescription Diet k/d becomes the world’s first veterinarian-prepared food for the management of a canine disease.

50s (anchor only visible for authoring)

1953

Dr. Morris’ work pioneering therapeutic pet nutrition leads to a new breakthrough in urinary pet foods

Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d canned cat and dog food

60s (anchor only visible for authoring)

1968

Hill’s Science Diet is created

Focusing on a preventative approach to pet health, Mark Morris Jr. launches Hill’s first wellness food brand for pets.

70s (anchor only visible for authoring)

1976

Colgate-Palmolive Co. purchases Hill’s Pet Nutrition

colgate-palmolive co. and hill’s pet nutrition logos

80s (anchor only visible for authoring)

1983

A Legacy Continues

Dr. Mark Morris Jr. carries on his father’s work in pet nutrition and co-authors the Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Textbook. The book continues to be used in veterinary colleges to this day as definitive text for companion animal care.

Dr. Morris Jr. is still considered the father of small animal wellness nutrition.

90s (anchor only visible for authoring)

1992

A focus on urgent care

To help veterinarians when every moment counts, Hill’s creates the world’s first thixotropic food for assisted feeding of pets.

HIll’s Prescription Diet a/d canned cat and dog food

1996

Hill’s publishes scientific discoveries on unique nutrition for large breed pups

image of golden retriever puppy

2000s (anchor only visible for authoring)

2000

Hill’s begins fortifying pet food with antioxidant combinations to support immune function in pets

2002

Hill’s starts an ongoing mission to help shelter pets

The Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program is launched across North America, which to date has helped over 14 million pets find a new home.

2003

HILL’S CREATES SENSORY CENTER DEDICATED TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF PET FOOD TASTE

2004

Hill’s develops its first pet nutrigenomics research lab

Becoming a leader in innovations that use nutrients to change how genes are expressed in pets over time.

2005

Pet nutrigenomics gives way to one of the leading pet foods for mobility

hill's prescription diet j/d dry and wet dog food packaging

2008

Hill’s donates cat genome research

Hill’s takes a big step forward in providing the best nutrition possible for cats.

image of cat licking lips

2010s (anchor only visible for authoring)

2012

Hill’s breaks new ground in overactive thyroid management for pets

hill's prescription diet y/d wet and dry cat food packaging

2013

Offering support when pets need it most

The Hill’s Disaster Relief Network is established as a way to provide nutritional support for pets after disasters hit their communities. Hill’s partners with shelters, veterinary clinics, governmental organizations and other non-profits caring for pets in the aftermath of disasters.

2013

New therapeutic foods for weight management

Hill’s creates new innovations to help pets struggling with weight issues.

hill's prescription diet metabolic wet and dry dog and cat food packaging

2017

New options for older pets

Using work pioneered through the pet genome, Hill’s develops several new nutritional options for aging pets.

hill's science diet youthful vitality wet and dry dog and cat food packaging

Hill’s Science Diet Youthful Vitality

(now Hill’s Science Diet Senior Vitality)

2018

HILL’S HELPS 102,000 PETS FIND NEW HOMES

Hill’s proudly partners with NBCUniversal Local for Clear The Shelters, one of the largest pet adoption campaigns of the year, and continues to sponsor the event for years to come.

hill's pet nutrition and clear the shelters logos

2018

HILL’S ADVANCES RESEARCH INTO THE PET MICROBIOME

New breakthroughs are made regarding the network of microorganisms that affect a pet’s digestion, immune health, organ function and more.

2020s (anchor only visible for authoring)

2021

Pet nutrition center opens small & Toy research facility

2021

Hill’s pilots the first-ever fully recycle-ready dry food packaging in Europe

Hill’s is one of the first major pet food manufacturers to switch to completely recycle-ready dry food packaging, part of the larger 2025 environmental strategy from our parent company, Colgate-Palmolive.

About Our Recycling Plan

image of recyclable dry pet food packaging

2021

Hill’s helps make itching ancient history

New advancements in allergic care allow Hill’s to create nutrition for both food and environmental allergies.

hill's prescription diet derm complete wet and dry dog food packaging

Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete

Today (anchor only visible for authoring)

Today

Photo of boy petting dog in the grass

Changing lives through food

With a team of vets, nutritionists and food scientists, we develop nutrition driven by pets’ needs.

Photo of woman petting cat indoors

Committed to innovation

Our forward-thinking approach is driven by science-led nutrition, sustainability & love.

photo of scientist ensuring quality in a sterile environment

Giving the best again and again

We are currently working on making Hill’s packaging 100% recyclable. Check to see if your pet’s food packaging qualifies here.

See our full portfolio of pet foods

The Clear The Shelters trademark is owned by NBCUniversal Local, a division of NBCUniversal.