Independent market research from Kynetec’s latest Brand Affinity Tracker shows Hill’s Pet Nutrition is the most recommended pet food brand among Australian veterinarians for both preventative wellness and therapeutic disease management.
The survey data highlights strong practitioner reliance on clinical nutrition as a core component of preventative healthcare and long-term disease management in small animal practice.
According to the findings, Hill’s Science Diet and Prescription Diet ranges led recommendations across major clinical categories, including osteoarthritis, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), weight management, gastrointestinal disorders, and post-surgical recovery.
The survey results come as veterinary teams face an increasing influx of clients adopting unverified wellness trends, boutique diets, and unnecessary dietary supplementation. Recent consumer survey data indicates that 64 per cent of Australian pet owners have added dietary supplements over a 12-month period, while 52 per cent have applied human wellness trends to their pets.
With companion animal obesity rates remaining at approximately 50 per cent globally, veterinary professionals play a crucial role in steering clients away from fad diets toward complete, evidence-based nutrition.
Ilze Nel, Professional & Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition ANZ, emphasized that practitioner confidence relies on robust scientific validation rather than human marketing trends.
“It’s easy to judge pet food by human kitchen trends, but veterinarians judge it by real-world results and science-backed data,” Nel said. “At Hill’s, we’re proud to be named the number one vet-recommended pet food brand by Australian vets… We work side-by-side with clinics and researchers because we share the same goal: providing pets with nutrition that works.”
Nel noted recent formulation updates, such as the addition of ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit – a proprietary blend of prebiotic fibres and antioxidants aimed at supporting the gastrointestinal microbiome and systemic immune function.
Data from the latest Australian Pet Health Monitor identifies gastrointestinal conditions, otitis externa, and dermatological allergies among the top presenting complaints in canine practice, with average client treatment costs ranging between $330 and $694 per episode.
When managing chronic or co-morbid presentations, tailored therapeutic diets serve as essential adjuncts to medical treatment, helping reduce long-term clinical morbidity and financial burden for clients.
Hill’s Professional Consulting Veterinarian Cam Grundy highlighted the strategic role of early nutritional intervention in patient longevity.
“Giving pet parents all the tools to keep their furry friends happy and healthy is one of the ways we, as vets, can support pets over the course of their life,” Grundy said. “Good pet care in the early stages of life, such as proper nutrition, may also help mitigate the emotional and financial stress that comes with the health issues pets may develop down the line.”
