Hi-Tor Dog Food Review: A Comprehensive Look at Nutrition, Ingredients & Value

Meet Hi-Tor Dog Food

Hi-Tor is a medically specified diet that can help dogs in serious situations. It’s an unusual diet that wouldn’t be appropriate for most dogs, but if you have a dog with severe medical conditions, it could be just the answer.

Hi-Tor is an unusual diet for review, but let’s take a look at the different components and when it might be appropriate to switch to a diet like this.

Keep in mind that dogs with no existing medical issues may not receive a lot of benefit from the food, but a dog with specific medical problems may finally find some relief.

Read on for our in-dept Hi-Tor dog food review below.

Brand Quick Look

• Parent Company: Sunshine Mills Incorporated
• Founded in: 1949
• Made in: USA
• Available at:  Chewy, Amazon,
• Types of Food: Dry, wet
• Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : No
• Recalled in Past? : No

Behind the Brand

In 1949, a company named Sunshine Mills got its start by selling animal feed to farmers. Omar Bullen and his son in law, Fred Bostick, Jr. ran the business and finally added pet food in 1960. At that time, it was in pellet form, but since then, the company has taken a turn.

In the 1970s, the line began to expand to a full set of pet menu options. The second generation of the Bostick family expanded the food into a series of lines designed to satisfy the needs of pet owners everywhere. The third generation of the family joined the company during the 1980s and began to add to the company’s distribution.

Since then Sunshine Mills has been making pet foods designed to alleviate some issues that dogs have trouble with. You can find the brand all over the United States now, so many pets could find some relief.

Hi-Tor Dog Food Review

 

1. Eno Recipe

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars 

First Five Ingredients:

• Ground Brewer's Rice
• Ground Yellow Corn
• Ground Wheat
• Poultry By-Product Meal
• Corn Gluten Meal

Special formulations like this can be difficult to truly review because they’re intended to work for dogs with medical issues and don’t follow the standards of regular dog foods. While the list of ingredients may seem low quality for pet owners who are used to meat-based dog food, this is a special case. 

Dogs with chronic digestion issues could be suffering from allergies, or they could need a diet that’s intentionally bland with no high levels of protein that can irritate the intestinal lining. If you’re feeding your dog protein and seeing nothing but diarrhea, your dog isn’t digesting that protein anyway.

Eno is formulated to be an alternative to prescription diet designed to calm and possibly heal the digestion tract. It uses brewer’s rice and corn to provide a basis for calories and energy that can be quickly and gently digested. 

By-product meals contain concentrated proteins, but the position on the list means there are less proteins overall in the recipe. Your dog could receive enough to maintain muscle mass without triggering inflammation or stomach upsets. 

While we don’t begrudge the less prominent position of proteins in this list, we do take exception to the use of poultry byproducts.

A higher quality meat ingredient would have done just as well, if not better. And it would have been better too had the specific poultry been named. 

We’ve based our rating mostly on reviewer response, and so far, the response is encouraging. Dogs with IBS or sensitive stomachs experienced a reduction in the frequency (in some cases, stopped altogether) of  vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating.

A dog food recipe that lets pets with chronic issues get well, thrive, and gain weight is always a plus in our book. (We had to take off points for the byproduct ingredients.)

The recipe is a limited ingredient diet with vitamins and minerals in proper balance. Discuss with your vet whether this food is a temporary solution while your pup’s digestion adjusts or if it’s a long-term treatment of chronic digestion issues.

2. Reduso Recipe

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Ground Corn
• Meat and Bone Meal
• Wheat Middlings
• Soybean Meal
• Rice Bran

This is a special diet that’s formulated for the weight management of overweight adult canines. What makes it different is that it has fewer digestible calories when compared to regular dog food, and it contains no artificial flavors or colors. 

Unlike other special dry dog food diets that let dogs lose weight through a high amount of protein, Reduso does it by focusing on limiting the calories. It is not a meat-based dish, with plenty of grains in a more prominent position.

Reduso is formulated to be an alternative to prescription diets, and it’s designed to lessen the chance of sensitive overweight dogs experiencing stomach upsets with each meal. It uses corn and wheat middlings to provide a basis for calories and energy that can be quickly and gently digested. 

We do understand that in special cases like these, meat may take a back seat to grains so as not to cause intestinal discomfort in sensitive pups.

But we’d like to point out that there is also no need to use lower quality meat. Meat and bone meal is very generic and consumers deserve to know exactly what animal and animal parts have been used in the making of the food.

We can’t make any recommendations with this recipe if your pup has a medical disease. We do know that the recipe seems to be working for overweight canines.

If your dog has a special condition, it’s important to discuss it first with your vet. This recipe could be an excellent alternative to the more expensive prescription food your dog is on, but each dog is going to be affected differently.

There are currently no consumer reviews on the Reduso dry dog food that we can see so this review is a bit limited in scope. Our rating is based on two factors: function of food and the ingredients that make up the recipe.

3. Neo Recipe

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Ground brewer's rice
• Ground yellow corn
• Poultry by product meal
• Chicken fat preserved with BHA
• Rice bran

Neo is a Hi-Tor line that focuses on providing canines with a specially formulated diet for maintaining adult dogs. The recipes are crafted with reduced levels of protein, phosphorus, and sodium. Pet dogs with kidney disease are often prescribed diets similar to this as maintenance as they battle the disease.

The lower amounts of protein minimizes the buildup of waste that the kidneys are responsible for removing, thus lessening the burden on them. High sodium can increase blood pressure and worsen the damage on the kidneys, so low salt levels are important in cases like this. 

The phosphorus content is also extremely important because a low phosphorus diet can slow down the progression of the disease and improve survival rates.

Corn, brewer’s rice, and rice bran are gentle on the tummy and provide most of the energy needs of dogs. Usually, proteins in a dog food supply most of the energy requirements of canines, but since we’re steering away from elevated protein levels, the brand takes them from the carbohydrate and fat (chicken fat) sources instead. 

While we can understand the purpose of not making meat as the main ingredient of this recipe, we also have to point out that it’s not necessary to use lower quality meat sources in the place of better ones.

Poultry byproduct meal is considered a cheap type of meat ingredient. Not only does it not specify what animal part was used, it doesn’t say what poultry animal was utilized as well.

Looking at the reviews, it seems that consumers are divided. One one hand, there are pet dogs that would not touch the food due to taste and probably the “chemical smell” that some pet owners have reported.

On the other hand, some are saying that the formulation works a lot better than more known prescription brands and at a cheaper price.

It’s also a plus point that unlike prescription diets, Hi-Tor’s Neo dry dog food can be bought online and without a prescription. It’s more convenient than dropping by your vet’s office to purchase your pup’s bag of food.

That said, we still advise you to check with your vet first before feeding your pup, particularly one that’s sick, any special diet.

4. Veterinary Select Eno Diet (Canned)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Sufficient Water for Processing
• Chicken
• Pork Liver
• Rice Flour
• Corn Meal

Chronic gastrointestinal problems shouldn’t prevent your pup from being as healthy as he can be. Eno canned food provides adult dogs with digestive issues a bland and non-irritating diet that won’t inflame or upset sensitive stomachs.

The ingredients are picked out to be as highly digestible as possible so as not to overwork tummies. There are no artificial flavors or colors included to minimize the possible stress the food could put on the stomach. 

Unlike the dry dog food version, this wet food features more quality ingredients. The animal meats used are named and byproducts are not utilized. There’s a little bit more protein here than in the dry dog food version too, which doesn’t feature meat until the fourth slot in the list. 

If we look at the reviews of this canned food, we’ll see that a majority of purchasers are happy with the product. Dogs who often struggle with occasional bouts of vomiting and diarrhea experience less or no upset tummy symptoms when switched to this diet. A lot are also pleased that the food can be bought at half the price of the usual prescription diet.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have a few negative reviews. Most had to do with the texture of the food, which is very dense and very dry. A newly opened can might yield food the consistency of a pate, but once refrigerated, it turns to a truly hard consistency that is hard to blend or get into a softer consistency, even when water is added.

We’d have given the recipe a higher rating based on ingredients and function, but the hard consistency of the food has pulled the point down a little. 

5. Veterinary Select Reduso Diet (Canned)

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Sufficient water for processing
• Animal liver
• Meat by-products
• Wheat middlings
• Rice flour

This canned dog food is crafted for overweight dogs who need to go back down to a more healthy weight.

Instead of the usual way with regular dog food where the protein is intentionally set high to help pups burn off calories, this recipe instead focuses on lowering a dog’s weight significantly by keeping the calories down.

This method solves another condition: keeping sensitive stomachs calm. A high protein content is fine for healthy pups, but for dogs with sensitivity issues, the high protein diet can be problematic and may trigger inflammation and reactions such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

The canned version of Reduso does not differ much from its dry food counterpart except perhaps that it contains a little more animal meat and moisture.

Quality is about the same because the brand still utilizes unnamed animal meat and byproducts into the mixture. We get that meat is not supposed to be the main ingredient here, but at least choose quality meat ingredients instead of cheap alternatives.

There are only a few reviews on this specific diet, although the few we’ve seen thus far are positive. It has been reported to be excellent for older overweight dogs and a canine who has pancreatic disease is said to be doing well on it.  As always with special diets, get the approval of your veterinarian first.

6. Veterinary Select Neo Diet (Canned)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

First Five Ingredients:

• Sufficient Water for Processing
• Rice Flour
• Corn Meal
• Poultry Fat
• Chicken

Neo is designed for adult dogs of all breeds so that they get their daily nutrition requirements from food without aggravating their medical condition. The specially formulated diet has reduced levels of phosphorus, sodium, and protein. 

Sodium (salt), protein, and phosphorus are often seen in reduced levels in dog foods aimed for canines battling with kidney disease.

Many studies have shown that when fed with an appropriate diet featuring reduced amounts of those three mentioned above, canines with kidney disease typically live longer than those who eat regular dog food.

Compared to the dry Neo dog food version, this canned Neo recipe offers pups better quality ingredients. Instead of using poultry by-product meal, this formulation instead uses fresh chicken in a more prominent role, although there are also meat by-products and poultry by-products further down the ingredients list.

We can’t find any consumer reviews about this wet food Neo version so we can’t account for whether pups like the taste or texture, or whether it works fine for what it’s designed for. What we can review is the ingredients. 

If you’re looking for premium food, this is not for you. But if you’re looking for something that can help with your pup’s medical issues, this may be it. Do ask your vet for professional advice first before giving any to your dog.

Best Hi-Tor Dog Foods Recipe

There are just three options for dogs from Hi-Tor, but any of them could be a good choice to start depending on your dog’s particular issues. Let’s take a look at each one.

Neo

Neo is a dietary management recipe that reduces the amount of protein, phosphorus, and sodium in your dog’s system. It contains no artificial colors or preservatives and is designed to be easily digested by a variety of dogs.

It uses a blend of brewer’s rice, corn, and poultry by-product meal for a balanced carbohydrate and protein mix with chicken fat to provide energy.

We usually wouldn’t recommend a diet like this, but if your dog has a condition that makes protein and phosphorus dangerous, this is a good option.

Reduso

If your dog is extremely overweight and requires more intervention than simply reducing serving sizes, Reduso could be a good option.

It uses no artificial colors or flavors and contains fewer digestible calories than standard kibble while remaining easy on the digestive system overall.

It uses corn plus meat and bone meal for energy and protein along with chicken fat for a quality source of fat for energy. Again, this recipe wouldn’t be suitable for standard dog health, but severe health interventions may see some results.

Eno

If your dog has chronic digestion issues and struggles with all wet foods or kibble, this recipe may offer some relief.

It’s formulated to be intentionally bland, using brewer’s rice and corn for carbohydrates and poultry by-product meal with eggs for a source of protein.

Chicken fat offers energy from fat without containing irritating substances. Plus, the recipe uses no artificial colors or flavors. Seniors, dogs with IBS or distemper, and other chronic gastrointestinal conditions.

 

What Types of Dog Food Do They Offer?

Hi-Tor does use premium ingredients, and the recipes are designed to alleviate some of the most pressing health concerns. They have three different lines. There are no lines for breed sizes or life stage specifically, but you should talk to your veterinarian about using the formulas to alleviate your dog’s symptoms.

One line is intentionally bland for dogs with severe gastrointestinal issues. Another is for dogs with extreme weight issues. Another is formulated to be low protein, phosphorus, and sodium for dogs with things like kidney disease or other problems that call for a reduction in phosphorus or protein.

Check with your veterinarian before you decide to switch to any of these types of diet. The three recipes contain no artificial ingredients or flavors and only carefully vetted sources. The recipes are all highly digestible and made to alleviate digestion issues and help dogs regain correct weight.

Recall History

Hi-Tor has never been recalled. The company has a long history of producing quality foods with no issues. The company has been owned by the same family for several generations, and the processes are highly regulated. They’ve got a handle on their entire system from start to finish, and it shows in their impressive record.

Customer Feedback

These recipes target a narrow subsection of dogs who typically require a prescription dog food. Customers were often glad to see that the recipes didn’t need a prescription and were often cheaper than other famous prescription brands.

The recipes are rated favorably at online retail sites, but it’s difficult to find official reviews from dog food reviewers because of the therapeutic nature of the recipes.

What Customers Like and Dislike about Hi-Tor?

Customers who struggle with conditions these foods address often noticed an improvement in their dogs’ conditions even after transitioning quickly (or no transition period at all).

Eno seemed to help a lot of dogs who struggled with vomiting and chronic diarrhea finally gain control over their digestion. Other customers expressed relief that Reduso ultimately helped them see the weight come off.

Customers did express concern at products like wheat, corn, and soy used in the ingredients. We would generally agree, but for therapeutic reasons, we recommend discussing it with your veterinarian.

Some dogs didn’t like the taste of the various foods. This is to be expected with any type of dog food (all dogs are different), but it may help to find a safe, simple meal topper to alleviate your dog’s taste issues. Again, discuss with your veterinarian first to find a solution that works for your dog’s individual condition.

Keep in mind that these foods are unique cases. They won’t be suitable for your average dog and certainly won’t contain the right blend of nutrients to keep up with an athletic dog.

However, if you’ve had trouble with these conditions and are out of options without a prescription, or the prescription price is killing you, this could be a good alternative.

Positive

• “My puppy is a distemper survivor due to a horrible backyard breeder that we rescued her form. After dealing with diarrhea for MONTHS, we found out she has IBS. This food has made such a huge difference. Her coat is shiny and hasn't has diarrhea and hasn't thrown up in 3 months! We are so happy to have a healthy and happy 8 month old puppy!! Thank you Hi Tor!!!!!!” Leah, chewy.com

Negative

• “the only thing Veterinary Select about this food is they paid for the name. If you have an overweight dog and feed them this they are going to stay over weight it has horrible fillers in it, this means cheap over processed food. kinda like baloney. and you only get a small bag for your money its a lose lose situation. You lose money and your dog has to eat unhealthy food” SlbJws, chewy.com

Final Say

This brand offers specialized formulas aimed at addressing specific dietary needs, such as low-protein or urinary health diets. However, it lacks the premium ingredients and holistic approach seen in many top-tier brands.

While it may be beneficial for pets with certain medical conditions, the ingredient list could be more transparent and higher in quality for general use.

Additionally, it is not as widely available as more popular brands, which may limit accessibility. Overall, Hi-Tor serves a niche market well but might not be the best choice for everyday feeding if you're looking for top-quality, natural ingredients.