Topic: nightmare with Hills over new L/D canned food (Read 21459 times)

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #97 on:** March 23, 2007, 19:07:47 PM »

nothing as yet..rien...but the vet's receptionists are on to it they say and will try. Paws crossed as today was a tricky 'feed on the radiator' day and any other food would have been a nightmare.
thanks everyone.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #96 on:** March 21, 2007, 22:01:23 PM »

Fingers crossed for you to get some of their stock.

Baggy · « **Reply #95 on:** March 21, 2007, 18:32:08 PM »

Really hope you can find some old stock. I ckecked the food the Proot had left over, but it's the new sort.

Millys Mum · « **Reply #94 on:** March 21, 2007, 18:25:13 PM »

Ba

ds!

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #93 on:** March 21, 2007, 17:34:01 PM »

M*rde, m*rde and m*rde again. France has just gone porky too. As they told me in Feb that they weren't I thought I could wait a month or two to order. Plus the expat removal co offered to help to get me food (cheaper to move it from them directly) but then ducked out and wouldn't. Plus (this gets even unluckier) I ordered one tray 10 days ago as went for a few days and thought I'd get some more in , in case Ryanair let me take it as hand luggage (nope; put 2 cans mummified in the hold). Had I known, would have ordered 10 or more trays then of course. Very bad news. I emailed Hills to plead with them to let me have some old stock as I know they must have some. Will see what they say tomorrow. Please keep paws crossed.

another day, another battle with a big corporation

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #92 on:** March 01, 2007, 10:48:38 AM »

I can understand that they moved to pork for cost reasons (profit) but from one beef formula to another? That's weirder.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #91 on:** February 28, 2007, 20:17:23 PM »

Well they not gonna get much profit from this food cao cats dont like it

Mark · « **Reply #90 on:** February 28, 2007, 19:11:12 PM »

Quote from: swampmaxmum on February 28, 2007, 13:46:33 PM

Why do corporates instigate change for change's sake?!!!!

Profit

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #89 on:** February 28, 2007, 18:26:02 PM »

I dont know swampy but there certainly is no obvious reason for these changes and Hills are being very evasive.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #88 on:** February 28, 2007, 13:46:33 PM »

An American vet I emailed from a website said the only problem with long term use is cost as far as she knows. I must ask the vet to check with the specialists but whether he will...we'll see.

Btw it's quite clear that Hills changed their formula l/d more than once, even while it was still beef. The cans that have a May 2007 expiry date that Helen (bless her) sent me are Swampy's favourite. He eats the food on the floor in the kitchen in one go and often asks for more! Then there's the french stuff and the more recently discontinued UK l/d - he eats both (long may it last as I have lots of french stuff and may order more) but less avidly and I generally have to follow him to the top of the radiator where he sits and licks at it until it's finished - that can take 20 mins for 1/6th can.
So the 'dear' folks at Hills - WHY they changed their formula from the original beef one when it is clearly working and such good nosh??????? On the days he gets it (I mix it up or he may refuse the other beef cans!) he's perky and playful. I think I may email them with the batch no in case they ever eat their own humble pie and revert to old ingredients.
Why do corporates instigate change for change's sake?!!!!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #87 on:** February 24, 2007, 16:33:33 PM »

Thanks for the answer cos I am sure that will interest peeps with cats with the same problem.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for swampy and will watch for his posts if he makes any

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #86 on:** February 24, 2007, 13:28:44 PM »

No, it's a good question. He's been on Destolit for nearly 4 months in total and it has had no clinical trials in cats, so the vet is concerned as no-one quite knows how long is 'safe'. If he goes downhill off it, he'll be put back on it. The whole thing makes me very nervous!
It's a human drug and used widely by US vets - called Ursodial there.
He's also on Zentonil which he's not coming off so the usual fingers/paws crossed.
You should see some of the emails he sends too lol :-))
purrs

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #85 on:** February 23, 2007, 14:31:44 PM »

Maybe this is daft question........I am known for them

but why is he coming of this medicine if it is helping him?

Lots of strokes to the wonderful Swampy and just love his search

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #84 on:** February 23, 2007, 13:39:50 PM »

One day at a time, but Swampy's enjoying his l/d. He comes off Destolit on Monday to 'see how he goes off it' - he's been on it since November and it has really helped so fingers/paws/whatever crossed. I'm very nervous.

He just ran upstairs to the mezzanine in the lounge today which is where the PC is and thought I'd share his Google search with you -

fgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggljkkkkkkkkkkkkkkfv

Still running around with Max. Happy cats, happy SwampMaxmum.....long may it last. Very special moments as you all know.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #83 on:** February 18, 2007, 18:25:46 PM »

Excellent!!

Kittybabe (Ruth) · « **Reply #82 on:** February 15, 2007, 20:25:16 PM »

Well done! :D

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #81 on:** February 15, 2007, 20:20:07 PM »

Well thats about 2 yrs supply

Hills are just crazy and dont care at all about cats , I have decided.

Did you see someone had tried the zooplus stuff and it wet down a treat, although new Hills one was rejected.

As you say nom price for the love of our felines

Sam (Fussy_Furball) · « **Reply #80 on:** February 15, 2007, 19:01:45 PM »

So pleased you have managed to stockpile his favourite food

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #79 on:** February 15, 2007, 17:58:05 PM »

Voila! I'm completely broke, don't ask me what it all cost but.....the removal co arrived with 24 trays of grub today with Es on it. Apparently they got stopped by customs who wanted to open the cans but managed to talk their way around it. It's nicely stockpiled under the bed, only 1 can dented so hopefully good news at last! :-) There's no price on our feline happiness is there?

I suggested to Hills UK that they may like to pay the transport. Guess what they said?!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #78 on:** February 13, 2007, 18:06:17 PM »

|i was just gonna suggest that

As the blocks start to defrost just replace em with new ones

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #77 on:** February 13, 2007, 16:54:07 PM »

that's really worth a try, thanks. Think we still have a few months to go before it becomes a problem but thought I'd ask while I remembered!

Liza · « **Reply #76 on:** February 13, 2007, 16:42:06 PM »

What about putting it in a coolbox/bag with the little iceblocks for the summer, it will keep it cool with chilling too much

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #75 on:** February 13, 2007, 16:37:47 PM »

Very interesting, when I went away for a few days, the l/d cans that Tiggy's kind mum sourced for me were munched exclusively. They are slightly different to the 'old' ones that I've despatched 20 trays of from France (which seem to be the exact same as the more recently discontinued formula in the UK). The expiry date of 2007 ones are more beef-y and softer and went down very easily. So Hills changed l/d twice - once not too drastically, but more recently a CATastrophic porky choice.

Hoping my 20 trays arrive safely as the food makes such a huge difference. He's eating better now that we don't refrigerate the can at all but open it in the morning and keep it at room temp. Fine in winter, but any ideas for when it gets warmer? I need to keep it at about 15 degs. It gets very hot in my flat; I was thinking of those small camping fridges but not sure if you can set a fridge to something like 15 degs? The l/d food goes hard and rubbery when refrigerated and isn't the same as out of the can even when thawed.

I'm sure you all know how it is when food has to be Just Right in order to be eaten.

Swampy sends Big Purrs and Bises (kisses) to Tiggy and Tig's Mum for his nice nosh :-)

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #74 on:** February 07, 2007, 23:12:39 PM »

This thread is on same subject despite its title and the last few posts are inteeresting

http://www.chaptanservices.com/purrs/index.php?topic=239.0

fluffybunny · « **Reply #73 on:** February 07, 2007, 19:02:35 PM »

Quote from: Gill (sneakiefeline) on February 07, 2007, 18:54:16 PM

this sounds like a cost cutting exercise to me

Yes it does, doesn't it!! Unless the great international beef crisis hasn't reached our ears yet. Of course, if most people's cats won't eat the new stuff, they will soon see a massive drop in sales and might therefore consider changing their mind!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #72 on:** February 07, 2007, 18:54:16 PM »

I tried my vet Tan and the only ones that may have some is those who kep a stock inhouse. My vet tried to get some from Hills but could only get the pork stuff.

What I think we need is for peeps to email Hills and put pressure on them, this sounds like a cost cutting exercise to me

Millys Mum · « **Reply #71 on:** February 07, 2007, 10:27:26 AM »

I didnt know that the world had run out of beef? Tesco doesnt seem to have a problem with stocking it, that is the lamest excuse for changing the product ever!

Tan · « **Reply #70 on:** February 07, 2007, 10:02:24 AM »

Hope the France vets can send a load of the right tins for Swampy lad.

Would you like us to have a news item on the Purrs home page asking for peeps to contact their vets to source some tins for you?

Will ring mine today.

Best of luck for darlin Swampy

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #69 on:** February 07, 2007, 01:07:55 AM »

Actually that was one of the issues I raised in my email and they just ignored it, along with that pork was hardly ever found in cat food.

I think many more people ned to email Hills about this, the more the better cos this chasnge sounds fishy to me and from what we have seen on Purrs cats do not like this new l/d food.

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #68 on:** February 06, 2007, 00:41:55 AM »

Pathetic... I wonder if Hills have considered that a huge population of the world, that are of the muslim faith will no longer be able to feed their product now it is made from Pork? They are not exactly publicising the change considering their website still lists the ingredients as Beef, so I would imagine there are some unsuspecting muslim owners who may already have fed the L/D to their cats. Unacceptable

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #67 on:** February 05, 2007, 22:25:28 PM »

My last email to Hills asked them why they had changed this product and told them that many cats didnt like the new version and would die because of this change and this was their dumb reply:

Hill's Prescription Diet Feline l/d has recently been reformulated to overcome difficulties with sourcing adequate supplies of the beef ingredient. By reformulating the food, we are minimising the risk of interruptions to supply because of ingredient availability.

Please be reassured that the reformulated product provides the same high palatability, nutritional goodness and support for the pet as the previous formulation.

Should an owner with a pet on any therapeutic food encounter difficulties with acceptance, we would encourage the owner to contact their vet for advice at the earliest opportunity. In addition, Hill's staff are always keen to offer help and support, when required. We provide a Veterinary Technical Advice Service, which welcomes contact from veterinary clinic staff, should a vet wish to discuss a pet's feeding using products from our ranges. In addition, the staff on our free Helpline, 0800 282438, are available to offer assistance. This Helpline is available from 9 am to 4 pm, Mondays to Fridays. Please encourage the owner(s) mentioned in your email to contact their vet, if he/she has not already done so, and/or the staff on our Helpline.

We are pleased to learn that one of our foods proved to be of great benefit to your cat and, once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.

The food they are referring to in last sentence is AD!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #66 on:** January 31, 2007, 19:40:31 PM »

i finally got a reply to my question to Hills but its so long since I asked the question I cant remember exactly what I asked. I am sure that the answer does not reply but it does say that the LD diet has been reformulated and the way its reading is sorta with a yawn..............like, not another one asking about LD diet!

Have to say my opinion of Hills has gone right down and how they can reformulate something so important and use pork which you very rarely see in cat food, I dont know but I do think peeps on Purrs should start emailing Hills and asking them questions about this.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #65 on:** January 31, 2007, 15:13:40 PM »

I *just* have to find some affordable (vaguely) way of transporting the stockpiled cans! We weren't in the very English areas like Dordogne. The expiry date is apparently July 08 so I'm hoping that they can give me lots. I'm sure soon they will be forced into the new formula porky yuk too. The vet is ordering me mucho trays and if they arrive and are not with my friend the little E in the label box, I will definitely go beserk!
Horrible thing about liver disease is that his tum goes so tense and hard. Today he hasn't vomited so far but is clearly unhappy and nauseous. Any slight change in food (hardly eats when he's like this anyhow) would definitely mean whoops.

I believe Hills are part of Colgate Palmolive so I will be changing my own brand of toothpaste - hardly a huge dent on their profits, but still.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #64 on:** January 31, 2007, 08:07:42 AM »

Fingers crossed you can get a regular supply from France, and I do promise to get round to the food at some point!!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #63 on:** January 31, 2007, 00:07:45 AM »

You are part of a great big cat family now and we all try and help each other, and learn by what problems others have had. Lets hope that you can get a regular supply from France.

There is another thread I just seen , cant remember title grrrrrrrrrrr, but the cat also has liver probs and will not eat Hill L/D, whats the better its the grotty pork one and if who ever it is sees this thrtead they may find some better options.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #62 on:** January 30, 2007, 15:22:36 PM »

Waiting to hear from the vets in France as to what they can get for me. The one can that arrived from my friend went down the hatch fine so is clearly beef.
I just hope they still have some trays left and that I can get them here as that will take the pressure off for many months IF it works.
Paws, fingers and all appendages crossed.

Failing that, it's back to the 'which one makes him not vomit' search again and thanks for all your help everyone. It feels lonely at a time like this and you've helped me cope too.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #61 on:** January 29, 2007, 21:14:18 PM »

HAve sent you a pm.

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #60 on:** January 29, 2007, 20:55:48 PM »

I wouldn't be overly worried about the temperature, I don't think it has actually been below freezing in the UK (not sure about France though) and I would imagine that most warehouses where the Hills or indeed any pet food comes from would be pretty cold so even the food that you get direct from your vets has probably been subject to the same sort of temperatures. After all it would have had to have got from the factory, to the warehouse, to the individual supplier under the same sort of conditions that it underwent before reaching you.

Let us know how Swampy gets on with it....

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #59 on:** January 29, 2007, 20:40:54 PM »

Keeping fingers crossed that it works

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #58 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:45:23 AM »

Thanks again! I am going to have to get my vet to concentrate this week and ring and find the best food, but may give RC a ring myself too so thanks for the number. Gravy makes me a bit nervous in case it is rich as anything even vaguely rich makes him vomit. He needs palatable, but sticky (eat slowly) food. I'll get back to you on that - many thanks.

My friend who ' couriered' me 2 cans of french liver diet - the courier normally takes 24 hours. It left on wednesday and can be tracked by email - arrived at the south London depot at 4am today. That's really bad luck. That's also 5 days in freezing temperatures. I wonder if the cans are still usable? Hills US say not to freeze their food, opened or unopened. I may have to get some more sent on a real 24 hrs delivery after complaining!(think 24 hrs in a freezing truck or plane would be ok?!)

Edit: They have arrived. The label looks right. My friend packed them very well (only one dent) in plastic padding and jiffy bag. They are cold. My inclination is to wait 24 hours to open and see if he eats it. If he does and doesn't vomit (pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeez paws and fingers crossed that the new US formula hasn't reached France yet and won't for ages) they can organise me many trays to come (that will also take days in a freezing truck in Feb!!).
Maybe better freezing than boiling?!

Author Topic: nightmare with Hills over new L/D canned food (Read 21459 times)