Unlocking the Power of Science A Guide to Hill s Science Diet Dog Food
Hills Science Diet Dog Food Review
Is Hill's Science Diet a good dog food?
In this review The Dog Food Advisor takes an in-depth look at Hills Science Diet and rates each of its 6 most important sub-brands.
And well also reveal:
- Is Hills Science Diet made in the United States?
- Has Science Diet been recalled?
- Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?
But first
Which Hills Science Diet sub-brand is right for you?
Science Diet offers 6 popular sub-brands. Well share what makes each one different. So, you can choose the option that best meets your dogs needs.
Science Diets most popular dry kibble. Each recipe is made with grain and optimized specifically for adult nutrition.
- 11 recipes just for small dogs
- 8 options for large breeds
- 4 recipes for sensitive stomach and skin
- Not recommended for puppies
- 26 recipes (ratings vary)
View all Recipe Ratings
This sub-brand includes Hills best-selling dry and fully balanced puppy recipes.
- Healthy grain-inclusive formula
- 2 large breed puppy foods. Lower risk of hip disease
- 6 recipes (ratings vary)
View all Recipe Ratings
This sub-brand offers Science Diets leading canned food thats optimized for puppies.
- Fully balanced, protein-rich blend
- Not suitable for large breed puppies
- 4 recipes (ratings vary)
View all Recipe Ratings
Hills Adult Plus dry formulas are made with grain. Each recipe is specifically optimized for senior dogs.
- 5 recipes designed for small breed seniors
- 2 formulas for large breed seniors
- 11 dry recipes (ratings vary)
View all Recipe Ratings
Hills Adult Wet formulas are ideal for dogs considered fully grown. They are not suitable for puppies.
- 3 recipes for sensitive stomach and skin
- Not for puppies of any breed
- 15 recipes (ratings vary)
View all Recipe Ratings
As you can tell by its name, this Science Diet dry sub-brand is designed for dogs who need to lose weight. Recipes are all grain-inclusive.
- Reduced caloric-density for controlled weight loss
- Contains L-carnitine to promote steady weight loss
- 4 recipes (ratings vary)
View all Recipe Ratings
Which Hills Science Diet Adult Dry Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Hills Science Diet Adult Dog Food receives the Advisors mid-tier rating of 3.5 stars.
The Hills Science Diet Adult product line includes the 26 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Hills Science Diet Adult Small Paws Chicken Meal and Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice is a cereal grain by-product consisting of the small fragments left over after milling whole rice. Aside from the caloric energy it contains, this item is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The third ingredient is wheat. Like corn, wheat is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider wheat a preferred component in any dog food.
The next ingredient is soybean meal, a by-product of soybean oil production more commonly found in farm animal feeds.
Although soybean meal contains 48% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth item is sorghum. Sorghum (milo) is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.
Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.
The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is barley, which is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The next item is corn. Corn is another cereal grain and subject to the same issues as wheat (previously discussed).
After the chicken and pork liver flavors, we find flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Science Diet product.
With 6 notable exceptions
First, soybean oil is red flagged here only due to its rumored (yet unlikely) link to canine food allergies.
However, since soybean oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and contains no omega-3s, its considered less nutritious than flaxseed oil or a named animal fat.
Next, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
In addition, we note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
This recipe also contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
We also find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Hills Science Diet Adult looks like an average dry kibble.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 25%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 51%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 24% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 53% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
Which means this Science Diet product line contains
Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the soybean meal, flaxseed and peas in this recipe, and the corn gluten meal contained in other recipes, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing just a moderate amount of meat.
Hill's Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Hill's through April 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Hill's Science Dog Food
Hills Science Diet Adult is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3.5 stars.
Recommended with Reservations
Who owns Hill's Science Diet and where is it made?
Hills Pet Nutrition is owned by the Colgate-Palmolive Company.
Hills Science Diet products are made in the United States. The company operates major facilities in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Topeka and Emporia, Kansas, Richmond, Indiana as well as the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
What Do Others Say About Hill's Science Dog Food?
At the time of this update
Chewy customers rate Hills Science Diet Adult Large Breed 4.6 out of 5 stars and 94% say they would recommend it to others.
Heres an actual user review
Sample buyer review Ive tried 2 other brands for our German Shepherd and after 10 months her bathroom business continued to be a mess. So since she was almost a year old I switched her to the Hills Diet. After a couple weeks her poop was noticeably more solid so that we could easily pick it up on walks and in the yard. I think thats a great barometer to see if her body works well with this food and it does!
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
Adult Light with Chicken Meal & Barley Dog Food
INGREDIENTS:Chicken Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Pea Fiber, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Sorghum, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Dried Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Lactic Acid, Pork Flavor, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Oat Fiber, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, L-Carnitine, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility dog food
INGREDIENTS:Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Brown Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Soybean Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Corn Gluten Meal, Fish Oil, Flaxseed, Lactic Acid, Pork Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Iodized Salt, Calcium Carbonate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, L-Lysine, Oat Fiber, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, L-Carnitine, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas.
How Often Should I Feed My Dog?
Growing dogs need plenty of food and your veterinarian may tell you to feed a new puppy a few times a day. However, what about when your dog gets older? You might wonder, "how often should I feed my dog," or "how much should my dog eat?"
To answer those questions, here are some feeding guidelines that cover boisterous puppies, relaxed seniors, and every age in between.
Nourishing a Puppy
Since puppies grow quickly, they need to eat highly nutritious food and they need it often. Since they tend to burn so much energy, you'll start out feeding your puppy frequently, then slowly wean them down to less regular feedings. This process will help them grow big and strong.
6 to 12 Weeks
Puppies should be eating food nutritionally designed to meet their needs for bone and muscle growth, like Hill's Science Diet Puppyfoods, which fuels your on-the-move puppy. A quality puppy food contains optimal amounts of protein, DHA, and vitamins to keep your puppy growing at appropriate rates. For puppies, four feedings a day are recommended for ages six to twelve weeks. It's also a good idea to start puppies with moistened food to help them chew.
3 to 6 Months
Feedings can decrease to three times a day during this period. You will see your puppy start to mature during this phase their baby potbelly and pudginess will start to disappear. Its recommended to feed them puppy-sized portions until you see signs that their body is maturing.
6 to 12 Months
At this age, reduce to twice-daily feedings. Keep in mind that after your dog is neutered, their energy level may decrease, so it may be a good time to switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult food. While you should always check with your vet about your puppies specific growth, typically smaller breeds should transition to adult food at 10-12 months, while larger breeds may take a little longer 1214 months or even longer. Bigger breeds should continue on puppy food longer, up to 14 months.
Not sure what your dog needs? It's also good to make the switch to adult food over a period of a few days. Too abrupt of a change may cause stomach problems for your pooch. To transition between foods, mix your dog's current food while gradually increasing to their new food. Over the course of a week, gradually decrease the amount of the current dog food while increasing the amount of new dog food for a safe and comfortable transition.
As with anything that plays a pivotal role in your dog's overall health and development, talk to your veterinarian about proper feeding regiments. While dog food bags and cans will often provide feeding instructions on the packaging, feeding habits can vary from dog to dog based on breed, weight, health conditions and more. Your vet will be able to provide you the best recommendation to the sized proportions you should be feeding your pup to help set themup healthy growth.
Feeding an Adult Dog
Once your dog is fully grown, you need to make sure you're feeding dog food that keeps them healthy and fit, so that they avoid developing health issues. Food type and portion size should be tailored to breed, size, and lifestyle. Again, this is a good conversation to have with your veterinarian to ensure they receive adequate nutrition.
Years 1 to 7
Most owners feed adult dogs two half-portions a day. How much is that? It depends on your dog. Measure food, rather than eye-balling it, to make sure your dog is getting the right amount each day. Keep an eye on your dog for signs of weight gain, and cut down on food if necessary under the supervision of your vet. Some of the signs your dog is overweight include not being able to feel their ribs, loss of a discernible waist, pads of fat over the hips and base of the tail and a waddling gait.
Dogs should eat at regular times, usually once in the morning and once in the evening the key is consistency. Also, keep in mind that the type of food you choose is important. If you have a more sedentary dog, consider a food that matches their lifestyle to ensure they still get the right nutrients without causing weight gain.
Years 7+
Your dog is getting older, a little slower perhaps. You have to remember dogs age more quickly than people do, so major health changes occur much earlier in life. Choose a food, like Science Diet Seniorfoods, formulated with ingredients to support brain function, energy, a healthy immune and digestive system and a luxurious coat. Food formulated for aging pets also takes into consideration that they have likely slowed down this includes their metabolism. Dog foods like Senior Vitality help give your older pup the right amount of calories, while including additional nutrients to help them get that youthful spirit back.
Caring for a Senior
Your dog has officially made it over the hill of middle age. With seniority your dog is changing, so make sure you're keeping an eye on their nutrition and health, and consult your vet to see if you should switch to a senior dog food.
Larger breed dogs may reach seniority sooner than smaller breeds, so it is important to ask your vet when your pooch has reached this phase. For instance, your shih tzu might still be barreling around the house at eleven, but your golden retriever might be slowing down by age seven.
It might be around this time that you'll want to cut back on food to avoid the weight gain that comes with less activity. You should also watch senior dogs for signs of weight loss, which can be a sign of health issues, like dental problems. Continue with twice a day feedings. Your dog may appreciate the routine. If you see changes to your dog's weight or eating habits, talk to your vet.
Feeding your dog the right amount of high-quality dog food through each step of their life will go a long way to keeping your four-legged friend healthy. Just as eating amounts vary from person to person, eating amounts vary from dog to dog, which is why consulting your vet is the best place to start.
Keep in mind the above age ranges and information are just guidelines. Health issues might age your dog faster, or they could remain vital well into their senior years. Monitoring your dog's health, choosing high-quality dog food for every life stage, and keeping an open dialogue with your vet will help you answer how much to feed your dog and make the best choices to nourish your furry friend through puppyhood and into his golden years.
