is science plan a good 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
Hills Science Plan Dog Food Review
Hills have been using science to create high-quality, nutritious dog food since 1939 and have used the combined expertise of over 220+ vets, scientists, and pet nutritionists.
This company aims to help owners provide the best nutrition for their pets to ensure that they live long and happy lives.
Hills are also commuted to high standards of animal welfare and never use invasive methods of testing to develop new food for the pet food market. This means that you can feed your dog with confidence, knowing that no other animal has been harmed in the development process.
The Food Range
Hills Science Plan has a range of foods available for every type of dog. The biology-based food is tailored for every type of dog, regardless of size and need.
From tiny healthy puppies to dogs into their later years who have health issues, the nutritious food will help to keep your pet in good health throughout their lives. When selecting the right food for your dog, with the science plan dog food you can choose from:
Puppy
Specially made wet and dry food that is full of lean protein and all the minerals and nutrients needed to help them as they grow into adulthood. Hills science plan focuses on the milestones that your puppy needs to meet and ensures that the food they offer allows them to develop to their full potential.
Adult
With both wet and dry adult and older adult food, Hills are there to help your dog at every step of its journey. They take their understanding of the developmental stages of dogs and ensure that each category of food offers the same high-quality ingredients and the nutrients they need to live an active life. There are a range of flavour options to choose from too so that your dog will always be ready for dinnertime.
Recommended: We discuss dog subscription boxes in our latest guide.
Small & Mini
If your dog is a miniature or a small pet, then they will need food that has been specifically designed for them. Hills science plan dog food for small and mini dogs comes in a wide variety of flavours with both wet and dry options to choose from so that your dog will get the delicious meal they love day after day.
Weight
Sometimes you may find that your dog needs to lose a few pounds, and this can be hard work if they are used to eating a set menu. The science plan dog food reviews all show that dogs who use the weight management options not only love the food they are given but make excellent progress on their weight loss journey. Hills science plan, coupled with exercise and play, will help any dog get back into shape.
Mobility
If your dogs mobility is not what it used to be then the Hills Science plan dog food formulated for mobility care is sure to help. This dry food range uses Hills advanced nutritional knowledge to create delicious meals that will get your dogs joints moving well.
Recommended Next: Arkwrights dog food is said to be the best in the market for sporting and working dogs. We find out why!
Health Benefits
The great thing about Hills is that all their foods are created to help your dog be the best version of themselves. All the nutrients, vitamins and minerals added to each food have been carefully selected to give the best health benefit.
From mobility care to weight management and dental care to food intolerances, Hills offer it all and the health benefits will help your pet to enjoy every minute of their time with you.
Beneficial Ingredients
Hills pride themselves on using the best quality ingredients in their dog foods to keep your pet healthy and happy. The range of foods available use high-quality cuts of chicken, lamb and salmon to give the delicious flavor profiles that dogs love.
In addition, the Hills diet means that your dog will get the optimum levels of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and fiber to help them navigate each day. These ingredients are sourced from the best suppliers and made using expert knowledge so that each bite is great for your dogs health and wellbeing.
Is Hills Science Plan Good Value for Money?
One of the best things about this food is that it is excellent value for money when you stop to consider the amount of care that has gone into making it.
You are getting access to well-researched food that has been created to help your dog overcome a wide range of issues, and while it is not as cheap as a supermarkets own brand, it can be said to be better value as you may potentially pay less in vet bills and get to enjoy your dog for longer.
The Downsides Of Hills Dog Food
The only real drawback to buying Hills is working out which combinations are best for your dog. However, there is clear guidance on their website so that you can do some research and make your decision before you head out to stock up. You can even call their helpline if you need further advice, meaning that your dog will end up with the perfect food every time.
Up Next: Carnilove dog food is an excellent choice for pet owners. Read our review and find out why.
Conclusion
Not only is Hills backed by science, but it also offers a taste experience that all dogs are sure to love. You know you are buying quality with this brand, and if you take the time to find the right combination for your dog, then you may even have them stay healthier and happier for longer.
It is a high-quality product that comes with a fair price tag, meaning that when you purchase it, you are investing in your dogs overall health and should see reductions in any ongoing ailments or vet trips over time. It is a leader in the arena of pet food for health, and buying it will leave you safe in the knowledge that your dog is well cared for.
