About Hill’s Science Diet
Hill’s is a premium pet food company that comes highly recommended by veterinarians. Hill’s Pet Nutrition has two main lines of dog food: Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. But in this dog food review, we’re specifically looking at the #1 US Veterinary Recommended brand—Hill’s Science Diet.
Hill’s Science Diet started in 1948 when Dr. Mark Morris, a veterinarian known for formulating some of the world’s first clinical veterinary diets, was contracted by Burton Hill of the Hill Packing Company in Topeka, Kansas. Originally, Dr. Morris licensed Hill to produce his pet food formulas. They worked together to manufacture food for dogs with kidney disease under the name Canine k/d.
Dr. Morris and the Hill Packing Company developed into Hill’s Pet Nutrition and they continued to grow and evolve, developing and adding formulas that were tailored to various conditions, lifestyles and stages of life.
In 1976, Hill’s Pet Nutrition was bought by Colgate-Palmolive Company and now Hill’s pet food products are available in 86 countries around the world. Plus, they have a shiny reputation across the internet because of their attention to detail in treating specific pet ailments. They work closely with food scientists, vets, and Ph.D. nutritionists to make food that helps with everything from food sensitivities, weight management, kidney care, digestive health and joint health.
Their Science Diet brand provides biology-based nutrition to anticipate your pet’s needs as they grow through the life stages. Furthermore, their formulas feature natural, great-tasting ingredients, precise nutrition and evidence-based antioxidants. When you give your dog Hill’s, you can be rest assured knowing it’s likely something your vet would recommend.
Now that you know more about Hill’s, it’s time to dive deeper into their Science Diet products. To help you better decide on whether this dog food is the right fit for your canine, we’ve reviewed their highest-rated dry and wet dog food below.
Best Dry Dog Food
from Hill’s Science Diet
Hill’s Science’s top-selling dry dog food is made for small/toy breed adults over 7 years of age. It is a delicious recipe that will keep your dog young. It has powerful antioxidants to help ward of disease, and the inevitable effects of ageing.
With 19% protein, it is enough for small and toy breeds. It will keep their muscles fed. It also has 11% fat, including valuable essential fatty acids, for your dog’s skin and coat health.
Customer reviews:
“I bought this dry food along with the same food in a can. I give my doggie dry in the morning and wet food at night. She has always eaten dry food but Hill’s makes this food in a can as well. She loves both of them. She has been more active since she started this food. She is pretty old and this food is really helping her.”
“My dog loves her new food. Her coat is much shinier. She also seems to be perkier.”
Guaranteed analysis:
- Protein (min): 22.0%
- Fat (min): 9.0%
- Fiber (max): 4.0%
- Moisture (max): 10.0%
Nutritional Info
Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Field Peas, Lentils, Potato, Tapioca, Duck Meal, Herring Meal, Sun Cured Ground Miscanthus Grass, Natural Flavor, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Apples, Menhaden Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Marine Microalgae, Dried Chicory Root, Lecithin, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Taurine, Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Carnitine, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Betaine Anhydrous, Iron Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Yucca Schidigera Extract.
Caloric Content
363 kcal/cup
Best Wet Dog Food
from Hill’s Science Diet
Annamaet Original Puppy Food is a kibble specifically formulated for your new family member, and no, I don’t mean a human baby if you just had one! Although with the wholesome ingredients that this recipe employs, I wouldn’t mind trying it myself. It is full of wholesome ingredients, like chicken meal, brown rice, fish meal, carrots, spinach and more! Looking at the ingredients it is good to see no signs of corn, wheat, or soy, making it a good option for puppies with sensitive stomachs, or to avoid triggering sensitivities.
With 26% protein, and 14% fat content this recipe by Annamaet is suitable for all breeds and sizes. It has a nice middle ground of nutrition content, not too high, not too low! It is also enriched with prebiotics to support gut health.
Customer reviews:
“I started using Annamaet with my last Golden because of food sensitivities and it worked beautifully where so many others failed. The Company is awesome to deal with and will answer your questions to select the right dog food if you are not sure. We just got a new Golden puppy and he loves it and we love it because we know it is quality. Highly recommend.”
“Our now 10 month old puppy appears strong with great muscle definition and posture since using this food for several months now! Her breath is fresh and teeth clean..”
Guaranteed analysis:
- Protein (min): 26.0%
- Fat (min): 14.0%
- Fiber (max): 4.0%
- Moisture (max): 10.0%
Nutritional Info
Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Pearled Barley, Rolled Oats, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Flax Seed Meal, Dried Apples, Natural Flavor, Menhaden Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Dried Yeast, Lecithin, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Salt, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Taurine, Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Calcium Carbonate, Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Carnitine, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Betaine Anhydrous, Iron Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Yucca Schidigera Extract.
Caloric Content
3887 kcal/kg = 1767 kcal/lb = 414 kcal/cup
How does Hill’s Science Diet stack up as a brand?
Hill’s Science Diet DRY Food
|
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Food (avg) |
Industry Average |
|
|
Protein |
20.5 |
26.5 |
|
Fat |
11.1 |
14.1 |
|
Fibre |
5.7 |
4.7 |
Hill’s Science Diet WET Food
|
Hill’s Science Diet Wet Food (avg) |
Industry Average |
|
|
Protein |
4.2 |
8.6 |
|
Fat |
2.5 |
4.7 |
|
Fibre |
1.9 |
1.5 |
Brand Recalls
Hill’s Science Diet does have a history of product recalls. Here is a brief breakdown of their past recalls:
2019
This was a huge worldwide recall that Hill’s Pet Nutrition issued for canned dog food due to dangerously high levels of Vitamin D. Hill’s blamed their supplier and promised to strengthen their quality check protocol thereafter.
2015
This was a market withdrawal (different from a recall) of several varieties of Science Diet dog food, most likely due to a labelling mistake.
2014
62 bags of Hill’s Science Diet Adult dry dog food was recalled in California, Hawaii and Nevada due to potential salmonella contamination.
2007
This year, Hill’s Science Diet was one of more than 100 pet food brands included in a widespread recall after the FDA and other food safety officials discovered melamine contamination.