Rating
Type
Hot Extruded / Dry
Grain
Grain Inclusive
Origin
United States
Recipes
32
Is Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food Good?
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food is a pet food line with a 2 stars rating — accounts for 5% of all the pet food we review.
They seem to have a certain level of carbs, and contain ingredients we concern. We do not recommend this pet food.
What We like
- None
What We Concern
- Relatively Low Level of Protein
- More than 37% Carbs
- Numberous Controversial Ingredients
- Seems No Organic Minerals
- Seems No Probiotics to Aid Digestion
- Contain Potential Allergens like Corn, Soy, Gluten, and Dairy products
- Include Ingredients that might be Related to Poor Digestion
- Contain Ingredients that might be Uncertain
「Chief of Food」Fat Hill
Recipes Rating
Recipes could have different ingredients in the same product line. We rate each recipe and list them from higest to lowest ratings.
Higher protein and lower carbs recipes are rated higher
Recipe and 1st Ingredient
Rating
Grain Free
Hill's Science Diet Adult Oral Care
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：43% 3
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：44% 3
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Large Breed
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：44% 3
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Small & Mini
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：44% 3
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Small Bites
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：44% 3
Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed Light
1️⃣Chicken Meal 🍚Carbs：48% 2.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Light
1️⃣Chicken Meal 🍚Carbs：48% 2.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Light Small Bites
1️⃣Chicken Meal 🍚Carbs：48% 2.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Light Small Paws™
1️⃣Chicken Meal 🍚Carbs：48% 2.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Grain Free
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：49% 2.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
1️⃣Lamb Meal 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
1️⃣Lamb Meal 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed No Corn, Wheat, Soy
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult No Corn, Wheat, Soy
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion Salmon, Whole Oats, and Brown Rice
1️⃣Salmon 🍚Carbs：51% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：51% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Large Breed
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：51% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Small & Mini Chicken
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：51% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Small Bites
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：51% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Small Bites Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
1️⃣Lamb Meal 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Small Bites No Corn, Wheat, Soy
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult Small Paws™ Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
1️⃣Lamb Meal 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Perfect Digestion Large Breed Chicken, Brown Rice & Whole Oats
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's Science Diet Perfect Digestion Small Bites Chicken, Brown Rice & Whole Oats
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：52% 2
Hill's® Science Diet® Adult Small Paws™ Chicken Meal & Rice
1️⃣Chicken Meal 🍚Carbs：51% 2
Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ No Corn, Wheat, Soy
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：57% 1.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：53% 1.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility® Large Breed
1️⃣Chicken Meal 🍚Carbs：55% 1.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility™ Small Bites
1️⃣Chicken Meal 🍚Carbs：55% 1.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed Chicken & Barley
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：53% 1.5
Hill's Science Diet Adult Small Bites Chicken & Barley
1️⃣Chicken 🍚Carbs：53% 1.5
Tips
Recipes have similar ratings. This means they are quite similar.
Recipe to review
To rate Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food, we will take one representative recipe to evaluate the nutrition, ingredients and meat content of this product line.
We have chosen Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion Salmon, Whole Oats, and Brown Rice.
Nutrition Label
Pet food show guaranteed analysis on their labels. It includes moisture and does not reflect the level of carbs — which we prefer lower for dogs and as low as possible for cats.
From the label of Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion Salmon, Whole Oats, and Brown Rice
Protein
25%
Fat
15.5%
Fiber
2.5%
Carbs
?%
Calculate the dry value (no moisture) on a dry matter basis will help us to estimate the carbs level and other nutrition without water — so we can get a better idea about the ratio.
(We think the ideal nutrition profile would be Protein > Fat > Carbs)
| Nutrition | Our Ideal | Dry Value | Like? |
| Protein | 30% or more | 25% | |
| Fat | 15% or more | 16% | |
| Carbs | Less than 28% | 51% | |
| Fiber | Less than 5% | 2.5% |
Ingredients Overview
45 ingredients are listed on the label. We research their quality to pet and use our best judgement to group them in the proportion of Prefer, Concerned, and Notice ingredients in the bar chart.
♨ Allergen
3 units
🌋 Indigest
6 units
⁉ Uncertain
2 units
Organic Minerals Seems Not Included
Probiotics Seems Not Included
Prefer
Concerned
Notice
Neutral
Click an ingredient to see the detail
Salmon
Animal Protein One of the most nutrient-dense fish, high in protein, packed with omega 3s, B vitamins, and it is a good source of potassium selenium, and antioxidants.
Prefer A high-quality animal protein with high digestibility and biological value.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Cracked Pearled Barley
Carbs ♨🌋
A type of grain that is high in carbs and fiber, along with manganese and selenium.
Concerned An inexpensive filler with gluten, with limited nutrition value to dogs / cats.
♨
Allergen Contains gluten, which is one of the most common allergens that can cause skin rashes, itchiness, and irritation.
🌋
Related to Digest Gluten intolerances can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract, may result in diarrhea and discomfort stomach.
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Whole Grain Oats
Carbs A whole grain that has higher protein and fats compared to other types. It is rich in B-vitamins and dietary fiber.
Concerned An inexpensive filler without gluten, with limited nutrition value to dogs / cats.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Brown Rice
Carbs Whole grain rice with its bran and germ remained, high in carbs and fiber. Studies have shown that rice bran depletes taurine in cats, which is an essential amino acid.
Notice An inexpensive filler with proven disadvantages offers limited nutrition value to dogs / cats.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Whole Grain Corn
Carbs ♨🌋
A grain that is often referred as "cheap filler" in pet foods, mainly due to its high carbs content and low to moderate nutrition profile.
Concerned A controversial filler with limited nutrition value to dogs / cats.
♨
Allergen One of the most reported ingredients to be the likely cause of allergies. This could be due to the undiscovered contaminants within corns. Contrary to the real situation, studies show that the chance of getting corn allergy is 14% and only accounts for 3% of allergies.
🌋
Related to Digest It is high in cellulose, which is an insoluble fiber that is hard to digest.
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Corn Gluten Meal
Plant Protein Concentrate ♨🌋
Produced during wet milling of corn by separating protein from the starch. It contains 60% of protein, a relatively inexpensive source to boost up the protein level of pet foods.
Notice High level of plant-based protein is not easy to digest and offers less biological value. Good quality pet foods should obtain sufficient protein from animal sources.
♨
Allergen Made with corn, which is one of the most reported ingredients to be the likely cause of allergies. This could be due to the undiscovered contaminants within corns. Contrary to the real situation, studies show that the chance of getting corn allergy is 14% and only accounts for 3% of allergies.
🌋
Related to Digest A high dose of plant-based protein is hard for digestion and offers much less biological value (less absorbed by the body) to pets compared to animal protein.
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Chicken Meal
Animal Protein A dehydrated form of chicken, it is a meat concentrate that contains up to 4 times more protein than fresh chicken on dry matter basis.
Prefer A high-quality animal protein with high digestibility and biological value.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Chicken Fat
Fat The fatty layer separated during the cooking process, with a high level of omega 6, It is more preferable by dogs and cats over other types of fats.
Prefer A high-quality animal fat with high digestibility and biological value.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Chicken Liver Flavor
Food Additive The flavor made of chicken parts, it is used to make pet food more tasty and palatable.
Neutral A safe flavor enhancer to improve the taste.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Poultry Liver Flavors
Food Additive ⁉
A flavor made of unspecified poultry parts, it is used to make pet food more tasty and palatable.
Notice Often times generic name like poultry is used to cover the inferior meat quality from unknown sources, commonly found in low quality pet foods.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain Unnamed poultry products could be made of "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), turkey, chicken, roadkill, birds, which are not safe for consumption.
Ground Pecan Shells
Carbs Pecan shell fiber (also known as pecan shell flour or ground pecan shells) is a food ingredient produced from shells of pecans, excluding the husks and nut kernels. In pet food, it is used as a source of fiber.
Concerned A controversial filler with limited nutrition value to dogs / cats.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Lactic Acid
Food Additive A by-product of fermentation, used as a food preservative, especially for microbial control including Salmonella in pet foods.
Neutral A harmless food additive.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Potassium Chloride
Supplement An inorganic form of potassium, which offers 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body. It is essential for important functions like nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and carbon dioxide / oxygen transport.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Flaxseed
Fat One of the richest sources of plant-based omega 3s, well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It contains around 41% of fat, 57% of the total fatty acids is omega 3s.
Neutral A harmless seed with potential health benefits.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Dried Beet Pulp
Carbs The leftover pulp after sugar is extracted from sugar beets, contains higher fiber and less sugar compared to whole beets.
Concerned Controversial - Some say it is a good dietary fiber source, some believe it is just an inexpensive filler.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Citrus Pulp
Carbs 🌋
A common additive used for fat preservation. It is commonly found in citrus fruit like lemons and limes.
Concerned A food additive that might cause health issues.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest Research suggests that dogs consumed dry foods containing citric acid as a preservative have a 200% increased risk for gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloating). However, more research is required to make a solid conclusion.
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Soybean Oil
Fat 🌋
The oil extracted from soybeans, an inferior option as it contains more saturated fats than the majority of vegetable oils.
Concerned A controversial, less optimal choice of fat.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Calcium Carbonate
Supplement An inorganic form of calcium, it is essential in the formation of bones / teeth and different cellular functions. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Choline Chloride
Supplement Vital molecule for various functions in the body, lack of choline can result in weight loss, vomiting, and fatty liver.
Neutral A safe supplement for potential health benefits.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Iodized Salt
Others Mainly added to enhance the flavor, might cause kidney and blood pressure issues in a larger dose. High-quality pet foods should get a sufficient amount from raw meat, additional salt is not necessary.
Concerned A controversial ingredient that might cause health issues, unnecessary for the risk.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Dicalcium Phosphate
Supplement 🌋⁉
A supplement for calcium and phosphorus. It is mainly used to improve the texture of pet foods. It is also found in some toothpaste as a polishing agent.
Notice A risky supplement that can cause health issues, backed by research studies.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest It does not absorb any water, almost insoluble, and becomes very hard in digesting.
⁉
Uncertain Studies show that it can cause the formulation of kidney stones.
Cranberries
Carbs High in vitamin C and antioxidants, it is also best known for fighting Urinary Tract Infections. While it could be true for humans, the effect on pets is yet to be confirmed by further research.
Neutral Fruit is an acceptable source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Pumpkin
Carbs An alternative high carbs filler with an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and beta carotene.
Neutral An acceptable filler with higher nutrition value compared to rice, corn, and wheat.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Vitamin E Supplement
Supplement Supplement for vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant that protects oxidative damages on cellular membranes by free radicals. A deficiency will result in symptoms like anorexia, depression, and dermatitis.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate
Supplement Supplement for vitamin C, which can help to prevent oxidative damages by radicals, maintain healthy skin, and boost the immune system.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Niacin Supplement
Supplement Known as vitamin B3, essential to maintain healthy GI tracts, skin/coat, and nervous system.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Thiamine Mononitrate
Supplement An organic form of thiamine, has 5 - 15% more absorption rate than the inorganic form. It is important for energy production and glucose metabolism.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Vitamin A Supplement
Supplement Supplement of vitamin A, it is essential for healthy skin, normal vision, and immune function.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Calcium Pantothenate
Supplement An organic form of calcium, it is essential in the formation of bones / teeth and different cellular functions. Compare to inorganic form, it has 5 - 15% more absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Riboflavin Supplement
Supplement A synthetic supplement for vitamin B2. which is vital for the body's metabolism and health.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Biotin
Supplement A water-soluble vitamin B that is important for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and nails.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Vitamin B12 Supplement
Supplement Supplement for vitamin B12, which is vital for carbon transfer and propionate metabolism. A deficiency will result in symptoms similar to gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea and weight loss.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Supplement A synthetical supplement of vitamin B6, which is an essential element for nearly every part of metabolism.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Folic Acid
Supplement A synthetic form of folate, which is also known as vitamin B9. It plays an important role to support the body's functions, such as cell growth.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Vitamin D3 Supplement
Supplement Supplement for vitamin D3 (animal-derived), which is essential for calcium homeostasis - to maintain a constant concentration of calcium. A deficiency will result in osteopenia (lower bone mass).
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Taurine
Supplement An essential amino acid (building blocks of protein) to maintain a healthy brain and heart functions.
Prefer A safe supplement to improve the completeness of essential amino acids profile (the building block of protein).
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Ferrous Sulfate
Supplement An inorganic form of iron. It is essential for the transport and movement of oxygen around the body. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Zinc Oxide
Supplement An inorganic form of zinc, which is vital in skin function and wound healing, cell replication, the structure and function of biological membranes. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Copper Sulfate
Supplement An inorganic form of copper, which is important for the production of blood cells, hair coat color pigmentation, and maintaining the nervous system. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Manganous Oxide
Supplement An inorganic form of manganese that has 5 - 15% less absorption rate than the organic form. It is essential for the transport and movement of oxygen around the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Calcium Iodate
Supplement An inorganic form of calcium, it is essential in the formation of bones / teeth and different cellular functions. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Sodium Selenite
Food Additive An inorganic selenium supplement. It remains controversial as the long term effect of consuming it is not known, and there is a much safer organic alternative available.
Concerned A food additive that is likely to be safe but unnecessary.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Mixed Tocopherols
Food Additive A mixture of different types of vitamin E, usually found in plant oils, seed and green vegetables. They are powerful antioxidants used as a natural preservative to slow down the spoilage of food.
Neutral A harmless food additive.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Natural Flavours
Food Additive Made of extracts from plant or animal sources to improve the taste of food.
Concerned Contrary to its name, natural flavors are highly processed and contain many chemical additives.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Beta-carotene
Supplement An antioxidant and a precursor to Vitamin A helps to regulate both cellular and immune responses.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional antioxidants.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Tips
We find 10 Concerned and 4 Notice ingredients from Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion Salmon, Whole Oats, and Brown Rice. Check from the above list to view the details.Concerned
- Cracked Pearled Barley
- Whole Grain Oats
- Whole Grain Corn
- Ground Pecan Shells
- Dried Beet Pulp
- Citrus Pulp
- Soybean Oil
- Iodized Salt
- Sodium Selenite
- Natural Flavours
Notice
- Brown Rice
- Corn Gluten Meal
- Poultry Liver Flavors
- Dicalcium Phosphate
Estimated Meat Content
Some pet food uses high plant protein ingredients to boost up the overall protein level — to make it looks like it includes a lot of meat, which is more appealing for customers.
Therefore, protein level itself cannot tell the quality and how much animal ingredients (more digestible than plants) is in the pet food.
Check if protein is overrated by plant protein boost up
Count of Plant Protein
1 / 7 (14%)
in top 7 ingredients Protein Level
25%
in dry matterBy looking at the plant protein in top ingredients and compare with the total protein level, we will try to estimate how much animal ingredients is used in the pet food as Meat Content.
Meat Content
Based on my "godly" guess, the meat content might be Low to medium !
It looks like it contains some amount of meat. Your furbabies would prefer something with more meat!
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food Product Line Review
To make a conclusion about the whole product line, we will consider all recipes and their average nutrition ratio.
Recipes Average Compares to Ideal Level
In the total of 32 recipes, the group has an average of 25% protein, 14% fat and 50% carbohydrate.
（Protein and Fat: Prefer Higher丨Carbs: Prefer Lower）
- Protein is -5 (%) less than ideal
- Fat is -1 (%) less than ideal
- Carbs is 22 (%) higher than ideal
What does it mean?
Overall,Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food has an carbs level higher than our preferred level.
Conclusion
Throughout the review, we have 3 major opinons about this pet food line:
- Nutrition ratio, mainly the level of carbs raises our attention
- Ingredients might be worth to take a second look
- Low to medium level of meat content
Based on these, we can conclude Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food is a pet food line with a 2 star rating.
Do we recommend Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food ?
There are several things make us concerned, so we do not recommend it. If there is a very strong reason for you to choose it, try to mix with other pet food with higher meat to enrich the diet.
The review is entirely our own view and opinon. It is for informational reference only and not a purchase advice.
「Chief of Food」Fat Hill
Has an unusual obsession with the taste and ingredients of food, over 5+ years experience in professional eating. As the Chief of Food, he will tell you the truth about food.
"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, and Stay Hungry again!"
