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Hills Science Diet Dog Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons, Recalls & FAQ

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Hills Science Diet Dog Food a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Most people are somewhat familiar with Hills Science Diet dog food, which has been around since the 1930s. Thats when Morris Franka man promoting the concept of using dogs to enable the blindmet Dr. Mark Morris, Sr.

Franks dog was suffering from kidney failure, and Frank was desperate for a way to save him. Dr. Morris discovered that the issue was a lack of proper nutrition and that the fix was a dog food he and his wife created in their kitchen. This dog food led Franks dog to recovery, and thats when Dr. Morris realized that the idea of how nutrition affects health issues in dogs was one to explore further. So, in 1948, he decided to partner with Burton Hill to mass-market the dog food recipe he created for Franks dog.

In 1976, the Colgate-Palmolive Company (which you are also likely familiar with) purchased the company but carried on the tradition of nutritious dog food for pups with health issues. Each recipe is created with the help of nutritionists, vets, and scientists to ensure the best quality possible. Although Hills benefits dogs with specific health issues, the brand has a few downsides.

At a Glance: The Best Hills Science Diet Dog Food Recipes:

Hills Science Diet Dog Food Reviewed

Hills Science Diet dog food has been around for a bit, so youre probably familiar with the brand (or have at least heard of it). Its always a good idea to learn more about a formula before buying it. Hills focuses on making dog food recipes according to common health issues dogs face, so while it may be suitable for most dogs, it may not be ideal for every dog.

Also, several of Hills formulas contain peas and legumes (which have been linked to heart disease in dogs) and grains that dont necessarily add a lot of fiber.

Who Makes Hills Science Diet, and Where Is It Produced?

Hills Science Diet is made in Topeka, Kansas. They have a food processing plant, animal hospital, and nutrition center where they test and study how their food affects dogs. Their Global Pet Nutrition Center employs around 200 scientists who research the best foods for dogs dietary needs.

Which Type of Dog Is Hills Science Diet Best Suited For?

Hills is suitable for pretty much any dog. They make food for dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, and for all breeds. Their recipes are particularly good for dogs with health issues, and they carry a range of recipes meant to help with common health problems such as obesity, joint issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues, and more.

Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?

While most dogs should do well on Hills, those that are overweight might do better with a different brand, if only because many Hills recipes contain grains, which can equal extra calories. If thats your pup, they might do better with food such as Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food, which is grain-free.

Dogs that dont have health issues that need to be addressed might do well with healthier regular dog food, such as the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Knowing whats going into your pets food is vital, as some companies use less than stellar ingredients, so heres a look at the good and bad of Hills Science Diet dog food.

Proteins

Most Hills Science Diet dog food recipes use real meat as the first ingredient, which means your pup is getting an excellent source of protein. Thats always a plus! However, dogs with food sensitivities may have problems eating formulas with common protein sources such as chicken. Several of Hills recipes for dogs with sensitivities contain chicken. There are a handful of other options, such as turkey and lamb, to choose from.

While most of Hills recipes list meat as the first ingredient, a few list meat meal (such as lamb meal) as the first ingredient instead. Meat meal is also a good protein source for your dog, but some dog owners prefer recipes with whole meats.

Peas & Legumes

A downside to Hills Science Diet dog food is that many recipes contain ingredients such as yellow peas, pea fiber, soybean meal, and other legumes. Peas and legumes have been linked to heart disease in dogs. More research is needed to determine how large of a link it is, but you should be aware of it when purchasing food for your pet.

Grains

After the main ingredient of meat or meat meal, grains are the most common ingredients in Hills recipes. However, they arent necessarily the best grains that provide fiber. While several are whole grain ingredients such as whole grain wheat, there are also others such as sorghum and corn gluten meal. While not necessarily harmful, they provide more empty calories than fiber, so these ingredients could be improved. However, many recipes contain dried beet pulp, which will boost the fiber your dog receives.

Targeted Recipes

While targeted recipes for specific health and nutritional issues can be good, if your dog is generally healthy, they may not benefit from these recipes. Pups that dont have specific health issues may find themselves better off with food with better grains and fewer legumes. However, dogs with digestive or urinary issues may benefit from Hills Science Diet dog foods.

A Quick Look at Hills Science Diet Dog Food

Pros

• Good for dogs with specific health issues
• Most recipes use real meat as the first ingredient for quality protein
• Wide range of recipes

Cons

• Contains peas & legumes
• Not the best grains are used
• Healthy or overweight dogs may not fare well on Hills

Recall History

Hills Science Diet dog food has been around for a while, which means it has also had a few recalls in its history.

In March 2007, Hills was part of the melamine scare that caused multiple recalls. Thousands of animals died from eating pet foods containing this chemical found in plastic, but its unknown how many consumed Hills formulas.

The next recall came in June 2014, when 62 bags of Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Recipe were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination (only in Nevada, California, and Hawaii). Though it wasnt a true recall, Hills did do a market withdrawal in 2015, where they pulled a few canned recipes. The reason is unknown, but its thought to have been because of a labeling issue.

Hills Science Diets most recent recall was in 2019. Over 30 canned recipes were recalled due to the massive (and toxic) amounts of vitamin D in them. Hills company blamed the amount of vitamin D on a supplier. Though an exact number is unknown, it is believed that hundreds of pets died due to this, and a lawsuit soon followed.

Reviews of the Best 3 Hills Science Diet Dog Food Recipes

Here, well take a more in-depth look at the three best Hills Science Diet Dog Food recipes.

1. Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food

This Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Dry Dog Food is for adult pups who have digestive issues or problems with dry, itchy skin. It promises to deliver easier digestibility for your dog by featuring real chicken as the first ingredient and added fiber from beetroot pulp.Theres also a wealth of omega fatty acids and vitamin E to improve the look and feel of your pets skin and coat.

Yellow peas are listed as the third ingredient, so you should weigh the implications of peas and heart disease when making your decision.

Pros

• Designed for pups with sensitive stomachs and skin
• Real chicken as first ingredient
• Added fiber for digestibility

Cons

• Contains peas
• May not be suitable for dogs without digestive or skin issues

2. Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dry Dog Food

If you have a doggo that needs a little help getting their weight under control, this might be the food for you! Hills designed the Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Dry Dog Food to be lower in calories and higher in protein to help your furry friend stay at a healthy weight while maintaining lean muscle mass.

Real chicken and chicken meal provide the protein boost, while fiber keeps your pup feeling fuller for longer. However, the formula contains pea fiber and green peas, so take that into consideration before purchasing.

Pros

• Should help dogs maintain a healthy weight
• More protein to promote lean muscle mass
• Added fiber

3. Hills Science Diet Large Breed Dry Dog Food

If you have a large dog, the Hills Science Diet Large Breed Chicken & Barley Dry Dog Food could be the perfect fit. As with most of Hills recipes, it features chicken as the main ingredient for a quality protein. It also provides an antioxidant blend proven to support your pets immune system and general health.

Since its designed for large breeds, this large-breed recipe also contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support the strength and health of joints and cartilage so your dog can stay mobile for a lifetime. Italso contains green peas, soybean meal, and soybean oil.

Pros

• Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
• Antioxidant blend supports the immune system

Cons

• Not suitable for small breeds
• Contains legumes

What Other Users Are Saying

The previous information should help you decide whether Hills Science Diet Dog Food is best for your dog, but nothing beats hearing what other pet parents say. Here are some examples of what people think of Hills Science Diet.

• Chewy: This food has changed my 9-year-old lab back into a puppy. Previously, he was on really cheap food and just moped around and ignored my 5-year-old heeler, but now he plays with her (and they play hard). I cant believe the difference that this food has made, not only in his demeanor but also in his coat, which is so smooth and shiny. I get compliments on how good he looks now, and I cant help but respond with, Thank you. I feed him Hills Science. Its expensive but totally worth it.
• Hills Pet: I have two bulldogs, one with moderate allergies (what we think is environmental after testing). My French bulldog came from a puppy mill, and she had urinary issues (crystals) when she was first adopted. Both girls have to watch their weight as well. This food has helped my Frenchie lose a few pounds and have no further urinary issues. It also has seemed to help with my dogs allergies (which I assume has to do with the high-quality ingredients). We use the chicken flavor. I think this food is an important choice, especially with a breed such as the bulldog, which has the potential for several health problems.
• Amazon: Amazon is always an excellent source of pet owners reviews. You can check out what others think of Hills here.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we give Hills Science Diet dog food four out of five stars for its nutritious formulas, which target dogs with health issues such as joint problems, digestive troubles, and more. However, Hills may not be best for dogs that are already healthy or those that are overweight. Many recipes have nutritious ingredients, such as real meat as the main ingredient, but they also contain peas, legumes, and grains that dont provide much fiber.

We recommend reading reviews from other pet parents to see how their dogs fared on Hills, weighing your decisions carefully, and consulting your veterinarian if your dog has any health conditions before making changes to their diet.

Hill's Science Diet Dog Food Review

Nutrients and Quality

Hill's Science Diet dog foods are manufactured in the USA and contain ingredients sourced primarily in the US. A few ingredients are sourced elsewhere in North America and in Europe. You can rest assured that Hill's Dog Foodsmeet thenutritional standards set by theWorld Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), two highly respected organizations that inspect and analyze thousands of pet foods for quality.

Hill's Pet Nutrition's impressive, 180-acreGlobal Pet Nutrition Center campusis the company's hub for the new product innovation and quality control. About 450 dogs live there and they have a plum job: they eat dog food for a living. The job of the 200 scientists who work there, however, is more complicated. The company formulates and tests its products routinely from an evidenced-based perspective, examining, among other factors, hownutrition can affect a pets gene expression to help them livelonger, healthier lives.In 200, Hill's Pet Nutrition was among the first company to begin adding anti-oxidants to their pet foods to boost pets' immune responses.

You can review the nutritional composition of every Hill's Science Dietdogfood on the company's website. We noted that meat is the first ingredient listed in some kibble-style foods, but there many exceptions. Hill's Science Diet wet foods typically list meat broth as their first ingredient, followed by meat. Many formulae do contain corn, wheat, and soy but you can also purchase products that are free of those foods, which is helpful for dogs that have food sensitivities or allergies.

Hill's Science Diet cat food do not contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Mostdo contain taurine, an ingredient that has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of DCM, a dangerous heart condition in dogs. Taurine is absent from grain-free dog foods. Hill's Science Diet offers a couple of grain-free foods but mostproducts contain barley or rice.

Hill's Pet Foods has been around a long time. The company's products have been subject to several recalls, the most recent occurring in 2019.

Price

Hill's Science Diet is available through specialty pet retailers, online through such websites as Amazon.com and Chewy.com, and at Walmart. We checked in with various other large grocery chains, including Stop and Shop,Kroger and Meijer, and it appears that the brand is not widely available in supermarkets. Looking further into pricing, we found that, at specialty pet retailers, Hill's Science Diet falls in the middle-to-high price range. A 35-lb. bag of Hill's Science Diet basic large breed kibble will run you about $58. However, specialty foods, such as those formulated for weight control or stomach sensitivities can be pricier. A 15-lb. bag of food made for dogs with stomach and skin sensitivities costs about $41. Wet foods follow a similar pattern.

Let's say you have a 20-lb. pooch.If you choose to feed your dog wet food exclusively, you can expect to spend about $6 per day. Therefore, the annual cost of feeding Hill's Science Diet wet food is just over $2200. Larger dog owners can expect to spend more, of course. On average, dog owners nationwide spend less than$1000 to feed their dogs. So Hill's Science Diet wet foods are a pretty costly choice.

Variety

Unlike many pet care brands that overwhelm you with dog food flavors, the Hill's Science Diet keeps things pretty simple. The brand concentrates on age-appropriate feeding and helping to address dog health concerns. The predominance of Hill's Science Diet foods are chicken-flavored, but we did note a couple of lamb-based foods. Lamb is one of the least allergenic meats you can eatthat's why pediatricians usually recommend it as baby's first meat. Dogs who are prone to itchy ears or yeasty paws also benefit from lamb-based diets.

Hill's Science Diet's focus on solving health problems is evident in its product selection. The brand line-up includes recipesfor maintaining your dog at a healthy weight, helping with digestive and skin issues, and promoting dental health. If your dog has issues with mobility, kidney or liver function, or urinary tract infections, for example, Hill's Prescription Diet foods are an excellent option to consider. These foods are typically given upon the advice of aveterinarian.