Rating: 
Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food Adult (dry formula) earns the Advisor’s lowest rating of one star.
Currently, the Hill’s Science Diet Adult line includes sixteen dry kibble products.
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult (6 products)
- Hill’s Science Diet Mature Adult (3 for seniors)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Light (3 for weight management)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive (1 for skin, 1 for stomach)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult High Energy (for hunting/working dogs)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Oral Care
It’s important to acknowledge there are (of course) differences between these sixteen products.
But there are also notable similarities, too. All the recipes share a predominance of grain-based ingredients which creates an obvious scarcity of quality meat.
Because they’re so extreme in these shortcomings, the Adult Light and Mature recipes are covered in their own separate reviews.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Lamb Meal and Rice Recipe was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Lamb Meal and Rice
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: lamb meal, brewers rice, rice flour, ground whole grain wheat, ground whole grain sorghum, corn gluten meal, cracked pearled barley, animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), dried beet pulp, soybean oil, chicken liver flavor, flaxseed, potassium chloride, iodized salt, vitamins (l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), vitamin E supplement, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement), choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, taurine, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid, beta-carotene, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, lamb meal contains significantly more protein than even fresh lamb.
Lamb meal is a quality ingredient. But how much of it is actually present in this recipe?
Well, probably not as much as its “first ingredient” status might lead you to believe. After all, six of the next six items are all grains.
The second ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice. This is a cheap cereal grain by-product and not a quality ingredient.
The third ingredient is rice flour (whole rice minus its vitamins and fiber).
The fourth item is whole wheat. Although there’s no way to know for sure, the wheat used here is most likely pet-grade. It’s usually the same kind used to produce feeds for livestock and therefore frequently contaminated with insects, mites and molds.
Plus wheat is a prime suspect as a cause of chronic canine allergies.
The fifth ingredient is sorghum. Sorghum is a decent cereal grain with a smoother blood sugar behavior than many other grains. But it can be more difficult for a dog to digest.
The sixth item includes corn gluten. Gluten is what’s left over after corn has had all its starchy carbohydrate (the good stuff) dissolved out of it. The rubbery protein residue that’s left is the gluten.
Glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lacking many of the amino acids dogs need to sustain life.
Corn gluten is responsible for some of the protein reported in this dog food.
The next item is barley. Barley is a quality carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients.
Like most of the Science Diet Adult recipes, this dog food contains animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of “rendering”… the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.
Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this stuff could come from almost anywhere… restaurant grease, slaughterhouse waste, diseased cattle… even euthanized pets.
Needless to say, generic animal fat is not a quality ingredient.
By the way, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult for a dog to absorb.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry… the Bottom Line
It’s understandable to expect a lot from any product that calls itself “Science Diet”. So, I was quite disappointed as I began my review of this Hill’s line of adult dry dog foods.
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 23%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 53%.
By themselves, the nutrient gauges suggest this Hill’s Science Dog Food to be an average-to-below-average dry product.
But the over-abundance of grain, Hill’s stinginess in its supply of meat plus the presence of protein-enhancing corn gluten all work together to push this dog food toward a lower overall score.
With its less than ideal one-star rating, Hill’s Science Diet Adult dry formula may not be the best product for your dog… or your money.
Not recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?
Please feel free to share your comments below.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
HOW ABOUT ” HILLS ” ASSORTED PERSCRIPTION WET DIETS ?
LOOKS LIKE WINDOW CAULK TO US !
I’m a bit disappointed to find this. I decided to look up reviews of Science Diet, expecting to find it at least falling in the middle of the pack. I didn’t really know what to rate dog foods on, and the fact that this is at the bottom (and Hill’s charges what they do) is a huge disappointment.
The part that bothered me the most though is you say consult your vet; this is what my vet put my dogs on!
On the bright side, I learned a lot through DFA and I’m glad I found it.
My vet (and apparently many others) recommends Science Diet. Any ideas on how veterinarians might differ from your approach to rating dog foods?
Hi Tim… I try to keep my ratings as impartial and unbiased as I can. The quality of the ingredients used by Hill’s as well as the products’ published nutrient percentages tell the story. As always, the facts speak for themselves.
So… why do veterinarians still recommend Hill’s? That is a question I cannot answer.
The reason veterinarians recommend Science Diet – $$$$$$$$. All of their licenses should be revoked. We should boycott all veterinarians who sell Science Diet.
My pug had kidney stones when she was younger. After getting rid of the stones, she was placed on Science Diet c/d to support her bladder health for the rest of her life. However, since she’s been on the c/d, she has had chronic ear infections. I have tried everything else & the only thing I can conclude is that it’s the food. Could it be the large amount of corn? Is there any other food that will regulate her bladder issues & help with her ear infections? Please help. Thank you!
Hi Leah… I can’t help you with a top-rated dog food specific for kidney stones. But I can suggest the potential link between lower-grade cereal grains and a fairly common condition known as atopic dermatitis. It may not be the grains themselves… but contaminants IN the grains.
Please be sure to read my article “Dangerous Canine Diseases Linked to Grains in Dog Food“. Then ask your vet to consider a dog food containing higher quality grains (barley, brown rice, etc.)… or even going “grain-free”. If you decide to make a change, be sure to gradually “dovetail” the new dog into the old dog food SLOWLY… starting with just 10-20% of the new food and GRADUALLY increasing it over a 2 week period.
Hope this helps.
I have a Cockapoo, he is just reaching 3 years old and has been on science diet since we got him. He does get ear infection about every 2 months. The cocker spaniel is a breed known to get ear infections ( cockapoos are half cocker spaniel half poodle). do you think it’s from the food? He doesn’t seem to enjoy his food much… i really want to switch. However, i’m from a very cost conscience family. What is your cheapest highest (4-5 star) rated dog food?
Hi Emily… your question is a good one. However, we only review and rate dog foods and do not maintain up-to-date pricing information for the thousands of dog food products on the market. You may want to compare prices at one of the Internet’s many online pet food retailers.