Rating: 
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy (dry) receives the Advisor’s second-lowest rating of two stars.
Currently, the Hill’s Science Diet Puppy line includes five dry kibble products…
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Original
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Lamb Meal and Rice
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Lamb Meal and Rice Large Breed
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Hill's Science Diet Puppy Small Bites
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), liver flavor, flaxseed, soybean oil, powdered cellulose, dried beet pulp, fish oil, corn gluten meal, dicalcium phosphate, dried egg product, iodized salt, dl-methionine, potassium chloride, choline chloride, natural flavor, 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), vitamin E supplement, minerals (manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), l-tryptophan, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid, l-carnitine, beta-carotene, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.6%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first and principal ingredient in this dog food is corn. But this isn’t the corn you’re used to seeing in the supermarket. No, the corn used here is likely pet-grade… and rarely human quality.
The same kind of corn used to produce feed for livestock. So, it’s frequently contaminated with insects, mites and molds.
Plus… corn is one of the most common suspects mentioned as a probable cause of many canine food allergies.
Corn is not a quality ingredient.
The second item is chicken by-product meal… a dry “rendered” product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the prime cuts have been removed.
In a nutshell… those unsavory and inedible leftovers deemed “unfit for human consumption”.
This stuff could contain almost anything… feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs… you name it. This is another low-quality ingredient.
The next ingredient is animal fat. Animal fat is another by-product of “rendering”… the same high-temperature process used to make the chicken meal just discussed.
But there’s an important difference. This particular item is generic. Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this “mysterious” fat could come from restaurant grease, slaughterhouse waste, dying or diseased cattle… even euthanized pets.
Moving a little further down the list, you’ll notice an item referred to as powdered cellulose… a non-digestible plant fiber usually made from cotton or wood. It is used in dog food to add bulk.
Except for the usual benefits of fiber, powdered cellulose provides no nutritional benefit to a dog.
The next item includes dried beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is completely acceptable.
Corn gluten meal can also be found in this Hill’s puppy product . The gluten is the rubbery residue that’s left after corn has had all its starchy carbohydrate (the good stuff) dissolved out of it.
Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lacking many of the essential amino acids dogs need to sustain life.
It’s important to allow for some of this gluten-based protein when trying to interpret the reported protein content of this dog food.
Also, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult for a dog to absorb. This can be yet another clue we’re probably dealing with an inferior product.
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy (Dry)… the Bottom Line
This Hill’s Science Diet Puppy product has all the markings of any cheaply-made, low-quality dog food… an especially troubling issue when you’re talking about feeding this stuff to a puppy. A baby.
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 32%, a fat level of 23% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 37%.
An impressive protein-fat-carbohydrate profile for any dry kibble.
But (as always) looks can be deceiving.
A glance under the hood reveals Hill’s Science Diet Puppy to be a corn-based dry dog food with a good deal of its protein coming from low-quality chicken by-products… as well as some from the corn gluten meal.
With inferior ingredients like these and a two-star rating… you may want to look elsewhere for your purchase.
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.
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