Ingredient #1Upper
Lamb Meal
Lamb Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
Label analysisGrade DListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Hill's
Hill's Adult Small & Mini Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food | Hill's Science Diet
Editor ingredient insight
Hill’s Small & Mini Lamb Meal & Brown Rice starts with lamb meal, brown rice, and brewers rice, with normal adult fat and calories.
I would use it as a lamb-and-rice small-dog daily food, not for grain-free or low-fat weight control.
Meal-basedPlant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 25%Fat 15.4%Other 59.6%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type
Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.
Protein positionTypical
This food sits around the typical crude protein range among extruded foods.
Fat positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.
Calorie densityTypical
This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.
Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.28%
Phosphorus0.78%
Crude fiberNot disclosed
Omega-30.5%
Omega-63.9%
Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.
02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE
Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade
The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.
Listed ingredients
Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.
Ingredient gradeMixed
Ingredient #1 · Lamb MealUpper
Named MealIngredient #2 · Brown RiceUpper
Whole GrainIngredient #3 · Brewers RiceLower
Refined CarbIngredient #2Upper
Brown Rice
Brown Rice is a whole or coarse grain ingredient. It usually plays more of a carbohydrate and fiber role than a core protein role. It reads as an upper-tier carb and fiber source.
Ingredient #3Lower
Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice is a refined carbohydrate source. It usually reads as a starch and energy source rather than a protein driver. It reads as an lower-tier carb source.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Lamb Meal — Support positive ingredientsBrown Rice — Neutral ingredientsBrewers Rice — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Corn — Neutral ingredientsWheat Gluten — High-caution ingredientsWhole Grain Wheat — Neutral ingredientsChicken Fat — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Sorghum — Neutral ingredientsCracked Pearled Barley — Neutral ingredientsPea Protein — High-caution ingredientsChicken Liver Flavor — Support positive ingredientsDried Beet Pulp — Support positive ingredientsSoybean Oil — Neutral ingredientsLactic Acid — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsPork Liver Flavor — Support positive ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Carbonate — Neutral ingredientsL-Lysine — Neutral ingredientsIodized Salt — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Oats — Neutral ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientsFructooligosaccharides (FOS) — Support positive ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsvitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement) — Support positive ingredientsPumpkin — Neutral ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsminerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite) — Support positive ingredientsMixed Tocopherols for freshness — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavors — Support positive ingredientsL-Tryptophan — Neutral ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsBeta-Carotene — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide
Processed plant protein after the top 3
Animal protein · Lamb Meal (#1)
Plant protein · Wheat Gluten (#5), Pea Protein (#10)
The protein number includes processed plant protein support.
Even when it appears later, the protein number is read more conservatively.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
FOSGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient
03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG
What to consider before feeding
Lamb Meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Brown Rice, Brewers Rice supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
Wheat Gluten, Pea Protein supplement plant protein further down the list, after the first three ingredients. The crude-protein figure includes both animal and plant contributions. Chicken Fat add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.
What works well in this food
- Crude protein does not drop into a clearly low band.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
Check before feeding
- Refined carbohydrates lose fiber, vitamins, and minerals during processing, and mainly act as starch and energy sources. Because of that, our engine reads ingredient quality more conservatively than it would with whole grains.
- Processed plant protein appears after the top 3, so some protein support is still built into the label number.
- Calcium:Phosphorus Ratio (1.64:1, reference 1.1~1.6:1): Within an acceptable range, but not the optimal one.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is typical, fat is higher, and calorie density is typical. Calorie density alone does not separate this into an active-dog or weight-management food. Consider protein exclusions and fat, then set portions for the dog’s weight and activity. Fat is higher even though calories are not, so any fat restriction needs a separate assessment.
Consider it first when
- Steady protein-first shopping
- Choosing from named animal proteins
- Balanced shortlist building
Choose another food first when
- Weight control comes first
- Fresh-meat-first premium quality matters most
Plant-protein concentration remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart lamb alternatives
Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.
05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE
Manufacturer background & public information
Hill's background
Founded in 1907 in the United States.
Disclosure confidence C1
There is a usable disclosure baseline, but the public record is still fairly thin.
Recall information
This brand has a confirmed recall history. The most recent public recall noted here was the 2019 vitamin D incident.
May 12, 2026