Label analysisGrade CListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Hill's

Hill's Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe | Hill's Science Diet

Editor ingredient insight

Hill’s Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice is a classic chicken-and-grain puppy food led by chicken, brown rice, and whole wheat.

It is worth considering for puppies that tolerate chicken and grains, not for chicken allergy or grain avoidance.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of chicken beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 27.8%Fat 19%Other 53.2%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 densityHigher

This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.54%
Phosphorus1.26%
Crude fiberNot disclosed
Omega-30.62%
Omega-64.11%

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.

Chicken ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken
B4.5/6Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · ChickenTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Brown RiceUpper
Whole Grain
Ingredient #3 · Whole Grain WheatUpper
Whole Grain
Ingredient #1Top

Chicken

Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #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 #3Upper

Whole Grain Wheat

Whole Grain Wheat 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.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken — Primary positive ingredientsBrown Rice — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Wheat — Neutral ingredientsChicken Meal — Support positive ingredientsChicken Fat — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Corn — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Oats — Neutral ingredientsPea Protein — High-caution ingredientsSoybean Meal — High-caution ingredientsHydrolyzed Chicken Flavor — Support positive ingredientsGround Pecan Shells — Neutral ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsLactic Acid — Neutral ingredientsPork Liver Flavor — Support positive ingredientsSoybean Oil — Neutral ingredientsIodized Salt — Neutral ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsDried Beet Pulp — Support positive ingredientsDried Citrus Pulp — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsFish Oil — Support positive ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsPressed Cranberries — Neutral 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 ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientsminerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite) — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsMixed Tocopherols for freshness — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavors — Support positive ingredientsL-Tryptophan — 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 · Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (#4)

Plant protein · Pea Protein (#8), Soybean Meal (#9)

The protein number includes processed plant protein support.

Even when it appears later, the protein number is read more conservatively.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Chicken supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Brown Rice, Whole Grain Wheat supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

Pea Protein, Soybean Meal 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

  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
  • 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

  • Phosphorus is 1.3% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Processed plant protein appears after the top 3, so some protein support is still built into the label number.
  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat, but grains follow immediately after it, so the recipe reads more mixed than meat-led.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is typical, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. This combination provides more energy per gram. Compare it when smaller portions need to supply calories, and adjust grams first for a dog prone to weight gain. Higher calories do not establish a higher animal-protein share.

Consider it first when

  • Public-data-first comparison
  • Baseline shortlist building
  • Conservative first-pass screening

Choose another food first when

  • You want a stronger ingredient-quality story first
  • You need dog-specific fit instead of public-review screening

High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart chicken 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

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

There is enough here to keep the food in comparison, but not enough to stop comparing yet.