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 CListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Hill's
Hill's Puppy Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe | Hill's Science Diet
Editor ingredient insight
Hills Puppy Lamb Meal & Brown Rice starts with lamb meal, brown rice, and chicken, so it is not lamb-only.
It is worth considering for puppies that tolerate both lamb and chicken, not for chicken-avoidance plans.
Meal-basedPlant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 28.3%Fat 19.5%Other 52.2%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 positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude protein 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
Calcium1.59%
Phosphorus1.26%
Crude fiberNot disclosed
Omega-30.64%
Omega-64%
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 · ChickenTop
Fresh MeatIngredient #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 #3Top
Chicken
Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Lamb Meal — Support positive ingredientsBrown Rice — Neutral ingredientsChicken — Primary positive ingredientsChicken Fat — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Oats — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Corn — Neutral ingredientsPea Protein — High-caution ingredientsBrewers Rice — Neutral ingredientsSoybean Meal — High-caution ingredientsCracked Pearled Barley — Neutral ingredientsEgg Product — Primary positive ingredientsWheat Gluten — High-caution ingredientsHydrolyzed Chicken Flavor — Support positive ingredientsGround Pecan Shells — Neutral ingredientsLactic Acid — Neutral ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsPork Liver Flavor — Support positive ingredientsSoybean Oil — Neutral ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsDried Beet Pulp — Support positive ingredientsDried Citrus Pulp — Neutral ingredientsFish Oil — Support positive ingredientsIodized Salt — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsSodium Tripolyphosphate — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Citrate — Support positive ingredientsPressed Cranberries — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsDL-Methionine — 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 ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsL-Lysine — Neutral ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Carbonate — Neutral ingredientsminerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite) — Support positive ingredientsL-Tryptophan — Neutral ingredientsMixed Tocopherols for freshness — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavors — Support positive 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), Chicken (#3), Egg Product (#11)
Plant protein · Pea Protein (#7), Soybean Meal (#9), Wheat Gluten (#12)
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
Lamb Meal, Chicken supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Brown Rice, Whole Grain Oats 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.
Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including lamb, chicken, egg. If a protein must be excluded, any of these sources can change the decision; the first ingredient alone does not make this a single-protein diet.
What works well in this food
- Crude protein is on the higher side.
- 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.
- Species-named meals supply protein with less moisture. Their position cannot establish a meat-percentage or digestibility advantage over fresh meat because moisture levels differ.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. Compare this combination when both protein and concentrated energy matter. It can help plan smaller portions, but dogs prone to weight gain should not switch gram-for-gram from a less calorie-dense food.
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
High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart chicken / 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