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Public ReviewGrade AKibble (Extruded)Manufacturing: Kibble (Extruded)

Hill's

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

4.5★Public ScoreManufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Key points

Protein source

Moderate caution

Processed plant protein after the top 3

Top 3: Chicken, Brown Rice, Whole Grain Oats

The protein number includes processed plant protein support.

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

Ingredient guide

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient
Top premium

Ingredient grade

A+

Grade A+

Top ingredient profile

Chicken
Brown Rice
Whole Grain Oats
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein26.3%
Crude protein26.3%
Crude fat15.4%
Other 58%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Typical
query_statsFat position
Typical
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Typical

This food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.

There is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.

Nutritional strengths

  • 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.

What still needs work

  • 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.
  • Public data is usable, but not at the highest-trust tier.

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 1907 in the United States. This brand has a confirmed recall history. The most recent public recall noted here was the 2019 vitamin D incident.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

A+6/6
Ingredient Grade
Top Premium
1Chicken
Fresh Meat · Top
2Brown Rice
Whole Grain · Upper
3Whole Grain Oats
Whole Grain · Upper

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •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.
  • •Whole Grain Oats 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.
restaurantIngredient Grade A+Top Premium

Full collected ingredient list

35 ingredients
ChickenBrown RiceWhole Grain OatsChicken MealCracked Pearled BarleyChicken FatPea ProteinBrewers RiceWhole Grain WheatSoybean MealWhole Grain CornChicken Liver FlavorGround Pecan ShellsLactic AcidPork Liver FlavorDicalcium PhosphateFlaxseedDried Beet PulpFish OilIodized SaltDried Citrus PulpPotassium ChlorideCholine ChloridePressed CranberriesCalcium Carbonatevitamins (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)DL-MethionineL-ThreonineTaurineminerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite)L-TryptophanMixed Tocopherols for freshnessNatural FlavorsL-CarnitineBeta-Carotene.
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why processed plant proteins are reviewed cautiously

Ingredient lists are ordered by input weight, not protein contribution. Fresh meat 100g and Soybean Meal 50g can both contribute about 20g of protein, and Pea Protein can deliver a similar amount at around 30g. So these ingredients can materially lift crude protein even outside the top three. The review treats processed plant-protein boosters cautiously because they can weaken the animal-protein-centered profile most guardians expect from a high-protein food.

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

C1 tier

There is a usable disclosure baseline, but the public record is still fairly thin.

Where it sits in the same processing cohort

Kibble (Extruded) cohortTop tier

Within the Kibble (Extruded) cohort, this recipe sits in the top tier band.

Final word

As a public review, this is a strong candidate to carry forward. The next question is whether it stays this strong for your own dog.

Back to all foods

What to compare next

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Heart criteria

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Joint criteria

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Joint context should connect weight control, EPA+DHA, and disclosed support ingredients.

Label basics

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