Label analysisGrade AListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Hill's

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

Editor ingredient insight

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice leads with chicken, brown rice, and oats.

It is worth considering for large-breed puppies needing controlled growth support, not for chicken/grain avoidance or meat-density expectations.

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 26.3%Fat 15.4%Other 58.3%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
Calcium1.16%
Phosphorus0.95%
Crude fiberNot disclosed
Omega-30.6%
Omega-63.23%

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
A+6/6Ingredient gradeTop Premium
Ingredient #1 · ChickenTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Brown RiceUpper
Whole Grain
Ingredient #3 · Whole Grain OatsUpper
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 Oats

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.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken — Primary positive ingredientsBrown Rice — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Oats — Neutral ingredientsChicken Meal — Support positive ingredientsCracked Pearled Barley — Neutral ingredientsChicken Fat — Neutral ingredientsPea Protein — High-caution ingredientsBrewers Rice — Neutral ingredientsWhole Grain Wheat — Neutral ingredientsSoybean Meal — High-caution ingredientsWhole Grain Corn — Neutral ingredientsChicken Liver Flavor — Support positive ingredientsGround Pecan Shells — Neutral ingredientsLactic Acid — Neutral ingredientsPork Liver Flavor — Support positive ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsDried Beet Pulp — Support positive ingredientsFish Oil — Support positive ingredientsIodized Salt — Neutral ingredientsDried Citrus Pulp — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsPressed Cranberries — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Carbonate — 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 ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsTaurine — Support positive 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 ingredientsL-Carnitine — 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 · Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (#4)

Plant protein · Pea Protein (#7), Soybean Meal (#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
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

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 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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

Plant-protein concentration 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.

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.