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LINE VS LINE · HILL'S KIBBLE

Hill's Science Diet vs Hill's Bioactive Recipe

Hill's Science Diet vs Hill's Bioactive Recipe: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Hill's Science Diet against Hill's Bioactive Recipe, measured across 54 and 6 kibble recipes: 20.5% vs 24.3% protein and 11.3% vs 11.5% fat, as fed.

54 kibble recipes reviewed 6 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Hill's Science Diet averages 20.5% protein as fed, while Hill's Bioactive Recipe averages 24.4% protein as fed.
  • Fat is close: Hill's Science Diet averages 11.3% and Hill's Bioactive Recipe averages 11.5%, both as fed. Hill's Science Diet averages 355 kcal per cup, while Hill's Bioactive Recipe averages 316 kcal per cup.
  • Hill's Science Diet has an estimated starch average of 47% as fed; no estimated starch figure is given for Hill's Bioactive Recipe.
  • Hill's Science Diet offers 54 recipes covering Puppy, Adult, and Senior life stages, with a 2% grain-free share. Hill's Bioactive Recipe offers 6 recipes for Adult and Senior only, with a 0% grain-free share.
  • Hill's Science Diet has an estimated price per pound of $3.29, while Hill's Bioactive Recipe has an estimated price per pound of $2.59.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Hill's Science Diet Hill's Bioactive Recipe Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 54 6 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 20.5%15.5% to 28.8% 24.3%20.0% to 28.7% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 11.3%5.5% to 16.7% 11.5%10.8% to 12.5% 14.3%
Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. 47%33% to 54% No data 37%
Calories per cup 355243 to 434 316259 to 374 398
Grain-free recipes 2% 0%
Life stages Adult 43, Puppy 7, Senior 4 Adult 5, Senior 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 52, Small Breed 18, Large Breed 14 All Breeds 6, Small Breed 2, Large Breed 2
Price per pound, estimate $3.29/lbEstimate, median of 52 of 54 recipesRecipes run $2.33 to $5.42Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 $2.59/lbEstimate, median of 4 of 6 recipesRecipes run $2.23 to $2.98Prices checked Oct 16, 2026
FDA recalls, last 5 years None2 older, not counted None

Line figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that line, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Wet food, toppers and prescription diets are left out so the numbers compare like with like. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead. Why we use as fed. The price per pound is an estimate: the median of each recipe's lowest price per pound across the bag sizes and US retailers our price checks found, so a single bag can cost more or less. Shelf prices change often.

WHERE TO START

Top Recipes in Each Line

Hill's Science Diet

Hill’s Science Diet Light Small & Mini Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food Best seller of the line on Amazon Hill’s Science Diet Light Small & Mini Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 24% Fat 9% Starch 38% 291 kcal/cup Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Large Breed Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 28.8% as fed Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Large Breed Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 29% Fat 11% Starch 34% 289 kcal/cup Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight & Joint Support Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 33% Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight & Joint Support Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 23% Fat 11% Starch 33% 300 kcal/cup

Hill's Bioactive Recipe

Hill’s Bioactive Recipe Adult Fit + Radiant Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 28.7% as fed Hill’s Bioactive Recipe Adult Fit + Radiant Dry Dog Food Protein 29% Fat 11% 286 kcal/cup Hill’s Bioactive Recipe Adult Large Breed Fit + Radiant Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 259 kcal per cup Hill’s Bioactive Recipe Adult Large Breed Fit + Radiant Dry Dog Food Protein 29% Fat 11% 259 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Hill's Science Diet

  • Puppy owners, since Hill's Science Diet lists 7 puppy recipes and Hill's Bioactive Recipe lists none.
  • Large-breed dogs needing joint support, via the Healthy Mobility Large Breed recipe.
  • Dogs on recipes sold for weight management, as low as 243 kcal per cup.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Hill's Bioactive Recipe

  • Dogs needing more protein, since Hill's Bioactive Recipe averages 24.4% versus 20.5% for Hill's Science Diet.
  • Owners wanting fewer calories per cup, at an average of 316 versus 355 for Hill's Science Diet.
  • Budget-conscious owners, with an estimated price per pound of $2.59 versus $3.29 for Hill's Science Diet.
THE WHOLE RANGE

Every Hill's Line

Line Kibble recipes Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup Grain-free Price / lb, est.
Science Diet 54 20.5% 11.3% 47% 355 2% $3.29
Bioactive Recipe 6 24.3% 11.5% -- 316 0% $2.59
Healthy Advantage 6 25.0% 16.3% -- 376 0% $2.87
Prescription Diet No kibble; 19 other recipes
Veterinary diets 22 prescription recipes, fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Not compared.

Averages over each line's kibble we review, as fed. Lines with only a few recipes swing more on one bag. Price per pound is the same estimate as above.

KEEP COMPARING

More Hill's Line Comparisons

Hill's Science Diet vs Hill's Healthy Advantage Hill's Healthy Advantage vs Hill's Bioactive Recipe

The Hill's Lines

All Hill's food Hill's Science Diet Hill's Bioactive Recipe Hill's Healthy Advantage Hill's Prescription Diet

Hill's Against Other Brands

Hill's vs Royal Canin Purina vs Hill's Blue Buffalo vs Hill's Eukanuba vs Hill's Iams vs Hill's Nutro vs Hill's Wellness vs Hill's

How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brand's own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. The written comparison is drafted from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.

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