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LINE VS LINE · HILL'S KIBBLE

Hill's Science Diet vs Hill's Healthy Advantage

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

Hill's Science Diet against Hill's Healthy Advantage, measured across 54 and 6 kibble recipes: 20.5% vs 25.0% protein and 11.3% vs 16.3% fat, as fed.

54 kibble recipes reviewed 6 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Hill's Science Diet averages 20.5% protein and 11.3% fat as fed. Hill's Healthy Advantage averages 25% protein and 16.3% fat as fed, higher on both measures.
  • Hill's Science Diet's estimated starch averages 47%, with calories averaging 355 kcal per cup. An estimated starch figure is not available for Hill's Healthy Advantage, which averages 376 kcal per cup.
  • Grain-free share is close between the two: Hill's Science Diet is 2% grain-free and Hill's Healthy Advantage is 0% grain-free.
  • Hill's Science Diet offers 54 kibble recipes across Adult, Puppy and Senior life stages and All Breeds, Small Breed and Large Breed sizes. Hill's Healthy Advantage offers 6 recipes across the same three life stages, with only 1 Small Breed and 1 Large Breed recipe.
  • Hill's Science Diet's estimated median price per pound is $3.29. Hill's Healthy Advantage's estimated median price per pound is $2.87.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Hill's Science Diet Hill's Healthy Advantage Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 54 6 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 20.5%15.5% to 28.8% 25.0%19.4% to 29.7% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 11.3%5.5% to 16.7% 16.3%14.7% to 22.1% 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 376270 to 445 398
Grain-free recipes 2% 0%
Life stages Adult 43, Puppy 7, Senior 4 Adult 3, Puppy 2, Senior 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 52, Small Breed 18, Large Breed 14 All Breeds 6, Large Breed 1, Small Breed 1
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 $2.87/lbEstimate, median of 1 of 6 recipesRecipes run $2.87 to $2.87Prices 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 Healthy Advantage

Hill’s Healthy Advantage Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 29.7% as fed Hill’s Healthy Advantage Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 30% Fat 16% 417 kcal/cup Hill’s Healthy Advantage Adult Oral+ Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 270 kcal per cup Hill’s Healthy Advantage Adult Oral+ Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food Protein 24% Fat 15% 270 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Hill's Science Diet

  • Owners wanting many recipe choices, since Hill's Science Diet offers 54 kibble recipes across Adult, Puppy and Senior stages
  • Owners of small breed dogs, since Hill's Science Diet lists 18 Small Breed recipes
  • Owners of large breed dogs, since Hill's Science Diet lists 14 Large Breed recipes
A GOOD FIT FOR

Hill's Healthy Advantage

  • Owners wanting a higher-protein food, since Hill's Healthy Advantage averages 25% protein as fed
  • Owners wanting a higher-fat food, since Hill's Healthy Advantage averages 16.3% fat as fed
  • Owners seeking a lower estimated price per pound, at $2.87 for Hill's Healthy Advantage
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 Bioactive Recipe 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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