Is Royal Canin or Hills Science better

Royal Canin vs Hills Science Diet Dog Food: 2024 Comparison

Royal Canin and Hills Science Diet are two well-known brands that fit into a similar niche, promising great veterinary research and helping to feed dogs of all kinds, including those with severe health issues. Both have a strong veterinary backing and are recommended by many vets. But if faced with a choice between the two brands, it can be hard to know the difference. Here is a comparison of the two brands and their favorite foods.

A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Hills Science Diet

Hills Science Diet is our recommended brand for most dogs, with delicious, healthy ingredients, balanced nutrition, and lots of great options. Their chicken and rice recipe is one of our favorite options, but if your dog doesnt like chicken or has allergies, their lamb meal food is another delicious choice.

Rating	Image	Product	Details
	Hills Science Diet Chicken & Barley	No by-products Chicken is first ingredient Healthy added vitamins and minerals	Check Price
	Hills Science Diet Lamb Meal & Brown Rice	Great chicken alternative Healthy lamb and whole grain food Healthy added vitamins and minerals	Check Price

About Royal Canin

History

Royal Canin was founded in 1968 by a French veterinarian looking for solutions to diet-caused health issues. The brand expanded in 1972 when it was bought by a larger company, and since then, its become a leader in veterinary research for dogs and cats. They sponsor pet encyclopedias, create obesity clinics for animals, and make a variety of food products.

Products

Royal Canin has three main food types: size-based foods, breed-based foods, and veterinary foods. Their size-based foods are general-purpose pet foods optimized for specific sizes and age groupsfor instance, a large-breed puppy food. Their breed-based foods are made for specific breeds, like a Golden Retriever food, and designed for purebred dogs. Finally, they offer a variety of prescription foods that require a vets approval to use.

• Proven brand history
• Nutritious foods
• Higher protein
• Higher fiber

• More expensive
• Uses meat by-products

About Hills Science Diet

History

Hills Science Diet started with a guide dog who suffered from kidney disease in the early 1900s. When the dogs owner brought him to a vet, Dr. Mark Morris, Dr. Morris thought that diet changes could help manage the disease. His diet worked, and by the 1940s, Dr. Morris had partnered with Hill Packaging Company to create Hills Science Diet. Today, the company is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Group and is a favorite of vets worldwide.

Products

Hills Science Diet produces standard and prescription foods, just like Royal Canin. Their standard foods come in a variety of types, including foods for health conditions that dont require prescription care, like sensitive stomach foods. They also have allergy-friendly foods and weight loss foods. Like Royal Canin, they have a variety of foods made for dogs of different sizes and ages. They also have a wide line of prescription dog foods available.

• High nutrition
• Proven brand history
• Multiple flavor profiles
• Lower cost

• Lower protein content
• Non-meat protein boosts
• Controversial ingredients

The 3 Most Popular Royal Canin Dog Food Recipes

1. Royal Canin Size Health Medium Dry Food

Royal Canins most popular food outside of their prescription diets is their medium dog food. This food is formulated for dogs from 2355 pounds. It has an enhanced kibble design to promote chewing and balanced nutrition, with 23% crude protein, 12% crude fat, and 3.2% fiber. The main ingredients are brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, oat groats, wheat, corn gluten meal, and chicken fat. Its generally a red flag to see something other than meat or a meat meal as the first product in this food, and it calls into question how the 23% protein is reached.

Neither of the main protein sources, chicken by-product meal or corn gluten meal, are high quality. Chicken by-product meal is a concentrated chicken product from lower quality sources. Corn gluten meal is an inexpensive plant protein. Plant proteins are not ideal and dogs dont get as much nutritional value from Corn gluten meal as they would from chicken meal or similar foods.

• 23% protein
• Enhanced kibble design

• Meat isnt first ingredient
• Chicken by-products only
• Plant protein

2. Royal Canin Size Health Large Dry Food

Royal Canin Size Health Large Food is recommended for dogs weighing 56 to 100 pounds and is one of Royal Canins most popular foods. It is about 24% crude protein and 15% crude fathigher than other products on this list. It is also optimized for large breeds in other ways, with more nutrients to support bone and joint health and kibble that is designed for larger dogs. The main ingredients are chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, wheat, brown rice, chicken fat, and corn gluten meal. Chicken by-product meal is a concentrated chicken product made from less desirable chicken parts. Its a lower-quality chicken product. Brewers rice, wheat and brown rice are healthy whole grains that are easy to digest. Chicken fat is a common and healthy fat source in dog foods.

• 24% protein
• Optimized for large dogs
• Healthy whole grains

• Chicken by-products only
• Vegetable protein

3. Royal Canin Size Health Small Food

Royal Canins small dog foods are made for dogs weighing up to 22 lbs. The kibble size and nutritional balance is optimized for the needs of smaller dogs. This food is 25% protein and 14% fatideal levels for a dog of that size. The main ingredients are corn, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, brown rice, and corn gluten meal. A good rule of thumb is that meat should always be the first ingredient. Although there are healthy, high-protein foods that dont follow this rule, the fact that the first, third, and fourth ingredients are all grains is worrying. Chicken by-product meal is also an inferior, lower-quality meat source.

• 25% protein
• Designed for small dogs

• Meat isnt first ingredient
• Chicken by-products only
• Vegetable protein

The 3 Most Popular Hills Science Diet Dog Food Recipes

1. Hills Science Diet Chicken & Barley

Hills Science Diet Chicken & Barley is one of the brands most popular foods and is a good choice for most healthy dogs. It has 20% crude protein, 11% crude fat, and 4% crude fiber. That puts it on the lower end of the ideal spectrum for protein and fat content, but it is still a healthy choice. The first ingredient in this food is chicken, followed by barley, wheat, corn, and sorghum. All of these are common whole grains that are relatively healthy. It also contains soybean meal, a plant-based protein source that is less healthy than meat proteins.

This food has a blend of omega fatty acids, E-vitamins, and antioxidants that support coat, joint, and immune system health and flavorful, easy-to-digest ingredients.

• Chicken is first ingredient
• No by-products
• Healthy added vitamins and minerals

• Lower protein and fat levels
• Plant-based protein meal included

2. Hills Science Diet Lamb Meal & Brown Rice

If you prefer to feed your dog something other than chicken, Hills Science Diet Lamb Meal and Brown Rice is an option. It has 19.5% crude protein and 12.5% crude fat, a little lower than ideal but still in normal range. The main protein source in this food is lamb meal, a concentrated lamb thats healthy and delicious. It makes a great alternative for dogs who dont like lamb. The main grains are brown rice, brewers rice, sorghum, wheat, corn, and barley. This mix of grains gives your dog plenty of whole grains, but the lower protein content suggests that this food might be carb-heavy. A blend of E-vitamins, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and other nutrients help support your dogs overall health. This food is recommended for dogs one to six years of age.

• Great chicken alternative
• Healthy lamb and whole grain food
• Healthy added vitamins and minerals
• No by-products

• Carb-heavy and lower in protein

3. Hills Science Diet Sensitive Skin and Stomach

Hills Science Diet is well known for its range of products for dogs with health issues, including their Sensitive Skin and Stomach food. This food is made with easy-to-digest chicken, barley, and rice in order to make it easier on dogs stomachs. It contains vitamin E and omega fatty acids that are good for dogs with sensitive skin. It has 20% crude protein and 13% crude fat. The protein content is a little bit on the lower end, but its still within the range of acceptable food. One thing we dont love about this food is that the third ingredient is yellow peas. Peas are a controversial dog food ingredient that has been used as a filler food and has some links to heart health issues that are still being studied. Having peas high on the ingredients list is concerning.

• Formulated for sensitive dogs
• Vet-recommended
• Contains prebiotics for gut health

• Peas are third ingredient
• A little lower in protein

Recall the History of Royal Canin and Hills Science Diet

Hills Science Diet has had several recalls. The most recent recall was in 2019 when Hills Science Diet recalled about 45 products due to vitamin D toxicity. This is caused when a dog food has too much Vitamin D added. In November 2015, Hills issued a withdrawal of certain canned foods for unknown reasons that didnt affect the foods safety. In June 2014, 62 bags of food in California were recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination. In March 2007, Hills Science Diet was one of more than 100 brands that experienced recalls due to dangerous packaging containing melamine.

Royal Canin has also had several recalls. They were also affected by the 2007 melamine recall. They issued a second recall a few months later for the same issues as the first recall. In February 2006, they issued a recall due to elevated vitamin D3 levels in some of their foods.

Royal Canin vs Hills Science Diet Comparison

Taste

Royal Canin has a reputation for good flavor, with a variety of wet and dry foods that are very flavorful and delicious textures that dogs love. Hills Science Diet is similar in quality, but it doesnt have quite as strong of a reputation among owners.

Nutritional Value

• Edge: Hills Science Diet

In general, Hills Science Diet has better ingredients, but Royal Canin has more protein and fiber. Hills Science Diet doesnt use chicken by-products in its mainline foods, and they usually have real meat as the first ingredient. Both depend on plant proteins to some extent in their foods.

Price

• Edge: Hills Science Diet

Both brands are pretty pricey, and if your dog doesnt have health issues, other brands might be better. However, Hills Science Diet is generally cheaper in both its general and veterinary products.

Selection

• Edge: Hills Science Diet

Both brands create a variety of prescription diet products. Royal Canin also creates a line of breed-specific foods. But when it comes to general dog foods, Hills Science Diet has more flavor options, specialized foods, and other choices to help your dog eat the best possible foods.

Overall

• Edge: Hills Science Diet

Overall, we love Hills Science Diet for their great research, lower prices, and long history of bringing great food to animals in need. Royal Canin can be an excellent food as well in the right circumstances however.

Conclusion

Both Hills Science Diet and Royal Canin have their pros and cons, but in the end, we decided that Hills Science Diet was the best choice. Hills Science Diet is a nutritious product and often comes at a lower price. It also has more options available and is often a better choice for dogs needing specialized diets. However, it does have lower protein than Royal Canin, and some dogs on veterinary diets may do better with Royal Canin products.

Royal Canin vs Hills Which Is Better for Your Dog?

You can instantly recognize many pet food brands by their name or branding. Pedigree or Purina are good examples of that.

But when it comes to quality and specialized dog and cat food, Royal Canin and Hills are some of the most respected and recognizable brands. They have many similarities, but this article will explore the general differences between the two and look at a couple of recipes in detail. Read on to get more tips on where to place your bet in the Royal Canin vs Hills competition. Heres what well cover:

Royal Canin Company Overview

A French veterinarian established Royal Canin in 1968. He worked on improving dogs health through nutrition while providinggood-tasting food for dogs. Thats how the company laid the foundation for the modern pet foodformula.

The brand offers numerous dog food recipes and a significant amount of cat food formulations. Royal Canin focuses on various breeds, but it also has some veterinary recipes.

The company is generally loved and trusted. But, in 2006 and 2007, it had a few food recalls due to melamine contamination and excessive Vitamin D3.

Before getting into the Hills vs Royal Canin dog food battle, lets also look into Hills profile.

Hills Company Overview

Dr. Morris Frank started Hills Pet Nutrition in 1948 after he developed food to help his guide dog, which had kidney issues. It became the first vet-prescribed dog food. Always consult a vet before buying a prescription food, especiallyif your pet has health problems.Dont forget that some foods can be bad for your dog.

Hills has developed numerous dog and cat recipes, specializing in vet-approved food. Throughout the years, it established itself among the high-quality pet food companies. But since 2007, the company has recalled food at least five times due to melamine, salmonella, and elevated vitamin D levels.

General Royal Canin vs Hills Comparison

Well complete our comparison and review based on the 10 dog food recipes below.

Nutritional Content Comparison

Dogs need healthy fats and high-quality protein, preferably of animal origin. But the quality of plant-based ingredients is also crucial.

Both brands use ingredients that can be considered fillers or controversial. But if we ask ourselves, Which is better, Royal Canin or Science Diet by Hills? we believe Hills has slightly better components andprotein sources. At the same time, Royal Canin offers more recipes higher in crude protein.

Both companies use similar supplements. Carefully following the feeding instructions and calculating the calories is essential so you dont overfeed your dog. But the two brands share similar values, so transitioning between them should be easy.

Price Comparison

Is Royal Canin better than Hills when it comes to pricing?

Canin specializes in breeds by offering some top-tier dog food for large dogs and small dogs alike. In contrast, Hills provides solutions for various health conditions.

Comparing similar recipes of the two brands makes it evident that Royal Canin is more expensive in almost every case. Considering that the ingredients dont differ much, most pet parents wont find any reasons for the higher cost.

Check the latest prices of Royal Canin and Hills Dog Food on Amazon.

Dog Food Recipes Comparison

Lets check the recipes in detail for a more in-depth comparison of the two brands.

Royal Canin vs Hills Puppy Food

Lets look into dry dog food for small breed puppies. Well compare Hills Science Diet Puppy Small Paws and Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Food.

Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Food

Royal Canins recipe focuses on the immune system and digestive health of small puppies. Its recommended for small breedsup to 10 monthsor those that weigh up to 22 pounds.

The first ingredients are dehydrated poultry protein, rice, animal fats, vegetable protein isolate, and maize. It contains:

• 354 kcal/cup
• 29% protein
• 18% fat
• 3.3% fiber 3.3%.

The recipe has added fish oil, minerals, vitamins, and a few probiotic sources. The price starts at $51.19 for a 13-lb bag.

Hills Science Diet Puppy Small Paws

Well also look into this recipe to decide the winner between Royal Canin vs Hills Puppy Food.

The formula focuses on building lean muscle, immune support, and developmental health. Its best suited for small breed puppies up to one year old.

The first five ingredients are chicken meal, whole grain wheat, whole grain sorghum, chicken fat, and whole-grain corn. It contains:

• 397 kcal/cup
• 24.5% protein
• 15.5% fat
• 3% fiber

The recipe has added fish oil, minerals, vitamins, and flaxseed. The price starts at $38.99 for a 15.5-lb bag.

So, where do we stand on the Hills vs Royal Canin dog food debate?

Customers rate both recipes highly. They have a poultry by-product as a first ingredient and many filler-like components. Canins recipe is a bit higher in protein, but some of it comes from vegetables. Meanwhile, Hills has slightly lower fat and fiber content.

We would give the edge to Hills Science Diet Puppy Small Paws because of its much more affordable price.

Hills vs Royal Canin for Weight Loss

Lets examine dry dog food for weight management. Well compare Hills Science Diet Adult for Weight Management and Royal Canin Medium Weight Care Adult.

Hills Science Diet Adult for Weight Management

Hills recipe focuses on healthy weight loss and lean muscle support for adult dogs of all sizes.

The first ingredients are chicken, cracked pearled barley, brown rice, pea fiber, and corn gluten meal. It contains:

• 299 kcal/cup
• 24% protein
• 9% fat
• 5% fiber

The recipe also includes taurine, minerals, vitamins, and flaxseed. Prices start from $70.99 for a 28.5-lb bag.

Royal Canin Medium Weight Care Adult

To decide on the Hills vs Royal Canin Weight Loss topic, well look into Canins recipe, too. The formula focuses on building lean muscle, weight loss, and healthy metabolism. Its best suited for medium-sized adult dogs (2355 lb).

The first five ingredients are chicken by-product meal, pea fiber, corn, corn gluten meal, and wheat. It contains:

• 256 kcal/cup
• 25% protein
• 9% fat
• 12.5% fiber

The food has added fish oil, minerals, vitamins, and taurine. Prices start from $92.99 per bag of 30 lb.

The ingredients of the two recipes are similar, so its not easy to decide on the Hills vs Royal Canin dispute. Besides, both are well-liked by dog owners. They also have chicken as the first ingredient, but its a by-product in Royal Canin. The rest of the main ingredients for both could be considered fillers.

Canins recipe is a bit lower in calories, but the fat and protein content is pretty much the same. We prefer Hills Science Diet for weight management because it has a better price and chicken.

Royal Canin vs Hills Kidney Diet and Urinary Health

Lets look at some prescription recipes that can help improve kidney and bladder health. Well compare Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Urinary SO Small and Hills Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care.

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Urinary SO Small

Royal Canins veterinary recipe specializes in the prevention of struvite and calcium oxalate stones in small breeds.

The list of ingredients starts with brewers rice, corn, chicken fat, chicken by-product meal, and corn gluten meal. It contains:

• 358 kcal/cup
• 10% moisture
• 18% protein
• 15% fat
• 3.6% crude fiber

The recipe comes with added Vitamin B complex, fish oil, and taurine. The price starts at $49.99 for an 8.8-lb bag.

Hills Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care

Lets continue the Royal Canin vs Hills Kidney Diet discussion by checking Hills prescription recipe. The formula aims to reduce the risk of urate and cystine stones, suitable for different breeds. It starts with brewers rice, corn starch, pork fat, egg product, and powdered cellulose. The food contains:

• 398 kcal/cup
• 10% moisture
• 8% protein
• 17.5% fat
• 3% crude fiber

Theres extra taurine, L-carnitine, and vitamins E and B. The price starts at $44.99 for an 8.5-lb bag.

Can we take a side in this Royal Canin vs Hills Prescription discussion? The recipes specialize in different stones, so your vet has the last say.

The main ingredients are similar. Hills formula is higher in fat but much lower in protein, which is typically recommended for urinary diets. Nevertheless, due to more competitive prices and slightly better user reviews, we chose Royal Canin as our favorite, especially for small dogs.

Hills Urgent Care vs Royal Canin Recovery Vet Prescription Diets

Lets look into some wet food options for the two brands. Well compare Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery and Hills Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care. Both recipes are suitable for cats and dogs.

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery Wet

Before talking about Hills Science diet vs Royal Canin, lets define what a recovery dietis. Royal Canins recipe is fordogs and cats (also puppies and kittens) recovering from a serious disease, operation, or trauma. Its a vet-recommended formula, high in protein for muscle support, very palatable, and soft (so it can be fed by tube).

The first ingredients are water, chicken, chicken liver, gelatin, and powdered cellulose. It contains:

• 163 kcal ME/can
• 9.4% protein
• 5.2% fat
• 3.1% fiber

The recipe has added taurine, fish oil, minerals, and vitamins. The price starts at $62.16 for 24 cans x 5.8 oz.

Hills Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care Canned

Well also look into Hills recipe to decide on Hills Urgent Care vs Royal Canin Recovery topic. The formula serves the same goal and focuses on energy-dense ingredients and antioxidants to support a weakened immune system and better satiety.

Both cats and dogs can enjoy the contents of water, turkey liver, pork liver, chicken, and turkey heart. The food contains:

• 183 kcal/5.5oz can
• 8.5% protein
• 5.2% fat
• 0.5% fiber

It has added fish oil, minerals, vitamins, and taurine. The price starts at $71.99 for 24 cans x 5.5oz.

Now, where do we stand on the debate of Royal Canin vs Hills for cats and dogs? Pet parents love both recipes. The guaranteed analysis and prices are similar, but Hills recipe has more and better protein sources. Also, unlike the Canin formulation, it has no carrageen.

Royal Canin vs Hills Dental Veterinary Diets

Finally, lets compare two more dry veterinary recipes. To take care of our pets teeth, well look at Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Nutrition Canine Dental and Hills Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care.

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Nutrition Canine Dental Medium and Large

Royal Canins recipe improves the oral health of medium and large dogs with special kibble shape, calcium, and phosphorus. The ingredient list begins with brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, corn, chicken fat, and wheat gluten. The nutritional values are:

• 320 kcal/cup
• 20% protein
• 15% fat
• 4.9% fiber

It also contains added fish oil, minerals, vitamins, and taurine. Prices start at $68.99 for a 17.6-lb bag.

Hills Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care

Lets conclude the Royal Canin vs Hills Dental discussion by looking into Hills recipe. The dental formula reduces plaque and tartar buildup by employing special fiber matrix technology and appropriate kibble size. Its suitable for most breeds.

The first five ingredients are brewers rice,whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, powdered cellulose, and chicken fat. It contains:

• 248 kcal/cup
• 18.3% protein
• 16.5% fat
• 10.8% fiber

It has extra minerals, vitamins, and taurine. The price starts at $97.99 for a 25-lb bag.

So, where do the dental recipes fall on the Royal Canin vs Hills Prescription scale?

Clients rate both formulas favorably, but Canins is a bit higher in calories and protein. In contrast, Hills t/d Diet contains a lot more fiber. Both recipes have filler ingredients, and the first two for Hills are rice and corn, while the second ingredient in Royal Canins is the chicken product. We prefer Royal Canins Dental recipe because of this and the Guaranteed Analysis.

Conclusion

Royal Canin vs Hills: which one would you choose?

We looked at 10 recipes to discover the similarities between the brands and their particular advantages and disadvantages. Both offer high-quality food and similar recipes.

Selecting one of the two isnt easy and depends on the recipe and needs of your dog. But based on the few formulas we explored, we chose Hills three times and Royal Canin two times. Thats why we give a slight edge to Hills.