Hill's vs Royal Canin
Hill's against Royal Canin, measured across 60 and 85 kibble recipes: 22.6% vs 28.1% protein on a dry matter basis, 47% vs 40% starch, and 0 vs 0 FDA recalls in the last five years.
How They Differ
- Royal Canin runs higher in protein: 28.1% against 22.6% on a dry matter basis, averaged across the kibble we review from each.
- Royal Canin is lower in starch, about 40% of the food as fed against 47%.
- Hill's more often leads with meat, fish or egg as the first ingredient (100% of recipes against 42%).
Side by Side
| Measure | Hill's | Royal Canin | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 60 | 85 | 1,540 in total |
| Protein, dry matter | 22.6%17.2% to 32.0% | 28.1%21.1% to 35.8% | 30.4% |
| Fat, dry matter | 12.4%6.1% to 18.6% | 16.2%10.0% to 25.6% | 16.0% |
| 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%34% to 54% | 40%32% to 49% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 352243 to 445 | 340256 to 485 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 100% | 42% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 2% | 0% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 92%, Egg 30%, Lamb 8% | Chicken 95%, Pork 12%, Egg 4% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 62%, Wheat 50%, Soy 70% | Corn 93%, Wheat 95%, Soy 1% | |
| By-products | 2% | 95% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None1 older in the archive | None | |
| Made by | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Mars |
Brand figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that brand, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Freeze-dried, frozen, wet food and toppers are left out so the numbers compare like with like, and so are prescription diets, which are fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Protein and fat are on a dry matter basis, starch and calories as fed.
The Closest Matching Recipes
Brand averages hide the recipe you would actually buy. These are the pairs that come closest on protein, fat and starch, preferring recipes built on the same main protein, which is where a like-for-like choice gets made.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe No Corn, Wheat, Soy Dry Dog Food
Protein 21%
Fat 14%
Starch 50%
Royal Canin Small Indoor Adult Dry Dog Food
Protein 21%
Fat 13%
Starch 49%
Compare these two in full
Which Fits Your Dog
- For an active or working dog, or one that needs to hold muscle, Royal Canin puts more protein in each bowl.
- If you are cutting back on starch, Royal Canin starts lower.
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Hill's runs from 17% to 32% protein and Royal Canin from 21% to 36%, so the right recipe matters more than the name on the bag.
Recall History
FDA recall notices from the last five years that name the brand or its maker. Older notices sit in each brand's archive below: still on the record, but not counted, since a recall that old says more about how a company used to run than how it runs now.
Hill's
No FDA recalls for Hill's in the last five years.
Archive: 1 older recall
Hill's Science Diet. Canned Dog Food
Royal Canin
No FDA recalls for Royal Canin in the last five years.
About the Brands
Hill's
Hill's is made by Hill's Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, and is best known for its Science Diet wellness foods and its Prescription Diet therapeutic foods sold through veterinarians. It also sells the Bioactive Recipe and Healthy Advantage lines.
Based in Overland Park, Kansas, since 1948. Every Hill's food we review
Royal Canin
Royal Canin is a pet food brand owned by Mars, Incorporated, and Royal Canin USA operates as a Mars subsidiary. It is known for breed-specific, size-specific and veterinary therapeutic diets, and the company says it focuses on science-based health nutrition for cats and dogs.
Based in St. Louis, MO, since 1968. Every Royal Canin food we review
More Brand Comparisons
How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brands' own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. Figures refreshed September 29, 2026.