Hill's vs Royal Canin
Hill's against Royal Canin, measured across 66 and 86 kibble recipes: 21.3% vs 25.2% protein and 47% vs 40% starch, as fed.
How They Differ
- Royal Canin runs higher in protein: 25.2% against 21.3% as fed, 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 41%).
Side by Side
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Hill's | Royal Canin | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 66 | 86 | 1,742 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 21.3%15.5% to 29.7% | 25.2%19.0% to 32.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 13.5%5.5% to 125.0% | 14.5%9.0% to 23.0% | 14.4% |
| 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% | 40%32% to 49% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 353243 to 445 | 339229 to 485 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 100% | 41% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 2% | 0% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 91%, Egg 29%, Lamb 8% | Chicken 95%, Pork 10%, Egg 3% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 64%, Wheat 45%, Soy 71% | Corn 93%, Wheat 95%, Soy 1% | |
| By-products | 2% | 95% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None4 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. 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, which takes the water out so foods of different moisture compare evenly. Why we use 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 Small Bites No Corn, Wheat, Soy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 19%
Fat 13%
Starch 50%
Royal Canin Small Indoor Adult Dry Dog Food
Protein 19%
Fat 12%
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 16% to 30% protein as fed and Royal Canin from 19% to 32%, 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 in our record for Hill's in the last five years.
Archive: 4 older recalls
Hill's. Canned Dog Food
Hill's. Canned Dog Food
Hill's Science Diet. Canned Dog Food
Hill's Science Diet. Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food (62 bags)
Royal Canin
No FDA recalls in our record 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 October 20, 2026.
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