Nutro vs Hill's
Nutro against Hill's, measured across 44 and 65 kibble recipes: 26.5% vs 22.8% protein on a dry matter basis, and 43% vs 47% starch.
How They Differ
- Nutro runs higher in protein: 26.5% against 22.8% on a dry matter basis, averaged across the kibble we review from each.
- Nutro is lower in starch, about 43% of the food as fed against 47%.
Side by Side
| Measure | Nutro | Hill's | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 44 | 65 | 1,601 in total |
| Protein, dry matter | 26.5%22.2% to 31.1% | 22.8%17.2% to 32.0% | 30.4% |
| Fat, dry matter | 14.9%8.9% to 18.9% | 12.6%6.1% to 18.6% | 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. | 43%35% to 49% | 47%33% to 54% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 355264 to 460 | 354243 to 445 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 100% | 100% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 14% | 2% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 75%, Egg 70%, Lamb 48% | Chicken 91%, Egg 29%, Lamb 8% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% | Corn 63%, Wheat 46%, Soy 72% | |
| By-products | 0% | 2% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None | None4 older in the archive | |
| Made by | Mars | Colgate-Palmolive Company |
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.
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 22%
Fat 13%
Starch 49%
Hill’s Science Diet Adult 1-6 Small Bites Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 22%
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, Nutro puts more protein in each bowl.
- If you are cutting back on starch, Nutro starts lower.
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Nutro runs from 22% to 31% protein and Hill's from 17% 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.
Nutro
No FDA recalls in our record for Nutro in the last five years.
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)
About the Brands
Nutro
Nutro is a dog and cat food brand owned by Mars, Incorporated. Its product lines include Natural Choice, Ultra, Max and Limited Ingredient Diet, and the company says its recipes use non-GMO ingredients with no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat or soy.
Based in Franklin, Tennessee, since 1926. Every Nutro food we review
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
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 10, 2026.
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