Hill's Vet Essentials Multi-Benefit Adult Medium Dry Dog Food with Lamb & Rice
Dry Extruded · completeClear label
Our verdict
Is Hill's Vet Essentials Multi-Benefit Adult Medium Dry Dog Food with Lamb & Rice a good dog food?
We score it 31/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".
Complete extruded dry food for adult dogs, with wheat, maize and lamb as the main ingredients.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
83% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at medium dogs
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists wheat
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Find foods that fit your dog.
Nutrition and feedingProtein 22% · Fat 14.10%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 22% |
| Fat | 14.10% |
| Fibre | 1.60% |
| Ash | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 49.20% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.52% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 3.44% |
| Calcium | 0.74% |
| Phosphorus | 0.66% |
| Sodium | 0.26% |
Energy: 369 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
To prevent suffocation, keep the packaging out of the reach of pets and children.
Feeding guide
Feed daily amount shown; adjust to maintain optimum weight. Mix increasing amounts of new food with decreasing amounts of old food over 7 days. Fresh water should be available at all times. See page for full weight-based feeding tables (adult, neutered, and mixed with 363g cans).
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
3b103 (Iron) 87.9mg; 3b202 (Iodine) 2.2mg; 3b405 (Copper) 8.7mg; 3b502 (Manganese) 9.1mg; 3b603 (Zinc) 154mg; 3b801 (Selenium) 0.2mg; Vitamin A 8,139 IU/kg; Vitamin D3 689 IU/kg; Vitamin E 669 mg/kg; Vitamin C 97 mg/kg; Beta-carotene 1.7 mg/kg
Technological additives
Natural antioxidant
Ingredients (11)83% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 51.5%
- meat 17.6%
- oil 17.1%
- veg 7.2%
- supplement 6.6%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheat | Wheat | carb · poor | - | 11.9 |
| 2 | maize | Maize / Corn | carb · medium | - | 11.2 |
| 3 | lamb meal (9%) | Lamb | meat · medium | 9 | 9.0 |
| 4 | soybean meal | Soybean Meal | carb · poor | - | 10.5 |
| 5 | broken rice (8%) | Rice - white | carb · medium | 8 | 8.0 |
| 6 | maize protein meal | Maize gluten | carb · poor | - | 9.9 |
| 7 | animal fat | Unspecified Animal Fats and Oils | oil · poor | - | 9.2 |
| 8 | digest | Digest | meat · poor | - | 8.6 |
| 9 | vegetable oil | Vegetable oil | oil · medium | - | 7.9 |
| 10 | flaxseed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 7.2 |
| 11 | minerals. | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 6.6 |
- 1. Wheat11.9% estimated
- 2. maize11.2% estimated
- 3. lamb meal (9%)9% declared9.0% estimated
- 4. soybean meal10.5% estimated
- 5. broken rice (8%)8% declared8.0% estimated
- 6. maize protein meal9.9% estimated
- 7. animal fat9.2% estimated
- 8. digest8.6% estimated
- 9. vegetable oil7.9% estimated
- 10. flaxseed7.2% estimated
- 11. minerals.6.6% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-15
Brand and contact: Hill's
- Website
- https://www.hillspet.co.uk/
- Address
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. Goldsworth Place 1 Forge End Woking GU21 6DB
- Contact page
- www.hillspet.co.uk
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-15
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.hillspet.co.uk
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
The overall score came in at 31 out of 100, after several negative factors weighed against the product. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -8.8 points, while the processing format took off -6.7. The carbohydrate content reduced the score by -6.1, and lower-quality ingredients cost a further -3.3 points.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | -0.2 | 9.191 | -1.53 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 9.6% | 0.096 | +0.93 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 53.2% | -0.115 | -6.12 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 19.7% | -0.092 | -1.82 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.6% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 7.1% | -0.012 | -0.09 |
| Recipe graded poor | 50.1% | -0.065 | -3.25 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 8.6% | -0.179 | -1.53 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 5 | -0.876 | -4.38 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 11.9% | 0.060 | +0.71 |
| Undeclared quantities | 83.0% | -0.106 | -8.76 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| Additive penalty | -0.43 | 0.222 | -0.10 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | -0.2 | 9.191 | -1.53 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 9.6% | 0.096 | +0.93 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 53.2% | -0.115 | -6.12 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 19.7% | -0.092 | -1.82 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.6% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 7.1% | -0.012 | -0.09 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 50.1% | -0.065 | -3.25 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 8.6% | -0.179 | -1.53 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 5 | -0.876 | -4.38 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 11.9% | 0.060 | +0.71 |
| Undeclared quantities | 83.0% | -0.106 | -8.76 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -0.43 | 0.222 | -0.10 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 31.3
- Final score
- 31/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Score history across model versions
The score shown above is always computed with the latest published model. Earlier scores are kept for the record and are never edited or deleted; a scoring change ships as a new model version with a public write-up on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 22 | 24.3 (band 18.34806629834254 to 40%) | 86.5 |
| Fat | 14.1 | 15.6 (band 5.606353591160221 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 1.6 | 1.8 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 86.9 |
| Calcium | 0.74 | 0.8 (band 0.5096685082872928 to 2.5%) | 79.3 |
| Phosphorus | 0.66 | 0.7 (band 0.4077348066298343 to 1.6%) | 86.2 |
| Sodium | 0.26 | 0.3 (band 0.10193370165745858+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.1 | 1.1 (band 1 to 2%) | 77.3 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 369 | 407.7 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 9 declared nutrients (combined weight 105); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 11 nutritional additives on the label
- 3b103 (Iron) 87.9mg
- 3b202 (Iodine) 2.2mg
- 3b405 (Copper) 8.7mg
- 3b502 (Manganese) 9.1mg
- 3b603 (Zinc) 154mg
- 3b801 (Selenium) 0.2mg
- Vitamin A 8,139 IU/kg
- Vitamin D3 689 IU/kg
- Vitamin E 669 mg/kg
- Vitamin C 97 mg/kg
- Beta-carotene 1.7 mg/kg
Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (17% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 3.4/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
See all current recalls we track.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| clinically proven key benefits specifically targeted to support healthy digestion (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports your dog's muscles and bones with high-quality protein (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps support healthy vital organs with controlled mineral levels (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Promotes healthy skin and coat with nourishing omega-6s & vitamin E (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete multi-benefit pet food for medium breed adult dogs 1–6 years old (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports a healthy immune system with powerful clinically proven antioxidants (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| with Lamb & Rice (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Not artificially preserved (on pack) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No artificial flavours (on pack) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No synthetic colours (on pack) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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