Hill's Pet Nutrition Adult Light Large Breed Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dog Food
Dry Extruded · complete
Our verdict
Is Hill's Pet Nutrition Adult Light Large Breed Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 39/100 (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".
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
100% 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 large dogs
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids pork: it is listed as an ingredient
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists pearled barley
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
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 25.30% · Fat 8.10%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed | Dry matter | Directory average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 25.30% | 25.30% | 37.69% (137 eligible foods) |
| Fat | 8.10% | 8.10% | 23.89% (134 eligible foods) |
| Fibre | 12.20% | 12.20% | 3.81% (135 eligible foods) |
| Carbohydrates | 48% | 48% | 30.63% (76 eligible foods) |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.63% | - | - |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 3.16% | - | - |
| Calcium | 1.12% | - | - |
| Phosphorus | 0.70% | - | - |
| Sodium | 0.38% | - | - |
Energy: 296 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Weight Control – Ideal Weight of Dog (lbs/kg) vs Amount per Day (cups/grams) for Weight Loss and Weight Management: 50 lb (23 kg) 3 cups (245g) / 4 1/4 cups (350g); 60 lb (27 kg) 3 1/2 (290) / 4 3/4 (390); 80 lb (36 kg) 4 1/4 (350) / 6 (495); 90 lb (41 kg) 4 2/3 (385) / 6 1/2 (535); 100 lb (45 kg) 5 (410) / 7 (575); 110 lb (50 kg) 5 1/3 (440) / 7 1/2 (615); 120 lb (54 kg) 5 3/4 (475) / 8 (660); 130 lb (59 kg) 6 (495) / 8 1/2 (700); 140 lb (64 kg) 6 1/2 (535) / 9 (740); 160 lb (73 kg) 7 1/4 (595) / 10 (820). Adjust as necessary to maintain optimal weight. Mix increasing amounts of new food with decreasing amounts of old food over a 7-day period. Keep fresh water available at all times.
Additives declared on the label
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols for freshness
Ingredients (20)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 33.8%
- meat 16.1%
- fibre 16.1%
- supplement 15.6%
- additive 8.5%
- oil 5.2%
- veg 4.8%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 6.6 |
| 2 | Cracked Pearled Barley | Pearled Barley | carb · medium | - | 6.4 |
| 3 | Whole Grain Wheat | Wheat | carb · poor | - | 6.2 |
| 4 | Whole Grain Corn | Whole-Grain Maize | carb · medium | - | 6.1 |
| 5 | Corn Protein Meal | Maize gluten | carb · poor | - | 5.9 |
| 6 | Powdered Cellulose | Powdered Cellulose | fibre · poor | - | 5.7 |
| 7 | Brewers Rice | Rice - white | carb · medium | - | 5.6 |
| 8 | Pea Fiber | Pea Fibre | fibre · medium | - | 5.4 |
| 9 | Soybean Oil | Soybean oil | oil · medium | - | 5.2 |
| 10 | Chicken Liver Flavor | Liver | meat · good | - | 5.1 |
| 11 | Dried Beet Pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 4.9 |
| 12 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 4.8 |
| 13 | Lactic Acid | Lactic Acid | additive · medium | - | 4.6 |
| 14 | Pork Liver Flavor | Liver | meat · good | - | 4.4 |
| 15 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 4.3 |
| 16 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement · medium | - | 4.1 |
| 17 | Iodized Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 3.9 |
| 18 | L-Lysine | Lysine | supplement · medium | - | 3.8 |
| 19 | Whole Grain Oats | Oats | carb · medium | - | 3.6 |
| 20 | Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement · good | - | 3.4 |
- 1. Chicken Meal6.6% estimated
- 2. Cracked Pearled Barley6.4% estimated
- 3. Whole Grain Wheat6.2% estimated
- 4. Whole Grain Corn6.1% estimated
- 5. Corn Protein Meal5.9% estimated
- 6. Powdered Cellulose5.7% estimated
- 7. Brewers Rice5.6% estimated
- 8. Pea Fiber5.4% estimated
- 9. Soybean Oil5.2% estimated
- 10. Chicken Liver Flavor5.1% estimated
- 11. Dried Beet Pulp4.9% estimated
- 12. Flaxseed4.8% estimated
- 13. Lactic Acid4.6% estimated
- 14. Pork Liver Flavor4.4% estimated
- 15. Potassium Chloride4.3% estimated
- 16. Calcium Carbonate4.1% estimated
- 17. Iodized Salt3.9% estimated
- 18. L-Lysine3.8% estimated
- 19. Whole Grain Oats3.6% estimated
- 20. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)3.4% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-18
Brand and contact: Hill's Pet Nutrition
- Website
- https://www.hillspet.com/
- Contact page
- www.hillspet.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-18
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.hillspet.com
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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 3.0/5 · 3 reviews
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?
This recipe achieves an overall score of 39 out of 100. Being labelled nutritionally complete adds +2.3 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages deducts -10.6, the processing format takes away -6.7, and the carbohydrate content reduces the score by -4.1.
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 | +2.13 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 35.3% | -0.115 | -4.06 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 6.1% | -0.092 | -0.57 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.1% | 0.163 | +1.48 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 17.0% | -0.012 | -0.21 |
| Recipe graded poor | 21.8% | -0.065 | -1.42 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.876 | -3.50 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 6.2% | 0.060 | +0.37 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -10.31 | 0.222 | -2.29 |
| 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 | +2.13 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 35.3% | -0.115 | -4.06 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 6.1% | -0.092 | -0.57 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.1% | 0.163 | +1.48 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 17.0% | -0.012 | -0.21 |
| 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 | 21.8% | -0.065 | -1.42 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.876 | -3.50 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 6.2% | 0.060 | +0.37 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| 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 | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| 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 | -10.31 | 0.222 | -2.29 |
| 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
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 38.8
- Final score
- 39/100
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.
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.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 25.3 | 28 (band 18 to 40%) | 97.2 |
| Fat | 8.1 | 9 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 84.3 |
| Fibre | 12.2 | 13.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.12 | 1.2 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 92.1 |
| Phosphorus | 0.7 | 0.8 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 88.7 |
| Sodium | 0.38 | 0.4 (band 0.1+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.6 | 1.6 (band 1 to 2%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 296 | 327.1 | 100 |
Fibre: Declared as a maximum; the high-fibre taper is not applied.
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.
No nutritional additives section declared on the label.
Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture 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 (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contains ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit, a special blend of prebiotic fibers and antioxidants to support digestion, immune system and organ health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Healthy skin & coat with Omega-6 & Vitamin E (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Lean muscles supported with high-quality protein (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Ideal body weight supported with low calories and L-Carnitine (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Support for healthy joints with natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| U.S. Veterinarians' #1 Recommended Brand (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Great tasting natural* nutrition for a long, happy life (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Low calories for less active large breed dogs (on page) | High/low level | 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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