Hill's Metabolic Mini Dog Food
Dry Extruded complete
Is Hill's Metabolic Mini Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 23/100 (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".
Why this score?
This food achieves an overall score of 23 out of 100 based on several key factors. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -12, while the processing format adjusted the score by -7. Furthermore, the overall quality of the ingredient list added -6.7, and the carbohydrate content contributed -4.6 to the final calculation.
92% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe23
- Nutritionalhigh87
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited33
The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.
Complete extruded dry food for adult dogs, with cereals, vegetable by and meat and animal derivatives as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- 6 poor-graded ingredients make up about 73% of the recipe.
- 92% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 26.60%
- Fat
- 10.70%
- Fibre
- 12.90%
- Ash
- 5.30%
- Moisture
- 8%
- Carbohydrates
- 36%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 0.68%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 1.97%
- Calcium
- 0.80%
- Phosphorus
- 0.62%
- Sodium
- 0.33%
Energy: 310 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
3b103 (Iron) 77.3mg/kg; 3b202 (Iodine) 1.9mg/kg; 3b405 (Copper) 7.6mg/kg; 3b502 (Manganese) 83.0mg/kg; 3b603 (Zinc) 135mg/kg; 3b801 (Selenium) 0.2mg/kg; Vitamin A 9,370 IU/kg; Vitamin D3 674 IU/kg; Vitamin E 1,059 mg/kg; Vitamin C 145 mg/kg; Beta-carotene 1.5 mg/kg
Technological additives
Natural antioxidant
Feeding guide
Feed only this food. It is recommended that a veterinarian's opinion be sought before use. Feed the correct daily amount based on your dog's ideal weight. For weight loss, determine the amount of feed based on target weight rather than the current weight. For weight maintenance, monitor and adjust accordingly. Recommended time of use: until target body weight is achieved and after, if required to maintain. Fresh water should be available at all times. Detailed gram amounts and canned+pellet combinations provided by ideal body weight (1.5-10 kg).
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at small dogs
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists cereals
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. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (9)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cereals | Cereals | carb | poor | - | 14.7 |
| 2 | derivatives of vegetable origin | Vegetable By-Products | other | poor | - | 13.8 |
| 3 | meat and animal derivatives | Meat and Animal Derivatives | meat | poor | - | 12.9 |
| 4 | 8% chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | 8 | 8.0 |
| 5 | vegetable protein extracts | Vegetable protein extracts | carb | poor | - | 12.0 |
| 6 | vegetables | Vegetables | veg | medium | - | 11.0 |
| 7 | oils and fats | Oils and Fats | oil | poor | - | 10.1 |
| 8 | seeds | Seeds | veg | poor | - | 9.2 |
| 9 | minerals. | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 8.3 |
Brand
- 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 v2 (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.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v2 on 2026-09-22. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | -0.7 | 9.915 | -6.67 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 10.3% | 0.116 | +1.19 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.3% | -0.113 | -4.65 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 17.6% | -0.088 | -1.55 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.3% | -0.002 | -0.01 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 13.4% | -0.009 | -0.12 |
| Other share of dry matter | 12.1% | -0.371 | -4.50 |
| Recipe graded poor | 72.7% | -0.045 | -3.25 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 12.9% | -0.182 | -2.34 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 6 | -0.868 | -5.21 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 14.7% | 0.056 | +0.83 |
| Undeclared quantities | 92.0% | -0.131 | -12.04 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Additive penalty | -1.75 | 0.236 | -0.41 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.996 | -7.00 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | -0.7 | 9.915 | -6.67 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 10.3% | 0.116 | +1.19 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.3% | -0.113 | -4.65 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 17.6% | -0.088 | -1.55 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.3% | -0.002 | -0.01 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 13.4% | -0.009 | -0.12 |
| Other share of dry matter | 12.1% | -0.371 | -4.50 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.022 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 72.7% | -0.045 | -3.25 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 12.9% | -0.182 | -2.34 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 6 | -0.868 | -5.21 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 14.7% | 0.056 | +0.83 |
| Undeclared quantities | 92.0% | -0.131 | -12.04 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 3.194 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 11.440 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | -0.506 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -1.988 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.250 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | -0.073 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | -0.339 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 16.475 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -1.75 | 0.236 | -0.41 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Raw | no | 13.322 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | 7.712 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | 6.583 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 4.857 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | 0.072 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 11.127 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 9.320 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | 4.569 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -2.321 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.996 | -7.00 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.833 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.711 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | 2.935 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | 2.292 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- -0.01
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 22.6
- Final score
- 23/100
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.
| Model | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| v2 | 23/100 | current |
| v1 | 21/100 | |
| v1.9 | 23/100 |
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 | 26.6 | 28.9 (band 18 to 40%) | 99.8 |
| Fat | 10.7 | 11.6 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 95.4 |
| Fibre | 12.9 | 14 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 24.7 |
| Calcium | 0.8 | 0.9 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 81.1 |
| Phosphorus | 0.62 | 0.7 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 83.7 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.3 | 1.3 (band 1 to 2%) | 87.4 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 310 | 337 | 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 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
High confidence: full analysis plus minerals or omegas and declared energy.
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 (8% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 1.6/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| 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 (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 marketing claims made on the pack and product page, and how much evidence sits behind them. We record the claims as stated; we do not assess whether they are true.
| Claim | Type | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|
| Clinically proven nutrition to help dogs quickly lose weight (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete dietetic pet food for reduction of excessive body weight and maintenance of healthy weight in adult dogs (on pack) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Naturally works with your dog's unique energy use for easy and effective weight loss (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports dog's natural ability to burn fat (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Unique blend of fibre helps keep dogs feeling full and satisfied (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| low energy density (on pack) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| 96% of dogs lost weight at home in 2 months (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps keep lost weight off and provides energy for active play (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| S+OXSHIELD: Formulated to promote a urinary environment that reduces the risk of developing struvite & calcium oxalate crystals (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE for quality, consistency & taste, or your money back (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| with Chicken (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
Limited: at least one claim rests on manufacturer assertion alone.
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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