Hill's Science Plan Small & Mini Senior Dog Food with Chicken

Dry Extruded · completeClear label

Science Plan Small & Mini Senior Dog Food with Chicken
Average
our rating

Our verdict

Is Hill's Science Plan Small & Mini Senior Dog Food with Chicken a good dog food?

We score it 50/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

Complete extruded dry food for senior dogs, with dehydrated chicken and turkey, poultry and chicken as the main ingredients.

How we score

70% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.

Why you might choose it

  • Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
  • Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
  • Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.

Why you might not

We found no significant drawbacks in the data we hold for this product.

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for senior dogs
  • Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at small dogs
  • Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dehydrated chicken and turkey
  • Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists dehydrated chicken and turkey
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
  • Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
  • 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 20.60% · Fat 16.20%

Typical analysis (as fed)

NutrientAs fed
Protein20.60%
Fat16.20%
Fibre1.80%
Ash5.10%
Moisture8%
Carbohydrates48.30%
Omega-3 fatty acids1.10%
Omega-6 fatty acids3.19%
Calcium0.85%
Phosphorus0.61%
Sodium0.23%

Energy: 379 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 the daily amount shown; adjust amount to maintain optimum weight. New to this food? Mix increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the previous food over a 7 day period. Keep fresh water available at all times! Senior 11+ feeding table provided in grams (dry) and combinations with 200g cans and 370g cans by body weight.

Additives declared on the label

Nutritional additives

3b103 (Iron) 75.7mg/kg; 3b202 (Iodine) 1.9mg/kg; 3b405 (Copper) 7.5mg/kg; 3b502 (Manganese) 7.8mg/kg; 3b603 (Zinc) 133mg/kg; 3b801 (Selenium) 0.2mg/kg; Vitamin A 8,910 IU/kg; Vitamin D3 612 IU/kg; Vitamin E 970mg/kg; Vitamin C 107mg/kg; Beta-carotene 1.5mg/kg

Technological additives

Natural antioxidant

Ingredients (22)70% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

  • meat 37.0%
  • carb 21.8%
  • fibre 15.8%
  • oil 9.8%
  • supplement 9.3%
  • veg 6.2%
#As declaredMatchedLabel readingDeclared %Est. %
1Chicken and turkey mealDehydrated Chicken and Turkeymeat · medium-5.3
2total poultry 17%Poultrymeat · medium1717.0
311% chickenChickenmeat · medium1111.0
4broken riceRice - whitecarb · medium-5.2
5wheatWheatcarb · poor-5.0
6maizeMaize / Corncarb · medium-4.8
7animal fatUnspecified Animal Fats and Oilsoil · poor-4.7
8digestDigestmeat · poor-4.5
9barleyBarleycarb · medium-4.4
10oatsOatscarb · medium-4.2
11dried beet pulpBeet Pulpfibre · medium-4.1
12vegetable oilVegetable oiloil · medium-3.9
13fish oil (1.8%)Fish Oiloil · good1.81.8
14mineralsVitamins and mineralssupplement · medium-3.7
15flaxseedLinseedveg · good-3.6
16oat branOat branfibre · good-3.4
17fructo-oligosaccharidesFructo-oligosaccharidessupplement · good-3.3
18dried tomato pomaceTomato Pomacefibre · medium-3.1
19dried citrus pulpCitrus Pulpfibre · medium-3.0
20spinach powderSpinachveg · good-2.8
21Oat bran (0.6%)Oat branfibre · good0.60.6
22fructo-oligosaccharides (0.6%)Fructo-oligosaccharidessupplement · good0.60.6
  1. 1. Chicken and turkey meal5.3% estimated
  2. 2. total poultry 17%17% declared17.0% estimated
    Poultry · meat · medium
  3. 3. 11% chicken11% declared11.0% estimated
    Chicken · meat · medium
  4. 4. broken rice5.2% estimated
    Rice - white · carb · medium
  5. 5. wheat5.0% estimated
    Wheat · carb · poor
  6. 6. maize4.8% estimated
    Maize / Corn · carb · medium
  7. 7. animal fat4.7% estimated
  8. 8. digest4.5% estimated
    Digest · meat · poor
  9. 9. barley4.4% estimated
    Barley · carb · medium
  10. 10. oats4.2% estimated
    Oats · carb · medium
  11. 11. dried beet pulp4.1% estimated
    Beet Pulp · fibre · medium
  12. 12. vegetable oil3.9% estimated
    Vegetable oil · oil · medium
  13. 13. fish oil (1.8%)1.8% declared1.8% estimated
    Fish Oil · oil · good
  14. 14. minerals3.7% estimated
    Vitamins and minerals · supplement · medium
  15. 15. flaxseed3.6% estimated
    Linseed · veg · good
  16. 16. oat bran3.4% estimated
    Oat bran · fibre · good
  17. 17. fructo-oligosaccharides3.3% estimated
    Fructo-oligosaccharides · supplement · good
  18. 18. dried tomato pomace3.1% estimated
    Tomato Pomace · fibre · medium
  19. 19. dried citrus pulp3.0% estimated
    Citrus Pulp · fibre · medium
  20. 20. spinach powder2.8% estimated
    Spinach · veg · good
  21. 21. Oat bran (0.6%)0.6% declared0.6% estimated
    Oat bran · fibre · good
  22. 22. fructo-oligosaccharides (0.6%)0.6% declared0.6% estimated
    Fructo-oligosaccharides · supplement · good

Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-15

Brand and contact: Hill's
Hill's logo
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?

This recipe achieves a final score of 50 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list added +3.7 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -7.4. Additionally, the processing format deducted -6.7 and the carbohydrate content contributed -3.1.

Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.49.191+3.71
Meat share of dry matter11.1%0.096+1.06
Carb share of dry matter27.1%-0.115-3.12
Oil share of dry matter13.7%-0.092-1.27
Vegetable share of dry matter7.9%-0.005-0.04
Supplement share of dry matter12.1%-0.012-0.15
Recipe graded poor13.1%-0.065-0.85
Poor-quality meat in recipe4.2%-0.179-0.75
Number of poor ingredients3-0.876-2.63
Largest single poor ingredient4.6%0.060+0.28
Undeclared quantities70.2%-0.106-7.41
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Additive penalty-0.200.222-0.05
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.49.191+3.71
Meat share of dry matter11.1%0.096+1.06
Carb share of dry matter27.1%-0.115-3.12
Oil share of dry matter13.7%-0.092-1.27
Vegetable share of dry matter7.9%-0.005-0.04
Additive share of dry matter0.0%0.163+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter12.1%-0.012-0.15
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor13.1%-0.065-0.85
Poor-quality meat in recipe4.2%-0.179-0.75
Number of poor ingredients3-0.876-2.63
Largest single poor ingredient4.6%0.060+0.28
Undeclared quantities70.2%-0.106-7.41
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)no0.707+0.00
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)no-3.158+0.00
High carb and low meatno-1.180+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages0.00.000+0.00
Meat share × fresh0.00.000+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.011.084+0.00
Additive penalty-0.200.222-0.05
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Rawno-0.054+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno0.000+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedno6.629+0.00
Processing: Dry Air Driedno6.331+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.174+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.146+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksno-0.672+0.00
Processing-type offset
+0.02
Additives declared on label
+2 transparency bonus
Subtotal
50.4
Final score
50/100

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.

ModelScore
v350/100current
v250/100
v128/100
v1.929/100
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.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein20.622.4 (band 18.538043478260867 to 40%)80.8
Fat16.217.6 (band 5.664402173913043 to 20%)100
Fibre1.82 (band 0.5 to 5%)89.4
Calcium0.850.9 (band 0.514945652173913 to 2.5%)82.4
Phosphorus0.610.7 (band 0.4119565217391304 to 1.6%)82.7
Sodium0.230.3 (band 0.1029891304347826+%)100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.41.4 (band 1 to 2%)93.6
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)--100
Energy (kcal/100g)379412100

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.

Declared fortification: 11 nutritional additives on the label
  • 3b103 (Iron) 75.7mg/kg
  • 3b202 (Iodine) 1.9mg/kg
  • 3b405 (Copper) 7.5mg/kg
  • 3b502 (Manganese) 7.8mg/kg
  • 3b603 (Zinc) 133mg/kg
  • 3b801 (Selenium) 0.2mg/kg
  • Vitamin A 8,910 IU/kg
  • Vitamin D3 612 IU/kg
  • Vitamin E 970mg/kg
  • Vitamin C 107mg/kg
  • Beta-carotene 1.5mg/kg

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.

ItemPoints
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
✓ Printed percentages on the label (29.8% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)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 file0/5

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 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.

100/100 · moderate — 2 checkable claims: 2 consistent, 0 contradicted.

Consistent with the label

  • "100% healthy and balance nutrition" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
  • "Hill's Science Plan SMALL & MINI SENIOR DOG FOOD with CHICKEN is a complete pet food for small breed dogs 11+ years old" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.

7 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.

Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
ActivBiome + Multibenefit Technology, a blend of prebiotic fibers and antioxidants (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Supports heart, kidney & bladder health with balanced minerals (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
100% healthy and balance nutrition (on page)ContentconsistentManufacturer assertion
Supports healthy joints and mobility with omega-3s from fish oil (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Supports healthy skin & a luxurious coat with nourishing omega-6s & Vitamin E blend (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE for quality, consistency & taste, or your money back (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
VETERINARIAN RECOMMENDED (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Specially made with our smallest kibbles (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Hill's Science Plan SMALL & MINI SENIOR DOG FOOD with CHICKEN is a complete pet food for small breed dogs 11+ years old (on page)ContentconsistentManufacturer 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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