Hill's Science Plan Puppy Large Breed Chicken

Dry Extruded · completeHigh meatClear label

Science Plan Puppy Large Breed Chicken
Average
our rating

Our verdict

Is Hill's Science Plan Puppy Large Breed Chicken a good dog food?

We score it 56/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

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

How we score

51% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.

Why you might choose it

  • Meat makes up an estimated 37% of the dry matter (60% as fed).
  • Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
  • High in protein: 32% protein on a dry-matter basis.

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 puppies
  • Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at large 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 29.20% · Fat 14.40%

Typical analysis (as fed)

NutrientAs fed
Protein29.20%
Fat14.40%
Fibre2.70%
Ash6.40%
Moisture8%
Carbohydrates38.80%
Omega-3 fatty acids0.95%
Omega-6 fatty acids2.22%
Calcium1.09%
Phosphorus0.95%
Sodium0.48%

Energy: 395 kcal/100g

Additives & feeding info

Feeding and storage

Feeding guide

Feed daily amount shown in the growth table; adjust to maintain optimum weight. Switch to Large Breed Adult at 18 months. Fresh water always available.

Additives declared on the label

Nutritional additives

3b103 (Iron) 82.2mg; 3b202 (Iodine) 2.9mg; 3b405 (Copper) 8.9mg; 3b502 (Manganese) 8.5mg; 3b603 (Zinc) 135mg; 3b801 (Selenium) 0.1mg; with natural antioxidant

Ingredients (18)51% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

  • meat 60.1%
  • fibre 11.9%
  • carb 8.4%
  • supplement 8.2%
  • oil 8.1%
  • veg 3.4%
#As declaredMatchedLabel readingDeclared %Est. %
1Chicken and turkey mealDehydrated Chicken and Turkeymeat · medium-4.4
2total poultry 29%Poultrymeat · medium2929.0
3chicken 19%Chickenmeat · medium1919.0
4broken riceRice - whitecarb · medium-4.3
5maizeMaize / Corncarb · medium-4.1
6digestDigestmeat · poor-4.0
7animal fatUnspecified Animal Fats and Oilsoil · poor-3.8
8dried eggsDried Eggmeat · medium-3.7
9celluloseCellulosefibre · medium-3.5
10flaxseedLinseedveg · good-3.4
11mineralsVitamins and mineralssupplement · medium-3.2
12dried beet pulpBeet Pulpfibre · medium-3.1
13fish oil (1.3%)Fish Oiloil · good1.31.3
14vegetable oilVegetable oiloil · medium-2.9
15oat branOat branfibre · good-2.8
16fructo-oligosaccharidesFructo-oligosaccharidessupplement · good-2.6
17ActivBiome+ Multi Benefit prebiotic blend (0.6%): Oat branOat branfibre · good-2.5
18fructo-oligosaccharides.Fructo-oligosaccharidessupplement · good-2.4
  1. 1. Chicken and turkey meal4.4% estimated
  2. 2. total poultry 29%29% declared29.0% estimated
    Poultry · meat · medium
  3. 3. chicken 19%19% declared19.0% estimated
    Chicken · meat · medium
  4. 4. broken rice4.3% estimated
    Rice - white · carb · medium
  5. 5. maize4.1% estimated
    Maize / Corn · carb · medium
  6. 6. digest4.0% estimated
    Digest · meat · poor
  7. 7. animal fat3.8% estimated
  8. 8. dried eggs3.7% estimated
    Dried Egg · meat · medium
  9. 9. cellulose3.5% estimated
    Cellulose · fibre · medium
  10. 10. flaxseed3.4% estimated
    Linseed · veg · good
  11. 11. minerals3.2% estimated
    Vitamins and minerals · supplement · medium
  12. 12. dried beet pulp3.1% estimated
    Beet Pulp · fibre · medium
  13. 13. fish oil (1.3%)1.3% declared1.3% estimated
    Fish Oil · oil · good
  14. 14. vegetable oil2.9% estimated
    Vegetable oil · oil · medium
  15. 15. oat bran2.8% estimated
    Oat bran · fibre · good
  16. 16. fructo-oligosaccharides2.6% estimated
    Fructo-oligosaccharides · supplement · good
  17. 17. ActivBiome+ Multi Benefit prebiotic blend (0.6%): Oat bran2.5% estimated
    Oat bran · fibre · good
  18. 18. fructo-oligosaccharides.2.4% 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?

The overall score reached 56 out of 100. The processing format contributed -6.7 points, and ingredients without printed percentages cost a further -5.4 points. On the positive side, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +4.3 points, with being labelled nutritionally complete contributing +2.3.

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 quality0.59.191+4.29
Meat share of dry matter22.9%0.096+2.20
Carb share of dry matter12.6%-0.115-1.45
Oil share of dry matter13.6%-0.092-1.25
Vegetable share of dry matter5.2%-0.005-0.03
Supplement share of dry matter12.9%-0.012-0.16
Recipe graded poor7.8%-0.065-0.51
Poor-quality meat in recipe4.0%-0.179-0.71
Number of poor ingredients2-0.876-1.75
Largest single poor ingredient4.0%0.060+0.24
Undeclared quantities50.7%-0.106-5.35
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Additive penalty-0.170.222-0.04
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 quality0.59.191+4.29
Meat share of dry matter22.9%0.096+2.20
Carb share of dry matter12.6%-0.115-1.45
Oil share of dry matter13.6%-0.092-1.25
Vegetable share of dry matter5.2%-0.005-0.03
Additive share of dry matter0.0%0.163+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter12.9%-0.012-0.16
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor7.8%-0.065-0.51
Poor-quality meat in recipe4.0%-0.179-0.71
Number of poor ingredients2-0.876-1.75
Largest single poor ingredient4.0%0.060+0.24
Undeclared quantities50.7%-0.106-5.35
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-0.170.222-0.04
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
+1 transparency bonus
Subtotal
56.1
Final score
56/100

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
v356/100current
v256/100
v156/100
v1.957/100
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges

How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for puppies and growth. 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.

Scored against FEDIAF growth minima; puppy scoring is under review.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein29.231.7100
Fat14.415.7100
Calcium1.091.2100
Phosphorus0.951100
Sodium0.480.5 (band 0.2361413043478261+%)100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.11.1100
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)--100
Energy (kcal/100g)395429.3100

Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100, omega-3 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.

Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 95); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.

Declared fortification: 7 nutritional additives on the label
  • 3b103 (Iron) 82.2mg
  • 3b202 (Iodine) 2.9mg
  • 3b405 (Copper) 8.9mg
  • 3b502 (Manganese) 8.5mg
  • 3b603 (Zinc) 135mg
  • 3b801 (Selenium) 0.1mg
  • with natural antioxidant

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 (49.3% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)9.9/20
✓ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory)15/15
✓ 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)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

  • "High-quality protein for building lean muscles" — supported by the declared high protein data.
  • "complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.

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

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

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
100% balanced nutrition to support optimal growth & the immune system (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Supports healthy brain & eye development with DHA from fish oil (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Carefully formulated with an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
High-quality protein for building lean muscles (on pack)High/low levelconsistentManufacturer assertion
complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology (on pack)ContentconsistentManufacturer assertion
VETERINARIAN RECOMMENDED (on pack)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Made with 100% cage-free eggs or egg derivatives (on pack)Contentnot checkableManufacturer 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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