The Top Reviewed Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Foods

Puppies need lots of nutrients in precise amounts to grow healthy, and strong. In fact, the diet you feed your pet during the puppy stage could affect their health for the rest of their life.

Because puppies are growing and developing their skeletons, joints, eyes, nervous systems, and more, their nutritional requirements are very different from those of adult dogs. Hill’s Science Diet manufactures a variety of foods that are based on “science-led nutrition” conducted by the company’s food scientists to help support puppies’ lifelong health. We’ve done the research and reviewed Hill’s Science Diet’s top puppy recipes so you can choose the one that’s right for your furry best friend.

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for the Best Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Foods

#1 Best Overall: Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Development Small Bites

Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Development Small Bites is specially formulated for small breed puppies. The first ingredient is chicken meal for the protein your puppy needs to build lean muscle. It includes a balanced blend of vitamins and minerals to promote strong bones and teeth. And the formula provides DHA from fish oil to support your puppy’s eye and brain development as well as ingredients that promote heart health.

You can rest assured that Hill’s uses only high-quality ingredients in their recipes. This one, for example, includes wholesome fruits and vegetables like apples, broccoli, carrots, cranberries, and green peas. And it features extra-small kibble that’s easy for small-breed puppies to pick up with their tiny mouths and chew with their little jaws.

This veterinarian-recommended puppy food is made in the U.S. with globally sourced ingredients that you can trust.

Most reviews for this food were positive, but some reviewers reported that their puppies wouldn’t eat it. A few said that their pups experienced gastrointestinal issues, including gas and diarrhea.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Development Small Bites

Best Overall

Hill's Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites

• Specially formulated for puppies
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• Delicious chicken flavor
• Added minerals for strong bones and teeth

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2. Best Dry: Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe is enriched with DHA for healthy brain and eye development, antioxidants to protect their cells against free radicals, and vitamins C and E to defend against oxidative damage.

This nutritional powerhouse also supports lean muscle growth with quality protein. And a precise blend of minerals promotes the growth of strong, healthy bones and teeth.

This recipe is recommended for puppies up to a year old and pregnant or nursing adult dogs.

The overwhelming majority of reviews for this food were positive, but some reviewers said that their puppies experienced diarrhea after eating it. And some pet parents said that their puppies didn’t like this recipe.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe

Best Dry

Hill's Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food

• Quality protein, vitamins, and minerals
• DHA from fish oil support eye and brain development
• Easily digestible
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

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3. Best Wet Food: Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée Canned Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée Canned Dog Food is the perfect wet food to feed on its own to puppies as a complete meal. You can also mix into their dry food for variety or feed them a bite between meals for a reward.

This delicious wet food provides balanced nutrition with real chicken as the second ingredient (following water), for protein that builds and maintains lean muscles. Wholesome grains provide energy and fiber that promotes healthy digestion. And the recipe includes DHA from fish oil for brain and eye development.

Some pet parents reported that this canned food was “hard,” while others said that their puppies wouldn’t eat it.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée Canned Dog Food

Best Canned

Hill's Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entree Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

• Made from real chicken for muscle health and energy
• Contains powerful antioxidants for immune system health
• Easily digestible
• Made from all-natural ingredients
• Moisture-rich formula provides hydration

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4. Best Large Breed: Hill’s Science Diet Large Puppy Breed Chicken Meal & Oat Recipe

Hill’s Science Diet Large Puppy Breed Chicken Meal & Oat Recipe is formulated to meet the unique developmental needs of large breed puppies. It includes a balanced blend of minerals, including the optimal amount of calcium, to promote the controlled growth of strong bones in large puppies. This mineral blend also contributes to the growth of strong, healthy teeth.

This recipe includes DHA from fish oil to support your puppy’s healthy brain and eye development. And high-quality protein helps your puppy build and maintain lean muscle mass. It contains 394 kcal/cup, so it’s not recommended for adult dogs, which typically require less calories than growing puppies.

Some reviewers reported that their puppies experienced gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea and/or vomiting) after eating this food.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Science Diet Large Puppy Breed Chicken Meal & Oat Recipe

Best Large Breed

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed

• Contains an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth
• Balanced minerals that promote strong bones and strong teeth
• Made with natural ingredients uses DHA from fish oil
• Developed by over 220 veterinarians, food scientists and technicians

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5. Best for Small Breed Puppies: Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice

Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice is specifically made to meet the nutritional requirements of small breed puppies. This delicious recipe includes ingredients like DHA to support your small breed puppy’s brain and eye development and antioxidants for immune system health.

This recipe is made from real chicken, which is great for your puppy’s muscle growth, and it has a small kibble size that’s tailored to comfortably fit tiny dogs’ mouths.

This food is recommended for puppies up to one-year-old and pregnant and nursing mother dogs, too.

Some reviewers said that their dogs didn’t like this recipe.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice

Best Small Breed

Hill's Science Diet Puppy Small Paws Chicken Meal

• Made with natural ingredients tailored to the developmental needs of small breed dog puppies
• Contains high-quality protein to help your toy pup build lean, strong muscles
• Balance of minerals promote strong teeth and healthy bones
• Contains a proprietary antioxidant blend

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Choosing the Best Puppy Foods: What to Look For

When choosing food for your puppy, you should be vigilant. As we mentioned earlier, your puppy’s diet sets the stage for their growth and development and may have an impact on their future health. When you’re shopping for puppy food, keep the following factors in mind: calorie content, breed/size, and ingredients.

Calorie Content

Puppies need food with higher calorie content than adult dogs. This is because puppies use a lot of energy for growth, development, and play. Any food you choose should provide your puppy with sufficient calories.

Size

It makes sense to take your puppy’s adult size into consideration because different sized puppies have different nutritional requirements. For example, a Great Dane pup needs more calcium and phosphorus than a Chihuahua. This is because their bone growth rate is very different.

Ingredients

Quality ingredients are vital to your puppy’s health. For example, the fatty acid DHA is essential and should be a part of your puppy’s diet because it supports memory and trainability. Your puppy food should include a higher amount of DHA than food that’s formulated for adult dogs.

The Different Types of Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Foods: Pros and Cons Compared

Hill Science Diet Puppy Foods mainly come as wet or dry food. Each of these has its pros and cons. Comparing them will help you decide which is better for your puppy.

Dry Puppy Food

Wet Puppy Food

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