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Nature's Recipe vs Hill's Science Diet

Nature's Recipe vs. Hill's Science Diet

In this comparison article for Nature's Recipe vs Hill's Science Diet, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Nature's Recipe and Hill's Science Diet, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.

Throughout this Hill's Science Diet vs Nature's Recipe comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Nature's Recipe Review Page or Hill's Science Diet Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: Hill's Science Diet vs. Nature's Recipe

According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.

All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.

Nature's Recipe Dog Food vs. Hill's Science Diet Dog Food

Dry Dog FoodNature's RecipeHill's Science Diet
Crude Protein27.6%24.6%
Crude Fat13.5%14.7%
Crude Fiber4.8%3.7%
Wet/Canned Dog FoodNature's RecipeHill's Science Diet
Crude Protein53.9%25.7%
Crude Fat13.5%17.3%
Crude Fiber6.6%3.5%

Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food

Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.

There is a small difference between the protein content of Nature's Recipe and Hill's Science Diet. We can see that Nature's Recipe guarantees about 3.04% more protein than Hill's Science Diet. In addition, Nature's Recipe wet dog foods also provide more protein than Hill's Science Diet wet foods.


Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food

Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.

There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fat content of the two brands. For wet dog foods, Hill's Science Diet typically provides a little more fat (about 3.82% more).


Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. For wet dog foods, Nature's Recipe typically provides a little more fiber (about 3.03% more).

Nature's Recipe Pet Food Ingredients vs. Hill's Science Diet Pet Food Ingredients

Nature's Recipe and Hill's Science Diet both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:

Pea Protein
Brewers Rice
Caramel Color
Tomato Pomace
Dried Tomato Pomace
Soybean Protein Isolate

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Nature's Recipe.

Wheat
Garlic
Beet Pulp
Canola Oil
Canola Meal
Fat Product
Garlic Spice
Garlic Powder
Soybean Flour
Ground Whole Wheat
Soybean Protein Concentrate
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Hill's Science Diet.

Liver
Caramel
Corn Flour
Iron Oxide
Pork Plasma
Poultry Fat
Animal Liver
Wheat Gluten
Beef By-Products
Corn Gluten Meal
Pork By-Products
Whole Grain Corn
Whole Grain Wheat
Powdered Cellulose
Pea Protein Concentrate

We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.

Nature's Recipe and Hill's Science Diet both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Nature's Recipe.

Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex

Product Safety: Recall History of Nature's Recipe & Hill's Science Diet?

According to our records, Nature's Recipe has never been recalled.

Hill's Science Diet has been recalled 2 times.

  • Jan. 31, 2019: elevated levels of Vitamin D
  • March 20, 2019: elevated levels of Vitamin D

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog FoodNature's RecipeHill's Science Diet
Per Pound$1.93$2.83
Per Calorie$0.0012$0.0018
Wet Dog FoodNature's RecipeHill's Science Diet
Per Pound$4.91$5.03
Per Calorie$0.0114$0.0125

The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.

If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Nature's Recipe or Hill's Science Diet, input your pet's weight into our cost analyzer widget.

Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that you'll pay for Nature's Recipe or Hill's Science Diet will depend on your shopping habits.

Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Nature's Recipe and Hill's Science Diet. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.


Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!

Where To Buy Nature's Recipe Pet Foods

You can purchase Nature's Recipe pet foods from the following stores:


27 Recipes In-Stock Today

10 Recipes In-Stock Today

10 Recipes In-Stock Today

Where To Buy Hill's Science Diet Pet Foods

You can purchase Hill's Science Diet pet food products from these retailers:


125 Recipes In-Stock Today

123 Recipes In-Stock Today

101 Recipes In-Stock Today

Type Of Pet Foods Available

ProductNature's RecipeHill's Science Diet
Dry Dog Food19 Recipes48 Recipes
Wet Dog Food17 Recipes34 Recipes
Dog TreatsNone18 Treats
Dry Cat FoodNone25 Recipes
Wet Cat FoodNone48 Recipes
Cat TreatsNoneNone

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