There are dozens of dog food brands out there, and each one can have hundreds of different food choices. This leads to many products to sort through, a great deal of research, and too much misinformation.
You want the best food possible for your dog, but you don’t want to overspend to get it. We understand, and we have highlighted, reviewed, and compared two of the biggest dog food names in the industry: Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Diet.
Are these two dog foods worth the price, and how do they stack up against each other? We break it all down for you here, so you know exactly what you’re getting and if it’s the right food for your dog.
A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Hill’s Science Diet
Image Product Details
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe
Multiple size options
Great for sensitive stomach and skin
Great tasting for your pup
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Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Low Fat Original Flavor
Many options available
Plenty of flavor options
Nutritious recipes
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Both dog food brands are great, but Hill’s Science Diet offers just about everything that you can get with Royal Canin for a slightly lower price tag.
Whether you need a top-notch dry dog food for pups with sensitive skin or a wet food for dogs with sensitive stomachs, Hill’s Science Diet has you covered.
However, Mars Incorporated didn’t acquire Royal Canin until 2001. Royal Canin is a much older company that formed in 1968 in Gard, France, and since then, it’s been dedicated to producing high-end dog food.
Royal Canin is a sub-company of Mars Incorporated, which is a mega-conglomerate that owns tons of companies like Kellogg’s, Hershey, Cadbury, and even Nestlé. Other dog food companies that Mars Incorporated owns include Iams, Eukanuba, and Pedigree.
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It’s a top-notch dog food brand with plenty of variety, including prescription dog food options. However, it is a bit pricey compared to many other dog food companies that put out similar quality dog food.
Pros
Tons of variety available
Both prescription and non-prescription foods are available
Extremely nutritious recipes
Foods for all kinds of allergies and sensitivities
Many flavor options
Cons
Expensive
Tons of variety available
Both prescription and non-prescription foods are available
Extremely nutritious recipes
Foods for all kinds of allergies and sensitivities
Many flavor options
- Tons of variety available
- Both prescription and non-prescription foods are available
- Extremely nutritious recipes
- Foods for all kinds of allergies and sensitivities
- Many flavor options
Expensive
- Expensive
However, Hill’s formed before that, way back in 1907 in Topeka, Kansas. Hill’s released its prescription dog food almost 60 years later in 1968, just a few years before Colgate Palmolive acquired it.
Just like Royal Canin is part of a mega-conglomerate, so is Hill’s Science Diet. In 1976, Colgate Palmolive acquired Hill’s Science Diet, meaning that the same company that makes your toothpaste might make your dog’s food!
Today, it makes prescription and non-prescription dog foods, both of which are extremely high quality for the price that you pay.
Pros
Many options available
Both prescription and non-prescription foods are available
Plenty of flavor options
Nutritious recipes
Foods for all kinds of allergies and sensitivities
Cons
No breed-specific choices
Top 3 Most Popular Royal Canin Dog Food Recipes
Royal Canin has many prescription dog food recipes, but these three are their most popular offerings.
Many options available
Both prescription and non-prescription foods are available
Plenty of flavor options
Nutritious recipes
Foods for all kinds of allergies and sensitivities
- Many options available
- Both prescription and non-prescription foods are available
- Plenty of flavor options
- Nutritious recipes
- Foods for all kinds of allergies and sensitivities
No breed-specific choices
- No breed-specific choices
It comes in multiple size options, so your dog can try it out before you order too much, and everything about the formula is highly nutritious and great tasting. However, you do need a prescription for this dog food, and compared to many other dry dog foods out there, it’s expensive.
If you’re looking for a top-notch dry dog food to help your pup get cleaner proteins, this Royal Canin recipe is an outstanding choice. The hydrolyzed proteins help your dog’s gastrointestinal and dermatological health, making the food excellent for dogs with food allergies.
But if your dog needs a specialized diet, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Hydrolyzed Protein HP Dry Dog Food is an outstanding choice.
Pros
Multiple size options available
Great for gastrointestinal and skin health
Highly nutritious formula
Great tasting for your pup
Cons
Requires a prescription
Expensive
The wet formula is great for picky eaters or dogs with fewer teeth, and with the gastrointestinal formula that’s low fat, it’s also an excellent choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It has a high fiber content to help keep your dog feeling satiated, and it’s full of protein and calories to keep them healthy too.
Multiple size options available
Great for gastrointestinal and skin health
Highly nutritious formula
Great tasting for your pup
- Multiple size options available
- Great for gastrointestinal and skin health
- Highly nutritious formula
- Great tasting for your pup
Requires a prescription
Expensive
- Requires a prescription
- Expensive
Not every dog can handle dry dog food, and if your dog needs a wet food, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Low Fat Loaf Canned Dog Food is outstanding.
However, it’s one of the most expensive dog foods out there, and since it’s a wet food, it doesn’t last quite as long as dry food options. You’ll also need a prescription from a vet to order this dog food.
Pros
Great for gastrointestinal health
Easy for pups that need soft food
High fiber level helps your dog feel full
Low-fat formula with plenty of protein and calories
Cons
Requires a prescription
Very expensive
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food
Check Latest PriceIf your pup needs a low-fat gastrointestinal-friendly dog food but they don’t need a wet food, the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food is exactly what you want.
It’s pricier compared to many other dry dog foods, but compared to the wet food version, it’s quite affordable. You can purchase in multiple sizes to order in bulk, and it’s an outstanding choice for dogs with food sensitivities.
Great for gastrointestinal health
Easy for pups that need soft food
High fiber level helps your dog feel full
Low-fat formula with plenty of protein and calories
- Great for gastrointestinal health
- Easy for pups that need soft food
- High fiber level helps your dog feel full
- Low-fat formula with plenty of protein and calories
Requires a prescription
Very expensive
- Requires a prescription
- Very expensive
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If your pup needs a low-fat gastrointestinal-friendly dog food but they don’t need a wet food, the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food is exactly what you want.
The food itself is easy to digest, and most dogs love the taste. However, it is more expensive than most other dry dog foods, and you will need a prescription to order it for your dog.
Pros
Low-fat formula with plenty of protein and calories
Multiple size options available
Great for dogs with food sensitivities
Easy-to-digest formula
Cons
Requires a prescription
Expensive option
Top 3 Most Popular Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food Recipes
Hill’s Science Diet has many different recipes for you to choose from for your dog, but here are three of their most popular ones.
Low-fat formula with plenty of protein and calories
Multiple size options available
Great for dogs with food sensitivities
Easy-to-digest formula
- Low-fat formula with plenty of protein and calories
- Multiple size options available
- Great for dogs with food sensitivities
- Easy-to-digest formula
Requires a prescription
Expensive option
- Requires a prescription
- Expensive option
You don’t need a prescription to order, and it works well for your dog, which is a real win-win. However, since it’s not a “prescription” dog food, you’re not getting a vet-catered recommendation for your pup.
If your dog has sensitive skin or a sensitive stomach but you don’t have a vet subscription for their food, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe is a great choice. There are multiple size options, and the food is available for a great price.
But it costs so much less than a prescription dog food, it’s worth trying before you go for one of the more expensive options.
Pros
Multiple size options
Great for sensitive stomach and skin
Doesn’t require a prescription
Available for a reasonable price
Cons
Not a “prescription” dog food
Not only can this dog food help your pup lose weight, but once they get to a healthy weight, it also does a phenomenal job helping them maintain it. It also has outstanding nutritional value and helps improve your dog’s overall health.
Multiple size options
Great for sensitive stomach and skin
Doesn’t require a prescription
Available for a reasonable price
- Multiple size options
- Great for sensitive stomach and skin
- Doesn’t require a prescription
- Available for a reasonable price
Not a “prescription” dog food
- Not a “prescription” dog food
Sometimes, dogs pack on a few more pounds than they should. If that sounds like your dog, the Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe might be just what they need to get back on track.
It’s not a prescription dog food, but it does come in multiple sizes, so you can try it with your dog before you start ordering in bulk.
Pros
Available in multiple sizes
Great for weight control and weight loss
Improves your dog’s overall health
Outstanding flavor
Cons
Not a “prescription” dog food
As the name implies, it’s ideal for digestive health, ensuring that your dog doesn’t have any reactions even if they have food sensitivities. Not only does it help support your dog’s intestinal health, but it also helps promote healthy bacterial growth in their stomach.
Available in multiple sizes
Great for weight control and weight loss
Improves your dog’s overall health
Outstanding flavor
- Available in multiple sizes
- Great for weight control and weight loss
- Improves your dog’s overall health
- Outstanding flavor
If your dog needs a prescription dog food and you want to go with this brand, Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Low Fat Original Flavor Pate Wet Dog Food is a great choice.
It is expensive, but this wet food helps with picky eaters and with those that can’t break down harder foods.
Pros
Easy to digest
Supports your dog’s intestinal health
Veterinary formula
Helps promote healthy bacterial growth
Cons
Requires a prescription
Very expensive
Recall History of Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Diet
While both Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Diet were affected by the large-scale melamine recall in 2007, since then, Royal Canin hasn’t had any issues with recalls.
Easy to digest
Supports your dog’s intestinal health
Veterinary formula
Helps promote healthy bacterial growth
- Easy to digest
- Supports your dog’s intestinal health
- Veterinary formula
- Helps promote healthy bacterial growth
However, in 2019, Hill’s Science Diet had a recall on a few of its wet dog foods due to elevated levels of vitamin D. This recall only affected its wet dog food and not any of its dry foods, cat foods, or treats.
Fortunately, after ceasing the diet with the excess vitamin D, most pets fully recovered by simply switching to a diet with the appropriate amount of vitamin D.
Royal Canin vs. Hill’s Science Diet Comparison
Now before giving our final verdict, let’s see how these two brands compare in taste, nutritional value, price, and selection.
Taste
It seems as if dogs like both brands, but picky eaters might prefer one over the other simply because of personal preference. It’s more about what they’re used to than which one tastes better.
Nutritional Value
Whether you go with Hill’s Science Diet or Royal Canin, your dog is getting a highly nutritious diet. If your dog has special dietary needs, both brands offer a selection that will give your dog all the nutrients that they require to thrive.
Price
While neither Hill’s Science Diet nor Royal Canin is a budget dog food option, Hill’s is slightly more affordable. It’s about $10 to $25 cheaper than a comparable option of Royal Canin.
Selection
Both Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Diet have many dog food options for different situations. However, Royal Canin has a whole line of dog food specifically for different breeds. With this much customization and selection, it’s the clear winner here.
Overall
You can’t go wrong with either Hill’s Science Diet or Royal Canin, but you might prefer to save money and go with Hill’s Science Diet. Without any nutritional advantage or taste improvement, we can’t justify the higher price tag of Royal Canin dog food.
However, it is an extremely close decision, and if your dog does prefer one brand over the other, they’re close enough in price to justify giving your dog what they want.
- See also: Merrick vs Acana Dog Food
Summary
Whether you go with Royal Canin or Hill’s Science Diet, your dog is getting a top-notch diet. So, while we recommend Hill’s Science Diet because of the slightly lower price tag, either choice will have your dog healthy and well-fed for years to come.
So, find a food that they like and get it with confidence. Both Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Diet have your dog’s health in mind when they make their foods, and that’s what matters the most.
Featured Image Credit: Ermolaev Alexander, Shutterstock
