Choosing the right dog food can feel like navigating a minefield. With countless brands and formulas available, how do you select the best option for your furry friend? Two names that frequently surface in discussions about premium dog food are Royal Canin and Hill's Science Diet. Both brands are well-regarded for their scientific approach to pet nutrition, but nuances in their offerings make each unique. This article provides a detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision.
Introduction: Decoding Dog Food Labels
Dog food labels aren’t exactly easy to understand. Walking down the pet food aisle with your dogs in tow always gets you questioning: what exactly am I feeding them? Between Royal Canin and Science Diet - two heavy hitters that often pop up in r/puppy101 and r/dogproducts - the difference boils down to careful formulation and intended purpose.
Royal Canin vs. Science Diet: A Quick Ingredient and Feature Comparison
To kick things off, here's a quick overview of how Royal Canin and Hill's Science Diet stack up against each other:
| Feature | Royal Canin | Hill's Science Diet |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Breed, size, and health-specific dog and cat food | Dog and cat food for different needs |
| Starting price | \$4.00/lb for dry food | \$2.92/lb |
| Shipping cost | Free | Free over \$49 on Chewy |
| Subscription | Autoship every 1-12 weeks | Set autoship frequency |
| Recipes | 200+ choices | 200+ choices |
| Meal storage | Keep wet food refrigerated and use within 1-2 days | Keep dry foods cool and wet food in the fridge for up to 5 days |
| Are meals pre-portioned? | No | No |
| Ingredient quality | Meets AAFCO guidelines | Human-grade meats used, locally sourced |
| Free-from | Artificial colors and preservatives | Some recipes free from wheat, corn, soy |
| Customizable based on: | Weight, breed, health, food texture, size, age, activity level | Weight, age, health, allergies, activity level |
| Recalls | Yes, in 2006 (excess vitamin D) and 2007 (melamine) | Yes, in 2014, 2015, and 2019 (excess vitamin D) |
| Money back guarantee? | Yes, palatability guarantee | Yes if unused portion returned |
| Current deal | Save 15% on your first auto-ship purchase. Enter SAVE15 at checkout. | Save 35% on your first Autoship Order! |
Ingredient Quality: Royal Canin Offers Scientifically Formulated Recipes
Royal Canin emerges as the winner in the ingredient quality section. This is largely due to its scientifically formulated recipes developed by veterinarians since its founding in 1968. While not claiming its ingredients to be human-grade, Royal Canin meets the nutritional standards set by the AAFCO and avoids artificial flavors, although some diets may include common allergens like corn and wheat. The brand's manufacturing processes use both dry and wet formulation methods.
In comparison, Hill's also maintains a strong commitment to high-quality ingredients that meet AAFCO guidelines and focuses on the health benefits of its foods, which include essential nutrients. Like Royal Canin, Hill's uses by-products in some of its formulas and offers recipes free from common allergens for pets with sensitivities. Both companies have faced recalls. Notably, Hill’s underwent a significant recall in 2019 due to toxic levels of Vitamin D, which had severe consequences. This incident underscores the critical nature of maintaining high standards and continuous monitoring in pet food production.
Read also: Intestinal Health with Royal Canin
The Protein Showdown: What's Really in Your Dog's Food?
Protein is king for dogs, fueling everything from muscle repair to immune health. Royal Canin’s “Small Adult” formula boasts high animal protein levels, which visibly helped dogs stay bouncy and lean. When tested, dogs were more active, with tighter muscles - thanks to this protein punch.
Meals and Customization: Hill's Science Caters to More Dietary Needs
Hill's narrowly takes the win in this round. This is due to its extensive variety of meal types and specialized dietary options. Offering wet, dry, stews, and pouches, Hill’s caters to a broader array of additional needs, including grain-free diets and meals free from corn, wheat, or soy.
Both Hill’s and Royal Canin provide a vast selection of meals tailored to various breeds, sizes, and ages of pets. Hill’s offers 2 brands of products. Hill’s Science Diet targets pets in various life stages, from puppies and kittens to adults and seniors, and is tailored to meet the nutritional requirements appropriate for their age, size, and sensitivity. Hill's Prescription Diet, on the other hand, is specifically developed to address specific medical conditions or therapeutic needs in pets.
Similarly, Royal Canin offers specialized products that address breed-specific and age-specific needs, with 110 dog products focusing on issues such as weight management and joint support and over 50 cat items designed for concerns like urinary support and hairballs. Royal Canin's veterinary diet range includes more than 75 meals and treats for dogs and over 40 for cats. These products support diagnosed medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney support, and dental hygiene.
Both companies have a questionnaire to help you find the best food formulation for your pet, but they differ slightly in their approach. Royal Canin provides a Pet Food Finder tool and includes filters for food texture, age, breed, specific needs, and more, aiding in the personalized selection process. Hill's, however, offers a more in-depth questionnaire that covers a broader range of specific health needs and issues, supplemented by filters for product type, life stage, health category, and innovative food technologies aimed at supporting the pet’s gut microbiome.
Read also: Exploring Royal Pains
Ordering and Delivery: Royal Canin Is Super Convenient
Royal Canin takes the lead in the ordering and delivery section. For added convenience, Royal Canin offers a subscription option where customers can save 5% on their orders, which can be scheduled for delivery every 1 to 12 weeks. Orders are shipped via FedEx, and subscription orders can be adjusted, paused, or skipped directly in your account 2 days before your next scheduled shipment.
In contrast, Hill's ordering process varies depending on the product line. Prescription diets from Hill’s are only available through veterinarians or with a prescription at online retailers. Both companies require veterinary approval for their prescription and veterinary diet products, reflecting the specialized nature of these foods intended for pets with specific health needs.
Unboxing: Royal Canin's Packaging Is Sturdy and Eco-Friendly
Royal Canin is the winner of the unboxing comparison. This is due to its effective combination of practical and eco-conscious packaging. Deliveries typically arrive in sturdy boxes, ensuring the products are secure and undamaged upon arrival.
Royal Canin's packaging includes detailed storage instructions, ensuring optimal freshness and safety. Dry foods are recommended to be stored in their original bags, which are often resealable to maintain freshness. If the bag is not resealable, the use of an airtight container is suggested to preserve the food's quality over time. Royal Canin also provides a unique eco-friendly aspect to its packaging through a partnership with TerraCycle, allowing pet owners to send in their non-recyclable pet food bags for free recycling, thus contributing to environmental sustainability.
In comparison, Hill’s also provides clear labeling and adequate storage instructions, with dry foods recommended to be stored off the floor in a cool, dry environment and canned foods to be kept at a moderate temperature and refrigerated once opened. However, Hill’s recyclability options are more limited, focusing mainly on cans and cardboard, with plans to expand recyclable packaging in the future. This gives Royal Canin an edge with its more immediate and comprehensive recycling solutions and detailed guidance on maintaining food quality after opening.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide: Royal Gramma
Meal Prep: Both Provide Comprehensive Guidelines
In the meal prep comparison between Royal Canin and Hill's, it’s a tie. Both brands provide comprehensive guidelines to ensure proper nutrition tailored to specific pet needs, though they approach meal preparation slightly differently.
Royal Canin’s pet foods do not come pre-portioned, giving pet owners the flexibility to adjust meal sizes according to their pet’s specific dietary needs. These guidelines are designed to help pet owners determine the correct daily food amount, which is recommended to be divided into at least 2 or 3 meals throughout the day. The preparation process is straightforward; using a measuring cup or scale can ensure that pets receive the precise amount needed for their health.
Similarly, Hill's products come with a feeding guide on each package, which serves as a starting point for portioning meals. However, it's recommended that you adjust the portions based on your veterinarian's advice, especially if your pet has specific health needs.
Pricing: Both Services Offer Good Structures and Incentives
In this round of pricing comparisons, it's a tie between Royal Canin and Hill’s. Both offer competitive pricing structures and incentives that make a direct comparison challenging.
Royal Canin provides free shipping with no minimum purchase required. To give you some idea of prices, a 10 lb bag of Shih Tzu food is priced at \$61.99, while a 30 lb bag of food for a Rottweiler costs \$109.99. You can also save 5% on all products by setting up a Royal Canin subscription.
Hill’s offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back on its products. This guarantee applies to purchases from authorized retailers, where the unused portion can be returned for a full refund or replacement if not satisfactory. To give you an idea of prices for Hill’s on Chewy, a 15.5 lb bag of Small and Mini dry dog food costs \$57.99 and a 33 lb bag of Large Adult Breed dry food costs \$81.99.
Although Hill’s is slightly more affordable overall, it's still best to shop around for current prices and extra deals.
Deals and Steals: Finding the Best Prices on Dog Food
If you’re shopping smart, your wallet wants to hear about prices, too. It's a good idea to track prices and compare discounts, shipping, and product authenticity guarantees. Factoring cost per feeding helps weigh value vs premium pricing.
Recall History: A Look at Past Incidents
When it comes to the safety and reliability of pet food brands, recalls and lawsuits can provide valuable insights.
Historically, Science Diet has had a relatively limited number of recalls. One significant incident occurred when traces of melamine, a compound used in plastics, were found in some of their products. This led to a voluntary recall of affected products to ensure pet safety. Another recall was issued due to concerns about potentially elevated levels of vitamin D in specific lots of canned dog food.
Royal Canin, too, has faced recalls, albeit for different reasons. One notable recall was related to an excess of vitamin D3 in some of their products. Another significant recall in Royal Canin’s history was due to melamine contamination, a problem that impacted several pet food brands at the time.
The Veterinary Perspective
Veterinarians often recommend brands like Purina, Royal Canin, and Science Diet. However, it's important to consider the source of nutritional education at veterinary schools. These are sponsored or influenced by big brands such as Nestle Purina, Colgate Palmolive Hill's (Science Diet, Prescription Diet) and Mars (Royal Canin). There is a trend of opinion based articles in veterinary publications written by people who are actively sponsored by the above mentioned brands.
Unlike human doctors, veterinarians sell pet food at their practices. Nestle (Purina), Mars (Royal Canin) and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill’s Science and Prescription Diets) are big consumer packaged goods companies. They need to grow the profit margin on the products as required by all public companies. Those companies influence AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officers) and WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) on pet food requirements to adhere to their standards. Those regulations allow them to use low-quality ingredients such as diseased animals transported in open trucks without having to reveal it to the consumer.
Royal Canin vs. Science Diet: Who Wins?
Royal Canin stands out as a winner, offering a wide array of breed-specific and health-specific diets, making it the top choice for pets with particular dietary needs. This allows every pet, from a tiny Chihuahua to a towering Great Dane, to receive a diet tailored to their specific health requirements, from joint health to heart health.
Its detailed feeding guidelines help you ensure your pets receive the right amount of food, tailored to their size, age, and health needs, helping prevent issues like obesity or malnutrition.
The convenience of purchasing Royal Canin is another significant advantage. Its commitment to sustainability is evident in its partnership with TerraCycle, which allows for the recycling of pet food bags, appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
However, Hill’s remains a strong choice for many customers. Its offerings, particularly in the Prescription Diet line, are highly regarded for effectively addressing specific health issues through clinically proven diets.
Quick Recommendations
- Royal Canin: Small and toy breeds with high energy, needing kibble tailored to their jaw and digestive systems.
- Science Diet: Aging dogs 7 years and older who need joint support, improved digestion, and gentle nutrition.
How to Choose Between Royal Canin and Hill's Science
- Compare food quality and history: These pet food brands are very similar in terms of quality, so your decision might come down to specific ingredients in the specific food you’re ordering. However, Hill’s Science has had more recent recalls than Royal Canin.
- Consider your pet’s prescription: If your pet requires a prescription diet, both companies have specialized food options. Hill’s Science has a more in-depth health questionnaire, but ultimately this decision should come from your vet.
- Decide how you want to order: Both of these brands are commonly sold at brick-and-mortar and online pet food retailers. Royal Canin has options for direct ordering, while Hill’s Science can only be purchased through a third-party.
Debunking Myths and Misconceptions
- Is Royal Canin better than other dog food? Royal Canin is considered one of the top brands in the pet food industry, especially for its precise and scientifically formulated recipes that cater to specific dietary needs. However, whether it is the "best" can vary based on individual pet needs, preferences, and how well a particular formula manages specific health conditions.
- Is Royal Canin better than Hill’s? It depends on your pet's specific needs. Royal Canin generally offers more specialized diets tailored to particular breeds, sizes, and health conditions, which can be particularly beneficial for pets with unique dietary requirements. However, Hill's Science Diet is also highly regarded, especially for its clinically proven benefits in addressing health issues through diet.
- Are Hill’s and Royal Canin the same company? No, Hill's and Royal Canin are not the same company. Hill's Pet Nutrition started under the guidance of Dr. Mark L. Morris Sr., a veterinarian, and is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive.
- Is the most expensive dog food always the best? Not necessarily! The most expensive dog food isn’t always the best fit for every pet. Factors like your dog’s age, breed, health conditions, and activity level matter more than just price. Choosing food based on your dog’s specific needs is the real key to health, not the price tag alone.
Transitioning Between Brands
Switching abruptly between these brands might upset your dog’s stomach because their ingredient blends and nutrient profiles differ. It’s best to transition gradually over 7-10 days to allow your dog’s digestive system to adapt, monitoring for any signs of discomfort.