Adult Perfect Weight Management Hearty Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz can, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Management Hearty Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog Food is a wet food built around pork liver, designed for weight management.
This food offers reasonable protein quality, with pork liver providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality fat sources, like marine oil, which is a good source of EPA and DHA. The formula has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
The formula contains guar gum, an emulsifier. While there's emerging data on emulsifiers and the microbiome, there's no specific canine clinical evidence, so it's a minor watch item for canned foods.
Good fit for adult dogs, especially those needing weight management.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) . Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken broth anchors position 1, with one pulse (green peas at position 4), plus pork liver at position 2 (a natural taurine precursor).
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 55/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 14.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. pork liver delivers solid amino acid coverage. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 5 points. Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food. This formula sits 5.0 points below the B-tier line. The most direct lever is controversial-ingredient penalty.
Reasonable protein quality. pork liver delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
- Lowest carb quality in Hill's Science Diet's lineup (7/16)
- Top 2% for crude fiber in Hill's Science Diet's lineup (25.0% DMB)
- Bottom 10% for DMB protein in wet foods (25.0%)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Hill's Science Diet Variety Pack Adult Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Scores 20 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Sensitive Skin Tender Turkey & Rice Stew Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz can, 12 count
$5.23/lb vs your seed's $5.75/lb (9% less) at a comparable score.
Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Chicken instead of pork, 4 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 25%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1chicken broth
Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalpork liver
Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.
Position 2. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 3vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 3: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 4legumegreen peas
Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. See why →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
Position 5: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 6rice starch
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 9vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
Position 9: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 10protein plantwheat gluten
Concentrated wheat protein. Like other plant gluten meals, it pads the protein number on the label without contributing meat-quality amino acids.
Position 10: moderate plant-protein boost. Less likely to materially shift the protein profile.
- 11dried tomato pomace
The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.
Position 11: trace fiber inclusion.
- 12fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 12: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 13hydrolyzed chicken flavor
Hydrolyzed chicken used as a palatability enhancer. Real ingredient, tiny inclusion, no quality signal either way.
- 14fatcoconut oil
Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.
Position 14: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 15potassium alginate
- 16fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
- 17calcium chloride
- 18othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 19fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
- 20mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 21lipoic acid
- 22calcium lactate
Calcium source from lactic acid fermentation. Functional, well-tolerated.
- 23calcium gluconate
- 24mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 25potassium citrate
Source of potassium. Sometimes added in urinary-support formulas to help manage urine pH.
Showing first 25 of 35. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
20 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.