Sensitive Stomach & Sensitive Skin Variety Pack Adult Wet Dog Food, 12.8-oz can, 12 count
Graded by The Sniff System
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Sensitive Skin Variety Pack is a wet food for adult dogs, featuring salmon and turkey as primary proteins.
This formula offers reasonable protein quality, with salmon providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, and good fat sources with named fats.
The formula contains carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickener. Some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation, and this concern is elevated for dogs with IBD.
Good fit for adult dogs with sensitive skin. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or IBD, given the presence of carrageenan.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. Caloric density is not declared. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs (APOP, 2023) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? 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.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 65/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 18.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. salmon delivers solid amino acid coverage. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 5 points. Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD. The path to A-tier is about 10 points; controversial-ingredient penalty is the structural lever.
Reasonable protein quality. salmon delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources.
Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..
- Bottom 1% for DMB protein in grain-free wet foods (18.2%)
- Top 10% for overall Sniff Score in wet foods (65/100)
- Bottom quartile for DMB fat in grain-free wet foods (13.6%)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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$4.54/lb vs your seed's $5.11/lb (11% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 1
- carrageenanSeaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 18%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1salmon & vegetable: chicken broth
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalsalmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 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.
- 4protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5vegetablepotato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6green beans
Real vegetable. Fiber and a small amount of vitamins. Often used in weight-management formulas because it bulks up a meal without adding calories.
- 7potato starch
Refined potato. Pure carb energy, low on other nutrition. Often used as a binder in grain-free recipes.
- 8protein plantpea protein
Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.
Position 8. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 9sugar
Added sugar. No nutritional purpose for dogs. Most often found in budget semi-moist foods. See why →
- 10egg whites
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 11: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 12dried whey
- 13fiberdried beet pulp
Soluble fiber from sugar-beet processing. Sometimes treated as a filler, but it's actually one of the better fiber sources in kibble. See why →
Position 13: trace fiber inclusion.
- 14soybean oil
Plant oil. High in omega-6, which is required but commonly oversupplied. Fine in moderation.
Position 14: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 15chicken liver flavor
Hydrolyzed chicken liver used as a flavor enhancer. Real ingredient, used in tiny amounts for palatability.
Position 15. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.
- 16mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 17othercarrageenan Flagged
Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →
- 18supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 19mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 20dried apple pomace
- 21supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 22protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
- 23turkey giblets
- 24green beans
Real vegetable. Fiber and a small amount of vitamins. Often used in weight-management formulas because it bulks up a meal without adding calories.
- 25vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Showing first 25 of 53. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
20 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.