Variety Pack Senior 7+ Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Hill's Science Diet Variety Pack Senior 7+ Wet Dog Food is a wet food featuring chicken and pork liver, formulated for senior dogs.
This wet food offers reasonable protein quality, with chicken providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber. The formula has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
The main thing to watch here is the dry matter protein and fat levels, which are on the lower side for a dog food. This contributed to the overall score being capped.
Good fit for senior dogs who need a wet food option. Less ideal if you are looking for a higher protein or fat content.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Goldens appeared disproportionately in the FDA's DCM reports. Pulse-heavy grain-free formulas warrant extra caution; named animal protein with organ meat or marine sources is the safer fit. Good fit for active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken & barley entrée: water anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus pork liver at position 4 (a natural taurine precursor). What to watch: protein at 16% DMB may be too lean for sarcopenia prevention.
Looking at this for senior 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 2 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 49/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 16.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage. The ceiling on this score is 49, set because the guaranteed analysis falls below AAFCO's minimum nutrient profile. The fix path: a formula update that meets AAFCO minimums. That would lift the cap and put this formula above the B-band line at 60.
Reasonable protein quality. chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
- Lowest DMB protein in Hill's Science Diet's lineup (15.9%)
- Top 4% for carb quality in wet foods (16/16)
- Bottom 2% for fat quality in Hill's Science Diet's lineup (6/16)
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 26 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Hill's Prescription Diet g/d Aging Care Turkey Flavor Wet Senior Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Pork instead of chicken, matched score, 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 16%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1chicken & barley entrée: water
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3cracked pearled barley
Pre-cracked pearled barley for better digestibility. Same whole-grain story.
Position 3. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 4protein animalpork liver
Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.
Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 5grainwhole grain corn
Whole corn with the kernel intact. Decent fiber and B vitamins, though it can crowd out meat in cheaper recipes.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6dried whey
- 7fiberdried 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 7: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 8corn protein meal
Concentrated corn protein. Similar in role to corn gluten meal, pads the protein number on the label without matching meat amino acids.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 9chicken liver flavor
Hydrolyzed chicken liver used as a flavor enhancer. Real ingredient, used in tiny amounts for palatability.
Position 9. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 10soybean oil
Plant oil. High in omega-6, which is required but commonly oversupplied. Fine in moderation.
Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 11fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 11: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 12mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 15grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 15: minor grain inclusion.
- 16mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 17mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 18fiberfructooligosaccharides
Prebiotic fiber, often called FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria, similar in function to inulin.
- 19zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 20mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 21mineralmanganese sulfate
Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.
- 22mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 23mineralcalcium iodate
Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.
- 24beta-carotene. beef & barley entrée: water
- 25protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Showing first 25 of 45. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.