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Hill's Prescription Diet z/d Small Bites Skin & Food Sensitivies Hydrolyzed Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food, 7-lb bag
Hill's Prescription Diet

z/d Small Bites Skin & Food Sensitivies Hydrolyzed Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food, 7-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $7.57/lb

Hill's Prescription Diet z/d Small Bites Skin & Food Sensitivies Hydrolyzed Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food, 7-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 65/100 (B) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Strong protein profile with corn starch as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with corn starch as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.

ACF

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Protein
19.1%
min (as fed)
Fat
14.5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3%
max (as fed)
Moisture
n/a
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

32 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    corn starch
  2. 2
    hydrolyzed chicken liver
  3. 3
    hydrolyzed chicken
  4. 4
    ground pecan shells
  5. 5
    powdered cellulose

    Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.

  6. 6
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

  7. 7
    dried 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.

  8. 8
    hydrolyzed chicken flavor

    Hydrolyzed chicken used as a palatability enhancer. Real ingredient, tiny inclusion, no quality signal either way.

  9. 9
    soybean oil

    Plant oil. High in omega-6, which is required but commonly oversupplied. Fine in moderation.

  10. 10
    dried citrus pulp
  11. 11
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  12. 12
    lactic acid

    Natural acid used as a mild preservative and pH adjuster. Found in fermented foods too. Safe at typical inclusion.

  13. 13
    coconut oil

    Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.

  14. 14
    fish oil

    Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.

  15. 15
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  16. 16
    pressed cranberries
  17. 17
    glyceryl monostearate
  18. 18
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  19. 19
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  20. 20
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  21. 21
    l-tryptophan

    Essential amino acid. Sometimes added in calming or weight-management formulas.

  22. 22
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  23. 23
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  24. 24
    zinc oxide

    Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.

  25. 25
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

Showing first 25 of 32. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

18 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.