Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Tender Turkey & Rice Stew Wet Dog Food
The lowest-calorie food in the entire ranking at 715 kcal/kg and one of the few backed by feeding trials - but at 2.8% protein as-fed it is a mixer and an appetite tool, not a protein source.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 64/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 50/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Chicken Broth” is neutral; 2 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 20.0% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 24%).
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 65/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is not a named animal source; among the top five, 0 by-product/unnamed and 0 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 92/100
AAFCO statement: Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Tender Turkey & Rice Stew Dog Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 80/100
One recall event, announced in three waves between January and May 2019: a withdrawal of roughly 22 million cans of Science Diet and Prescription Diet wet dog food for elevated vitamin D traced to a supplier premix error. FDA issued Hill's a warning letter the same year over incoming-ingredient verification. No dry food, cat food or treats were affected, and nothing has been recalled since.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 15/100
Algorithm: about $16.16 per 1,000 kcal ($$$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 90/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- AAFCO feeding trials rather than a formulation calculation - the strongest substantiation in the dog wet field
- 715 kcal/kg, the lowest calorie density of any food in this ranking, so volume stays high while calories drop
- Turkey, pork liver and rice with carrot and spinach, in a broth base that dogs with appetite problems reliably accept
- 4.7/5 across roughly 850 ratings, the third-largest owner sample in the dog wet field and tied for its highest score
What we don't
- 2.8% protein as-fed is the lowest crude-protein figure of any food here, wet or dry; about 20% on a dry-matter basis, well under the 24% target
- Chicken broth leads and pork liver is fourth - a 12.5 oz can is mostly water by design
- Roughly $16.16 per 1,000 kcal, about nine times the median dry food in this ranking
- 86% moisture means you are buying water; it works as a topper or mixer far better than as a sole diet
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
The two numbers that matter: 715 kcal/kg, the lowest energy density of anything in this ranking, and an AAFCO feeding-trial substantiation rather than a formulation calculation. Together they make this the most defensible choice in the dog wet field for a dog that needs to eat a full bowl on fewer calories, or one whose digestion has been unreliable on richer food. Owner sentiment backs it - 4.7/5 across about 850 ratings is one of the strongest samples here.
It is not a protein source, and no one should buy it as one. Chicken broth leads, 86% of the can is water, and 2.8% crude protein as-fed is the lowest figure of any food here, wet or dry - roughly 20% on a dry-matter basis against a 24% target. At about $16.16 per 1,000 kcal it costs roughly nine times the median dry food here for the same calories. Used as a topper over kibble, or as the recovery food for a dog that has gone off eating, it earns its place; as a sole diet it under-delivers.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs:
81/ 100 Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
80/ 100 Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Adult Salmon & Potato Recipe
Frequently asked questions
Is Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Tender Turkey & Rice Stew Wet Dog Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Dogs with diagnosed digestive sensitivity, and mixing into kibble to lift intake without lifting calories. It is not the best fit for: Owners feeding canned food as the sole protein source, and active dogs that need protein density. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Tender Turkey & Rice Stew Wet Dog Food cost?
Expect roughly $5.24 per pound ($$$ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-22 — Product added. Guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, calorie content, AAFCO statement, price, star rating and review count taken from the current US retail listing and the manufacturer's own label. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews assessed against that data.
- 2026-10-19 — Protein quality & source: 0 → 50. Scoring algorithmized: computed from ingredient and price algorithms instead of manual assignment
- 2026-10-19 — Ingredient transparency: 0 → 65. Scoring algorithmized: computed from ingredient and price algorithms instead of manual assignment
- 2026-10-19 — Value for money: 0 → 15. Scoring algorithmized: computed from ingredient and price algorithms instead of manual assignment