Stella & Chewy's Raw Blend Red Meat
Owners who want the ultimate in palatability with raw-food benefits in kibble form
Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley
Owners who follow veterinary recommendations and want science-backed formulation
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Stella & Chewy's Raw Blend Red Meat
Owners who want the ultimate in palatability with raw-food benefits in kibble form
Stella & Chewy's Raw Blend combines premium kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces — and dogs absolutely love it. The red meat recipe (beef, lamb, venison) is the most palatability-focused food in this comparison. At ~$2.55/day it's the most expensive, but the feeding experience is genuinely premium.
Strengths
- Freeze-dried raw-coated kibble with real beef, lamb, and venison proteins
- Highest palatability in this comparison — dogs consistently prefer it over alternatives
- No corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives, or by-products
Limitations
- Most expensive per day at ~$2.55 — the priciest option in this comparison
- 2021 recall of freeze-dried product line (not kibble) is a minor safety note
- Rich red meat formula may cause digestive adjustment for some dogs
When to Choose Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley
Owners who follow veterinary recommendations and want science-backed formulation
Hill's Science Diet is the other pillar of veterinary-recommended nutrition alongside Purina Pro Plan. The formulation is precise and backed by feeding trials. However, corn gluten meal and by-product meal at ~$1.24/day makes it expensive for what you get ingredient-wise. You're paying for the research, not the ingredients.
Strengths
- Developed by veterinary nutritionists with extensive feeding trial validation
- Precise nutrient balance designed for optimal adult maintenance
- Clean safety record for dry food lines over the past 5+ years
Limitations
- Contains corn gluten meal and chicken by-product meal — not premium ingredients
- Higher price (~$1.24/day) for ingredient quality that trails premium competitors
- Minimal sourcing transparency — ingredient origins are not disclosed
