Hill's Science Diet Chicken & Barley Can Review: Worth It?

Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley Entree, 13 oz

Photos coming soon.

The short version

Buy it if

Healthy adult dogs aged 1 to 6
Owners who mix wet food into kibble
Households that want a widely stocked can from one brand

Skip it if

You avoid corn, soy or by-products
You want a high meat wet food
Your dog is a puppy, a senior, or pregnant or nursing

What owners like

Dogs tend to finish their meals and some will eat no other canned food
Texture is neither soupy nor dry and mixes well with kibble

Common complaints

Cans arriving dented or damaged in shipped cases
Some cans lack a pull tab, which is hard for owners with sore hands
Some owners noticed a recipe change, with water now listed first and a different consistency

Based on Hill's product page, DogFoodAdvisor's ingredient analysis, and review themes on retailer listings (Chewy, Petco, PetSmart).

Research scores

Pet acceptance 7.5 owners report dogs finish it and some will eat no other can

Ingredients/quality info 5.5 full maker label, rated 2.5 stars with by-products and soybean meal noted

Ease of use 7.0 loaf mixes well with kibble, but dented cans and missing pull tabs recur

Value 6.5 mid priced for a wet food with a middling ingredient rating

Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.

Ownership

Owned sinceJun 2025

Owned for1 year+

Times bought32

Price range$$

May 2026
Bought again.
Dec 2025
Bought again.
Nov 2025
Bought again.
Oct 2025
Bought again.
Sep 2025
Bought again.
Aug 2025
Bought again.
Jul 2025
Bought again.
Jun 2025
First bought.

Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.

What it does

A loaf style canned dog food for adult dogs made with chicken, pork liver, corn and barley, sold in 13 oz cans by the case.

Smooth loaf texture that can be served alone or mixed with dry food
Chicken is the first meat ingredient on the maker's list
Hill's says it controls sodium and phosphorus levels in the recipe
Added vitamins C and E and omega 6 fatty acids, per the maker
Sold in 12 and 24 can cases at major pet retailers

A sensible everyday wet food for healthy adult dogs, especially as a mix in with kibble, since its smooth loaf blends easily. DogFoodAdvisor rates it 2.5 stars, the top of the Science Diet wet line, but notes it relies partly on by-products and plant proteins rather than a high meat content.

How it compares

Hill's Science Diet Adult Savory Stew with Beef & VegetablesSame brand with chunks in gravy, if your dog prefers a stew to a loaf$$

Purina Pro Plan Adult Chicken & Rice Entree (wet)A comparable loaf from a rival brand at a similar price tier$$

Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner with ChickenA cheaper wet food if cost per can matters most$

Specs

Can size: 13 oz (370 g); the catalog listing says 13.1 oz
Life stage: Adult dogs, 1 to 6 years
Calories: 369 kcal per can
Protein (dry matter): 26.7%
Fat (dry matter): 16.7%
Texture: Loaf
First ingredients: Water, chicken, pork liver, whole grain corn, cracked pearled barley, beef by-products, soybean meal

Worth knowing

Hill's does not recommend it for puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, or adults over 6 years.
Hill's advises switching foods gradually over 7 days.

Questions

Is Science Diet Chicken & Barley a loaf or chunks?

It is a loaf style food.

How many calories are in a can?

Hill's lists 369 kcal per 13 oz can.

Is the can 13 oz or 13.1 oz?

Hill's and current retailer listings state 13 oz. Older listings and the catalog entry say 13.1 oz.

Does it contain grain?

Yes. Whole grain corn and cracked pearled barley are among the first ingredients.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-01. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.