Our verdict
Is Hill's Derm Complete Puppy Dry Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 25/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".
Complete extruded dry food for puppies, with cereals, egg and vegetable protein extracts as the main ingredients.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists cereals
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Find foods that fit your dog.
Nutrition and feedingProtein 23.40% · Fat 16.20%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 23.40% |
| Fat | 16.20% |
| Fibre | 1.30% |
| Ash | 7.10% |
| Moisture | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 43.70% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 1.80% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 3.60% |
| Calcium | 1.13% |
| Phosphorus | 0.94% |
| Sodium | 0.49% |
Energy: 372 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Feed only this food. Feed the correct daily amount shown according to dog's size. Adjust amount to maintain optimum weight; the amount may be divided into 2+ meals/day. Recommended time of use: support of skin function in cases of dermatosis and excessive loss of hair initially up to 2 months; reduction of ingredient and nutrient intolerances 3 to 8 weeks; if signs of intolerance disappear, this feed can be used initially up to one year. Switch to Hill's PRESCRIPTION DIET Derm Complete Dog Food at 12 months old. Fresh water should be available at all times.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
3b103 (Iron) 93.0mg; 3b202 (Iodine) 4.1mg; 3b405 (Copper) 10.9mg; 3b502 (Manganese) 9.6mg; 3b603 (Zinc) 144mg; with natural antioxidant
Technological additives
natural antioxidant
Ingredients (11)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 36.4%
- meat 27.3%
- oil 10.2%
- supplement 9.6%
- veg 8.6%
- other 8.0%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cereals | Cereals | carb · poor | - | 11.8 |
| 2 | eggs and egg derivatives | Egg | meat · good | - | 11.2 |
| 3 | vegetable protein extracts | Vegetable protein extracts | carb · poor | - | 10.7 |
| 4 | oils and fats | Oils and Fats | oil · poor | - | 10.2 |
| 5 | minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 9.6 |
| 6 | meat and animal derivatives | Meat and Animal Derivatives | meat · poor | - | 9.1 |
| 7 | seeds | Seeds | veg · poor | - | 8.6 |
| 8 | derivatives of vegetable origin | Vegetable By-Products | other · poor | - | 8.0 |
| 9 | broken rice | Rice - white | carb · medium | - | 7.5 |
| 10 | dried whole eggs | Dried Whole Egg | meat · good | - | 7.0 |
| 11 | rice protein concentrate | Rice Protein | carb · medium | - | 6.4 |
- 1. Cereals11.8% estimated
- 2. eggs and egg derivatives11.2% estimated
- 3. vegetable protein extracts10.7% estimated
- 4. oils and fats10.2% estimated
- 5. minerals9.6% estimated
- 6. meat and animal derivatives9.1% estimated
- 7. seeds8.6% estimated
- 8. derivatives of vegetable origin8.0% estimated
- 9. broken rice7.5% estimated
- 10. dried whole eggs7.0% estimated
- 11. rice protein concentrate6.4% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-15
Brand and contact: Hill's
- Website
- https://www.hillspet.co.uk/
- Address
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. Goldsworth Place 1 Forge End Woking GU21 6DB
- Contact page
- www.hillspet.co.uk
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-15
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.hillspet.co.uk
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
The overall score came in at 25 out of 100, after several negative factors weighed against the product. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points, while the processing format took off -6.7. The carbohydrate content reduced the score by -5.4, and lower-quality ingredients cost a further -3.8 points.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | -0.3 | 9.191 | -2.37 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 46.9% | -0.115 | -5.39 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 14.7% | -0.092 | -1.36 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 1.9% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 13.0% | -0.012 | -0.16 |
| Other share of dry matter | 5.9% | -0.375 | -2.20 |
| Recipe graded poor | 58.3% | -0.065 | -3.79 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 9.1% | -0.179 | -1.62 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 6 | -0.876 | -5.26 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 11.8% | 0.060 | +0.71 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| Additive penalty | -1.37 | 0.222 | -0.30 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | -0.3 | 9.191 | -2.37 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 46.9% | -0.115 | -5.39 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 14.7% | -0.092 | -1.36 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 1.9% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 13.0% | -0.012 | -0.16 |
| Other share of dry matter | 5.9% | -0.375 | -2.20 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 58.3% | -0.065 | -3.79 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 9.1% | -0.179 | -1.62 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 6 | -0.876 | -5.26 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 11.8% | 0.060 | +0.71 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -1.37 | 0.222 | -0.30 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 25.0
- Final score
- 25/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Score history across model versions
The score shown above is always computed with the latest published model. Earlier scores are kept for the record and are never edited or deleted; a scoring change ships as a new model version with a public write-up on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for puppies and growth. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Scored against FEDIAF growth minima; puppy scoring is under review.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 23.4 | 25.4 | 100 |
| Fat | 16.2 | 17.6 | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.13 | 1.2 | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 0.94 | 1 | 100 |
| Sodium | 0.49 | 0.5 (band 0.22239130434782609+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.2 | 1.2 | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 372 | 404.3 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100, omega-3 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 95); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Declared fortification: 6 nutritional additives on the label
- 3b103 (Iron) 93.0mg
- 3b202 (Iodine) 4.1mg
- 3b405 (Copper) 10.9mg
- 3b502 (Manganese) 9.6mg
- 3b603 (Zinc) 144mg
- with natural antioxidant
High confidence: full analysis plus minerals or omegas and declared energy.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
See all current recalls we track.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| complete dietetic pet food for support of skin function in case of dermatosis and excessive loss of hair and for reduction of ingredient and nutrient intolerances in puppies (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Single novel intact protein to help avoid adverse reactions to food (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Breakthrough formula with bioactives and phytonutrients to support healthy immune response (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| With omega-3 and omega-6 to help support skin health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Nutrition formulated to help avoid adverse food reactions and promote overall skin health in puppies (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Formulated to manage scratching due to environmental sensitivities and promote puppy's overall development (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports the skin barrier against environmental irritants year-round (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with 100% cage-free eggs or egg derivatives (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| contains high levels of linoleic acid (LA) and of a sum of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as well as a selected and limited number of protein and carbohydrate sources (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Alternatives to Derm Complete Puppy Dry Dog Food
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