Our verdict
Is Hill's Derm Complete Dry Dog Food Original a good dog food?
We score it 27/100 (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 adult dogs, with cereals, oils and fats and fish oil as the main ingredients.
Declared analysis sits below the FEDIAF minimum for protein.
98% 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 adult dogs
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists cereals
- You need more protein than this: 18.4% on a dry-matter basis is in the low band
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 16.90% · Fat 15.20%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16.90% |
| Fat | 15.20% |
| Fibre | 1.40% |
| Ash | 5.40% |
| Moisture | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 52.50% |
| Calcium | 0.68% |
| Phosphorus | 0.57% |
| Sodium | 0.31% |
Energy: 376 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Feed only this food. It is recommended that a veterinarian’s opinion be sought before use/extending the period of use. 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 case 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. Fresh water should be available at all times.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 8,211 IU/kg; Vitamin D3 693 IU/kg; Vitamin E 800 mg/kg; Vitamin C 100 mg/kg; Beta-carotene 1.5 mg/kg; 3b103 (Iron) 77.5 mg/kg; 3b202 (Iodine) 1.9 mg/kg; 3b405 (Copper) 7.6 mg/kg; 3b502 (Manganese) 8.0 mg/kg; 3b603 (Zinc) 136 mg/kg; 3b801 (Selenium) 0.2 mg/kg
Technological additives
with natural antioxidant
Ingredients (15)98% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 33.3%
- meat 21.9%
- veg 20.2%
- oil 10.6%
- supplement 7.2%
- other 6.9%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cereals | Cereals | carb · poor | - | 9.1 |
| 2 | oils and fats | Oils and Fats | oil · poor | - | 8.8 |
| 3 | fish oil 1.8% | Fish Oil | oil · good | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| 4 | eggs and egg derivatives | Egg | meat · good | - | 8.5 |
| 5 | meat and animal derivatives | Meat and Animal Derivatives | meat · poor | - | 8.2 |
| 6 | vegetable protein extracts | Vegetable protein extracts | carb · poor | - | 7.8 |
| 7 | seeds | Seeds | veg · poor | - | 7.5 |
| 8 | minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 7.2 |
| 9 | derivatives of vegetable origin | Vegetable By-Products | other · poor | - | 6.9 |
| 10 | vegetables | Vegetables | veg · medium | - | 6.5 |
| 11 | fruit | Fruit | veg · medium | - | 6.2 |
| 12 | Broken rice | Rice - white | carb · medium | - | 5.9 |
| 13 | brown rice | Rice - brown / whole grain | carb · medium | - | 5.5 |
| 14 | Dried whole eggs | Dried Whole Egg | meat · good | - | 5.2 |
| 15 | rice protein | Rice Protein | carb · medium | - | 4.9 |
- 1. Cereals9.1% estimated
- 2. oils and fats8.8% estimated
- 3. fish oil 1.8%1.8% declared1.8% estimated
- 4. eggs and egg derivatives8.5% estimated
- 5. meat and animal derivatives8.2% estimated
- 6. vegetable protein extracts7.8% estimated
- 7. seeds7.5% estimated
- 8. minerals7.2% estimated
- 9. derivatives of vegetable origin6.9% estimated
- 10. vegetables6.5% estimated
- 11. fruit6.2% estimated
- 12. Broken rice5.9% estimated
- 13. brown rice5.5% estimated
- 14. Dried whole eggs5.2% estimated
- 15. rice protein4.9% 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 27 out of 100, after several negative factors weighed against the product. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.4 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 -3.1 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 | -0.2 | 9.191 | -1.46 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 47.0% | -0.115 | -5.41 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 16.9% | -0.092 | -1.55 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 4.9% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 10.6% | -0.012 | -0.13 |
| Other share of dry matter | 5.5% | -0.375 | -2.06 |
| Recipe graded poor | 48.3% | -0.065 | -3.14 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 8.2% | -0.179 | -1.46 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 6 | -0.876 | -5.26 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 9.1% | 0.060 | +0.55 |
| Undeclared quantities | 98.2% | -0.106 | -10.37 |
| 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 | -1.12 | 0.222 | -0.25 |
| 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 | -0.2 | 9.191 | -1.46 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 47.0% | -0.115 | -5.41 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 16.9% | -0.092 | -1.55 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 4.9% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 10.6% | -0.012 | -0.13 |
| Other share of dry matter | 5.5% | -0.375 | -2.06 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 48.3% | -0.065 | -3.14 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 8.2% | -0.179 | -1.46 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 6 | -0.876 | -5.26 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 9.1% | 0.060 | +0.55 |
| Undeclared quantities | 98.2% | -0.106 | -10.37 |
| 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 | -1.12 | 0.222 | -0.25 |
| 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
- 26.7
- Final score
- 27/100
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 adult dogs. 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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 16.9 | 18.4 (band 18.391304347826086 to 40%) | 69.9 |
| Fat | 15.2 | 16.5 (band 5.619565217391304 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 1.4 | 1.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 83.6 |
| Calcium | 0.68 | 0.7 (band 0.5108695652173912 to 2.5%) | 76.9 |
| Phosphorus | 0.57 | 0.6 (band 0.408695652173913 to 1.6%) | 80.6 |
| Sodium | 0.31 | 0.3 (band 0.10217391304347825+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.2 | 1.2 (band 1 to 2%) | 81.6 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 376 | 408.7 | 100 |
Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 95); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Declared fortification: 11 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin A 8,211 IU/kg
- Vitamin D3 693 IU/kg
- Vitamin E 800 mg/kg
- Vitamin C 100 mg/kg
- Beta-carotene 1.5 mg/kg
- 3b103 (Iron) 77.5 mg/kg
- 3b202 (Iodine) 1.9 mg/kg
- 3b405 (Copper) 7.6 mg/kg
- 3b502 (Manganese) 8.0 mg/kg
- 3b603 (Zinc) 136 mg/kg
- 3b801 (Selenium) 0.2 mg/kg
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 (1.8% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 0.4/20 |
| 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 adult dogs (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps strengthen skin barrier (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Avoid adverse food reactions (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with 100% cage-free eggs or egg derivatives (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High levels of essential fatty acids (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| contains high levels of linoleic acid (LA) and of a sum of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| With Histaguard Complex, a proprietary complex of bioactives and phytonutrients (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| selected and limited number of protein and carbohydrate sources (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Nutrition shown to dampen the immune system's reaction to environmental allergens (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Manage scratching and other signs associated with environmental allergies and promotes skin healing (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| S+OXSHIELD: Formulated to promote a urinary environment that reduces the risk of developing struvite & calcium oxalate crystals (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE for quality, consistency & taste, or your money back (on page) | Content | 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 Dry Dog Food Original
Similar on ingredients, protein, format or nutrition, using the same stored data.
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