Simba’s allergies had gotten really bad. So when our vet recommended a food for him, we decided to give it a try. That food was Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete, and I’d heard it was one of Hill’s newer foods.
Simba has been eating it for a little over a month now, so this isn’t a final verdict. It’s an honest look at what I’ve seen so far, plus what I learned when I read the bag closely.
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What this food is
The full name on the label is Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete Rice & Egg Recipe. The front of the bag says it’s for “Environmental/Food Sensitivities,” and it’s a prescription diet, so it’s meant to be fed under your vet’s guidance.
⚠️ Please note: you’ll need your vet’s approval to buy this food. Because it’s a prescription diet, stores usually ask for a vet authorization before they’ll sell it. PetSmart, for example, asks for your vet’s authorization or your vet’s information at checkout for its veterinary diets.
It isn’t brand-new, but it is fairly recent. Hill’s introduced Derm Complete in 2021, after what it described as four years of research and three clinical trials. Hill’s calls it the first nutritional solution clinically proven to tackle both food and environmental sensitivities in dogs.
💡 Did you know? Most allergy diets focus only on food allergies. Derm Complete was designed to help with both food and environmental sensitivities, like reactions to pollen or dust, according to Hill’s.
Chicken isn’t a main ingredient, but read the full list
The main animal protein in this food is egg. Hill’s says it uses egg as a single, intact animal protein, and the first ingredients on our bag are brown rice, brewers rice, egg product, and rice protein concentrate.
When I first looked, I thought there was no chicken in it at all. But when I read the full ingredient list carefully, I found hydrolyzed chicken flavor. So chicken meat isn’t one of the main ingredients, but a hydrolyzed chicken ingredient is there. Hydrolyzed means the protein has been broken down into smaller pieces, which is a common approach in allergy foods.
⚠️ Please read the full label. If your vet has told you to avoid chicken completely, ask them about the hydrolyzed chicken flavor before you switch. Not seeing chicken near the top of the list doesn’t always mean there’s none in the whole bag.
A note about fish oil
This food also contains fish oil, along with flaxseed and coconut oil. Fish oil is there for the omega-3 fatty acids, which are often used to support skin and coat.
If your dog is allergic to fish, I think this is worth checking first. I’ve heard that the fish oil made for dogs is refined, so it may be less likely to make allergies worse. But I couldn’t confirm that, and VCA, in an article shared by the AKC, lists itching and rashes among the possible side effects of fish oil supplements. If your dog has a known fish allergy, please talk to your vet before trying this food.
What I’ve noticed after one month
He likes it. Simba has eaten a lot of different foods over the years, and this one has been easy to feed. So far, he eats it well, and it fits easily into our routine.
The kibble is a little big for him. I soak it in a bit of water first so it’s easier for him to chew. The pieces themselves aren’t hard, though, so they soften quickly.
For his allergies, I don’t know yet. It’s only been about a month, and I honestly can’t say yet whether it’s working well for his allergies. I’ll keep watching.
💡 Good to know: One month may be too early to judge an allergy diet. In a review in BMC Veterinary Research, dermatologists found that more than 80% of dogs had improved by 5 weeks on an elimination diet, but they recommended trials of at least 8 weeks to catch more than 90% of cases.
Is it okay for puppies?
The kibble is soft enough that I first thought it might be fine for a young puppy, too. But the bag says this formula is for adult maintenance. Hill’s makes a separate Derm Complete Puppy formula for puppies 2 to 12 months old, so if you have a puppy with skin issues, ask your vet about that version instead.
What the bag says
| Product | Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete Rice & Egg Recipe (dry) |
| For | Environmental/food sensitivities |
| Main animal protein | Egg |
| Also contains | Hydrolyzed chicken flavor, fish oil, flaxseed, coconut oil |
| Bag size | 6.5 lb (2.94 kg) |
| Calories | 389 kcal per cup (3,816 kcal/kg) |
| Protein / Fat | Min. 13.5% / Min. 13% |
| Fiber / Moisture | Max. 3% / Max. 10% |
| Life stage | Adult maintenance |
The feeding guide on the back is based on weight. For example, it suggests about 7/8 cup (90 g) a day for a 10 lb dog and 1 1/2 cups (155 g) for a 20 lb dog. The bag also says to ask your vet for specific feeding instructions, to switch gradually over 7 days or more, and to use the bag within 60 days of opening.
Why food allergies are so tricky
Food allergies in dogs aren’t always what we expect. At a 2021 Hill’s Korea webinar reported by the Korean veterinary news site DailyVet, veterinary dermatologist Dr. Douglas DeBoer explained that additives like dyes and preservatives rarely cause allergies, even though owners often suspect them. He also noted that 25 to 50% of pets with food allergies have digestive signs, not just itchy skin.
That’s one more reason to work through an allergy diet with your vet, step by step, instead of guessing.
So far, would I recommend it?
For now, I’d say this: Simba likes it, it’s easy to feed, and the kibble softens well. Whether it truly helps his allergies is something I’ll only know with more time.
If your vet recommends Derm Complete, it may be worth trying. Just read the full ingredient list, especially if your dog reacts to chicken or fish, and give it enough time before you decide.
I’ll come back and update this post once Simba has been eating it longer.
Where to buy it
If your vet recommends Derm Complete, you can find it on Amazon in three bag sizes. We use the 6.5 lb bag. Because it’s a prescription diet, Amazon asks for your pet’s and your veterinarian’s information at checkout, and the order ships only after your vet approves it.
Angel Jake Note 🐾
When your dog is itchy and uncomfortable, you want an answer right away. But allergy care is often slow. For Simba, this first month has been about one simple thing: a food he’s happy to eat. The rest, we’ll find out together.
This review is based on Simba’s first month on this food. It’s not veterinary advice. Prescription diets should be used under your veterinarian’s guidance.
Medical Disclaimer
I’m not a vet, and nothing here replaces a real exam. If something about your dog feels off, please trust that feeling and call your veterinarian.
Sources
- Our own Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete Rice & Egg Recipe bag (front and back labels)
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Canada): Prescription Diet Derm Complete Rice & Egg Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Canada): Prescription Diet Derm Complete Puppy Rice & Egg Recipe
- PetSmart: Veterinary Diets (How to purchase)
- Improve International: Hill’s launches diet for food and environmental sensitivities in dogs (2021)
- Olivry, Mueller & Prélaud (2015), BMC Veterinary Research: Duration of elimination diets
- American Kennel Club (VCA): Fish Oil for Dogs
- 데일리벳: 반려동물 식이알러지에는 Novel 프로틴보다 가수분해 처방식이 우선 (2021)