Prescription Diet is built around single-purpose recipes, each named for a condition such as digestive, skin, kidney, joint, urinary or weight care. The 16 kibbles run from 11% to 28% protein and from 34.8% to 53.5% estimated starch, as fed. Chicken appears in 11 kibbles and egg in 9, while fish and duck each show up once, in the two grain-free d/d recipes. Four kibbles include peas or lentils.
Compared with the kibble catalog average, the line runs lower in protein (19.3% versus 26.9%), higher in estimated starch (44.3% versus 37.4%) and lower in calories (361 versus 395 kcal per cup). The three wet recipes average 4.7% protein, against a wet catalog average of 8.3%, and use pork, egg, chicken, fish and turkey.
The trade-off is a label that leans on grains and starch. Rice, corn, wheat or potato fills the first slot in most kibbles, and chicken leads in only three. Owners choosing by a recipe's stated purpose get wide variety. Owners looking for high protein will find most of the line below the catalog norm.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill’s Prescription Diet r/d Weight Reduction Chicken Flavor | 28% | 6.5% | -- | 242 | Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Small Bites Chicken Flavor | 26.8% | 13.9% | 41.2% | 376 | Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Puppy Chicken Flavor Digestive Care | 25% | 16% | 39% | 405 | Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brewers Rice |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Defense Environmental Sensitivities Chicken Flavor | 23% | 15.1% | -- | 344 | Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Sorghum |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Chicken Flavor | 20.4% | 11.8% | 34.8% | 254 | Whole Grain Wheat, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Meal |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet j/d Joint Care Small Bites Chicken Flavor | 19.2% | 16.5% | 40% | 364 | Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn, Flaxseed |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Small Bites Original Flavor | 19.1% | 14.5% | 46.1% | 397 | Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Hydrolyzed Chicken |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Potato & Salmon Formula Grain-Free | 18.5% | 16% | 46.1% | 364 | Potatoes, Potato Starch, Salmon |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d Aging Care Chicken Flavor | 18.5% | 11% | 53.5% | 351 | Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Whole Grain Wheat |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Sensitive Digestive Care Rice & Egg Formula | 18.2% | 17.3% | -- | 380 | Brewers Rice, Egg Product, Pork Fat |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor | 18% | 13% | -- | 379 | Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete Original Flavor | 17.3% | 17.4% | 47.9% | 389 | Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Egg Product |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care with Chicken | 17% | 9% | 37% | 330 | Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brewers Rice |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d + Mobility Kidney + Joint Care Chicken Flavor | 15.3% | 23.6% | -- | 401 | Brewers Rice, Chicken Fat, Flaxseed |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Potato & Venison Formula Grain-Free | 14% | 12% | 52% | 365 | Potatoes, Potato Starch, Duck |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d + Derm Complete Rice & Egg Recipe | 11% | 15% | 49.7% | 440 | Brewers Rice, Brown Rice, Egg Product |
| Line average | 19.3% | 14.3% | 44.3% | 361 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
28% protein · 6.5% fat · 242 kcal/cup · Adult
This recipe has the most protein in the line at 28%, the least fat at 6.5% and the fewest calories at 242 kcal per cup. It is sold for weight reduction in adults, and whole grain corn, corn gluten meal and chicken by-product meal lead the list.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet r/d Weight Reduction Chicken Flavor26.8% protein · 13.9% fat · 41.2% starch · 376 kcal/cup · Adult
Chicken leads this small-bite kibble, and its 26.8% protein sits close to the kibble catalog average of 26.9%. It is sold for digestive care, has 41.2% estimated starch and suits small-breed adults.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Small Bites Chicken Flavor25% protein · 16% fat · 39% starch · 405 kcal/cup · Puppy
The only puppy kibble in the line, it leads with chicken, then barley, brewers rice and pea protein. It shows 25% protein, above the line's 19.3% kibble average, plus 16% fat, and is sold for digestive care in growing dogs.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Puppy Chicken Flavor Digestive Care23% protein · 15.1% fat · 344 kcal/cup · Adult
Chicken meal, sorghum and barley follow brewers rice, with pea protein in fifth place. At 23% protein and 344 kcal per cup, it is sold for adults with environmental sensitivities.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Defense Environmental Sensitivities Chicken Flavor20.4% protein · 11.8% fat · 34.8% starch · 254 kcal/cup · Adult
This recipe has the least estimated starch in the line at 34.8%, with 16% fiber and powdered cellulose second on the ingredient list. Sold as Multi-Benefit for adults, it has 254 kcal per cup, with whole grain wheat first and chicken meal third.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Chicken Flavor19.2% protein · 16.5% fat · 40% starch · 364 kcal/cup · Adult
In this small-bite recipe sold for joint care, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn and flaxseed all come before chicken meal. It has 19.2% protein, 16.5% fat, 8.3% fiber and 40% estimated starch, and suits small-breed adults.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet j/d Joint Care Small Bites Chicken Flavor19.1% protein · 14.5% fat · 46.1% starch · 397 kcal/cup · Adult
Corn starch leads, followed by hydrolyzed chicken liver and hydrolyzed chicken, and ground pecan shells come fourth. This small-bite recipe is sold for skin and food sensitivities, with 19.1% protein and 46.1% estimated starch.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Small Bites Original Flavor18.5% protein · 16% fat · 46.1% starch · 364 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble here with fish, this grain-free recipe is built on potatoes, potato starch, salmon and potato protein. It shows 18.5% protein and 46.1% estimated starch and is sold for adults with skin or food sensitivities.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Potato & Salmon Formula Grain-Free18.5% protein · 11% fat · 53.5% starch · 351 kcal/cup · Senior
This recipe has the most estimated starch in the line at 53.5%, with brewers rice, whole grain wheat, corn and sorghum surrounding chicken by-product meal. It is the only kibble labeled for seniors and is sold for aging care, with 18.5% protein and 11% fat.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d Aging Care Chicken Flavor18.2% protein · 17.3% fat · 380 kcal/cup · Adult
Brewers rice and egg product lead, followed by pork fat and pork flavor, and egg is the only animal protein listed. Sold for sensitive digestion in adults, it shows 18.2% protein, 17.3% fat and 380 kcal per cup, but no starch estimate is available.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Sensitive Digestive Care Rice & Egg Formula18% protein · 13% fat · 379 kcal/cup · Adult
Whole grain corn leads, ahead of brewers rice and chicken meal, in this recipe sold for urinary care. It shows 18% protein, 13% fat and 5% fiber at 379 kcal per cup, and suits adult dogs.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor17.3% protein · 17.4% fat · 47.9% starch · 389 kcal/cup · Adult
Egg product is the only animal protein, following brown rice and brewers rice, and rice protein concentrate comes fourth. With 17.3% protein, 17.4% fat and 47.9% estimated starch, it is sold for adult skin care and suits owners looking for a kibble with no meat.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete Original Flavor17% protein · 9% fat · 37% starch · 330 kcal/cup · Adult
Fiber stands out at 21%, the highest on any label in the line, with chicken first and 37% estimated starch. It is sold for digestive and fiber care in adults and has 330 kcal per cup.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care with Chicken15.3% protein · 23.6% fat · 401 kcal/cup · Adult
At 23.6%, this recipe has the most fat in the line, and its 4011 kcal per kg is the highest of any kibble here. It has 15.3% protein, lists brewers rice, chicken fat and flaxseed first, and is sold for kidney and joint care in adults.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d + Mobility Kidney + Joint Care Chicken Flavor14% protein · 12% fat · 52% starch · 365 kcal/cup · Adult
Despite the venison name, the ingredient list shows duck as the only animal protein, which makes it the only duck kibble in the line. This grain-free, potato-based recipe has 14% protein, 52% estimated starch and 6% fiber, and is sold for adults with skin or food sensitivities.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Potato & Venison Formula Grain-Free11% protein · 15% fat · 49.7% starch · 440 kcal/cup
Egg is the only animal protein here, listed after brewers rice and brown rice, and at 11% this kibble has the least protein in the line. It also has the most calories per cup at 440 and is sold for kidney and skin care.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d + Derm Complete Rice & Egg Recipe| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Puppy Turkey Digestive Care | 6% | 2.8% | 78% | -- | Water, Turkey, Pork Liver |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet ONC Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew | 4.5% | 3.5% | 85% | 909 | Chicken Broth, Pork Liver, Chicken |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Salmon Skin Care | 3.5% | 2.1% | 78% | 1,094 | Water, Salmon, Potatoes |
| Line average | 4.7% | 2.8% | 80.3% | 1,002 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
6% protein · 2.8% fat · 398 kcal/can · Puppy
This is the only wet recipe for puppies and the only one with turkey, which it follows with pork liver, rice and egg product. At 6% protein it is the highest of the three cans, and it is sold for digestive care.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Puppy Turkey Digestive Care4.5% protein · 3.5% fat · 321 kcal/can · Adult
This stew has the fewest calories of the three wet recipes at 321 kcal per can, and it is the only wet one with chicken or green peas. Sold under the ONC Care name, it suits adult dogs whose owners want a broth-based can with 85% moisture.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet ONC Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew3.5% protein · 2.1% fat · 404 kcal/can · Adult
The only grain-free wet recipe, it pairs salmon with potatoes, potato starch and potato protein, with fish as its only animal protein. It has the least protein of the wet foods at 3.5% but the most calories at 404 kcal per can, and is sold for skin care in adults.
Full review of Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Salmon Skin CareMostly not. Only the d/d Potato & Salmon and d/d Potato & Venison kibbles and the d/d Salmon Skin Care wet food are grain-free. All other recipes contain grain.
Among the kibbles, r/d Weight Reduction Chicken Flavor has the most at 28%. Among the wet foods, i/d Puppy Turkey Digestive Care is highest at 6%.
Four kibbles include peas or lentils: i/d Puppy Chicken Flavor, Derm Defense Environmental Sensitivities, Derm Complete Original Flavor and k/d + Derm Complete Rice & Egg. Among the wet foods, only ONC Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew does.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (20.9% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 44% of the food as fed.
21% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
16% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Small Bites Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
29.8% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
35% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Hill’s Prescription Diet r/d Weight Reduction Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
242 kcal per cup
Canned Dog Food
Canned Dog Food
Canned Dog Food
Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food (62 bags)
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