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My dog has environmental allergies. Should I switch from Z/D to Derm Defense?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Male | neutered | 2 years old | 45 lbs

Hello! My 3 yr old goldendoodle has been on Hill's Z/D since April for a possible food allergy. We've seen little improvement and now believe his allergies are enviromental (licking. sneezing, clear runny nose, head shaking, licked the inside of his paw raw this morning). I see that Hill's now has a prescription food Derm Defense. So my question is, could my dog benefit from the Derm Defense? Or is it close enough to the Z/D that the change wouldn't make a difference? Thank you!

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Daniel Fonza, DVM

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 6th, 2017

And thank you for your question! Hills Z/D is a great allergy diet. The way it works is that it is a hydrolyzed protein diet meaning that the proteins that normally cause allergies are too small to trigger the allergy with the hydrolyzed formula. Hill's Derm defense is a great food as well. The way that Derm defense works is that it strengthens the Skin Barrier and it has multiple antioxidants and phytonutrients period before switching to Derm defense I would suggest speaking with your veterinarian who previously placed Louie on Z/D to see if this would be a good switch. Some other things that help with allergies would include omega-3 fish oil supplements and essential 6 Spot On by dermoscent. Help this guide you in the right direction. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Z/D is mainly for dogs that are allergic to certain proteins and other product in the food. If this food hasn't helped much and he is still having a lot of symptoms then changing to derm defense may help as it is geared more for environmental allergies and not for food allergies. You should also talk to your vet about a daily allergy medicine like apoquel. I have seen great results with this in my patients who have environmental allergies! I hope this helps!

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    In my experience Derm Defense is quite close to Z7D and won't make a lot of difference.
    Other medications (like steroids or Apoquel or immunotherapy for example) can be used to control allergies more effectively in Louie's case.

    Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Food & Nutrition
My dog has protein intolerance. Need Hill's Z/D food alternatives?
Without a full diet history it is impossible to prescribe a diet. Hills z/d is a hydrolyzed formula where all the proteins have been broken down (akin to being pre-digested) into small pieces so the immune system should not react to them and so should resolve the food intolerance symptoms, it is easily digested and highly absorbable by even the most sensitive bowel. A similar, hydrolyzed option is royal canin hypoallergenic or anallergenic and many pets find these extremely palatable. Some cases can do well on a 'novel protein diet' of home prepared food based on a protein source which she has never eaten before. This should be formulated only by a specialist nutritionist - tufts university clinical nutrition team are available by phone or appointment to help with this but it can be extremely expensive and time consuming to feed such a specific and strict diet and commercial brands are often more successful in resolving symptoms in the long term
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Should I feed Hills Derm Defense long-term for my dog's health?
It definitely is a balanced diet that is safe for long-term use. It is most commonly used in dogs with skin issues or food allergies, so if this is a problem that Kira experiences, it would be a great choice. There are also lots of great foods that are available to you. I have fed my dog Purina Pro-Plan since she was a puppy. She is now 14 and has no health issues! I would discuss the best option with your vet.
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Can I switch my dog from Hills Derm Defense to Purina Proplan DRM?
These two foods are very similar. They are both prescription diets and both used for allergies. The only concern is that your dog may have a little upset tummy from switching abruptly from one food brand to another. If you have any of the old food left, I would try to mix the two at first. If Benji gets an upset tummy, I would let your vet know to see if he needs any meds. I hope this helps!
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What dog food has antihistamine for my dog's skin allergies?
There is a dog food made by science diet called derm defense which has an anti-histamine in it and works well for environmental allergies. If you are worried about a food allergy, I would consider trying a hypoallergenic diet like science diet z/d. I hope this helps!
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Puppy with severe food allergies: What prescription diet should I try?
I would try hills z/d ultra or royal canin anallergenic (an even more restricted version). Ensure also she is not receiving any additional treats, flavored tablets, bones, table scraps or raiding any garbage bins. She may also require prescription medication to resolve the current flare up. A home prepared diet may be an option but would have to be formulated with the help of an expert nutritionalist and can only comprise of novel ingredients (foods she has never eaten before such as kangaroo/venison/sweet potato etc - these are very difficult to supplement sufficiently and are very expensive to maintain in the long term)
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My dog likes z/d. Is there a cheaper Hill's alternative at Petco?
Thats funny! Most dogs don't want to eat the Z/D! I don't think they have a food that tastes exactly like the Z/D at non-prescription price but you could try any of the science diet dog foods - all of which are very palatable and she may like. For just a general food, I like science diet adult for dogs over 1. Once she is over 7 years old, I recommend to switch her to the senior diet. It is perfectly safe for her to eat the z/d long term although that would be expensive for you. I hope this helps!
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Is it safe to switch my dog's IBD diet from Royal Canin to Hill's z/d?
Theoretically Trixie could do any of the hydrolyzed diets. Royal Canin carries a hydrolyzed protein diet very similar to the Hill’s diet. Purina also carries a formula as well called HA. Most likely Trixie would do fine on any of these. Make sure any diet transition is slow over the course of 5 to 7 days. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions!
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