Petsradar’s Pick Of The Best Dog Food For Allergies
- Best overall dog food for allergies: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat
- Best budget dog food for allergies: Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
- Best science-backed dog food for allergies: Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Formula
- Best wet and dry mix dog food for allergies for small dogs: Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Wet and Dry Cups
- Best premium dog food for allergies: ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Lamb Dog Food
- Best grain free dog food for allergies: Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Best vet-approved dog food for allergies: Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food Sensitive Stomach and Skin
- Best easy-to-digest dog food for allergies: Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dog Food
Dogs that love wet food but suffer from a sensitive stomach are often forced to miss out on their favorite fare due to the high-fat content. Thankfully, its Royal Canin to the rescue with this veterinarian-approved low-fat formula which is both tasty and gentle on the tummy.
Hailed as a lifesaver brand by many a pooch parent, Royal Canin has an outstanding reputation for delivering high-quality nutrition that you can trust and this offering is no exception.
If youve ever watched Rachael Ray cooking up a storm then you know how mouth-wateringly good her dishes can be and guess what? Now your pampered pooch can get in on the action too.
Go Sensitivity + Shine Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon Recipe Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. De-Boned Salmon, 2. Salmon Meal, 3. Tapioca, 4. Peas, 5. Lentils
Sensitivity + Shine Limited Ingredient Salmon Recipe its a mouthful I know, but it says it all. Real salmon is the only protein source here, with no by-products. So it can be a good choice for dogs that are allergic to meat proteins in general. It also includes a healthy blend of prebiotics and probiotics to keep your dogs tummy out of trouble.
Canidae Pure Dog Food Lamb Goat & Venison
PetListed Verdict:
CANIDAE Pure is a limited ingredient dog food thats made with only 8 total ingredients. While there are several varieties, the lamb, goat, and venison recipe contains novel proteins that are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Added probiotics promote digestive health, while glucosamine supports your dogs joints.
Key Features:
- Limited ingredient diet that includes only 8 total ingredients
- Made with lamb, goat, and venison proteins most dogs arent sensitized to
- No corn, soy, wheat
- Available in multiple recipes including bison, salmon, wild boar, duck, and chicken
- Supports joint health with glucosamine and chondroitin
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat
- Includes probiotics and antioxidants
Cons:
- While most Canidae recipes are safe for allergies, some including the chicken flavors, may not be as effective
Also Check: Blue Buffalo Vs Nutro
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food For Skin Allergies
Although there are high-quality products on the market, the impact hypoallergenic dog foods will have on your canine will heavily depend on the cause of the allergy. As most common food allergies will have atopic dermatitis as the main symptom, you will not know the exact reason unless you perform the test.
Once you know the specific cause of the ailment, you will be able to select a good product that will remove any allergens from the dogs diet. This will usually leave you with several options that include both dry dog food and wet dog food from a can.
If your dog has multiple severe allergies, you might find acceptable dog food slightly harder to find, but even then, you will have at least a few options that will work for your dog before you need to start preparing food from scratch.
What Could Be The Allergens For Dogs
As is the case with humans, allergies in dogs are an overwhelming reaction of the canines immune system to a certain compound or particle. This is especially the case when such allergen are fairly common like dust or pollen, especially because for most other people and animals, these sorts of particulates are innocuous and don’t cause any problems.
The reasons for forming an allergy are also similar to humans, as insufficient early age exposure may create a reaction later in life. When food allergies are developed inside the dog’s immune system, there is usually another toxic compound in the mix with the immune system just flagging everything as dangerous, including the ingredients that are actually beneficial to the body, such as protein.
Apart from the usual suspects in allergies such as pollen, dust, dander, plants, and insects, dogs can develop food allergies making them sensitive to common protein sources such as chicken, lamb, or veal. Protein allergies are very rare in humans, which is why we rarely focus on these problems in our pets.
Finally, not all breeds of dogs are in the same risk group for allergies, as more traditional races have a much wider gene pool and are much more resilient, with small breeds and show dogs being more susceptible to allergies than other dogs.
Recommended Reading: Is Iams Dog Food Any Good
Best Natural Wet Food
This wet dog food doesnt just have a high meat content, its also superb quality to ensure that your dog has the best possible ingredients to savour. Its completely free from harmful grains and wheat, as well as containing nutritionally valuable vegetables for a complete and balanced diet.
It contains just over 10% protein alongside 9.6% fat and 0.7% ash. Its gentle ingredients ensure a diet that wont leave your dog itching or with stomach upsets. It provides your pup with plenty of energy as well, giving them the chance to run and play while also supporting healthy joints.
- Key Ingredients: Lamb, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Peas, Minerals
- Texture: Wet
Blue Buffalo Natural Adult Salmon
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Deboned Salmon, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Peas, 4. Pea Protein, 5. Menhaden Fish Meal
Because protein is a usual suspect when it comes to allergies in your dog, many pet parents worry about it. But you dont have to worry about proteins when it comes to this recipe. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Salmon Dog Food is an amazing high-protein recipe that will keep allergies at bay. Deboned salmon and chicken meal satisfy the high protein needs of all breeds, including the large and giant ones. There is also a menhaden fish meal in the first five ingredients. It adds a tasty punch of protein and other nutrients. And then you have pea proteins as well.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon recipe also contains the patented LifeSource bits. Add it all up, and that makes this offering from Blue Buffalo, a good choice for your allergy-sensitive dog.
Don’t Miss: Dr Pol Puppy Food
Can Dog Food Help With Skin Allergies
Fortunately, numerous types of dog food for dogs with skin allergies exist. The best dog food for skin allergies related to food is therefore one that doesnt include this food.
Grain allergies, for example, are very common and easily treated with grain free food. Sadly its not always this easy, as sometimes your dog is allergic to things it just cant avoid. Pollen and dust allergies arent solely human phenomena.
For a severely allergic dog a vet might prescribe antihistamines, but most of the time a change in diet can provide significant relief.
Fatty acids like omega 3 and 6 have been proven to have a significant effect on skin allergy symptoms. By helping your dog to maintain healthy skin the chance of a secondary infection is significantly reduced.
In fact, these nutrients are often present in prescription dog food for skin allergies. Whether its the best grain free dog food for skin allergies or the best dry dog food for skin allergies, you should be able to find what you need in this article.
How Can I Help My Great Dane With Allergies
If you do think that your Great Dane does have a food allergy, the best thing to do is to take them to your vet. They can discuss all the different options for your Great Dane and help get them started on the correct treatment.
You can start a food trial at home. When at the pet store, look for a diet that is specific for a dog with food allergies or one that has a different protein source than your Great Dane is currently eating.
Don’t Miss: Can You Get Dog Food With Food Stamps
Are Grain Free Dog Foods Healthier
Over the past couple of decades, grain free dog foods have become tremendously popular. Today they are often preferred to other kinds of kibbles, even for dogs that do not have any food allergies or sensitivities.
People often believe that these foods have better quality ingredients that they are lower in carbohydrates/starches than other dog foods and that they have more protein. Not all of these things are true. It always depends on the particular dog food or brand.
Veterinarians tells us that true food allergies are not common in dogs, accounting for about 10 percent of all the allergies diagnosed in dogs. They are only the third most common cause of allergies in dogs, behind flea bite allergies and inhalant allergies. However, if youve ever had a dog with a food allergy or a food sensitivity, you know just how awful they can be.
And, if youve ever spent any time on a dog food message board, you would probably doubt that low percentage. There is never a shortage of dog owners with itchy dogs or dogs with gastrointestinal problems.
Some people even some veterinarians and alternative health practitioners seem to believe that grain free dog foods are healthier for dogs because, by definition, they do not contain the glutens found in some foods with grains.
Actual gluten only comes from wheat and related grains such as barley, rye, oat, and all their species and hybrids . This means that corn and some other grains and cereals do not really have gluten.
Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula Adult Limited Ingredient Grain
Allergy-Friendly Ingredients: Peas, pea flour, hydrolyzed salmon, sunflower oil, flaxseed, natural salmon flavor, tomato pomace, salmon oil, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin.
Price: About $52 for a 25-lb. bag.
Overall Value: Diamond Naturals offers Diamond Carea line of dog foods for pups that have special dietary needs. This potent blend contains Omega-3s and vitamin E for optimal skin and coat health.
Read Also: Iams Veterinary Formula Skin And Coat Ko Dry Dog Food
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food Potato & Duck Formula
Made with limited ingredients, this recipe exposes minimal ingredients to your pets reducing food intolerances and allergies. It uses duck for protein and potatoes for carbohydrates and fruits and vegetables to make a complete and nutritious balanced diet. Furthermore, this recipe does not have any artificial flavors, preservatives or colors and is therefore easily digestible.
Food Allergyor Food Intolerance
Food allergies and food intolerances are 2 different issues.
A food allergy occurs when a dogs immune system mistakenly identifies a particular food ingredient as harmful.
And then creates defensive antibodies to fight the invading enemy .
On the other hand
A food intolerance is a digestive problem rather than an immune response.
An intolerance occurs when a dogs digestive system is unable to digest a specific ingredient.
For example, lactose intolerance is a common condition in which a dog is unable to break down lactose .
You May Like: Is Iams Dog Food Any Good
Raw Paws Pet Food Grain
Quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids – Nutrition your dog will love!
Raw Paws Salmon Formula Nutrient Rich Kibble provides optimal nutrition to your four-legged friends energy, organ function, improves overall health and vitality.
This grain-free salmon recipe dry dog food is packed full of high-protein and nutrient-rich whole foods such as sweet potatoes, peas, blueberries, raspberries, and more!
Enhanced with probiotics and natural prebiotic fiber for optimal digestive health. These live, active cultures are naturally found in your dogs GI tract and are essential for maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. To ensure quality, these probiotic strains are processed under strict human-grade standards.
Supplemented with amino acid profiles, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids to promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
Raw Paws grain-free salmon kibble comes available in an 8 lb resealable bag.
Ingredients:
Salmon meal, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, blueberries, peas, raspberries, potatoes, tomatoes, flaxseed, folic acid, biotin, vitamin A supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin D supplement, vitamin E supplement, and other vitamins.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet
Merrick uses limited ingredients and only one source of protein nutrient chicken. It is filled with fatty acids meant for skin allergies, irritated, and dry skin.
It is also rich with industry-top levels of chondroitin and glucosamine for teeth, hip, and bone health. If your dog has a problem in these areas, this pet food can be your best option.
The formulas and benefits of this dog are also good for adult Yorkies. This dog food will ease their skin sensitivities, bone, and joint pain. Omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids will also ensure active metabolism.
Recommended Reading: Darwin Pet Food Reviews
What Is The Best Dog Food For Skin Allergies
The only reason why dog allergies are not as talked about as human allergies is that our little four-legged friends are unable to articulate their symptoms adequately. Both the symptoms and the causes for allergies in dogs are fairly similar to those in humans, with the slight difference that humans have a much better thermal regulatory system, as well as that most humans have less hair on their body than most dogs.
Thankfully, dog allergies have entered the collective consciousness of the owners, and not most veterinarians will advise testing to see if your dog has any allergies, and if yes, which ones. One of the most problematic allergies for dogs is food allergies, as they can create rashes and itchy skin, which can be quite troublesome for the furry creature. When such problems present themselves, you will need to bring your pet to a trained veterinary professional, and will probably need to change the dog’s diet, introducing either different food sources or hypo-allergic ingredients that will not trigger an immune response.
Best Foods For Dogs With Allergies
Following the diagnosis of food allergies, your vet will work with you to determine the best diet and treatment plan for your dog. There are a number of dry food options available, to help alleviate food allergy symptoms in dogs.
Prescription Dog Food
If your dog’s food allergy symptoms are severe, your vet may recommend that you feed your dog a prescription dry food. While this option can be expensive, novel protein and hydrolyzed diets available by prescription are typically superior to those that can be purchased through pet supply stores.
Sticking to a prescribed diet may help your dog to stay healthy and comfortably free of allergy symptoms. Some of the prescription foods your vet may recommend for dogs with food sensitivities include:
- Canine Hydrolyzed Protein Small Dog Dry Dog Food
- Hill’s Prescription Diet® d/d Canine Potato & Venison Formula
- Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula
- Hill’s Prescription Diet® Dog i/d® Sensitive Dry
Limited Ingredient Dog Foods
Limited ingredient dog foods address the presence of allergens by including just a single protein source, , often combined with just a single carbohydrate.
When you are shopping for limited ingredient dog foods it’s important to check for a seal of approval from the Association of American Feed Control , as well as a “complete and balanced” claim from the manufacturer.
Limited ingredient foods that your vet may recommend include:
Recommended Reading: Can You Buy Dog Food With Food Stamps
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
About: Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach is made without many of the most common allergens.
In fact, Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach contains no wheat, corn, soy or chicken by-products. Instead, it is a salmon- and rice-based formula, which provides the nutrition dogs need, without triggering their allergies.
Although Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach contains no artificial colors or flavors, it is packed with the vitamins, minerals and nutrients your dog needs. Of particular note are the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids contained in the food, which help promote healthy joints and skin, respectively.
PROS
Most owners report that the food helps eliminate hot-spots and similar itchy skin conditions. Additionally, most dogs find the food very palatable. The ingredient list is also very short and manageable compared to most others.
CONS
Salmon is the #1 ingredient, but there are no other meats at the top of the ingredient list.
Limited Ingredient Dog Food For Skin Allergies
Sometimes, the best option is to bypass any potential triggers altogether by opting for food that has the lowest number of ingredients.
Of course, you will need to know what allergies your dog has. Once you know this information however, you should feel safe as houses trying a limited ingredient dog food that is tasty and nutritious.
Here are two of our favorites.
Don’t Miss: Is Nutro Dog Food Grain Free
Wellness Simple Lid Hypoallergenic Dog Food
The Wellness Simple line of foods uses both whole single proteins and meat meals along with good, recognizable ingredients. The result is high-quality dog food that is hypoallergenic at a medium price point. You can get it in lamb, turkey, and salmon in addition to the duck and oatmeal recipe linked below.
Wellness Simple LID Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Available in both wet and kibble versions, this high-quality, hypoallergenic dog food is available in a range of flavors, including lamb, turkey, salmon, and duck.
Purinas limited-ingredient dog food recipe was formulated by in-house nutritionists to include nine natural ingredients, with chicken as the first ingredient. This food has no wheat, soy, or corn its a pretty affordable hypoallergenic dog food.
Purina Beyond Simply LID Adult Hypoallergenic Dog Food
This affordable, limited-ingredient dog food boasts chicken as its main protein source and is free of wheat, soy, and corn.