Chicken Free Dog Food: Perfect Nutrition for Poultry-Sensitive Pups

When you think about the most common types of meat used in dog food, chicken is probably what comes to mind first. And for good reason.

Chicken is widely available, it’s cheap, and chicken protein is considered high-quality. However, chicken allergies are also quite common in pups who suffer from food sensitivities.

If your pet is sensitive to a lot of food ingredients, particularly animal proteins, chances are that he also has chicken allergy. If that’s the case, then a chicken-free dog food is a must.

Since many dog foods contain this poultry ingredient (yes, even the non chicken-based dog foods) somewhere in the recipe, we’ve made up a list of the best formulas without it.

 

Chicken Free Dog Food Brands

Most dog food brands have at least one product that features chicken as the primary ingredient. There are, however, plenty of brands out there that use alternative sources of protein.

If you’re looking for a dog food brand that offers a decent selection of chicken-free formulas, try one of our top 10 choices for chicken-free dog foods that are reviewed below:

1. Ollie Lamb Recipe

Best Overall:  A NYC based company, Ollie Fresh Pet Food specializes in providing fresh, prepared human-grade meals for all dog breeds and ages.

Each customized and pre-portioned recipe uses a healthy mix of whole and natural ingredients—all appropriate for human consumption—with supplements thrown in for good measure.

There are no fillers or preservatives included because the all-natural dog food formulas are cooked twice a week in the company’s USDA-regulated kitchen and delivered to your door to ensure maximum freshness. 

Ollie carefully sources its ingredients from reputable farms in the U.S and Australia. Each partner must go through an extensive certification process to become a supplier. All of the brand’s food is made only with whole, human-grade ingredients. 

The brand never uses fillers, by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives in any of its dog foods. Ollie only uses USDA-certified meats in their recipes: its chicken, beef, and turkey all come from farms in the U.S., and the lamb is sourced from farms in both the U.S. and Australia. All of the fruits and veggies are from U.S. farms.

Every Ollie meal is developed by canine nutritionists and designed to give pets more energy, silkier coats, increased stamina, and a healthier body. It’s real science with real results. And since the formula is customized to your dog’s health and specific needs, any food sensitivity or poultry allergy will be addressed. 

This particular chicken-free formula contains a good amount of protein for a fresh food (9% minimum as fed). There is only lamb as the animal protein to ensure the meal doesn’t trigger any food sensitivities your furry friend may have to other animal proteins.

Customer rating: 

Based on Trustpilot ratings, Ollie recipes have received an average of 4.4 stars out of 5 from 841 pet parents. The fresh pet food company is a highly trusted brand that has never been recalled, either voluntarily by the brand, or by the USFDA or by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

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2. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Food

If any pet food brand understands the nutritional needs of dogs, it is Taste of the Wild. This brand understands that dogs crave fresh meat and natural flavors which is exactly what they feature in each of their recipes.

They have many grain-free formula offerings, and all of its recipes are made with premium proteins, designed to mimic the natural ancestral diet of wild wolves.

Taste of the Wild isn’t your average pet food company—it uses a wide variety of premium roasted meats in its formulas as well as grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, and beneficial supplements.”

They offer both dry food and wet food formulas, most of which are formulated for adult dogs, though it does offer two puppy recipes.

This brand has a limited selection of products, but you can rest assured that each one delivers premium-quality nutrition and plenty of natural flavor.

They use a wide variety of unique roasted meats including venison, bison, lamb, salmon, wild boar that are perfect for most dogs who have many food sensitivities. 

This particular kibble offers little pups the delightful taste of smoked salmon. It is high in protein (27%) because little doggos need more with their developing bodies. And it contains species-specific K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics to help with your wee pooch’s digestion and immune system.

Customer rating:

1026 reviewers from Chewy found this chicken-free formulation worth recommending. It has an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Many dogs who suffered from bad allergies and skin lesions happily recovered on this diet and are now sporting smooth skin and silky coats.

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3. American Journey LID Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

Dog parents who are grain-free enthusiasts will love the Salmon version of American Journey’s Limited Ingredient dog food.

Savory real deboned salmon will greet your pup with every bite, giving your pet a protein-rich diet, with protein making up 25% of the meal.

Made with easily digestible carbohydrates like peas and sweet potatoes, this grain-free kibble is ideal for dogs with food sensitivities.

The brand didn’t just stop at protein. American Journey also added nourishing ingredients such as omega fatty acids for healthy coat and skin, calcium for strong bones, zinc for thyroid and immune function, Vitamin E for healthy muscles, and a whole lot more nutrients and minerals for a complete and balanced diet.

The formula contains well sourced high-quality ingredients and limits its animal protein source to salmon. It contains chickpeas and peas, which are considered high-quality sources of carbohydrates. In addition, these provide fiber for healthy digestion.

This chicken-free dog food formula is made to be as healthy as possible with no grain or by-product ingredients. There are no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors to cause food sensitivities, either.

Customer rating:

1190 pet owners gave this recipe a combined rating of 4.3 stars out of 5. Several dogs with stomach issues and chicken allergy have not had a flare up since being put on this diet. Poops have turned solid and the pups now look much healthier.

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4. Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula

It is made with nutrient-rich salmon as the first ingredient for a protein-rich recipe. Plus, it has prebiotic fiber, to calm sensitive stomachs and nourish the beneficial bacteria found in your dog’s intestine, and live probiotics.

This recipe includes rice and oatmeal to provide easily digestible sources of carbohydrates for your pet. Plus, it’s packed with fish oil, a source of omega 3 fatty acids, to help support healthy joints and mobility as well as sunflower oil, which is laden with omega 6 fatty acids to nourish your dog’s skin and keep his coat looking healthy. Best of all, it’s made without corn, wheat or soy.

This food is somewhat high in carbs, which is lowering the fat & protein content slightly, making it nutritionally less balanced compared to other dog food brands we evaluated.

Customer rating:

This recipe has one of the highest customer reviews in our list. 7323 people gave the Purina formula 4.2 stars out of 5 for being functional and veterinarian-approved. Owners have seen big changes in their dogs’ health (for the better) and many pooches have had no issues since.

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5. Wellness CORE Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon Recipe

This is a high-quality chicken-free dry pet food. Its nutrient profile (34% protein and 14% crude fat) is obviously above average with a nice proportion of proteins to carbohydrates. 

With real whitefish as the first ingredient alongside herring, salmon and menhaden fish meals, this nutrient-dense, grain-free recipe contains all the protein needed to help your adult dog maintain lean, powerful muscles.

It is fortified with antioxidants, omega fatty acids, glucosamine and probiotics to make sure his immune system, skin and coat, joints and gastrointestinal systems stay healthy and strong throughout his life.

It contains a large range of vegetables and a variety of fish ingredients, this means it may not be suitable for dogs that suffer from allergies or sensitivities.

Customer rating:

541 reviewers gave this excellent dry dog food an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. The smell of the food is pretty strong, but most dogs are highly attracted to the scent. It also helps that this diet has helped digestive issues get resolved. In some cases, results are already seen even when the dogs are not yet 100% transitioned to the food. 

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6. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Real Lamb Recipe