There are plenty of options on the market when you go shopping for dog foods – from commercial dry food or kibble to canned or moist food, semi-moist, and raw dog food.
The variety of choices from dog food brands makes it somehow difficult for pet owners to choose the best one for their dogs.
Before diving deep into the best food for dogs with allergies, it's essential to have background information about why and how dogs get a food allergy.
Dog food allergies, like food intolerance, are one of the most common hypersensitivity reactions that affect our furry friends.
However, it's important to note that there's a vast difference between these conditions. Understanding this would help you address your pet's discomfort easier.
Food intolerance is when a dog has difficulties digesting a particular ingredient like dairy. On the other hand, food allergies are usually hereditary (passed down from parents to puppies) but can also be caused by a reaction of the immune system to specific allergens found in dog food ingredients.
The common allergens are protein sources from ingredients like dairy, beef, chicken, eggs, soy, wheat, lamb, fish, corn, pork, and rabbit.
When dogs' immune system recognizes the allergen, it perceives it as “harmful,” and, as a result, it reacts by producing antibodies to fight the “invading” ingredient. That's when food allergy symptoms start to develop.
How can you tell if your dog is allergic to food?
If your dog starts to sneeze, vomit, get itchy, or have diarrhea after consuming a particular type of food, then there's a high chance that it's food allergies.
Hyperactivity, scaly skin, red eyes, ear infections, hair loss, lack of energy, weight loss, and aggression may also occur as allergy symptoms.
If you've ruled out other possible causes like contact allergies and you think that your dog has food allergies, it's still best to consult a vet to get proper guidance on making your dog feel better.
However, one quick and easy way to determine which food ingredient your dog is allergic to is through an elimination diet.
There are available saliva, blood, and skin tests for dogs and cats, but these are reportedly unreliable and ineffective. An elimination diet, on the other hand, is more accurate.
Elimination diet works by removing all of the currently fed foods to determine which particular ingredient triggers the allergy. You start feeding your dog with food that it never had before.
Once it shows improvements throughout the elimination diet trial, that's when you start reintroducing the old foods gradually, one ingredient at a time.
If it exhibits an allergic reaction, then you'd know it has allergies to that particular ingredient.
Our Top Picks: 12 Best Dog Food for Allergies
1. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate, Partially Hydrogenated Canola Oil Preserved With TBHQ, Coconut Oil, Powdered Cellulose
This is a superb-tasting hypoallergenic dog food infused with chicken flavor. Its formula contains hydrolyzed protein or protein that has been broken down into smaller particle sizes to help reduce allergies in dogs.
Specially designed for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. It features hydrolyzed protein, which is broken down into small pieces to minimize the risk of triggering allergic reactions.
This formula is easy on the stomach and promotes optimal nutrient absorption while supporting skin and coat health. Free from common allergens, it offers balanced nutrition and is ideal for dogs with gastrointestinal or dermatological issues related to food sensitivities.
Suitable for dogs of all breeds and life stages, it provides gentle yet effective dietary management. Highly palatable and digestible, this vet-recommended dog food for allergies is made with high-quality ingredients.
Key Features and Benefits
It contains a single high-quality protein source
Tasty chicken flavor
Grain-free ingredient formula
Crafted with in-house veterinarians, nutritionists and researchers
One of the best dog foods on the market for dogs with allergies is this kibble from Royal Canin. This hypoallergenic dog food gets a big chunk of its protein from hydrolyzed soy protein.
This is specially formulated for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies. It features hydrolyzed proteins, which are broken down into smaller components to reduce the risk of triggering allergic reactions.
A tasty formula promotes healthy digestion and supports skin health with essential nutrients, including omega fatty acids. Designed for dogs with food-related sensitivities, it provides complete and balanced nutrition while being free from common allergens.
Ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs or skin, it offers gentle, effective care for dogs of all breeds and sizes. It's highly palatable, so you could worry less about your dog disliking its flavor.
Key Features and Benefits
Designed for pets with sensitivities
Promotes healthy skin and coat
Features an exclusive blend of fibers and probiotics
Supports healthy digestion and reduces digestive upsets
Disadvantages
Changes in the formula and quality
The price is high for other buyers.
3. Blue Buffalo Basics LID Turkey & Potato Recipe
First 5 ingredients:
Deboned Turkey, Potatoes, Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine), Pea Starch, Peas
If your dog prefers dry dog food or kibble over canned dog foods, the brand also offers an excellent limited ingredient grain-free dog food in turkey-flavored kibble form.
This is a limited-ingredient dry dog food crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Made with real turkey as the single animal protein and easily digestible potatoes, this grain-free formula promotes gentle digestion while supporting healthy skin and coat with omega fatty acids.
Free from chicken, beef, dairy, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives, it provides balanced nutrition with added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Perfect for dogs of all breeds and life stages, it's ideal for pets with sensitive stomachs or dietary restrictions.
This is a good-tasting food that your dog could eat without having to worry about allergy symptoms.
Key Features and Benefits
It is a vet-approved formulation
Limited ingredient meal
Zero meat protein sources like chicken and beef and other ingredients
Disadvantages
Picky eaters won't touch this turkey-flavored pet food.
This product line is a grain-free hypoallergenic dry dog food that features five carefully chosen main ingredients.
Thisvfood is designed for dogs with food sensitivities, featuring real salmon as the single animal protein source and easily digestible potatoes. This limited-ingredient, grain-free formula promotes gentle digestion and supports healthy skin and coat with omega fatty acids.
Free from fillers, gluten, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives, it provides balanced nutrition with essential vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for overall well-being. Ideal for dogs of all breeds and life stages, it's perfect for those with sensitive stomachs or dietary restrictions.
Key Features and Benefits
Recipe is grain-free
Helps against sensitive skin and food allergies
Includes antioxidants, natural probiotics and Omegas
Does not contain chicken and other usual allergens
Promotes healthy skin and coat
Disadvantages
The recipe changed
Kibbles are too large for small breed dogs
5. Nutro LID Small Bites Adult Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe
This recipe features small kibble bites for easy chewing and digestion.
Made with real lamb as the first ingredient, it provides high-quality protein in small, easy-to-chew kibble. Paired with nutrient-rich sweet potatoes, this recipe supports healthy digestion and sustained energy.
The formula is specially crafted with essential nutrients for improved metabolism, omega 6 fatty acids, B vitamins, and zinc. Not only does it address food allergies, but it also promotes healthier skin and coat and good gut health.
Free from chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives, it offers simple, wholesome nutrition for sensitive dogs. Ideal for small breeds, it promotes overall health and well-being with added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Key Features and Benefits
This limited ingredient dog food
Contains pasture-fed lamb meal as the primary source of protein
A vet-approved grain-free diet
The smaller kibble size makes chewing easier
Zero artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Designed to nourish dogs at all life stages, this limited-ingredient recipe is perfect for picky eaters and those with food sensitivities.
Featuring a single-source protein from high-quality duck, including raw duck and nutrient-dense duck liver, it provides essential amino acids to support muscle health.
To enhance digestion and overall well-being, the formula is thoughtfully balanced with fiber-rich ingredients like pears, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin.
With a composition of up to 65% animal ingredients and 35% wholesome fruits, vegetables and essential nutrients, this recipe ensures a well-rounded diet.
It is further enriched with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to promote optimal digestion, immune function and nutrient absorption. Free from grains, it supports an ideal body condition while nourishing the skin and coat, helping your dog thrive with every meal.
Specially formulated for dogs with sensitive skin and digestive issues. Made with real salmon as the first ingredient, it provides high-quality protein to support muscle health, while easily digestible rice ensures gentle digestion.
This nutrient-rich recipe includes omega fatty acids for healthy skin and a shiny coat, plus added vitamins, minerals, and prebiotic fiber to promote overall well-being.
Free from corn, wheat, and soy, it delivers complete and balanced nutrition, ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs or skin conditions. It helps upset stomachs and sensitive skin and eliminate common allergens.
Key Features and Benefits
Includes omega fatty acids for cognitive development and healthier skin and coat
Does not contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Perfect for any size or breed, from small to large dog breeds
Manufactured in the USA
Disadvantages
Picky eater dogs may not like it
8. SquarePet VFS Skin & Digestive Support
First 5 ingredients:
Hydrolyzed Pork, Brown Rice, White Rice, Sunflower Oil, Pork Fat
SquarePet offers a kind of dog food for your canine's food allergy, this recipe is one example. This formula improves the immune system of your dog and gives enough energy for its day-to-day activities.
This carefully crafted, food sensitivity-friendly kibble is designed for dogs with dietary restrictions, providing a wholesome and delicious meal without unnecessary fillers.
Made with high-quality pork as the primary protein source, along with a nourishing blend of brown and white rice, it offers easily digestible carbohydrates for sustained energy.
Cold-pressed sunflower oil adds a rich source of omega-6 fatty acids, which support skin hydration and promote a shiny, healthy coat. Enhanced with antioxidants, this formula helps strengthen the immune system, ensuring overall well-being.
Free from artificial ingredients, this nutritious meal allows your pup to enjoy a balanced, satisfying diet while giving you peace of mind about what’s in their bowl.
Key Features and Benefits
Limited ingredient formula
Zero soy, wheat, corn, and other common allergens
Improves your dog's skin and coat
Help against dogs' allergies
Features with hydrolyzed pork as the primary source of animal protein
Disadvantages
Some pets experienced stomach upset
9. Natural Balance LID Sweet Potato & Venison Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Sweet Potatoes, Venison, Potatoes, Pea Protein, Potato Protein
This formula brings allergy-free and delicious meals to a dog's food bowl. This grain-free diet is one of the top limited ingredient dog foods that feature a few animal proteins and carbohydrate sources.
Featuring premium venison as the single animal protein and nutrient-rich sweet potatoes for easy digestion, this grain-free formula supports healthy skin, coat, and overall well-being.
With no artificial additives, soy, or grains, it's perfect for dogs with allergies or sensitivities, providing essential nutrition in a simple, wholesome recipe.
It's a great option if your dog suffers from sensitivities that may require frequent visits to the vet. Feed your dog with this diet for a healthier state and shinier coat.
Key Features and Benefits
Limited ingredient diet
Features a single animal protein source
Vet-recommended against loose stools
Disadvantages
Some buyers expressed concerns about the smell
10. Zignature Whitefish Limited Ingredient Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Whitefish, Whitefish Meal, Peas, Pea Flour, Chickpeas
This limited-ingredient kibble is thoughtfully formulated with real whitefish as the first ingredient, providing a high-quality, easily digestible protein source for dogs with food sensitivities.
Naturally low in saturated fat and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, whitefish supports heart health, joint function, and a shiny coat while being a great alternative for pups allergic to more common proteins like chicken or beef.
To create a well-balanced meal, this recipe is complemented with wholesome plant-based ingredients such as peas and chickpeas, which offer fiber and essential nutrients for sustained energy.
Additionally, probiotics are included to promote a healthy gut, aid digestion, and enhance nutrient absorption, ensuring your furry friend thrives with every bite.
Key Features and Benefits
High-quality whitefish is top ingredient
Gluten and grain free
Fortified with probiotics
Great for dogs with rotational diets
Enriched with vitamins and minerals
Disadvantages
Strong fishy smell
Some pets experienced soft or watery stools
11. CANIDAE All Life Stages Less Active Chicken, Lamb & Fish Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Brown Rice, Chicken Liver, Lamb
This is a wet food for canines with allergies worth trying. It features chicken, lamb, fish, and brown rice for your pet's optimum health.
This meal is crafted for dogs with lower activity levels, providing balanced nutrition without excess calories. This premium formula features high-quality chicken, lamb, and fish as the main protein sources to support muscle maintenance, while its carefully selected ingredients are free from corn, wheat, and soy.
Ideal for senior or less active dogs, it promotes a healthy weight and overall well-being with added vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for easy digestion.
It's also an excellent option for dog owners with several food-allergic dogs of different ages because this pet food is suitable for all life stages, from puppies to adult dogs and senior dogs.
Key Features and Benefits
Food form: Wet Food
Hypoallergenic dog food
Vet-formulated
Prepared through slow cooking and simmering in natural broth
Features high-quality ingredients like chicken, brown rice, lamb and fish
Suitable for dogs of all ages, breeds and sizes
Zero common allergens such as wheat, soy and corn
Disadvantages
Some pets wouldn't touch this pet food unless they're starving
Food sensitivities and intolerances can pose significant health concerns for dogs, often leading to issues such as itchy or irritated skin, a dull coat, chronic ear infections, or digestive discomfort, including vomiting and diarrhea.
These adverse reactions, typically triggered by an abnormal immune response to proteins in food, can make mealtime a challenge for affected pets.
If your dog suffers from food sensitivities, providing them with the right diet is crucial for their overall well-being. Recognizing this need, Hill's nutritionists and veterinarians have developed this product, a specialized clinical nutrition formula designed to minimize food-related reactions.
This diet is carefully formulated with hydrolyzed protein, which helps reduce the risk of triggering an immune response, making it a safe and effective option for sensitive dogs.
Clinically proven to support skin health and aid in managing food sensitivities, z/d helps dogs avoid adverse food reactions while promoting overall health and comfort.
Key Features and Benefits
Made by experts
Helps eliminate food related allergies
Helps maintain a healthy skin barrier
Loaded with Omega fatty acids
Veterinarian recommended
Disadvantages
Pricey
Texture too mushy
What food is best for dogs with skin allergies?
Once you're sure that your dog has food allergies through an elimination diet or a vet, the next step is to give your pet the right food. Avoid food with ingredients that trigger any symptom.
You can use prescription dog food from your vet, make food from scratch, or try various types of allergy-safe food until you find what's best for your pup.
Types of Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Hypoallergenic dog food could be misleading since an ingredient that triggers food allergies in dogs varies from one dog to another.
For example, for a dog that's allergic to chicken, any food that does not contain this common allergen can be considered hypoallergenic dog food.
But that's not the case for dogs that are allergic to various ingredients other than chicken, like rice or beef, pork, and others.
A vet typically recommends this type of dog food once your dog's food allergies are determined. Though hypoallergenic dog foods are often regarded as “prescription dog foods,” some are readily available over-the-counter and online.
Here are the common types of hypoallergenic food for dogs: Limited Ingredient Diet, Hydrolyzed Dog Food, and Grain-Free Diet.
Limited Ingredient Diet
Limited ingredient dog food, otherwise known as limited ingredient diets (LID), refers to dog foods with fewer ingredients. This diet helps eliminate and identify food ingredients that trigger dog food allergies.
Generally, limited ingredient diets include a novel protein and a different carbohydrate source.
A novel protein is a “new protein” that is not usually present in common dog foods. Examples of sources include kangaroo, venison, duck, venison, turkey, and ostrich.
Usual novel carbohydrate sources for limited ingredients diet are brown rice, sweet potatoes, and oatmeal.
Hydrolyzed Formula
Hydrolyzed dog foods are food with hydrolyzed protein and carbohydrates or protein and carbohydrate that has been broken down into smaller particle sizes.
The dog's immune system will not recognize the protein and carbohydrate as an allergen because of the smaller size.
Grain-Free Formula
A grain-free dog food diet does not include grains that are typically part of dog foods. This type of food for dog allergies is any dog food not containing corn, rice, wheat, soy, or other grains.
Since dogs still require carbohydrates for energy, a grain-free dog food uses alternative carbohydrates like white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and peas.
Bottomline
Anyone with pets is aware of how allergies and other hypersensitivities are quite common in our canine companions. Whether it's caused by their genes (inherited from a parent with similar allergies) or triggered by specific allergens, we could all agree on how uncomfortable and sometimes inconvenient it gets.
Food allergies are just one of the types of allergies in dogs. Unlike food intolerance, which is also a common hypersensitivity, food allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a particular food ingredient that it mistakenly identifies as “harmful.”
It's essential to determine the specific ingredient that triggers the allergic reactions to help our canine friends with their food allergies. However, keep in mind that knowing that is just the first step of many.
Many options for hypoallergenic dog foods are available on the market, making things a lot easier for dog owners and dogs with allergies. Despite that, these countless options could also result in confusion and misinformation.
The bottom line is that different dogs have various food allergies. Their immune system reacts differently to common allergens. For example, one dog could be allergic to chicken while another is allergic to beef.
When looking for the best pet food for allergies for dogs, it would be best to gather sufficient information about your pet's condition before giving it any hypoallergenic pet food.
Observe its overall health and note the food and food ingredients it consumes. Also, pay attention to any symptoms that occur and any reaction or improvements in its conditions. It's also recommended to pay a visit to your vet when necess
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An individual with a profound affection for animals, who was brought up in an environment surrounded by dogs, cats, and chickens. A self-taught enthusiast in the realm of pet care. At present, the proud caretaker of two rescued felines and two lovely mixed-breed canines.
