Best Dog Food for Skin Allergies in 2023: Highly Digestible Novel Proteins

Skin allergies can be highly uncomfortable for both humans and dogs. Having to constantly scratch the itch is certainly irritating. Allergy on the skin can be very stressful for dogs too.

If you see your furry friend often scratching their ears or chewing on their paws, she could be having an allergic reaction. But a dog’s allergies may be caused by several different factors that include the environment, parasites, and even dog foods.

In this article, we will talk about canine skin allergies – causes, symptoms, and cure – and the best dog food for skin allergies, with a review of the top dog food brands and hypoallergenic dog foods that can help prevent allergic reactions.

What To Look For In The Best Dog Food For Allergies

Dog allergies may very well be triggered by the dog’s diet. Food allergies are pretty common in dogs, especially with the popularity of commercial pet food that typically contains common allergens. This is more prevalent with cheaper dog food brands that use poor-quality ingredients and artificial additives.

Here are the qualities you must look for in the best dog food for allergies

High-Quality And Natural Ingredients

The best way to protect your dog from health issues is to feed her with dog foods that only use high-quality and natural ingredients, which are found in most premium dog food products. These dog foods may be more costly but may save you more dollars in the long run by minimizing trips to the vet. Avoid artificial flavors and additives, or chemicals.

Novel Animal Protein Sources

Some of the more common allergens in dog foods are animal protein sources from chicken and beef ingredients. This prompted dog food manufacturers to look to other animal sources like lamb, turkey, and fish to create dog food formulas. 

However, years later, some dogs also developed food allergies from these ingredients. And so more protein sources were added like venison, duck, rabbit, bison, seafood, and even kangaroo and alligator. Since beef and chicken are the top two common canine food allergens, it’s best to choose another protein source.

Balanced Nutrition

To stay healthy and strong, dogs need essential vitamins and minerals in their food. The Association of American Feed Control Officials or AAFCO has set standards that include essential nutrients for a dog’s overall health. So to ensure that the dog’s diet has balanced nutrition, check the label if the dog food has met AAFCO standards

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR BEST DOG FOOD FOR SKIN ALLERGIES

Dog Food Options For Allergies

Aside from the qualities mentioned, there are other dog food formulas that can further lessen the chances of an allergic reaction from pet food. It helps a lot, of course, if you knew which ingredients cause your dog’s allergies.

Hypoallergenic Dog Foods

Hypoallergenic dog food is a diet that does not contain any of the known ingredients that cause allergic reactions in dogs like beef, chicken, dairy, and eggs, and some grains like wheat, corn, and soy, which are the most common canine food allergens according to experts. 

Moreover, these diets mostly have a single protein source, usually from a novel animal protein source. Most hypoallergenic dog foods have limited ingredients too.

Limited Ingredient Dog Foods

After picking the main ingredient, which should ideally be a high-quality animal protein, it also helps largely to select a dog food with limited ingredients. Limited ingredient dog foods are dog food formulas with only a few ingredients for the purpose of avoiding or minimizing an allergic reaction, especially if the origin is unknown. 

Some dog foods have too many ingredients that make it difficult to determine the origins of the food allergy or may have common allergens like chicken as part of the formula.

Grain-Free/ Gluten-Free Formula

Some grains are also commonly known food allergens in dog food, like wheat and corn. Although the cases are much fewer than in beef or chicken, your pup may have developed a food allergy to some grains. In this case, there are many grain-free dog food options to choose from in the pet food store.

Not all dogs thrive on a grain-free diet. Those who require more fiber in their meals can be given grain-inclusive foods that are gluten-free. These dog foods typically include wholesome grains such as oats, brown rice, sorghum, and many others. 

Fish Ingredients

Very few dogs have issues with high-quality fish as the main animal protein source. Salmon is a great animal protein as it also offers an ample supply of omega fatty acids that offer many health benefits including digestive health, immune system health, and coat and skin health. 

Other common fish ingredients in dog foods are mackerel, whitefish, herring, tuna, trout, catfish, sardines, and anchovies. Some of the regular fish meal formulas added to dog foods are menhaden fish, ocean fish, and salmon meal.

Veterinarian-prescribed Dog Foods

Some vets prescribe dog foods to address food allergies. Most of these prescription diets use hydrolyzed protein, which is a protein made so tiny that the immune system fails to identify it and react to it. Hydrolysis is the process used to break down proteins and make hydrolyzed protein. Proteins are broken down into amino acids that are known as building blocks.

Raw Or Fresh Foods

Canine food allergies are part of the reason why many pet parents are now turning to homemade or raw dog food, which is made with fresh and natural ingredients to minimize the chance of an allergic reaction.

Although fresh dog foods are more expensive and require time to prepare, these are believed to be safer and healthier options. Fortunately, there are now fresh food online sellers for busy dog owners, like Nom Nom Fresh Foods for dogs, which offer different recipes

Best Dog Food For Skin Allergies: Our Top Picks

1. Zignature LID Turkey Formula
2. Acana Singles + Wholesome Grains LID Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe
3. Nutro LID Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe
4. Natural Balance LID Lamb & Brown Rice Formula
5. Instinct LID Recipe with Real Turkey
6. Canidae PURE LID Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
7. American Journey LID Venison & Sweet Potato Recipe
8. Blue Buffalo Basics LID Turkey & Potato Recipe Senior
9. FirstMate LID Endurance/Puppy Pacific Ocean Formula
10. Hill's Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities
11. PET TAO Harmony Diets LID
12. Tender & True LID Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

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We’ve assembled some of the best dog foods for allergies – both dry food and wet food – that suit different budgets. Also included in the list are recommended dog treats and supplements for a dog’s allergies.

1. Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula

First 5 ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil

Our top pick for the best dog food for allergies in the dry food category is Zignature Turkey limited ingredient dog food, which is a prominent premium pet food that's suitable for all life stages.

Real turkey meat from US-bred turkey and turkey meal are the main ingredients in this grain-free dog food, plus sunflower oil. It doesn’t have any of the common allergens in dog food. The minimum protein load is a generous 32%.

Worthy to be called the best dog food for allergies, this grain-free formula got a remarkable 4.7 out of 5 stars average rating from over 600 reviewers at Chewy.com, plus a high 96% acceptance rate.

Most customers found this premium kibble outstanding, with great results in their dogs’ allergy issues, plus other benefits like healthy skin and coat. 

Less than 10% of the reviews were unfavorable, which mentioned mostly concerns about chickpeas, flatulence, large kibbles, and picky eaters.

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2. ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains LID Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Oat Groats, Whole Sorghum, Lamb Liver

Surely among the best dog foods in the market today, Acana is a premium brand with a reputation for excellent-quality ingredients. This limited ingredient dog food is appropriate for dogs.

Real lamb meat and lamb meal are the first two ingredients, plus lamb organs, to make a single-protein source but truly delicious and healthy dog food. 

This recipe has fish oil to provide the essential omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. No artificial flavors or additives are part of the dog food recipe.

This kibble received a 4.7 out of 5 stars average rating from 27 reviewers at Chewy.com, with a perfect 100% acceptance rate.

Expectedly, most customers were very satisfied with this dry food, citing vast improvements with their dog’s skin allergies and GI issues, plus shinier coats. 

Some also liked the high fiber level in this diet, which helped greatly in digestive health. There were only 3 reviewers that were unimpressed, saying their pups turned their noses up or that they didn’t see any changes in the dog’s skin.

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3. Nutro LID Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas, Dried Potatoes, Dried Sweet Potato

Third on our list but equally remarkable is Nutro’s lamb and sweet potato recipe – a limited ingredient and grain-free dog food. Lamb is the only animal protein source in this formula.

Real lamb meat and lamb meal are the main ingredients, plus sweet potatoes for balanced nutrition. Sunflower oil is the supplier of healthy omegas for skin and coat health, as well as joint health.

Like our first two dry dog food choices, this recipe also received 4.7 out of 5 stars average grade from over 80 reviewers at Chewy.com, with a 93% acceptance rate.

So many pet parents that used this dog food shared that their dog’s skin allergies were gone after weeks of this grain-free dog’s diet.

Several stated that their dogs with sensitive stomachs are no longer showing signs of digestive issues. There were a few mentions about an alleged formula change, which isn’t favorable to the commenters.

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4. Natural Balance LID Lamb & Brown Rice Formula

First 5 ingredients: Lamb, Brown Rice, Lamb Meal, Brewers Rice, Rice Bran

Known for its limited ingredient dog foods, Natural Balance offers a superb but easy-on-the-pocket option for sensitive skin dogs – lamb and brown rice formula.

Made with real lamb as the first ingredient, this limited ingredient dog food formula also features lamb meal for the extra amino acids mass, and brown rice for the rich fibers to support the digestive system.

This lamb and brown rice recipe is enriched with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to support skin, coat, joint, as well as many other aspects of dogs’ health. 

Close to 500 customers reviewed this brand, giving it an average 4.6 out of 5 stars grade, with a 94% acceptance rate. The great majority of reviews were very encouraging, with several mentions of allergy relief in their pups, as well as healthier weight and poop. 

There were a few mentions of an alleged formula change, and that the kibble was too large for small-breed dogs.

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5. Instinct LID Recipe with Real Turkey

First 5 ingredients: Turkey Meal, Peas, Turkey, Tapioca, Canola Oil

grain-free dog food is certainly no pushover recipe. Turkey meal is the first ingredient, with peas and real turkey as the next main components in the grain-free formula. 

Cage-free turkey is the only animal protein in the ingredients deck that includes coconut oil and turkey organs. Abundant in amino acids, this diet is generous in protein and fat contents, with 26% and 18% respectively.

And, it’s fortified with essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin E supplement, which is a powerful antioxidant that can keep a dog’s skin healthy.

Chewy customers gave this limited ingredient dog food an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars, with a 93% acceptance rate. Over 90% of these reviewers were very impressed with this formula, many of whom said their dog’s allergies were gone. The less than 10% of naysayers were mostly about their pups not liking the kibble.

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6. Canidae PURE LID Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lentils, Sweet Potatoes

Canidae is a shoo-in in this list of premium dog food names. Known for its high-quality ingredients, this grain-free formula and limited ingredient dog food from Canidae has real salmon as the star ingredient, followed by salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, lentils, and sweet potatoes for a 32%-14%-4.5% protein-fat-fiber contents proportions suitable for adult dogs. 

The grain-free blend is also rich in essential nutrients, including vitamin E supplement and fatty acids for immune system boost, joint health, and coat and skin health, plus probiotics for digestive health. And, it has none of the common allergens in dog food or artificial additives.

More than 400 Chewy customers accorded this diet an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars grade, with a 94% acceptance rate, to attest to its great quality. 88% of comments were commendatory, especially with regard to mitigating dog food allergies and food intolerances. 

Only 12% of the respondents were dissatisfied with this dry food for adult dogs, citing issues like strong odor, too many crumbs, kibble being too small, and an apparent formula change without warning.

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7. American Journey LID Venison & Sweet Potato Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Venison, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Chickpeas, Venison Meal

Unsure of the animal source to choose? Well, Venison is a safe choice. One of the reliable novel protein sources, venison is a great alternative for your red meat-loving adult dogs with food intolerance and allergy to the usual proteins like chicken and beef. 

This grain-free formula has real venison meat and venison meal for your skin-sensitive pooch, plus sweet potatoes. It also has fish oil for the healthy omegas for healthy skin and fur, and the dog’s immune system enhancement. This grain-free dog food is pretty affordable too.

200 Chewy customers gave this kibble an average grade of 4.3 out of 5 stars, with a 90% acceptance rate. 81% of the reviews were praiseful, especially when pertaining to the formula’s suitability to a dog’s sensitive skin and sensitive stomach issues.

The remaining comments were mostly about finicky dogs that didn’t like the flavor, and with a few comments about more poops with this dry dog food.

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8. Blue Buffalo Basics LID Turkey & Potato Recipe Senior

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Potatoes, Peas

For our senior furry friends with food allergies, this senior dog food is a fine choice. Real deboned turkey is the first ingredient, plus turkey meal, as turkey is the only animal source in this limited ingredient dog food. Oatmeal and brown rice are the main digestible carbs in this dog food. 

This grain-inclusive recipe also has fish oil for fatty acids and pumpkin for healthy fibers to help support the digestive system. It also has probiotics for gut health. This is a high-fiber formula, with a max 7% fiber load.

This diet received an impressive 4.7 out of 5 stars average rating from over 200 Chewy customers, and with a 96% acceptance rate. Even more remarkable is that 92% of the reviews were very encouraging, with many pet parents saying their senior pets loved this kibble and that it was great for their pup’s sensitive skin and sensitive stomach. 

Only less than 8% of the reviews were negative, almost half of which were about picky-eating dogs. Some found the price a bit expensive, and a couple thought the kibble was a bit hard.

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9. FirstMate LID Endurance/Puppy Pacific Ocean Formula

First 5 ingredients: Potato, Pacific Ocean Fish Meal, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat, Fish Oil

As for our younger four-legged kids, we find First Mate as the best dog food for allergies in puppies. Its pacific ocean recipe is a great option being a fish-based protein source. This proudly Canadian-made grain-free dog food has Pacific Ocean fishmeal from wild-caught herring as the only animal source. 

For growing puppies, this limited ingredient dog food has good levels of protein at 28%. The formula includes ample vitamins and minerals for the dog’s immune system and overall health. Chicken fat is part of the mix too for essential vitamin E.

A 4.4 out of 5 stars average grade was given by 18 Chewy customers to this puppy dog food, with a perfect 100% acceptance rate.

Out of 18 feedback, 15 reviewers were all-praises for this dry dog food formula saying their young pups thrived with it, and liked the high-protein content and nutrients. 2 of the 3 naysayers found the kibble too big for their small-breed dogs.

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10. Hill's Prescription Diet z/d

First 5 ingredients: Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Oil, Calcium Carbonate

As for the best hypoallergenic dog food and prescription diet, nothing beats a formula designed by animal nutritionists and veterinarians.

Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d formula is a highly touted hypoallergenic dog food made with hydrolyzed protein to help dogs with food intolerance and food allergy avoid allergic reactions. 

Of course, it’s also enriched with essential nutrients for good health. As the protein content of this food is quite minimal, it’s best to find another hypoallergenic recipe after the prescribed period, or to supplement your pup’s meal with more protein sources once your vet has given his/ her approval.

There were over 800 Chewy reviewers for this hypoallergenic dog food that gave it an average grade of 4.6 out of 5 stars and a 94% acceptance rate. You know that it’s the right dog food for allergies when more than 700 of these respondents had great things to say about this dry dog food. 

Most of them said that this dog’s diet is the only one that worked in alleviating their dog’s allergies and calming their pooch’s sensitive stomach.

Only about 11% said otherwise, with a few saying there were no improvements in their dog’s condition, while others have varying complaints like the high price, the kibble being too hard, and the taste not being very likable.

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11. PET TAO Harmony Diets Limited Ingredient

First 5 ingredients: Turkey, Carrots, Celery, Green Beans, Broccoli

For dogs that prefer wet food, we picked Pet Tao Harmony as the best wet dog food for allergies. This is because this US-made limited ingredient wet dog food is made with high-quality ingredients that are safe for any dog with food intolerance and food allergy. 

This hydrating meal features real turkey meat as the only animal protein source. This holistic diet, guided by the Yin-Yang philosophy, only uses all-natural ingredients too. Aside from the first five ingredients, this diet suitable for all life stages also includes spinach, honey, and sesame oil.

While the brand does not have that many reviews on Chewy.com yet, online reviews for this product have been mostly positive, with most saying their pups have renewed energy and noticeable overall health improvement.

A Chewy.com customer gave this hypoallergenic dog food a perfect 5 out of 5 stars grade, adding that her skin-problematic dogs did well with this formula.

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12. Tender & True LID Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Water Sufficient For Processing, Dried Sweet Potato, Dried Pea, Salt

The grain-free formula is worth the try. Real wild-caught salmon is the first and only animal ingredient in this wet dog food.

It’s among the very few brands that can claim to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as having sustainable seafood ingredients. 

No poor-quality or artificial ingredients are part of this wet food formula. It’s rich in essential nutrients and amino acids, with sufficient protein levels of 9.5%. The recipe is suitable for all life stages.

Customer reviews for this salmon and potato pate have been quite favorable. One of them said it was great for her pup that had sensitive skin and a sensitive stomach too.

Another stated that her dog absolutely loves the taste, even as she mentioned that the texture is not very consistent.

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Treats and Supplements

To further help your food-sensitive dogs, you may also look for treats and supplements that are suitable for these conditions. Hill's Prescription Diet Hypo-Treats is a great dog treat to consider as it’s made of hydrolyzed protein, which is safe for dogs with food allergies.

As for supplements, you can try PetHonesty AllergySupport Peanut Butter Chews for Dogs. This supplement is one of the best you can find as it’s formulated specifically for canines with sensitive skin and sensitive stomach issues.

About A Dog’s Allergies

Allergies are common in dogs of all breeds and life stages, but with different origins. These are a result of the dog’s immune system’s reaction to a foreign body.

Skin Allergies

Skin-related allergies are the most common, which may be caused by flea bites (or when your dog is allergic to flea saliva), food allergies (triggered by common allergens in food), or environmental allergens like dust, pollen, and mold. 

Environmental allergens may be seasonal. These allergies cause much discomfort with itchiness mostly in the ears and paws, but also in other body parts. When frequently scratched, bitten, and licked, wounds and bacterial infections likely follow.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are often blamed for most allergic reactions in dogs but they’re not as common as most pet parents believe they are.

However, it has become more common today as dogs developed food allergies to common animal proteins like beef, chicken, and dairy. Skin conditions (itchiness or swelling), gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea or vomiting), or both may be triggered by food allergies.

Food Allergies Vs Food Intolerances

A food allergy is an immune system reaction to a particular protein, which results in some symptoms like skin swelling or itchiness.

Food intolerance is a digestive reaction to something that irritates the gut system, or when the food is not digested or broken down well. Food intolerance is usually less worrisome than a food allergy, which in some cases may be life-threatening.

Common Symptoms

• Itchiness in various parts including facial parts
• Swelling of the face and facial parts
• Inflamed skin
• Hives
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Chronic Ear Infections
• Constant licking or chewing of paws and other parts

Elimination Diet

To find out the cause of food allergies, vets recommend an elimination diet, which is to gradually remove the ingredients in all the foods that the dog has been eating until the allergic reactions are gone.

In cases where the dog seems to be having allergic reactions to every protein source he eats, a temporary plant-based diet may be recommended by the vet.

Conclusion

The causes of your dog’s allergies are not easy to determine. It’s best to have the vet examine your dog for proper prognosis and treatment.

As for food allergies, once the origin is discovered, there are many hypoallergenic options to choose from, some of which are mentioned in this article. An elimination diet is one of the most effective ways to determine the source of your dog's food allergies.

Don’t take allergies for granted as some may be life-threatening, not to mention highly uncomfortable and stressful to dogs.