Best Soy Free Dog Food: Top Healthy & Allergy-Friendly Options for Your Pet

Soy is a common additive in many foods, let alone in dog foods. However, there are some concerns in the canine world about using soy.

If you would rather not take any chances, you will find yourself checking ingredient labels for soy and soy products. Is the trouble worth it? It can be.

In this article, we will examine why soy is used in dog food, how it can be dangerous and what to look for on the label. We will also give you the best soy free dog foods as options for your search.

Read on to find out what brands are soy free.

Is Soy Bad for Dogs?

Soy and soy products have long been used by cultures for food and other sources. It stands to reasons that if it is good for us, it is good for our pets. But is this true? The short answer is that soy can be okay for dogs. It does, however, go deeper than that.

For the most part, soy isn’t a bad thing. It is a cheaper alternative to meat and vegetable proteins and has some essential vitamins that can promote health and growth in the canine world.

There are a couple of risk factors that you should be aware of that might cause you to turn away from soy products in your dog's food.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR SOY-FREE DOG FOODS

Best Soy Free Dog Foods

 

1. Ollie Hearty Beef Eats

First 5 ingredients: Beef, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Carrots

Ollie is a company that makes human-grade dog food using only the finest available ingredients. Each recipe is handcrafted and uses the bare minimum of ingredients to ensure proper nutrition.  When you place your order, it is made then, not before, sitting around waiting for you to make the order.

The orders arrive fresh and sealed in easy to portion containers. You can store them but buying in bulk can lead to spoil and waste. The most purchased recipe is the Hearty Beef Eats, and it has the first five ingredients listed as beef, beef heart, beef kidney, sweet potato, and beef liver.

---

2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch

Blue Buffalo brings a soy free formula to the high-quality food market. Their recipes are chocked full of meat proteins, vegetables and added nutrients like vitamins and minerals.

The wilderness chicken recipe has one of the highest crude protein levels available (34% crude proteins maximum) and a generous crude fat level (only 15%) to provide energy, nutrients and immune health support for all adult dogs.

Along with the proteins, you will also find fruits, vegetables, and berries. All naturally sourced and selected from specific regions around the country.

---

3. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet Potatoes

This dry dog food features high-quality salmon as the primary ingredient, providing a rich source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy coat and strong muscles.

Combined with digestible sweet potatoes and other wholesome ingredients, this formula supports overall health and vitality. Free from artificial preservatives and fillers, it is designed to offer balanced nutrition and enhance your dog's well-being.

None of the American Journey flavors add or use soy or soy byproducts so you can rest assured you are getting the best dog food without the risks of soy.

---

4. Nom Nom Pet Food Delivery

First 5 ingredients: Depends on the recipe chosen

Nom Nom is a meal delivery service for your beloved pets. The company provides gently-cooked, “restaurant-quality” meals for your pets, which means that each dish they serve is made with quality, fresh, wholesome ingredients that is fit for your dog's caloric needs.

All recipes are complete, balanced and meet AAFCO & USFDA standards. These certificates are actually not needed if you want to sell pet food in the US- but it is nice to know that the company is willing to go the extra mile just to ensure that their meals are nutritious and safe.

---

5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Puppy Recipe with Red Meat

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Beef, Beef Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch

Puppies need a lot of protein from meat in their diet to grow correctly and healthy.

Specially crafted for growing puppies, featuring a blend of high-quality red meats like beef, bison, and buffalo. This protein-rich formula supports healthy muscle development and energy levels.

Enhanced with essential vitamins, minerals, and DHA for brain and eye development, it also includes LifeSource Bits—a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Free from artificial additives, this recipe promotes a balanced diet and overall well-being for your growing pup.

---

6. Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Beef, Beef Broth, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Apples

Merrick is a premium puppy food that provides a soy free protein from real meat sources. The single-serve cans are packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your puppies need to grow happy, healthy and strong.

The crude protein is lower in the Merrick formula than you may find in other brands, though their limited ingredients and high vitamin content ensure your pup gets exactly what they need.

---

7. Nutro Ultra Senior

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Brown Rice

This food specializes in adequate nutrition for older dogs. As the dogs age their requirements change, requiring more vitamins aimed at bones and joints than puppies or adult dogs do.

Nutro recognized these needs and created a recipe full of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins aging dogs need in their daily diet.

You won’t need to supplement with wet food unless you want to (or it is recommended by your veterinarian). The first five ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, whole brown rice, brewers rice, and rice bran.

8. Blue Buffalo Basics LID Turkey & Potato Senior

First 5 ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Potatoes, Flaxseed, Pea Protein

Blue Buffalo Basics LID formula is specifically designed for senior dogs with dietary requirements. The proteins are from carefully selected sources and contain no additives, soy, or wheat.

The wet food is higher in crude fat while maintaining a lower crude protein to allow older dogs to process the vitamins and minerals on a slower metabolism.

The first five ingredients are turkey, turkey broth, potatoes, flaxseed, and pea protein.

---

 

Weight Gain

Most dog breeds (though not all) tend to overeat if possible. Add in extra meals, treats and less activity and your pup can quickly become overweight. Proper nutrition is crucial for weight management, and you may find that soy in their diet is a contributing factor.

Soy has a high concentration of calories and can easily be attributed to weight gain. When soy is used in the place of meat proteins dogs, don’t get everything they need in their diet. This can lead to lethargy, storing calories for energy use and other processes that cause them to become ill or not able to fight off infection.

Dog’s bodies are designed to process and use meat proteins as their main fuel source and illness fighting. When this is replaced with soy, the calories aren’t burned correctly, which can quickly lead to obesity.

Allergies

One of the leading attributes of wanting to avoid soy is that it is a common allergen for dogs. While not every dog will have allergies, those that do are more affected by soy than anything else. Soy products, soy milk, and soy proteins can upset these allergens can cause your pup to have an allergic reaction.

If you are unsure if your dog is allergic to soy you can have them tested. However, it is easier just to avoid using soy in their diets. This can be easier said than done though, as the cost of soy being low promotes more of its use in dog food manufacturing.

Identifying Soy on the Label

Soy can come in many forms and can be difficult to find on some ingredient lists and labels. In most cases the label will just say “soy,” however there are a few nuances you should also be on the lookout for:

• Soy milk
• TSF (Textured Soy Flour)
• TSP (Textured Soy Protein)
• Edamame (soybean pods)
• Tofu
• Bean Curd
• Miso
• Natto
• Yuba

If you see any of these on the label, it means soy is used in the processing, and there is soy or soy protein contained in the food. Make sure you read all labels of new foods carefully when trying to avoid soy.

This is a lot harder than it sounds, but once you get in the practice, you will recognize the soy-based products relatively quickly.

FAQs

Why corn wheat and soy are bad for dogs?

While their crops are covered in pesticides, everything dies, except for the soy. It is left to absorb all of those chemicals that were sprayed onto the crops. And, if it's in the soy – it will go into your pet. Soy also wreaks havoc with the endocrine system causing problems for thyroid function.

Why is soy bad for dogs?

Internet message boards are rife with discussion about the downsides of soy as an ingredient in dog food, and even some veterinarians have said that soy causes serious allergic reactions, reduces the digestibility of protein, results in gassiness and diarrhea, interferes with the absorption of minerals like calcium and iron.

Is soybean OK for dogs?

Though it is a healthy vegetable, it is not recommended to regularly feed your dog edamame or soy. Soy is a common allergy in dogs, so only offer your dog a small amount to start.

What is soybean meal in dog food?

Soybean meal is a commonly-used plant protein ingredient because of its high nutritional value and consistent supply. Unfortunately, soybean meal has a bad reputation in petfood. This is mainly due to its beany taste and flatulence characteristics. The inclusion level of soybean meal in petfood is therefore limited.