Best Dog Food For Allergies

Many dogs suffer from food allergies that lead to itchy skin, constant licking, ear infections, stomach issues and even vomiting or diarrhea. While medications may help temporarily, treating the allergy at its source is often the most effective long-term solution.

For best results, choose a food with a short list of ingredients that your dog has never eaten before. Try foods that use venison, rabbit or fish for example.

Limited Ingredient Diets

The goal of the limited ingredient diet is to cut out proteins that commonly trigger allergies. These recipes typically exclude chicken, beef and dairy ingredients as well as wheat, corn and other common allergens.

Some of these formulas use novel proteins like duck or rabbit, or alternative carbohydrates such as sweet potato or peas. These proteins haven’t been widely used in commercial foods before, so they may not have had the opportunity to cause sensitivities or allergies.

Another option is to try a hydrolyzed protein diet. This type of food breaks down proteins so that they’re more easily absorbed by your dog’s digestive system. This can help reduce allergy symptoms for some pets, but is not a complete solution and will not work for all dogs with allergies. For this reason, vets often recommend trying an elimination diet or prescription food first.

Grain-Free Formulas

As grain-free diets gained popularity in the human marketplace, pet food companies took note. These formulas are designed with high protein content and premium ingredients, while avoiding common allergens such as wheat, corn, and soy. They also tend to be free from fillers like rice, tapioca, and potato starch, poultry byproducts, and artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Grain-free foods typically replace the grains with a variety of vegetable proteins, including legumes (peas, lentils, chickpeas) and potatoes. The best brands choose these ingredients wisely, ensuring the formula provides all the necessary nutrition.

For example, Fromm’s popular venison and sweet potato food has a top rating on Dog Food Advisor, while celebrity chef Rachael Ray’s Nutrish brand boasts a similar high rating for its chicken and sweet potato recipe. Other options include High Prairie from Diamond Pet Foods and Taste of the Wild’s line of gluten-free recipes with a wide range of protein sources, from bison to venison.

Novel Protein Sources

If your dog is suffering from a food allergy, sensitivities or is a picky eater, novel protein diets can offer a unique solution. Rather than relying on common proteins like chicken and beef which are found in most pet foods, these diets contain other proteins that may not cause an allergic reaction.

Rabbit meat is one of the most popular novel proteins for dogs with allergies as it triggers a natural prey drive in dogs. It is also rich in vitamin B12, zinc, iron and niacin.

Another novel protein is venison which has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids for heart health. It is also lower in fat than chicken or beef making it a healthier choice for many dogs.

Insect proteins are becoming increasingly popular for pets with sensitive stomachs. They are a sustainable, nutritious and palatable option with an abundance of key nutrients including zinc, magnesium and iron.

Hypoallergenic Formulas

Many dog foods that avoid common allergens use novel proteins like lamb or venison, which are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction than chicken or beef. But there are also hypoallergenic formulas that offer a more traditional approach using hydrolyzed protein or other easily digestible ingredients.

One such option is Wellness Simple. This food uses a limited number of easily digestible ingredients, and it takes a step further with added prebiotics and probiotics, as well as health-boosting fruits and veggies.

This food offers a balanced diet with turkey, brown rice, oatmeal, and a healthy-boosting vitamin and mineral blend. It’s also free from corn, wheat, soy, and potato, making it a good choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The food has no artificial preservatives, and it uses a safe source of taurine and dl-methionine to support healthy digestion. The food has a low calorie count to help with weight management, too.

Prescription Diets

When your dog has allergies, the symptoms can be severe. From itchiness on the face, paws, and rear to hair loss, secondary skin infections, and even vomiting or diarrhea.

Often, veterinarians will recommend a prescription diet to help reduce these allergic reactions. These formulas will typically contain limited ingredients and novel proteins to limit histamine responses.

These foods will also avoid common proteins that can cause an allergy flare-up such as beef or chicken, and instead use less common protein sources like duck or salmon.

For example, Hill’s d/d formula has a variety of options that start with venison and move to duck or salmon as the protein source to eliminate the most common allergens. Other brands offer similar foods with different protein choices and dietary needs.

Homemade or Raw Options

Homemade diets can be a great option for dogs with allergies as they can be made to exclude the offending food allergen and still provide all of the nutrients a dog needs.

A raw diet can also be a great way to help with allergies as it will often contain a variety of protein sources. These types of foods may also be high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that can help with itchy skin.

The key to finding the best dog food for allergy symptoms is to work with your vet to find a diet that is appropriate for your pet’s specific health issues. If your pup has a true allergy, it will be necessary to go on an elimination diet in order to discover which ingredients are the problem and then find a food that will allow them to eat without experiencing allergic reactions.