Are you looking for the best dog food for allergies? Finding a good dog food brand for a dog who suffers from allergies can be a tough task. Because there are so many food brands available on the market that mark themselves to be hypoallergenic. However, they could still give your doggy friend a terrible allergic reaction!
It is sad to see your furry friend sneezing, licking his paws, and displaying signs of irritation on his skin. In this blog post, I will help you find the best dog food for allergies which would suit your furry friend well. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Top Rated Dog Food for Allergies: An Overview
It is hard to find the best dog food for skin allergies because there are too many dog foods that claim to do the job but ultimately, don’t. So, in this blog post, I decided to review the top contenders on the market to help you make the right choice.
Don’t worry! I’ll review each of these kibbles in-depth but, first, I would like to go through a few essential things you should know about dog food for dogs with allergies. So, let’s take a look. I know that you want nothing but the best for your dog. It’s the same for me.
I realize that it can be hard watching your furry friend suffer in pain while you aren’t able to do anything to help him. Food allergies can be tough on your dog and frustrating for you. It is always the best choice to feed your dog homemade food when they suffer from allergies. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly hard to do so because dog owners often lead hectic life.
For this reason, there are good dog foods for dogs with allergies available on the market! Take a look at the chart of my top picks. Here, I will explain everything that you need to know! So, let’s take a look at all of these kibbles in as much detail as possible. Let’s find the best food for dog allergies!
Top 3 – Best Dog Food for Allergies
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Natural Balance L.I.D. Dog Food |
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Instinct L.I.D. Dog Food |
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Wellness Simple Dry Dog Food |
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Here Are the Best Dog Food for Allergies Review 2022
- Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
- Instinct Limited Ingredient Dog Food
- Wellness Simple Natural Ingredient Dry Dog Food
- The Honest Kitchen Wholesome Base Mix
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food
1. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet is a grain-free dry dog food that is also the best-rated dog food for allergies. This kibble helps maintain your dog’s digestive system and supports a healthy coat and skin.
This dog food contains only one carbohydrate source and one protein source. Therefore you can pick one that does not contain an ingredient your dog is allergic to. While looking at the ingredients used in this kibble, the Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet comes out to be an above-average one.
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I also appreciate the fact that the manufacturer clearly instructed the buyer to talk to their vet about how much of this to feed. We all know it can be disastrous to change your pet’s food without a vet’s recommendation, and the manufacturer understands that.
Also Read: Best Dog Food for Small Dogs – Reviews & Buying Guide
2. Instinct Limited Ingredient Dog Food
In my opinion, this is the best dog food for allergies made with raw meat. While vets tend to be against raw food, this particular variety is freeze-dried, hence reducing the chance of contamination and health issues. This kibble isn’t completely raw, though, more like raw-coated.
While lamb and peas make up the bulk of the kibble, it is coated in a layer of freeze-dried lamb that contains muscle and organ meat. That makes sure the kibble is enticing enough so your dog cannot refuse it.
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A lot of times dogs tend to be allergic to ingredients that seem harmless, like fish! Since a lot of dry dog food contains fish oil as a source of Omega 3 fatty acids, the dogs with fish allergies end up suffering. Thankfully, this dog food does not contain even that.
3. Wellness Simple Natural Ingredient Dry Dog Food
For dogs who have skin allergy issues and are allergic to meat and not fish, you could consider this the best dog food for skin allergies. The manufacturer also recommends that this is good food for your dog if they have ear infections.
Based on what the users have said about this product, I’d say it is also good for stomach issues, as it seems to have eased flatulence and vomiting in some dogs.
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This food is made from single-source of protein and carbohydrate, as it should be. It also contains vitamins, minerals, and some prebiotics. One thing you might take note of is that this dog food is made in the USA, but the ingredients are globally sourced.
4. The Honest Kitchen Wholesome Base Mix
Percentages are often confusing when it comes to skimming the ingredients list in a dog food box. How much potato is in 10% of carbohydrate? Or how much fish oil is in 10% fat? Well, this dog food takes care of that issue. This box of dog food’s base mix tells you clearly that it contains exactly 11 sweet potatoes and 15 de-cored apples, among other things.
All these fruits and vegetables make up this mix that you can add to a protein source to make up the perfect food for your dog. We all know preparing homemade novel protein diets i.e. a home-cooked meal containing a type of meat your dog has never had, would be a great diet for a dog with allergies, however, this often ends up too much of a hassle.
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While some people would not mind preparing meat in the house to feed their allergic dog, they often are confused about what else to add to it to balance out the meal. This base mix is what you need. You just need to add water and mix it with protein, and it’s done!
In the end, you can control what meat goes into your dog’s diet, and don’t have to worry about any unlisted ingredients that might make them sick. Certainly a hassle-free, good dog food for allergies!
Also Read: Best Dog Food for Shedding – Top Reviews to Buy
5. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food
As this dog food does not come from a single source of protein, I would only recommend this to dogs who are allergic to grains, especially gluten. It also does not contain any filler ingredients such as corn.
I like that this dog food was made in the U.S., and by a family run business, no less! Customers seem to be quite happy with this, as their dogs have shaken off allergy symptoms after getting started on this allergy-free dog food.
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I really like that this dog food contains roasted bison and venison. Dogs go absolutely crazy for roasted meat, and these two types of meat usually do not cause allergic reactions. Granted, this food also contains chicken, egg, and fish, so if your dog is allergic to any of these, steer clear.
What Is the Best Dog Food for Allergies?
Now, I can’t in good conscience say that so-and-so is certainly the dog food you should pick for your canine, which could have fatal consequences. Only you (and your vet) can decide which dog food to pick. While doing this, keep the following in mind:
- Keep an eye out for symptoms of allergic reactions your dog is exhibiting.
- Learn which ingredient your dog is allergic to, and eliminate it from his diet. The elimination diet trial is a good practice in this case.
- Pick a dog food that definitely does not contain that ingredient. Single-source is better.
- Make sure to read the full ingredients list to see if the allergen is present in even trace amounts.
- If you’re not quite happy about the protein’s quality or source, you could always provide the protein yourself and add a base mix to it.
- Before you introduce a new food to your dog, always consult with your vet.
- Unless your dog is allergic to some food ingredients, there’s no need to put him on a diet like this.
- Gluten-free dog food isn’t inherently better (unless your dog is definitely allergic to gluten). Don’t waste money on it and instead focus on providing your dog with good quality food. However, I’ve seen that picking grain-free is generally better when it comes to dog food.
- Make sure to introduce the food to your dog slowly and in increments. Sometimes your dog may not like even the top dog food for allergies. In that case, there really isn’t much to do other than switching to something different. You could try topping it with raw food or treats though.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How Can You Tell if Your Dog Is Allergic to Food?
A: If your dog is allergic to some ingredients in the food, there’s going to be symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Aside from digestive problems, your dog might even get skin issues such as itching or bald patches, from food allergies.
Q: Is Chicken Bad for Dogs With Allergies?
A: Quite a few ingredients may be the cause of your dog’s food allergy, and chicken certainly is one of them. It’s not generally a bad ingredient for dog food, it’s just bad for dogs who are particularly allergic to chicken.
Q: Why Do Vets Not Recommend Grain Free Dog Food?
A: While grain-free dog food is seen as the ultimate diet for dogs with allergies, it might be bad for dogs in the long run in another way. FDA warned of a disease called cardiomyopathy, or DCM, that could stem from grain-free dog food for allergies. Therefore, they’re not likely to recommend grain-free dog food for your canine friend.
Q: What Is the Healthiest Meat to Feed Your Dog?
A: This might come as a surprise, but one of the healthiest meats you can feed your dog is kangaroo meat. Due to this meat being extremely low in fat, high in protein, and free-range, it’s seen as a healthy choice if your dog has food allergies or sensitivity.
Also Read: How to Deshed a Dog – Best Tips and Tricks
The Verdict
One thing I would really like to remind you at this point is that these five items on my list are exclusively for dogs who have food sensitivities. Unless your dog has allergies and your vet has asked you to change his diet, do not attempt to feed these to your dog.
You might be thinking, “Why not? These are the best dog food for allergies, right?” Well, that’s the catch. These are good for allergies, not for a regular, healthy dog’s daily diet. These aren’t a good sort of food for dogs without allergies.
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