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Choosing a good dog food brand can be hard. It is even harder when your dog is allergic. Most dogs are not born with allergies. Over time, they develop these allergies due to exposure to the same food ingredients like chicken, beef, dairy, etc.
According to a report in 2018, about 0.2 per cent of dogs are affected by food allergies. The number is even higher in 2021.
Dogs with allergies need a special diet that helps reduce the symptoms. In most cases, vets recommend these dog foods paired with homemade diets.
Typically, vets find the root cause of allergy. It can be meat, dairy, or some other ingredient. In the end, the vet will recommend you hypoallergenic dog food that does not have that allergen(ingredient).
What is Hypoallergenic Dog Food?
In layman’s terms, hypoallergenic dog food simply contains not-so-common ingredients in normal dog foods. It includes a unique blend of novel proteins like lamb, venison, bison, and other ingredients that your dog hasn’t probably eaten before.
It is just protein sources that cause allergies in dogs. Grains can be the culprit too. Common grains like wheat, corn, maize, or soy. Dogs with gluten allergies don’t digest these grains well.
Hypoallergenic dog food contains ingredients that do not trigger the body’s defence system(antibodies) and help reduce the symptoms like itching, rashes, biting, and vomiting.
Should I Feed Hypoallergenic Dog Food to my Dog?
The answer is yes. Hypoallergenic dog foods have a good quality ingredient list that is good for your dog in the long run. Some dog breeds like golden retrievers, pugs, Pitbulls, and terriers are more prone to allergies than their furry friends from other breeds.
If you have these dog breeds, hypoallergenic dog food makes a world of difference.
What are some of the Best Brands for Hypoallergenic Dog Food?
It is easy to get confused with so many options of hypoallergenic dog foods on the market. Some offer novel meat choices, while others claim to be prescription diets.
We have hand-picked the best brands of hypoallergenic dog foods for you to choose from.
Dr. John Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food Lamb with Rice
Dr. John Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food is one of the best if your dog is allergic to gluten. It does not have any wheat, soy, or other gluten sources. It is prepared in the UK with high production standards.
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It contains 21% protein from lamb and a good amount of fat(10.5%). The kibble size of the dog food is perfect for all dog breeds. They have made it extra tasty by basting the dog with meat juices.
The carbohydrate source is rice and barley that promotes digestion. It has added essential oil to make the dog’s fur silky smooth and helps reduce the dryness of the skin. This dog food is natural and free from additives and artificial flavours.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Dogs Mini
Hill’s Prescription Diet Dog Food has been formulated especially for allergic dogs and strives for better skin health. This is prescription dog food, so you can’t buy it without a vet’s prescription.
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This dog food is priced on the higher end but justifies its price with high-quality ingredients. Dog owners report that this dog food has improved digestion and coat health in their dogs.
However, this dry kibble hypoallergenic dog food works best for small dog breeds with a comparatively high metabolism and has small kibble size.
It has highly hydrolyzed chicken that can be easily broken down in the dog’s stomach. It contains added supplements like vitamins and minerals for a stronger immune system and vision.
According to Hill’s, this food is formulated by veterinarians and animal nutritionists and is clinically proven to avoid reactions to food.
The good fibre content comes in helps if your dog has runny stools or constipation.
Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Small Dog Food Veterinary Diet
It has a simple but nutritious list of ingredients. This dog food does not have any animal protein but contains hydrolyzed soy protein, which is great for dogs with a history of allergy to different meats.
- Pet food for Dogs
- Dry food
- Recommended for Dogs above 12 months
These soy proteins are easily digestible because of their low molecular weights. It is chocked full of vitamin B and amino acids to strengthen your pup’s skin barrier. This dog food also helps with tartar control as the kibbles are crunchy and do not get stuck to teeth and gums.
It also contains a dash of safflower oil that moistens the skin and improves coat health.
This hypoallergenic dog food contains 22% protein, 14% fat, and 2.5% crude fibre.
It also improves your dog’s urinary health by controlling the amount of calcium oxalate crystals formed in the dog’s body. This dog food needs authorisation from the vet before buying.
Autarky Hypoallergenic Delicious Chicken Dry Dog Food
Autarky Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food comes in three protein combos: Adult Chicken and Rice, Adult Salmon and Rice and, Mature Lite Salmon and Rice.
The chicken is an excellent lean protein source, while salmon is known for its good fat content and omega fatty acids. These fatty acids give the dogs a healthy coat and increase their smelling ability.
- Delicious chicken offers naturally balanced hypoallergenic dog food for adult active dogs; the diet is packed with high levels of essential fatty acids and B vitamins to give dogs a healthy coat and skin and boost scenting ability
- 20 percent protein, 12 percent fat, this diet has been designed to keep a dogs energy at a maintained level
- The diet is wheat gluten and soya free making the diet a good option for dogs with a sensitive stomach; prebiotics are also included to support digestive health
This dog food has prebiotics that improves digestion. It is gluten-free and soya-free that makes this food a good choice for gluten allergies.
The added herbs are full of antioxidants that boost the immune system. This dog food is 100% natural and free from added preservatives and artificial flavours.
Paul O’Grady’s Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Paul O’Grady’s Hypoallergenic Food is without the usual suspects that cause allergies like maize, corn, wheat, soy, eggs or meats like beef or pork. It has a highly-digestible salmon as the meat choice with added fish oil to prevent flaky skin and improve cognitive function.
- Hypoallergenic - Made without the usual ingredients that are known to cause many intolerant reactions, making this suitable for all dogs, especially those with sensitive skin or digestion. No Wheat, No Maize, No Beef, No Soya, No Eggs, No Dairy
- Digestive Health - Carefully formulated with Salmon, a simple, highly digestible protein, for your dog’s overall health and wellbeing, this unique recipe also contains prebiotics, which can help support friendly bacteria in the gut and aid digestion
- Skin and Coat Health - To help your dog look its recipe includes fish oils rich in Omega 3 fatty acids to help promote healthy skin and coat
It has 22% protein, 10.5% fats and 2.5% fiber(mainly from rice). The Yucca Extract and beet pulp help reduce odour from your dog’s stool.
This hypoallergenic dog food has a fair amount of fibre to prevent any digestive problems. It has added vitamins and calcium to support the bones.
The Bottom Line
No matter which hypoallergenic dog food you choose, it should not have the ingredient that causes an allergic reaction in your dog. We hope that our detailed review of the best hypoallergenic dog foods has helped you make the right decision.