7 Best Dog Foods for Allergies
7 Best Dog Foods for Allergies
by Lisa Tate
Your dog is electing to lay beside their food bowl instead of digging in during meal times. When they do eat, it all ends up in your backyard not too long after. These are all signs that your dog is allergic to their current food.
Yes, dogs have food allergies the same as humans. Some breeds are more prone to these allergies than others, but all dogs have the potential to have sensitive stomachs.
So now begs the question, what’s the best dog food for allergies? We’ve got a list of formulas below along with a few common food-related allergies you should be looking out for.
Signs of an Allergy Problem
Be on the lookout for itching. A dog that’s allergic to something will scratch itself a lot more often than others. This could also point to fleas unless you’ve had them treated.
Another sign is diarrhea. We’re not talking about normal upset stomach diarrhea. We’re talking I need to hire a professional pooper scooper service level.
Vomiting is another common symptom that most dogs display along with aggression. No one is happy with they don’t feel well. That includes dogs.
Common Food-Related Dog Allergies
Now that you’ve spotted the signs, it’s time to figure out what your dog is allergic to. Here are a few common things that might be posing a problem.
Beef
The more you feed a dog a single food, the more likely they are to develop an allergy toward it. Since beef is the most common protein found in dog foods, it’s the one that’s the biggest problem.
To avoid this issue, rotate your dog’s proteins every other week or so. Trust us when we say that your dog will enjoy the variety, and their stomachs will too.
Wheat
Grain-free formulas aren’t the best for your canine, but it may be the only dog food available for those with allergies. Protein intolerances are more common than wheat-related ones.
Even so, it’s not unheard of for a puppy’s stomach to not be able to handle grain. If this is the case, talk to their vet about a healthy alternative.
Dairy
Like humans, some dogs can’t digest lactose. Nine times out of ten, this is an intolerance instead of an allergy. How do you tell the difference?
Honestly, it’s difficult. The biggest distinction is that intolerance always involves digestion. The dog will become gassy and develop severe diarrhea.
If it’s an actual dairy allergy, itching will be added to the mix.
Eggs
Some dog’s immune systems go out of control if they consume eggs. They can’t handle the proteins that are found in the yolks. There is some good news with this one.
Not every dog food contains eggs. All you have to do to avoid spurring on your pupper’s allergy is read the labels carefully. This way, you don’t accidentally bring home a bag of food with eggs in it.
Chicken
Chicken is another common protein found in most dog foods. Like with beef, if you always reach for the chicken, your dog’s body will build up an immunity to it. As long as you switch things up now and again, you should be good to go.
Soy
Soy is a common food allergy for dogs, but it can pose some other health problems. A dog who eats soy regularly may develop thyroid issues as well as growth and reproductive problems.
It’s better to avoid feeding your dog soy and say that you did.
Dog Food for Allergies
If your pet can’t eat one or more of the ingredients listed above, there are plenty of dog food recipes for dogs with allergies. Here are a few that your vet may want to try on your pet.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat
The problem with many wet dog foods is the fat. There’s so much in them that some pupper’s stomachs can’t handle it. That’s where this veterinary-approved dog food comes in.
Dogs love the taste and it’s easy on the stomach. It has tons of probiotics that promote the growth of good gut flora in pets. The antioxidants will keep their immune system going strong.
There are only two problems with Royal Canin. The first is that it’s packed full of pork byproducts. The second is that it has grains that are not good for all puppers.
CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE
This dog food only contains ten ingredients. None of them are on the list of common allergens. You have bison as the main protein instead of beef or chicken.
It also has lamb meal for an extra boost of protein. Rest assured, there shouldn’t be enough lamb there to trigger an allergic reaction in your dog. The recipe contains healthy carbs such as carrots and lentils.
Like the Canin food above, CANIDAE contains antioxidants and omega-3s that will give your furry friend’s immune system a healthy jump.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
The only protein in this bag of dog food is salmon. Most dogs can eat it without any problems. It’s also chocked full of sweet potatoes, which is good for everyone. Including dogs.
The potatoes in combination with the peas will fill your dog with playful energy. It has antioxidants that your pet needs for immune support and fruits and veggies that aid in digestion.
If your dog has an egg allergy, this food is safe for them to eat. The only problem is the price. It’s more expensive than some of the other options on this list.
Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice Formula
As the name suggests, this brand is geared toward dogs with sensitive stomachs. Adult dogs anyway. If you have a puppy, you’ll have to find something else, which is more than slightly unfortunate.
Salmon is the main protein. Not only does it contain helpful omega-3 fatty acids, but it’s also easy on the stomach. Most dogs can digest it with no problem.
Omega-3s also work to keep a dog’s skin soft and their coat shiny. This makes it the perfect solution to dry puppy skin as well as food allergies.
The two main carbohydrates in this food are oatmeal and rice. Both are great for a dog’s intestinal bacteria. Oatmeal acts as an anti-inflammatory and works to keep a dog’s blood sugar at healthy levels.
The good probiotics found in the food support the immune system and aid in digestion.
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet
Blue Buffalo basics only have two ingredients. Turkey and potato. There’s another formula that has salmon if you want to give your dog a little variety.
Both are good for sensitive stomachs and allergies considering they’re free from soy, beef, chicken, and other common foods that some pets can’t handle.
For being as simple as it is, this dog food is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your dog needs to say healthy.
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Chicken & Rice Formula
This is another dog food that’s sort of limited depending on the breed of your dog. It’s made to support those who are at least 50 pounds or over. The goal is to stimulate healthy growth, so you can start your pet on it while they are a puppy.
It does use chicken as the main protein. So, if your dog is allergic, they obviously can’t have this one. If your dog isn’t allergic, then they can take advantage of the omega-3 fatty acid content.
This food has live probiotics to promote good digestion. Despite being such a powerhouse name-brand pet food, this option is pretty affordable too.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Chicken and Barley
If you have a large dog on your hands, you need a formula that can keep up with their level of energy. This is the recipe for them. It’s not recommended for big puppies or pregnant canines, but it can work wonders for big adult dogs.
It contains ingredients that help fight off allergies (unless your dog is allergic to chicken) while also being great for joint health and teeth.
Settling Your Dog’s Upset Tummy
It can be tough finding the right dog food for allergies. There are so many on the market that caters to different symptoms. The ones on this list are a good starting point.
If none of them work for your sick pup, take them to the vet. They’ll be able to access their condition and recommend formulas based on what they find.
Are you looking for more ways to take care of your dog’s sensitive stomach? Check out the Everything Dog section of our blog to get started.
