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Just as some humans are allergic to certain food ingredients, so also are dogs. Some dogs have an allergic reaction to certain food ingredients and if your dog falls into this category then you have to stop feeding food that is likely to cause allergies and opt for dog food specially made for allergies.
Dog food for allergies are dog foods that are made especially for dogs that have allergic reactions to food, they are either made with limited ingredients (i.e. skipping out the ingredients that are most likely to dog allergy) or hydrolyzed proteins which make it difficult for the dog’s immune system to identify the original allergens.
There are some food ingredients that have been known to cause allergies and they are:
• Chicken
• Corn
• Soy
• Lamb
• Fish
• Rabbit
• Beef
• Wheat
• Egg
• Dairy
• Pork
Dogs are not naturally allergic to these food ingredients but sometimes their immune system mistakenly identifies the ingredients as harmful and produces antibodies to try to get rid of them and this is what causes the allergies. Dogs that have food allergies will be sure to show some of these symptoms below:
• Skin irritation/rash
• Stomach issues
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Skin itching
• Hives
• Paw biting etc.
Food allergy vs Food intolerance
Though they might show similar symptoms, food intolerance is mostly associated with the inability of dogs to digest certain food ingredients like lactose a sugar present in milk.
When your dog shows these symptoms highlighted above then you know that there is something wrong, you cannot determine accurately what your dog is allergic to or even if it is indeed an allergic reaction, but you can consult with your vet and he/she will undoubtedly tell you the exact cause of the problem.
If it is indeed a food allergy then you need to pay close attention to what your dog eats and how it responds to each meal and the first place to start would be to change your dog’s diet and opt for a dog food for allergies.
Best Dog Food For Allergies
Food allergy is a very sensitive matter because it can affect the performance of your pet and its overall health, changing the diet of a dog too can be tricky whether or not the dog has food allergy. You should make sure to consult with your veterinarian each step of the way.
When shopping for dog foods for allergies there are some important features to consider and they are:
• Limited ingredients
A dog food for allergies must contain fewer ingredients to prevent the occurrence of an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to deduce the exact ingredient that is causing your dog to have an allergic reaction but the fewer the ingredients, the less likely it is to cause an allergic reaction and that is why some dog food for allergies are labeled limited ingredients.
• Avoid meat meals
A meat meal that is chicken meal or lamb meal indicates a lot of extra processing that leaves the food open to allergens. If your dog suffers from food allergies you need to be careful about the meals you purchase and make sure that you avoid meals that include bone meals or meat meals, you should instead stick to meals with vegetables or meats.
• Grain-free
Because of the ancestry of some dogs their stomachs find it hard or bothersome to process grains and it can result in allergic reactions. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or is prone to food allergies, it is a good idea to go for grain free meals because it will put less strain on your dog’s digestion and that is why some dog foods for allergies are labeled grain-free.
• Hypoallergenic dog foods
Hypoallergenic dog foods are generally prescribed by veterinarians, so do not forget to check with your veterinarian to see if they are the best option for your pet. These dog foods are manufactured using proteins (mostly causes allergies) that have undergone a chemical process called hydrolysis. It breaks down the proteins into their basic amino acid building blocks and makes it hardly visible to your dog’s immune system so that it cannot flag it as harmful and initiate the allergic reaction.
• Additives
Dog meals for allergies should not contain unnecessary additives like toxic chemicals, artificial flavors, or colors. They should instead contain additives to soothe your dog’s stomach like probiotics, antioxidants that help with digestion and help to soothe irritated skin.
The best dog foods for allergies are:
- Wag Dry Dog Food
The Wag dry dog food is a dog food for allergies that is packed with high quality nutritious ingredients. It is free of ingredients that are likely to cause allergic reactions like grains, corn, or wheat instead it contains real meat, poultry, or fish as its key ingredient. It comes in five tasty variant options which are salmon, lamb, beef and turkey for adult and chicken for puppies. It contains 35% protein for the adult options and 36% protein for the puppy’s option.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults (salmon, lamb, beef, and turkey variant) and Puppies (chicken)
• Type: Grain-free, no artificial colors, flavors, or chemical preservatives
• Key ingredients: Real meat, poultry, or fish
• Recommendation: it was made with the help of veterinarians and it is highly recommended.
• Rating: 4.7 - Blue Buffalo Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
This dog food for allergies is a grain free meal, it is a protein rich diet made from quality ingredients, it contains fish oil which is a great ingredient that helps to coat the skin and soothe the stomach. It consists of a wide range of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals derived from fruits and vegetables to ensure that your pet is nourished and healthy.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-free
• Key ingredient: Salmon
• Recommendation: It is made with lots of essential proteins, carbs, and fatty acids like omega 3 and omega 6 which are good for healthy skin and shiny coats.
• Rating: 4.2
- Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Potato
This meal is a limited ingredient dog food for allergies, it is a great option for adult dogs, and it consists of 29% protein derived from turkey and turkey meal.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-free
• Design: Limited ingredient
• Key ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, potatoes, peas, dried ground potatoes
• Recommendation: It is a great limited ingredient option for adult dogs
• Rating: 4
- Canidae Grain-Free Pure Real Salmon and Sweet potato
This meal is a limited ingredient dog food for allergies, it contains meat proteins which are largely salmon and menhaden fish meal, it consists of 36% protein, 20% fat, 36% estimated carbs, and 56% fat to protein ratio.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-free
• Design: Limited ingredient
• Key ingredient: Salmon and salmon meal
• Recommendation: It is a high-quality meal and it is great for adult dogs
• Rating: 5
- Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Prey Angus beef recipe is a dry limited ingredient dog meal for allergies, it derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh beef. It consists of protein, fat, and carbs in different percentages, the fat to protein ratio of this meal is 57%.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults and Puppies
• Type: Grain-free
• Design: Limited ingredients
• Key ingredients: Beef, lentils, tomato pomace, sunflower oil, natural flavor
• Recommendation: Highly recommended
• Rating: 4
- Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet HA Chicken Flavor
This meal is a portion of hypoallergenic dog food for allergies, it derives its proteins from hydrolyzed soy protein isolate. It contains 20% protein, 11% fat, 61% estimate carbs, and a fat to protein ratio of 53%.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-free
• Design: Hypoallergenic
• Key ingredient: Corn starch and hydrolyzed soy protein isolate
• Recommendation: This meal is great with dogs that have sensitive stomachs, it is a highly recommended choice.
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Turkey Dog Food
This dog food is a wet limited ingredient diet, the bulk of its protein is from deboned turkey. It consists of protein, fat, carbs, and a fat to protein ratio of about 56%.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-free
• Design: Limited ingredients
• Key ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey broth, turkey liver, dried peas, natural flavor
• Recommendation: This meal is a great alternative to a dry meal; it is a great option if you want to opt for a wet meal
• Rating: 4
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP
The Royal Canin veterinary diet is a portion of grain-inclusive hypoallergenic dog food. It contains protein derived from hydrolyzed soy protein and It consists of 52% estimated carbs, 21% protein, 19% fat, and 89% fat to protein ratio.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Design: Hypoallergenic
• Key ingredients: Brewers rice, hydrolyzed soy protein, chicken fat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp
• Recommendation: It is a good option for dogs with food allergies.
- Earthborn Venture Smoked Turkey and Butternut Squash
This smoked turkey and butternut squash meal is a limited ingredient dry meal, it consists of 34% protein, 14% fat, 43% estimated carbs. It also contains fresh turkey and turkey meal as animal proteins.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-free
• Design: Limited ingredient
• Key ingredients: Turkey, turkey meal, butternut squash, tapioca, pumpkin
• Recommendation: It is a highly recommended limited ingredient product.
• Rating: 4.5
- Brothers Complete Advanced Allergy Lamb Meal and Egg
Brothers complete advanced allergy meal is a dry limited ingredient recipe, it derives the bulk of its protein from lamb meal, whole dried eggs, and turkey meal. It consists of 38% protein, 38% carbs, 16% fat, and 42% fat to protein ratio.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults and Puppies
• Type: Grain-free
• Design: Limited ingredient
• Key ingredients: Lamb meal, whole dried eggs, turkey meal, cassava root, peas
• Recommendation: This is a great grain-free meal for all life stages
• Rating: 5
- Tuscan Natural Simply Pure Chicken Meal Dog Food
This meal is a grain-inclusive limited ingredient food, it contains chicken meal as the major protein and it consists of 30% protein, 15% fat, 47% estimated carbs, and 50% fat to protein ratio.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Design: Limited ingredients
• Key ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, rice, chicken fat, olive oil.
• Recommendation: Well recommended
• Rating: 5
- Zignature Turkey Formula Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Zignature turkey formula is a wet limited ingredient dog food, it contains turkey as the major animal protein and it also consists of 52% protein, 17% estimated carbs, 23% fat, and a fat to protein ratio of 43%.
Features
• Suitable for: Adults and Puppies
• Type: Grain-free
How to soothe or relieve food allergies
It is important to note that no soothing or relief method will stop or prevent food allergies, you can only help to relieve the pain or discomfort your pet is going through. For a skin allergic reaction, a soothing oatmeal bath will help to calm the skin and coconut oil rubbed into the skin will help to soothe the itch, make sure that your bath your dog regularly so that it can get rid of the allergens on the skin.
For stomach issues, you can give your pet probiotics or antioxidants to calm the stomach, if the symptoms are more than you can handle make sure to contact your vet immediately.
The bottom line is when you notice that your dog has food allergies do not hesitate to contact your vet and start thinking about a diet change.