22 January 2025
The Best Food for Dogs With Food Allergies
Dogs are just as susceptible to developing allergies as humans, but food allergies only affect up to 2% of dogs. That said, being allergic to something in their diet can make your dog incredibly uncomfortable
In this guide, we will discuss dogs' most common food allergies, how to perform a dog food elimination trial and the best foods for dogs with allergies.
Contents:
What are Common Dog Food Allergies?
Dogs can be allergic to many things, much like humans, but we’ll focus on dog food allergies specifically.
A food allergy is the immune system’s response to the presence of certain food allergens in the body. If the immune system detects a food, it is considered a threat, and it triggers an overreaction of the body's immune responses, leading to symptoms like itchy skin, gastrointestinal upset, and more.
When it comes to treating a dog food allergy, the key to preventing your dog’s symptoms is to find and then remove that allergen from your dog’s diet. The most common dog food allergies are:
- Protein allergies—Chicken, beef, pork, etc.
- Grain allergies—Wheat, rye, barley, etc.
- Dairy —A dairy allergy is not the same as lactose intolerance.
While less commonly seen, dogs can also be allergic to soy, corn, nuts, eggs and rice.
Bear in mind that your dog could be allergic to one or more of these potential allergens.
How to Tell if Your Dog Has Food Allergies
Dogs can’t tell us when they’re feeling unwell, and they certainly won't stop eating their favourite things because they might be allergic to them. That means it’s down to you, as the owner, to observe your dog’s overall well-being and check for any signs of food allergies in dogs.
Symptoms of food allergies in dogs can include:
- Skin problems—Red, itchy and/or swelling skin or chronic skin infection
- Stomach problems—Vomiting, diarrhoea and/or gas
- Ear problems—scratching at ears, shaking their head, ear infections
- Foot chewing or overgrooming feet and between toes
For these to be considered symptoms of a dog food allergy, they must be chronic (long-lasting or reoccurring) and not caused by another health condition. Also, bear in mind that not all dog allergies are caused by food, but they could also be caused by seasonal allergens (grass, pollen, etc), environmental allergens (dust, mold, etc).
If you think your dog may be allergic to anything, you should book a consultation with your vet. They can advise on treatments or changes to help your dog feel better.
How to Test for Dog Food Allergies
While dog food allergy tests are available, unfortunately, these tend not to be very reliable. Instead, the best way to determine if your dog has a food allergy instead of environmental or seasonal allergies is to do a food elimination trial.
This process involves removing all possible allergens from your dog’s diet and gradually reintroducing them to see if/when their symptoms return. For this, we’d recommend feeding your dog a suitable hypoallergenic diet like the PURINA® PRO PLAN® VETERINARY DIETS HA Hypoallergenic® Dog Food*, which veterinarians and nutritionists have formulated to contain a single hydrolyzed protein with low molecular weight and purified carbohydrates sources to help avoid allergic responses.
*You should only feed your dog veterinary diets at your vet's recommendation. Always consult your vet before changing your dog's diet.
Dog Food Elimination Trial
A food elimination trial requires you to remove all potential allergens from your dog’s diet (including treats and table scraps) to see if their symptoms disappear. If they do, then you can start reintroducing potential allergens into their diet one at a time and see what triggers their allergic reactions and what doesn’t.
While this might seem easy, a dog food elimination trial takes weeks to get a complete answer, and if any allergens are consumed during the trial period, you must start all over again.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to get your started on your dog’s elimination trial:
Step One
Remove all possible allergens from your dog’s diet, including treats, chews, table scraps, and supplements – anything your dog consumes that could contain allergens.
Step Two
Monitor your dog for two to three weeks to see if their symptoms improve. If so, you know your dog suffers from a dog food allergy. If your dog’s symptoms remain the same, the trial may have been compromised, in which case you'll need to start over, or your dog’s allergy may be unrelated to food.
Step Three
Reintroduce allergens one at a time and monitor your dog for any signs of allergic reactions. If your dog doesn’t react, you can rule out that allergen. Or, if they do react, you can note down the allergen as something your dog is allergic to.
Step Four
Identify any and all allergens your dog reacts to, as it could be more than one. Once the trial has finished, you should find you have a list of all the allergens your dog did and did not react to.
Step Five
Find a food that doesn’t contain any of your dog’s specific allergens and continue to monitor them for signs of allergic reactions. You can browse our range of gastrointestinal dog foods.
A complete food elimination trial should take between 6-12 weeks and should be strictly followed to avoid starting over again. If your dog is still suffering from allergy symptoms when you haven’t introduced any allergens, you should also consider the following:
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Other causes—Could your dog be allergic to something other than food, such as dust, pollen or mould?
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Cross-contamination—Is there anything your dog has eaten that could contain allergens, such as another pet’s food or bin scraps?
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Drinks as well as food—Have they drunk anything besides plain water? Milk and dairy can also be allergens, so make sure they’ve not consumed other liquids but fresh, clean water.
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Speaking with your vet—They can help you with an elimination trial and help you rule out other health conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
Best Dog Food For Dogs With Protein Allergies
Proteins are a vital part of your dog’s diet and play a key role in many of their natural bodily functions, such as maintaining and repairing bodily tissues, organs, and bones, supporting its immune system, and making hormones, antibodies, and enzymes.
However, as dogs get all the necessary proteins from their food, it can be challenging to ensure your dog gets all the nutrients they need without causing further stress with allergic reactions.
When a dog has a meat protein allergy, it means their immune system (over)reacts to the presence of that protein in their body, leading to symptoms of allergic reactions. Your dog could be allergic to one or more of the following proteins:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Pork
- Lamb
- Fish
If you already know what protein your dog is allergic to, then the best course of action is to avoid that protein altogether. You’ll also need to take care when picking treats or chews for your dog if they have a protein allergy as even just a small amount could trigger their allergic reactions.
Novel Protein Diets for Dogs
Novel protein diets are dog foods made with sources of protein that your dog has likely never encountered before, such as the Forthglade® Complete Wet Dog Food with Duck & Venison.
These diets can be a great option for dogs with protein allergies as it can take months or even years for your dog’s immune system to register a particular protein as a “threat”, so these novel proteins should fly right under the radar!
Some novel protein sources can include, but are not limited to, venison, duck, fish, and even kangaroo!
Single-Sourced Protein Dites for Dogs
Many of the protein sources in dog foods are labelled simply as “meat or animal derivatives”, which means there is not one single source of protein but more likely a combination of different meat or poultry sources.
If your dog is allergic to a particular protein, choosing a single-sourced protein dog food, such as the naturally hypoallergenic range offered by James Wellbeloved, can help ensure you avoid your dog’s allergen. Many single-sourced protein diets are made with novel proteins such as turkey, fish, or lamb, which dogs are not often exposed to.
Hydrolyzed Protein Diets for Dogs
Your vet may recommend a high-quality, single-sourced hydrolyzed protein diet for dogs allergic to proteins to eradicate their symptoms.
Hydrolyzed protein diets, like the Hill's™ PRESCRIPTION DIET™ z/d Food Sensitivities Dog Food, can be great for dogs that are allergic to one or more proteins as the proteins in these foods go through a water-based chemical reaction called hydrolysis. When hydrolysis occurs, proteins are chemically broken down so small that your dog’s immune system no longer registers them, preventing allergic reactions.
The Best Dog Food for Skin Allergies
Switching to a hypoallergenic diet for an elimination trial should give your dog’s skin time to repair itself. However, it can still be uncomfortable for your dog to live with, leading to over-grooming, where your dog may do more harm to already damaged skin.
The best food for skin allergies should be a hypoallergenic diet (or food without your dog’s specific allergens) packed with skin-loving ingredients, like the Dechra SPECIFIC® COD-HY Allergen Management Plus. These foods are formulated with additional vitamin E, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids to help nourish your dog’s skin, soothe itchiness, and provide the necessary support to repair your dog’s natural skin barrier.
If you’ve already got a food that your dog tolerates but want to offer some added comfort and support during flare-ups, then why not browse our range of dog skin allergy treatments, including fatty acid supplements, topical skin creams, and medicated shampoos?
Best Dog Food for Dogs with Grain Allergies
If your dog is allergic to one or more grains, the best course of action is to find a suitable grain-free food that uses more digestible carbohydrates than grains. These carbohydrates can include sweet potatoes, brown rice, and more.
Many dog food brands now offer grain-free versions of their foods, such as with the Hill's™ SCIENCE PLAN™ No Grain Hypoallergenic Dog Food, so if you’re looking to switch your dog to a grain-free diet, look at if your current brand offers any grain-free alternatives. This will make the food transition far easier for your dog.
If your current dog food brand doesn’t offer any grain-free options, then there are plenty of other brands that will! Some of the best grain-free dog food brands include James Wellbeloved, Forthglade®, Scrumbles and Lily's Kitchen®.
You can also browse our full range of grain-free dog foods here.
Top Tips for Feeding Dogs With Allergies
Caring for a dog with a lifelong condition like food allergies can seem overwhelming. Still, once you’ve isolated and avoided your dog’s allergens, there’s no reason your dog can’t live a happy and healthy life like any other dog.
To help with this, we’ve gathered some top tips for caring for a dog with allergies below.
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Be vigilant—even the best-trained dogs can be a little bit mischievous, especially regarding food. Keep any and all food containing known allergens out of your dog’s reach to prevent accidental ingestion.
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Be patient—your dog’s allergies are not going away on their own, and only doing a food trial for two to three weeks is not enough for complete results. Always work at your dog's pace.
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Soothe their symptoms—flare-ups can and often do occur, but incorporating skin or digestive care supplements into your dog’s diet can help manage its symptoms while the allergen leaves the body.
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Work with Your Vet—Allergies can be tricky to manage, especially when you don’t know the triggering allergen. Working alongside your vet can offer additional treatment recommendations, including prescription dog antihistamines if necessary.
Unfortunately, there is no cure-all food for dogs with food allergies. Every dog is unique, and their allergies are more so. Once you’ve narrowed down what triggers your dog’s allergies, it’s important to remember that dogs can be allergic to one or more things at once and that, in some cases, your dog may need to be kept on a strict diet for the rest of their life.
If you’re looking for the best hypoallergenic food for your dog, you can browse our full range hypoallergenic and allergy-specific foods below.
This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should thoroughly discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle with your vet before starting any program or treatment.
