In a rush and just want my recommendation? I think The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe is a great choice.
Food sensitivities tend to be more common than food allergies, but both can cause gastrointestinal problems and discomfort. Switching to a more thoughtful, limited-ingredient dry dog food may help some dogs experience a better quality of life.
Buying the best dog food for allergies doesn’t have to be a challenge, especially when you’re armed with the right information.
In this article, I’m reviewing the following dog foods for allergies.
- Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Pacific Stream
- Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Small Breed Recipe
- The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
- ORIJEN High-Protein Grain-Free Regional Red
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
5 Best Dog Foods For Allergies Reviewed
Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Pacific Stream
If you’re searching for an egg-free option, this Taste of the Wild recipe might just be perfect. Though it does contain fish meals, it’s a grain-free option that can be enjoyed by dogs of all types and ages.
However, dogs with seafood allergies may want to avoid this particular option.
Pros
- Egg-free dry dog food
- Grain-free option
- Appropriate for all breeds and ages
Cons
- Doesn’t provide much protein or fiber
- Contains fish meals
Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Small Breed Recipe
This dog food doesn’t contain any corn, soy, or wheat. Its most significant drawback may be that it does have chicken meals, which counters the list of wholesome organic ingredients that are also included.
Pros
- An organic option for mindful pet parents
- No corn, soy, wheat, or grains
Cons
- Contains chicken meals
- Only appropriate for smaller breeds
The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
This grain-free chicken-flavored dry dog food is alluring in many ways. For one, it consists of non-GMO ingredients. Another notable feature is its absolute lack of meals, by-products, or grains. But the real cherry on top is the balance of protein, crude fat, and fiber found in this option.
With chicken, potatoes, peas, and liver being the primary ingredients of this dry food, there’s hardly a hound mouth that could remain dry after smelling a freshly poured bowl of the stuff.
As if that wasn’t enough, this food is appropriate for every type of dog and every age.
Pros
- Contains non-GMO ingredients
- No meals or by-products
- Contains zero grains
- Provides an optimal balance of macronutrients
Cons
- Higher price point
ORIJEN High-Protein Grain-Free Regional Red
This grain-free dry food is chock-full of meats such as beef, wild boar, goat, and lamb. However, it does also contain pork.
This option is technically approved for dogs of every shape, size, and age. But it may be better left to medium or large breeds thanks to its high protein and fat content. If your pup is allergic to grain but hungry for meat, you might not find a better solution than this hefty bag of gourmet-level goods.
Pros
- Each cup of this dry food is about 38% crude protein
- This is a grain-free option
- No chicken, meals, or by-products
- Features several wild or grass-fed animals, including wild boar
Cons
- Higher price point
- Each cup consists of approximately 18% crude fat, which might be too much for smaller breeds
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is appropriate for dogs of all ages and breeds. Its most significant drawbacks come in the form of chicken meals and grains. It does provide a unique blend of macro nutrients that can help keep dogs fit and healthy.
This option is also approximately 10% crude fiber per cup, which is impressive. Still, if you’re hoping to avoid meat-based meals and grains, you may be better off choosing one of the previous options.
Pros
- A high-fiber option for improved digestive health
- Doesn’t contain corn, wheat, soy, by-products, or meals
Cons
- Contains chicken meal
- Isn’t a completely grain-free option
Guide To Buying Dog Foods For Allergies
How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Allergies
Caring for an allergy-prone dog can present a few challenges. The primary difference being, we may need to be extra careful when choosing what to feed our best mate.
Having said this, creating wholesome and healthy meals for dogs with allergies isn’t overly complicated. We will need to:
- Identify the Food borne Allergens
- Double-Check Ingredient Lists
- Invest in Bulk Orders
- Consider DIY Options
If you’re not sure what ingredients are causing your dog to have an allergic reaction, the first step is a veterinary visit. If your dog exhibits an extreme allergic reaction, seek immediate veterinary care.
Identify the Food borne Allergens
Often, pet owners aren’t aware that their dog is allergic to a common food ingredient until they show signs of an allergic reaction. Mild symptoms can occasionally go unnoticed and may include itchy skin or diarrhea.
Extreme reactions are far more noticeable but also far more life-threatening, necessitating emergency care. If you notice that your dog is vomiting, having difficulty breathing, or salivating uncontrollably, you should seek veterinary assistance at once. These may be signs of anaphylaxis.
A veterinarian will perform diagnostic tests to determine what types of ingredients your hound is allergic to. Many common types of meat are common canine food allergens. Soy, dairy, eggs, and wheat are also known to produce allergic reactions in some dogs.
Once you know what to watch out for, you begin to develop the habit of reading ingredient lists.
Double-Check Ingredient Lists
If you’re not in the habit of studying dog food ingredients, now is the time to start. Some manufacturers place comforting labels and claims on the front of their packaging but hide unpleasant details and components within the small print on the back.
Learning how to compare and analyze dog food labeling will help you to know exactly What’s In Your Dog’s Food.
Bone meals, meat-based meals, and animal by-products are all general ingredients to avoid when investing in high-quality pet foods. Additionally, some dry foods that are labeled ‘grain-free’ may be manufactured in an environment that is contaminated with grain products. This food could produce a reaction in susceptible dogs.
The best way to ensure that you’re purchasing the safest, highest-quality and most delectable food for your hound is to spend the time reading through the ingredient list, macro nutrient makeup, and vitamin panel.
Invest in Bulk Orders
When you find a dry dog food that works well for your budget and your dog’s food sensitivities, you may want to begin ordering that food in bulk. Many companies alter their recipes or formulas over time, causing long-term buyers to switch to a new product.
Buying in bulk may help you save money while also reducing the chance of your dog rejecting a sudden change in diet. You can store your excess food safely by depositing it into an airtight BPA-free container.
Consider DIY Options
If you’re struggling to find a store-bought food that meets all of your dog’s nutritional needs and sensitivities, you may be better off creating dog-friendly meals from scratch. There are tons of DIY dog recipes online, and once you’re aware of your pup’s specific allergies, you can avoid troublesome ingredients easily.
One thing to note is that this option can be more expensive and time-intensive than buying online or in-store. If you’re short on time, it’s worthwhile to invest a little time searching for a manufactured food instead.
Conclusion
While all of the options listed here are worthwhile contenders, there is one that stands out above the rest. My top pick is The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe. It contains zero meals, by-products, or grains and is a non-GMO option.
It provides an impressive balance of protein, fat, and fiber to help keep dogs of all ages and breeds in excellent health. While you’ll need to double-check the ingredient list to ensure that your dog isn’t allergic to this dry food, it satisfies all of my hound’s requirements, while also being very tasty.
