Seeing your dog itching and suffering from red, irritated skin can be heartbreaking and frustrating for a dog owner. You might even feel guilty about it.
And what’s worse is that there are tons of dog foods on the market today and choosing one that’s hypoallergenic and safe for your dog can be overwhelming. It can be quite expensive, too.
To make the selection process easier and faster for you, here are the best hypoallergenic dog foods that are totally worth checking out.
1. Angell Petco’s Complete Superior Adult Dog Food
Why it’s good: Comes with different stages of life puppy, adults and seniors
Angell Petco specialises in organic, nutrient-rich dog food crafted using a unique cooking process that preserves the natural goodness and flavour of the fresh ingredients. It also allows for the effective delivery of nutrients to your dog in every delicious meal.
Grain-free and hypoallergenic, their food contains natural ingredients only, including freshly prepared salmon and real potatoes (36%) The Superior Adult food comes packed with vitamins and minerals, is highly digestible and is perfect for healthy skin, glossy coats, superior gut health and a fighting-fit immune system.
Angell Petco stocks specially formulated complete dog food for puppies, adults and senior dogs, as well as a range of healthy, nutritious dog treats and natural supplements.
2. Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
Why it’s good: Formulated with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes
Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food comes from a company that does extensive research to ensure the safety of its products. It’s formulated with ingredients that support a healthy digestive system, like probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and fibers. It even has plant botanicals.
If your dog is currently suffering from severe allergies, this hypoallergenic dog food makes a great investment. It’s multifunctional in that it doesn’t just address food allergies but can also boost your dog’s digestive health.
Take note that the product doesn’t have any meat by-products, wheat, and fillers that can harm your dog. All it has are ingredients safe for sensitive dogs.
3. Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach
Why it’s good: Contains no meat by-products
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach has a salmon-and-rice-based formula which ensures that your dog gets its protein without experiencing any allergies. It contains a good amount of essential fatty acids which can also promote healthy skin. These acids are a great help when it comes to joint health, too.
4. Royal Canin HP Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Why it’s good: Features hydrolyzed protein sources
Royal Canin HP Hypoallergenic Dog Food utilizes hydrolyzed soy as its main source of protein. This means that it has fewer chances of triggering adverse reactions and food allergies.
Apart from that, this dog food also has nutrients that can support your dog’s teeth and joints while minimizing the chances of kidney stone formation. This is something you should closely consider, particularly if you are taking care of older dogs.
5. Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food
Why it’s good: Tastes good for dogs
One of the most common issues dog owners face when it comes to transitioning to hypoallergenic foods is taste. If your dog has picky taste buds, then Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food is something you should consider.
It uses roasted bison as its main protein source. It also has fruits and vegetables to provide antioxidants to your pet. Another impressive ingredient in this dog food is the dried fermentation products of Lactobacillus species which can greatly help with digestion.
6. Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Dry Adult Dog Food
Why it’s good: Offers a balanced diet
Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Dry Adult Dog Food is grain-free which means it can work well in dogs with food allergies and intolerances. It packs a well-balanced diet and it’s easily digestible so you won’t have to worry about your dog getting fewer nutrients than it needs.
Why Buy A Hypoallergenic Dog Food?
It’s not really your decision to buy a hypoallergenic food for your dog. It’s something your dog’s veterinarian has to decide after proper assessment.
That is where the tricky part is.
You see, your dog won’t show allergic reactions as soon as it ingested something wrong or drink something it’s not supposed to. It can take a few weeks or even months for the reactions to show up.
This means that it can take a while before you realize how your dog’s food is harming it. And the more diagnosis is delayed, the later you’ll be able to change his food and improve his diet.
This can result in a lot of problems, like skin ailments and chronic ear infections. Hair loss is a common reaction of dogs to allergens, too.
In some cases, food allergies can also result in stunted growth, vomiting, and diarrhea.
So, how is food allergy diagnosed in dogs?
Veterinarians typically recommend an elimination diet for dogs. This is easier said than done since it can only work well in dogs that are exclusively fed. You need to be sure that no one else is feeding your dog, including any meat or treats.
Apart from that, you also need to be knowledgeable of the most common food allergens in dogs so you can avoid them as much as possible. The list includes:
- Soy
- Dairy
- Wheat
- Corn
- Yeast
If that sounds overwhelming, you can always ask your vet to do a patch test on your dog so you can quickly determine which foods are bad. You should, however, take the test with a grain of salt as food test is still better.
In Conclusion
Don’t wait for your dog to end up with really red and itchy skin. If you notice anything different with how it looks after changing its dog food, make sure to take it to the vet right away.
On a similar note, don’t diagnose and treat your dog on your own. Rashes, itchy skin, and skin redness are signs that can also appear with other medical issues.
