Unique Pet Cuisine Providing Specialty Diets for Your Dog

Types of dog food and how to choose the right one

Just like with humans, there are specialty diets or dietary choices designed with considerations for a dogs age, health, or breed. Lets explore the six types:

1. Lifestage food

This term refers to a diet in which different food is given to your dog at each stage of their life. Sometimes these stages can be as simple as puppy, adult, and senior while other brands utilize more specific stages like weaning, juniors, nursing, etc. Many kibbles on the market are all stages foods meaning they can be fed to your dog no matter their age.

Theres currently debate on whether specific lifestage or all stages food is a better option, but there is no definitive answer one way or the other. If youre curious about this style of feeding, consult with your vet.

2. Prescription food

If your dog has been diagnosed with a health issue or is recovering from surgery, your vet may prescribe a special prescription dog food diet. These dog foods are only available with a prescription from your dogs veterinarian.

There is a wide variety of prescription dog foods for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, kidney issues, and weight management, to name a few. These diets include extra nutritional support or exclude ingredients that can further exacerbate your dogs health issue.

3. Breed-specific food

These foods are formulated with the idea that certain breeds have specific dietary needs. While many breeds can thrive on general diets, breed-specific diets may be helpful in specific contexts.

Larger dogs are prone to joint pain while dogs like Dachshunds may be prone to back problems. Certain diets can promote bone density and ligament support.

On the other hand, you may have a dog with small teeth who finds it tough to chew larger chunks of food in which case small bites may be easier. If you have a large breed puppy, like a Great Dane, youll want to get them a kibble that supports their growth.

All in all, breed-specific food may not be the answer so much as what is specific to your dog and their needs.

4. Grain-free food

A few years back, grain-free dog foods were trending. Then the FDA got reports that dogs who ate grain-free diets were being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathyTrusted SourceVCA HospitalsCommunity of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information.Go to source (DCM), a disease of the dogs heart muscle that results in an enlarged heart.

The FDA has since continued to investigate any connection between heart disease and grain-free foods. Veterinarians now recommend avoiding grain-free dog food unless your dog has a serious grain allergy (which is quite rare!).

5. High-protein food

Like with any food option, this one will be determined by your dogs specific needs. Protein is an essential building block in both the human and canine body, but sometimes certain dogs may need more than others.

Puppies, for example, need more protein than dogs that have already finished growing and those that hunt, play sport, or are highly active may also need more protein.

6. Sensitive stomach or limited ingredient food

Chronic stomach sensitivity in dogs is usually caused by allergies and intolerances and food made specifically for these situations can help ensure your dog gets the nutrients they need.

Many sensitive stomach foods contain probiotics and prebiotics that help promote healthy digestion. In that same vein, these foods may stray away from protein sources that have a history of causing tummy upset like beef or chicken, and opt for fish, venison, or lamb.

Limited ingredient food follows a similar path and has a shortened ingredient list that is free of common allergens like soy, beef, and chicken. If you suspect your dog has stomach issues or allergies, chat with your veterinarian about which option is best.

11 Best Dog Foods for Allergies in 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Finding a healthy kibble for our pets isnt always easy. Today, we have to worry about all of the different ingredients that brands put into their recipes that could be creating some serious health problems for our pets. Dogs with allergies have increased the demand for specialty foods across the globe. The reviews for the best options state that the most popular recipes are ones with limited ingredients. Instead, these foods only give your pets clean, simple ingredients that are crucial for their diet. Look over this list of some of the best dog foods for allergies to give to your sensitive fur babies.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pets individual case.

A Quick Glance at Our Favorites in 2024

The 11 Best Dog Foods for Allergies

1. Nom Nom Freshly Made Dog Food Subscription Best Overall

If youve got a dog with allergies, switching to a freshly made diet is a great way to eliminate potential allergens. Our pick for the best overall dog food for allergies is Nom Nom food. All of Nom Noms recipes are cooked with high-quality, premium ingredients, with no artificial fillers or by-products. The complete ingredient list is available for every recipe, so you can easily avoid any ingredients that your dog is allergic to.

If youre still determining what ingredients are causing allergy symptoms in your dog, we recommend starting with Nom Noms Pork Potluck recipe. Its free from the most common allergy-causing ingredients, while providing your dog with balanced nutrition.

Many owners report that their dogs experienced total relief from allergy symptoms after switching to Nom Nom.

However, switching to freshly made food takes a bit of an adjustment if youve only been feeding your dog kibble up to this point. As it contains premium ingredients that will spoil, you have to freeze extras and refrigerate any leftovers. Most owners find this to be worth the extra work to keep their dogs free from allergy signs, though.

• Free from common allergens
• Transparent ingredient list
• Fully balanced diet

• Requires storage in refrigerator or freezer

2. Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food Budget Buy

The time it takes to find the best dog foods for allergies for the money is something that drives a lot of pet owners crazy. With Nutro Limited Ingredient dog food, you can stay on your budget while still being confident that youre feeding your dog clean ingredients. This is another dry formula with the first three ingredients being venison meal, dried potatoes, and lentils.

For a low price, you are able to effectively strip away any possible triggers for allergies. They also supplement their recipes with natural flavors, vitamins, and minerals to make them delicious and well-balanced. They are also completely grain-free. All ingredients are non-GMO and organic as well. Because they use venison, some picky dogs might take longer to adjust to the change.

• Fewer than 10 ingredients
• Affordable
• Grain-free
• Non-GMO and organic

• Some dogs will prefer other flavors

3. Blue Buffalo Basics Grain-Free Adult Dog Food

This limited-ingredient dog food recipe comes from Blue Buffalo. They use protein from duck and supplement the rest with ingredients like peas, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. There are no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors. You also wont find corn, wheat, or soy in the kibble. While this food is for all life stages, the kibble is hard and large and might not be ideal for younger dogs. They also have a higher price tag than a lot of the other brands on this list.

• Trusted brand
• Protein from duck meat
• Clean, limited ingredients

• Expensive
• Might not be suitable for puppies

4. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dog Food Best for Puppies

Purina is one of the most trusted dog food brands in the country. They have dozens of recipes to choose from and even include sensitive skin and stomach kibble for young dogs. Their protein comes from real salmon and uses barley and rice for smooth digestion. They do not use any corn, wheat, soy, artificial colorings, flavors, or preservatives. While the ingredients list is minimal, there are some dogs that develop hot spotsfrom the barley and rice, so you may want to double-check the recipe before purchasing if your dog is extra sensitive to anything in the kibble.

• Real salmon is first ingredient
• Top trusted dog food brand
• Dozens of recipes to choose from
• Specific for young dogs

• Pricey
• Could cause itching for some dogs

5. Natural Balance LID Limited Ingredient Diets

Natural Balance is another company that makes dog foods for allergies. Their recipes have limited ingredients made with real meat and vegetables to create clean yet tasty food for your pets. The protein comes from a single source, and the antioxidants support a healthy immune system. The use of brown rice also helps to aid in digestion. While most dogs love it, it does have a strong smell that could make some pets refuse to eat it. Either way, this is an excellent choice sold for a moderate price.

• Fair price
• Limited ingredients
• Single protein source
• Good for all breed sizes

6. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food

This dog food by Wellness is one of six different recipes included in their limited-ingredient product line. While this food is for adult dogs only, they use only a few simple ingredients with over 29% protein in each meal. This brand is more expensive. However, they are the first company on the list that sells this special diet food in large, 40-pound bags. Most dogs also have minimal issues transitioning over the 5 7-day transition period.

• Clean ingredients
• High protein
• Six recipes
• Short transition period

• Expensive
• Not for puppies

7. Canidae Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Recipe

This company makes its food with over eight real food ingredients while remaining grain, soy, wheat, and corn-free. This kibble is moderately priced and a good option for anyone on some sort of budget. Unfortunately, their formula is for adults only. Its also hard for some dogs to adjust because of the amount of fish used to make the product. Either way, some dogs love this food, and it has helped hundreds of dogs with allergies to live a more comfortable life.

• Eight real food ingredients
• Moderately priced
• Grain, soy, wheat, and corn free

• Adult dogs only
• Strong fish flavor

8. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food

Merrick is a smart choice if you want to give your pets something delicious to eat without making their allergies flare-up. This dry food is made with real lamb and sweet potatoes and keeps its ingredients list at a minimum. All their food is also made right here in the United States. However, some of the food is sourced from China. The food doesnt have a strong odor, but the fat content is a little high. Some reports also say that customers with large breeds go through food too quickly and have to purchase multiple bags at a time because they go through it so fast.

• Real lamb protein source
• Made in USA
• No bad odor

• Some ingredients sourced from China
• High fat content
• Go through small food bags quickly

9. Earthborn Holistic Venture Limited Dry Dog Food

If you can afford the higher price range, this food from Venture Limited is an amazing grain-free option. Instead of using chicken like a lot of other recipes, the protein content comes directly from turkey. In fact, over 95% of the protein comes from only three ingredients. This company also has no secrets about where its ingredients come from. The turkey is sourced in the United States, and the squash comes from Central America. Unfortunately, this company has had its product recalled before, which is a big turnoff to some pet owners.

• 95% of protein from only 3 ingredients
• Sourced from the United States and Central America

• Expensive
• History of product recall

10. Hills Prescription Diet Skin/Food Sensitivity Dry Dog Food

Those with sensitive dogs know what a pain it is to haul your pets back and forth from the vet because of issues with their food. This is one of the top-recommended brands by vets and created by veterinarians themselves. You will need a prescription for this food. The first ingredient is also corn starch, which isnt always a settling ingredient for some dogs with allergies. On top of that, this is one of the most expensive options to make the list, even with fewer clean ingredients.

• Requires prescription
• First ingredient is corn starch
• Very expensive

11. Solid Gold Wolf King Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

This food by Solid Gold is a fair price and very tasty, according to many customers. What stands out most is that this company uses over 20 superfoods to give your dog the most well-balanced diet possible. It is for large adult breeds only, so smaller and younger dogs will have to find another option. Even though many dogs seem to love it, there are also reviews stating that pickier dogs wont go near it. So, you may be spending some money for your pup to not even be interested in their new, healthy food.

• Large, adult dogs only
• Some picky dogs wont eat it

Buyers Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Foods for Allergies

The one thing to know about buying dog food for certain food allergies is that they almost always come labeled two different ways: Limited-Ingredient Diet (LID) or Hypoallergenic. If youre unsure about the type to choose, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian and ask for a recommendation. In most cases, LID foods contain fewer ingredients and are less likely to trigger a reaction in your dog. These are also a lot easier to buy, as some hypoallergenic foods might require you to get a prescription.

What Are the Causes of Food Allergies in Dogs?

Chicken, beef, dairy, and eggs are some of the most common culprits for food allergies in dogs. A lot of people assume that the protein source isnt the issue, but they can also be wrong. Those who truly want to know specific triggers should rule out all environmental triggers first before making an appointment with a vet to figure out possible food triggers. Youd be surprised just how many pet owners cant believe that chicken is responsible for causing health issues.

What Are the Signs of Allergies in Dogs?

There are a handful of things for you to look out for if you suspect your dog has food allergies. These include:

Dog allergy signs

• Hives
• Skin rash
• Itching
• Biting paws
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Licking Obsessively
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Patchy coat

Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance

An allergy and an intolerance are not the same thing. With food allergies, your dog suffers because of their immune system. These problems can be severe and sometimes life-threatening. On the other hand, food intolerance is contained in the digestive system. The same type of response will not happen with an allergy. Intolerances are easier to remedy because you can eliminate one specific ingredient.

The Benefits of a Hypoallergenic Diet

Hypoallergenic dog diets are most effective for dogs that have multiple different allergies or intolerances. Breeds like Poodles, Chihuahuas, and Pomeranians are more prone to these issues and hypoallergenic diets help to relieve a lot of the symptoms, such as itching and bloating.

Hypoallergenic diets are also crucial for some dogs in order to avoid anaphylactic shock. Dogs that eat these types of foods can continue eating a tasty and nutritious diet without any of the discomfort that comes from eating traditional kibble recipes.

Conclusion

If youve come across this article while in distress about your pets food allergies, then we hope this list of todays top-reviewed products has helped you make an informed decision. While you may encounter some brands and products that we havent reviewed, it helps to know that youre somewhat prepared for what to look for in these foods. Our research of these reviews has shown that the best overall dog food for allergies comes from Nom Nom Dog Food, the best for your money comes from the Nutro LID food, and the premium choice comes from Blue Buffalo Basics dog food. Now that youve read about some of the healthiest choices out there, you can bring home a kibble that your dog will love the taste of and feel better eating.

Featured Image Credit: Anastasiya Tsiasemnikava, Shutterstock