Finally Revealed — The Best Dog Food for Allergies of 2022

It’s difficult to see your beloved dog suffering from allergies. And while many factors may trigger that, food is the most common one. That’s why we researched and found the best dog food for allergies that’s both yummy and gentle on the tummy.

While some of the most popular brands do their best to address the symptoms, others struggle to provide results. We’ll tell you all about them below.

Revealing the Methodology

Good research starts with determining the correct evaluation criteria. Here are the main factors we considered:

First Five Ingredients

Since the first five ingredients are the most nutritionally dense, they’re the crucial ones to check. In most allergy brands, it’s always real meat, like salmon, lamb, turkey, or venison. Other common ingredients include brown rice, kale, meat meal, veggies, and fruits.

Guaranteed Analysis 

Next time you wonder what is the top tier dog food for dogs with allergies, check the guaranteed analysis. It reveals the exact nutrient percentage. Our reviewed items contain around 18%–32% protein, 9.5%–15% fat, and 4%–5% fiber.

Extra Nutrients

Among the most common beneficial nutrients, we found essential fatty acids, followed by vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They aim to support full-body health, including the skin, coat, muscles, joints, gut, and immunity.

Price

We aimed for diversity so that everyone could find the right allergy dog food for their budget. Hence, the smallest kibble package usually costs around 10$–20$, while the largest is 50$–100$. The average price for wet food was about $20–$40, yet the most expensive one costs $118. 

Customer Reviews

We rely on customer reviews for a complete picture. Sometimes it all comes down to the dog. We found all the good and the bad, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know below.

Ollie Lamb Recipe

It’s a balanced and complete food with human-grade ingredients from free-range farms in the US and Australia. The portions are cooked at low temperatures and hand-packed in New Jersey facilities. 

The Ollie dog food for allergies adheres to the AAFCO rules and contains lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, and rice. It’s incredibly beneficial for enhancing dogs’ immune systems, bladder, skin, coat, digestive health, and muscles. Ollie is a subscription-based meal plan. If you order, you’ll receive a two-week starting bundle of 14 packets. 

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Why we choose this product: Ollie mixes lamb, kale, and butternut squash to deliver a generous dose of fiber, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and beta carotene. It’s like homemade food, but it’s AAFCO-approved. 

Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet

The recipe promotes gentle digestion, healthy immunity, and muscles, making it the ideal dog food for skin allergies. It contains salmon as the first ingredient, and it’s free from poultry, chicken, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, or eggs. 

Salmon is the only animal protein source, with oatmeal, brown rice, salmon meal, and peas rounding out the list. Also, the meal includes cold-formed LifeSource pieces rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Plus, it’s free from artificial flavors and preservatives. 

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Why we choose this product: The Blue Basics hypoallergenic dog food combines one animal protein source that’s not common in dog food. Also, the limited number of ingredients provides complete and balanced nutrition. 

Canidae Pure Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food

Canidae Pure has a simple recipe with whole foods and real meat. It’s grain-free and has limited ingredients, like salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, sweet potatoes, and peas. 

The added glucosamine, chondroitin, fatty acids, and antioxidants contribute to healthy joints, skin, coats, and immunity. With so many benefits, it may be the finest grain-free dog food for skin allergies. The recipe is made in Canidae’s Texas facilities in 4 lb, 12 lb, and 24 lb Climate Pledge-friendly bags.

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Why we choose this product: Canidae Pure is grain-free food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It has real meat as the first ingredient. Also, it’s rich in probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins. 

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan contains hydrolyzed protein and a single carbohydrate source. And it’s highly digestible. The main ingredients are corn starch, hydrolyzed soy protein isolate, partially hydrogenated canola oil preserved with TBHQ, coconut oil, and powdered cellulose. 

It’s a veterinary-exclusive formula with chicken flavor. Apart from proteins, it’s rich in antioxidants. Purina is confident that this is the finest dry dog food for skin allergies. To back that claim, the company offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

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Why we choose this product: Purina offers an exclusive veterinary formula backed up by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The hydrolyzed protein and the single carbohydrate source make the recipe unique. 

Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Canned Dog Food

Wellness canned dog food is scientifically crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Turkey is the single protein source, followed by turkey broth, potatoes, ground flaxseed, and carrageenan.

It’s highly digestible dog food, with prebiotic fiber and guaranteed levels of probiotics. It’s the best dog food for allergies and a sensitive stomach, and its omega fatty acids help nourish the skin and fur. The formula is grain-free, packed in a 12.5 oz can.

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Why we choose this product: Wellness Simple is a limited ingredient diet formulated for food sensitivities. It’s easily digestible and ideal for skin and coat health. Plus, it has turkey as the first ingredient. 

Venture Limited Ingredient Diet

Venture’s formula relies on six primary ingredients with added essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for optimal health. The recipe contains 96% protein from rabbits born and raised in France. 

Apart from the rabbit meal, Venture includes pumpkin, tapioca, Alaska pollock meal, and sunflower oil. Enriched with taurine, this is the ideal diet for a healthy heart. Many believe that it’s the top-notch food for dogs with allergies because it’s specifically formulated as a grain and gluten-free alternative. Also, Venture took the effort to make its packaging environmentally friendly by utilizing plant-based materials.

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Why we choose this product: Venture’s recipe contains 96% protein, which is impressive. Plus, the brand derives it from farm-raised rabbits. Also, the packaging is plant-based. 

Raw Wild Premium Raw Dog Food

Raw Wild is dog food with 99.4% raw ingredients. The meat is venison and elk from animals bred in the US rocky highlands. Plus, it has no hormones, antibiotics, wheat, gluten, preservatives, and GMOs.

Raw Wild also contains 0.6% vitamins and minerals. The raw food provides longevity, shiny coat, ideal weight, improved digestion, energy, and allergy relief. It might be the best dog food for allergy-prone dogs as it comes with a 100% quality guarantee.

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Why we choose this product: Raw Wild contains 99.4% raw protein from venison and elk meat. The formula also contains vitamins and proteins. Plus, it’s backed up by a satisfaction guarantee. 

Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet

The Blue Buffalo Basics for small breeds is a limited-ingredient canned food free from chicken, beef, dairy, eggs, and corn. The first and only animal protein source is real turkey, followed by turkey broth, potatoes, pea protein, and flaxseed.

Blue Buffalo offers diversity for every meal, so you can serve it on its own, combined with kibble, or as a pleasant treat between meals. The nutrients aid digestion, while the fatty acids support skin and coat health. As a result, Blue Buffalo is famous as the best dog food for itchy skin.

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Why we choose this product: Blue Buffalo treats small allergic dogs by combining simple, high-quality ingredients. You can mix this canned food with kibble, serve it as a treat, or on its own.

Solid Gold Buck Wild Holistic Dry Dog Food

Solid Gold is the first US holistic food, founded in 1974. It cleanses, balances, and fuels dogs, all thanks to its whole superfoods, living probiotics, and omega fatty acids. 

The formula contains venison, turkey meal, potatoes, peas, and chickpeas. It’s free from grains, gluten, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives. This hypoallergenic dog food comes with a satisfaction guarantee, and the packaging has a Climate Pledge Friendly certification.

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Why we choose this company/product: The Solid Gold recipe is famous as the most popular dog food for allergies. Plus, it’s grain and gluten-free. Also, this easy-to-digest food contains pasture-raised venison.

Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Limited Ingredient Diet

Rachael Ray Nutrish recipe includes six natural, grain-free ingredients with added vitamins and minerals. Turkey meal is the number one component, followed by brown rice, ground rice, dried plain beet pulp, and chicken fat. 

It’s a top-notch dog food for allergies and yeast infections — no corn, wheat, soy, or gluten ingredients. Plus, it doesn’t contain any poultry by-product meal, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Also, the kibble has a natural pork flavor. Rachael Ray backs its recipe with a satisfaction guarantee.

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Why we choose this product: Rachael Ray Nutrish aims for simplicity, and its six ingredients are natural and easily digestible. The formula is grain-free and backed up by a satisfaction guarantee. 

Hill’s Prescription Diet Canned Dog Food

Hill’s has a veterinary exclusive prescription wet food aimed to treat skin and food sensitivities. It consists of water, hydrolyzed chicken liver, corn starch, powdered cellulose, and soybean oil. 

The formula is clinically tested and AAFCO-approved. It could be the leader wet dog food for allergies with a 100% money-back guarantee. The cans are 13 oz and come in a bundle of 12.

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Why we choose this company/product: Hill’s Prescription Diet is the number one vet-recommended wet food. Plus, it’s AAFCO-approved and supported by a quality guarantee. 

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Formula

Taste of the Wild contains 27% protein. The recipe doesn’t have any eggs, chicken meat, meal, or fat, which may benefit puppies with food sensitivities. The first ingredient is salmon, followed by ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, peas, and potatoes. 

Apart from being the best puppy food for allergies, Taste of the Wild is suitable for nursing or pregnant mothers and adults. The proprietary blend of good bacteria is applied after cooking to maintain viability. To top it off, Taste of the Wild adheres to the AAFCO guidelines. 

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Why we choose this product: Taste of the Wild offers a high-quality grain-free recipe with real salmon as its first ingredient. Plus, every serving contains K9 Strain probiotics for gut health. 

Buyer’s Guide

Choosing the best food for allergies is overwhelming but not impossible. All you need to do is read our guide. 

How to Choose Food for Your Allergic Furry Friend

Consider these factors as a crucial part of your research. We’ll explain why each of them matters.

Size 

Do you need hypoallergenic food for a small, medium, or large dog? For instance, if you have a Shih Tzu suffering from an allergy, choose hypoallergenic dog food for small breeds or a recipe that fits all dogs. 

Allergy Type 

Does your dog have a skin or food allergy? You can find many skin-friendly formulas that are free from chicken, beef, dairy, and eggs. As for treating food allergies, check the grain-free recipes that are gentle on dogs’ stomachs. 

Food Type

Each dog has its preferences. Some enjoy kibble, while others like canned meals. You can also experiment with raw food or check companies that make fresh meals. 

Flavor 

Whether you have a picky eater or not, the dog food that helps with allergies should be both useful and tasty. That’s why companies include a variety of flavors, like chicken, turkey, venison, and salmon. Pick the one your dog loves the most. 

Budget   

How much can you set aside to ease your dog’s allergies? Consider every option, even the most expensive one. While some of the pricey ones aren’t worth it, selecting a cheap brand might make matters worse. Consider checking with your vet, too. 

Types of Dog Food for Allergies 

Let’s go through the six types of allergy-free dog food: 

• Prescription diets are usually vet-recommended, and it consists of a single protein. The protein content is the purest, and you won’t find it in other store-bought recipes. 
• Grain-free recipes don’t contain wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, or anything cereal-related. Instead of grains, they usually have carbohydrates from sweet potatoes. 
• Limited ingredient dog food has only a few ingredients to reduce the possible allergens. Generally, it has a single protein and carbohydrate source, like salmon and brown rice. 
• Novel ingredient meals contain a rare protein source. The single protein dog food could come with deer, kangaroo, duck, or rabbit meat.
• Fresh dog food usually has whole foods cooked at low temperatures. Most importantly, it’s human grade and the closest to homemade food.
• Raw dog food contains raw meat with veggies and fruits. The downside is that you need to store it at a cold temperature. 

What Are the Most Widespread Dog Food Allergies?

If your dog eats the same food for years, it may become sensitive to some ingredients. That’s when you need to find some good dog food for allergies. 

Luckily, a dog allergy testing kit can reveal such food sensitivities, and you can do it at home. Some of the most prominent dog food allergies include: 

• Beef
• Lamb
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Soy
• Gluten
• Dairy
• Wheat

Some pets can also inherit allergies from their parents.

Food Intolerance vs Food Allergy — Is There Any Difference? 

Most people confuse food intolerances with allergies due to the same symptoms. And if you want to find the ideal dog food for allergies, you need to know the difference. 

A food allergy develops when the immune system overreacts to a normally innocuous meal. The allergic reaction can be severe or even fatal if not treated immediately.

In contrast, food intolerance happens when the body has a chemical response to a specific ingredient. But your dog can still consume the same food without triggering a reaction. Even then, the symptoms are usually mild and restricted to stomach issues.

Other Common Dog Allergies 

Unfortunately, hypoallergenic foods for dogs are ineffective for other allergies. The most common ones are:

• Flea allergies are caused by flea saliva. The irritation is distinct from a regular insect bite. Dogs will lick and scratch incessantly, resulting in an infection. 
• Environmental allergies could come from pollen, dust, weed, mold, grass, or other environmental substances. They’re often hereditary and activate on inhalation. 
• Contact allergies may happen if your dog is allergic to a laundry detergent. If so, your pet may get a skin rash after touching your washed sheets.

Food Allergy Symptoms & Diagnosis

Before you start with a hypoallergenic diet for dogs, search for the symptoms. The main ones include: 

• Frequent sneezing
• Red and inflamed skin
• Swelling
• Hives
• Itching, mostly on the ears
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting 
• Runny eyes
• Frequent licking

You need to be patient with food allergies. The first step for an accurate diagnosis is a food exclusion trial. It means giving your dog new sources of single protein and carbohydrates over 12 weeks. Your veterinarian should determine the proper elimination approach for your pooch. 

At a Glance — Summary of the Dog Foods for Allergic Dogs

Ollie Lamb Recipe: Best overall

Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet: Kibble with extra cold-formed bits

Canidae Pure Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food: Salmon limited ingredient recipe

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Dog Food: Hydrolyzed protein dog food

Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Canned Dog Food: Turkey-based wet food

Venture Limited Ingredient Diet: Rabbit limited ingredient recipe

Raw Wild Premium Raw Dog Food: Premium raw recipe

Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Canned Dog Food: Grain-free canned food

Solid Gold Buck Wild Holistic Dry Dog Food: Holistic venison kibble

Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Limited Ingredient Diet: Turkey meal six-ingredient recipe

Hill’s Prescription Diet Canned Dog Food: Prescription-based canned dog food

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Formula: Anti-allergy dog food for puppies

Dog Breeds That Are Prone to Allergies

Some breeds have a higher risk of an allergy. Here are some of the more ‘unlucky’ ones: 

• Golden Retriever
• Pug
• Chinese Shar-Pei
• West Highland White Terrier
• Wirehaired Fox Terrier
• Dalmatian
• Boxer
• Labrador Retriever
• Lhasa Apso
• Boston Terrier
• Scottish Terrier
• Shih Tzu

While these are among the most common breeds at risk, any breed can get an allergy, especially the mixed ones.

Dog Allergies Alternatives & Additions

While a good quality limited ingredient dog food for allergies is a necessary first step, an extra boost won’t hurt. Here’s what else you can consider: 

• CBD oil can alleviate allergic symptoms. For instance, cannabinoids in the Austin and Kat CBD Oil for Dogs boost the immune system and help fight allergy responses effectively.
• Allergy treats could be an excellent reward between meals. We recommend STRELLALAB Allergy Relief Dog Treats on Amazon. They’re natural, support immunity, improve digestion, and, most importantly, — alleviate allergic reactions. 
• For itchy and inflamed skin, your dog needs a proper topical treatment. We like the Natural Dog Company Skin Soother Healing Balm on Amazon. It’s 100% organic and full of healing herbs. 
• Alongside the best dog food for skin problems, you can also use a good quality spray. The BEXLEY LABS Curaseb Medicated Chlorhexidine Spray on Amazon relieves skin infections, hot spots, paw licking, and allergies. 
• Dog Vitamins can also aid in reducing inflamed skin from allergic reactions. We like Ester-C Immune Support Powder as it’s 100% organic.

Final Thoughts: What’s the Leading Dog Food for Skin Allergies of 2022?

If your dog has an allergy, changing its food is a good first step to better health. Go for a human-grade formula, like the Ollie’s Lamb Recipe. It screams homemade food as it’s minimally processed to preserve its nutritional value. The recipe contains lamb and butternut squash, as well as nutrient-dense cranberries and kale. Also, it’s cooked at low temperatures and free from fillers or artificial flavors. 

Don’t hesitate to check with your vet if the unpleasant symptoms aren’t an underlying cause of a more serious health problem. And if you must become an expert in dog nutrition or allergies to help your pet, make sure to check our other useful guides on these topics.

FAQ

What is the least allergenic food for dogs?

If you’re wondering what to feed dogs with allergies, always go with a protein like salmon, venison, duck, or even kangaroo. Also, you should replace the grains with carbs like brown rice, pea, or sweet potato. 

What foods should dogs with allergies avoid?

Dogs with food allergies or sensitivities might become uncontrollably itchy, puffy, and inflamed. To avoid such symptoms, skip products like chicken, beef, dairy, eggs, soy, and pork. 

What is the top anti-allergy food for dogs?

The recipe should be human-grade, minimally processed, fresh, and free from preservatives and artificial colors. Ollie Lamb Recipe is by far the best dog food for allergies. It tastes, looks, and feels like a homemade meal.