Is your dog itchy or prone to stomach upsets? Then you should consider your dog might have a food allergy because sensitivity to ingredients is the third most common cause of allergic irritation after flea bites and pollen.
There is both good news and bad news when it comes to a food allergy. The good news is that eliminating the irritant from the dog’s diet is as close to a ‘cure’. However, the bad news is there’s no reliable blood test for this condition.
Quick look: Top 5 Best Hypoallergenic Dog Foods
With this in mind let’s take a look at some of the best hypoallergenic dog foods on the market and answer the question: What is the best hypoallergenic option for my dog?
Diagnosis is down to a ‘dietary trial’ where you feed the dog a protein and carbohydrate they’ve never eaten before, which means feeding a good HA food. If the dog’s symptoms clear up, a diagnosis of food allergy is made. It’s as simple as that.
1. Purina Pro Plan
Purina Veterinary Diets HA
Features
- Purina HA Chicken Flavor
This hypoallergenic food for dogs uses chicken as a source of protein and rice plus oatmeal as carbohydrate sources.
Purina Pro Plan Focus also contains zinc and omega-6 fatty acids for promoting skin health.
This diet is best suited to dogs with a sensitive stomach or as a dietary trial for dogs than have not eaten salmon, rice, or oatmeal before.
It is especially good for dogs with an easily upset tummy as it is tolerated when many other good quality foods are not.
From a premium pet-food manufacturer who also makes prescription diets, this has to be top-rated hypoallergenic dog food.
2. HA Purina Vegetarian
HA Purina Vegetarian
Features
- single hydrolyzed protein source
- single low allergen carbohydrate source
- highly digestible
If you are looking for the best hypoallergenic puppy food then Purina HA Hypoallergenic is right-up there.
This diet is ideal for dietary trials to test out if your dog has a food allergy because it is ‘hydrolyzed’.
This is a process whereby the protein molecules are broken down into units too small to bridge the receptors in the gut wall which triggers the allergic reaction. This makes it one of the most hypoallergenic dog foods available.
In addition, the vegetarian formula is balanced to meet all the nutritional needs of owners wishing to feed this option.
The easy to digest, low-fat nature of the food also means it is suitable for dogs with medical conditions such as pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or food-sensitive dermatitis.
This product is so effective it could be considered a prescription food and is certainly one of the best hypoallergenic food for dogs.
3. Hill’s Prescription Diet
Hill's Prescription Diet
Features
- Hydrolyzed proteins to alleviate adverse reactions to food
- Increased omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, including EPA, help to nourish the skin and coat
- Added antioxidants to help support skin barrier function
- 12 oz size
When you’re going to the trouble of feeding the best hypoallergenic dog food you don’t want to undo your hard work by giving an inappropriate treatment.
These canine treats from Hills are formulated with this in mind and are a low-fat hypoallergenic dog food in biscuit form that you can give as a treat without upsetting stomachs.
Of course, we all know that if your dog won’t eat something it’s a false economy that makes these tasty treats the best hypoallergenic dog food for fussy eaters.
Each snack is good for your dog, containing good quality protein and that is allergen-free and tastes great into the bargain.
With Hills Hypoallergenic treats you can still treat your dog but without triggering their sore skin and it is an affordable hypoallergenic dog food reward for your dog.
4. Hill’S Science Diet
Hill'S Science Diet
Features
- This adult dry dog food promotes digestive health while nourishing skin
- A source of prebiotic fiber to support a balanced gut microbiome in your grown dog
- This dog food is formulated to be highly digestible for optimal nutrient absorption & easier stool pick-up
- Packed with vitamin E & Omega-6 fatty acids to help your grown dog get a lustrous coat and healthy skin
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
The best hypoallergenic dog food is gentle on the stomach and easy to digest; indeed it can settle upset tummies and improve coat condition.
Hill’s Science Diet for sensitive stomachs and skin does exactly this, with user reviews reporting how their dog’s energy levels improved and they got a gloss back on starry coats.
This diet is not suitable for a strict dietary trial but it is a good compromise if you suspect your dog can’t tolerate rich foods and wish to try a food at home before committing to the rigors of a strictly limited diet.
The formulation also helps strengthen the immune system and optimize the dog’s weight, which is a great boon if you struggle to keep weight on a lean dog.
Whilst this diet is not cheap (a reflection of the quality ingredients), it is an affordable hypoallergenic dog food especially when it may save you vet trips.
5. Royal Canin HP
Features
- Boosted omega-3 fatty acids to improve your dog's skin health and coat luster
- Chelated minerals that can be easily absorbed by your pet's body
- Hydrolyzed soy protein that won't upset your pet's system
- Ingredients that nourish and support your pet's digestive flora
- Rice as a simple starch source that's easy for your dog to digest
If you want the very best hypoallergenic dog food in a convenient kibble, which is suitable for a dietary trial to diagnose a food allergy, then Royal Canin HP Hypoallergenic Hydrolyzed Protein food should be on your shopping list.
Comparable in quality to the Purina HA Hydrolyzed diets it contains shortened protein molecules that cannot trigger an allergic reaction, which makes it one of the best hypoallergenic dog foods to alleviate severe GI disturbances and for diagnostic purposes.
Easy to digest and enriched with omega fatty acids and chelated minerals your dog is not deficient in any nutrient whilst on a dietary trial, and this food also keeps them in great physical condition.
As one of the best hypoallergenic food for dogs, it’s easy to digest formula also makes it a winner for dogs with easily upset stomachs.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, when asking what is the best hypoallergenic dog it’s important to recognize the difference between hypoallergenic dog foods suitable for a sensitive stomach and those which go a step further to aid in the diagnosis food allergy.
This will help you make the best choice and because you understand what is the best hypoallergenic dog food to meet your dog’s needs.
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Sarah Robinson
Dr Sarah Robinson attended veterinary school at Oklahoma State University receiving a D.V.M. in 2008. Sarah’s longtime interest is to help people to better communicate with their pet companions, and in doing so, to help them to strengthen their relationships with their dogs and cats. Sarah has published numerous articles on canine feeding in pet related magazines, veterinary journals and leading natural health web sites.
