Canines are descendants of the noble wolf, but, did you know that evolved alongside humans – developing some of our not so nice traits such as food sensitivities too.
Their digestive system has changed dramatically over the years – no longer suited to only eating raw meat, the domesticated dog’s digestive system is now able to break down cooked foods, as well as starches, and carbohydrates.
While many dogs seem to be able to eat anything, there are some that have intolerances and allergies to certain ingredients such as grain, or beef. For that reason, we’re going to take a look at some of the best-limited ingredient dog food to help all of you sensitive pooch owners find a diet to suit your four-legged friend’s needs!
Best Limited Ingredient Dog Foods
1. Wellness Simple
Wellness Simple
Features
- LIMITED INGREDIENT DOG FOOD: Natural, grain free, limited ingredient recipe crafted with a single source of animal protein, expertly balanced with easily digestible carbohydrates and no fillers
- A LIFETIME OF WELLBEING: Natural prebiotics support a healthy digestive system, antioxidants support a strong immune system and Omega fatty Acids support a healthy coat and skin
- WHOLE BODY HEALTH: Supported by omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics and taurine for a healthy heart
- FIND THE RIGHT FOOD: Wellness offers a full range of foods to support your dog's specific needs, including grained and grain free options, high protein recipes and limited ingredient diets for dogs with food sensitivities
- Made in the USA using only the finest globally sourced ingredients, we prepare each of our diets in our own state of the art facility; we craft delicious natural recipes with wholesome, non GMO ingredients chosen for their nutritional benefits
If your pooch has food sensitivities, limited ingredient dog food can be a lifesaver. The Wellness Simple is made with few ingredients to satisfy diets that require limited ingredients and is one of the best choices on the market. In fact, this product is recommended for both hypoallergenic and therapeutic diets.
Key Specifications
- Flavors Available – Lamb & Oatmeal, Duck & Oatmeal
- Main Components – Single source protein, easy to digest carbohydrates
- Easy to Digest – YES
- Why We Recommend – An easily digestible option that doesn’t compromise nutrition
Its protein is from a single-source, either lamb or duck, depending on your preference and this is then mixed with easy to digest carbohydrates for optimal nutritional balance.
Your sensitive bellied pooch will still enjoy his food, grow strong muscle, and have a steady stream of energy without any stomach upset or aggravated allergies.
This product is all-natural and does not contain any ingredients you cannot pronounce. Additionally, it contains no gluten, wheat, fillers, or artificial additives.
It is also made in the USA, and its manufacturing process is controlled to the highest standards. This is why it’s also backed by the Wellness Guarantee. As a pet-parent, you can feed your fur-baby with complete peace of mind with this product.
Pros
- Suitable for hypoallergenic diets and therapeutic diets
- Single protein for easy digestion
- Easily digestible carbohydrates
- Balanced nutrition
- Does not contain gluten, wheat, fillers or artificial additives
- Backed by the Wellness Guarantee (USA)
- Made in the USA, under controlled manufacturing processes
Cons
- Higher price point
- Some dogs with extreme sensitivities will react to this
The Wellness Simple is hands down a great option if your puppy has a sensitive digestive system or exhibits any allergies. With this said, we always suggest working closely with your veterinarian to find the best food for your puppy.
2. Natural Balance
Features
- Contains 1 - 12 Pound Bag of Dry Dog Food for Small Breeds, Discontinued by Manufacturer
- Limited ingredient diet with a single animal protein source
- Crunchy kibble texture helps promote clean teeth and healthy gums
- Fiber blends help support healthy digestion
- Grain free formula with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
Natural Balance is a grain-free option that sources complex carbohydrates from potatoes which are known to be very easily digestible by dogs. This will give your soft-bellied pooch a break while providing him with the right balance of carbohydrates needed to stay healthy and energetic.
Key Specifications
- Flavors Available – Various flavors, depending on dog size
- Main Components – Simple protein, complex carbohydrates (potatoes)
- Easy to Digest – YES
- Why We Recommend – This is a grain-free option, nine safety tests are performed on every batch
Protein is the building block of healthy muscle, and in this product, it comes from high-quality duck meat which will satisfy your puppy’s craving for meat while being gentle on his stomach.
Natural Balance Grain-Free Dry Dog Food comes with the Natural Balance “Buy With Confidence” promise where 9 safety tests are carried out on every batch of food to make sure that quality remains high and that every batch of food retains the standards expected from the brand.
Having said this, some consumers reported that batches can differ in quality and their puppies have reacted differently to different batches of the product. So as with any other product, as a pet parent, you may need to do some experimenting to see how your dog will react to this dog food.
Pros
- Grain-free, carbohydrates provided by easily digestible potatoes
- Made with minimal ingredients
- Supports optimal digestive health
- Maintains healthy skin and a shiny coat
- Provides complete balanced nutrition for all sizes and ages
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives are included
- Nine safety tests are performed on every batch of food
Cons
- The product can differ from one batch to the other
- Higher price-point
There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives in the Natural Balance Grain-Free limited ingredient dog food; just the yummy stuff that your pooch will enjoy eating.
3. Merrick Grain-Free
Features
- Twelve (12) 12.7 oz Cans - Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Wet Dog Food Real Turkey Recipe
- Limited ingredient wet dog food specially formulated for dogs with food sensitivities or sensitive stomachs
- Sensitive stomach dog food features real deboned turkey as the first ingredient
- Potato free dog food contains no grain or soy
- Chicken free dog food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs
If wet food is your pooch’s preference, Merrick Grain-Free might be the product for you – also because it comes in four different flavors.
Key Specifications
- Flavors Available – Chicken, Duck, Lamb, Turkey
- Main Components – High-quality single source protein, dried peas for carbohydrates
- Easy to Digest – Yes
- Why We Recommend – It’s another grain-free option that comes in wet food format
Whether it’s chicken, duck, lamb, or turkey, you can be sure to find the perfect wet food that your puppy will love.
As with other limited ingredient dog food, this product is made from single-source animal protein, which is the #1 ingredient in every variety. This is then prepared with dried peas for carbohydrates and is then fortified with nutrients.
This product does not contain any preservatives, additives, fillers, and other undesirable ingredients that will upset your puppy’s belly or cause allergies. It is also grain-free and gluten-free for added digestibility as gluten is known to be an irritant to sensitive bellies.
As far as wet food goes, one of the main ingredients is broth, and as a result, this product may seem a bit too runny or watery. Obviously, it’s a matter of preference, but you might need to experiment with what consistency your doggie prefers.
Pros
- Single-source animal protein
- Made with a limited number of ingredients for easy digestion
- Provides complete nutrition and can help you maintain a balanced diet for your dog
- Grain-free and gluten-free
- Made in the USA, to the highest standards
- Maintains a healthy digestive tract
- Promotes healthy skin and a shiny coat
- Many flavors are available
Cons
- Can be too watery
This wet food is prepared in the USA, to the highest standards, and its manufacturing process is well supervised. Merrick Grain-Free is a great option for good quality food that provides a balanced nutrition profile while being gentle on the stomach.
4. Nutro
Features
- Contains one (1) 11-lb. bag of NUTRO Limited Ingredient Diet Natural Small Bites Adult Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food; Natural Dog Food Plus Vitamins, Minerals and Other Nutrients
- Always Made With 10 Key Ingredients Or Less, Plus Natural Flavors, Vitamins, Minerals And Other Nutrients
- Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Recipes Are Grain Free, And Avoid Ingredients That Commonly Cause Food Sensitivities In Pets: Like Corn, Wheat, Soy And Dairy Protein
- Lamb Is The #1 Ingredient
- This Nutro Dry Dog Food Is Made With Non-Gmo Ingredients
If you’re looking for good clean food for your puppy, look no further than Nutro. This product is a great option because of the care put in the sourcing of ingredients which are then put together in a product using the highest standards.
Key Specifications
- Flavors Available – Duck, lamb, salmon
- Main Components – Any product can contain a selection of high-quality protein, chickpeas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, canola, sunflower, lentils, dried plain beet pulp
- Easy to Digest – YES
- Why We Recommend – There are a variety of flavor options, this product offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
At ten ingredients or less, this product guarantees easy digestion for your puppy, also because the ingredients are of the highest quality. Nutro has developed relationships with farmers and sources only the best ingredients for their product.
As is common with limited ingredient dog food, protein is the #1 ingredient which provides the building blocks for your dog’s strength and muscle.
Protein is then complemented with a selection of lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, canola, and sunflower to create an easily digestible yet healthy product for your pet.
Pros
- High-quality protein is the #1 ingredient
- Made with a few ingredients that are easy to digest – always ten ingredients or less
- Provides a good combination of protein with vegetables for complete nutrition
- Grain-free
- Close relationships with farmers guarantee the highest quality of ingredients
- Promotes healthy skin and a shiny coat
- GMO-free
- 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
- Provides a range of products suitable for different sizes of dogs
Cons
- Comes at a higher price point
- May not be suitable for dogs with extreme allergies due to some ingredients
- Pellets can be hard for your pooch to chew on
With their 100% money-back guarantee you can definitely try the Nutro for your dog, risk-free to you!
5. BLUE Basics
BLUE Basics
Features
- STARTS WITH REAL SALMON: This adult dry dog food features a single animal protein source along with potatoes, peas and pumpkin to support gentle digestion in your dog without the grains that contain gluten
- LIMITED INGREDIENT DOG FOOD: BLUE Basics is a limited ingredient grain free dog food that doesn’t contain any chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy or eggs making it a good option for dogs with food sensitivities
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE BITS: A precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support immune system health, life stage needs and a healthy oxidative balance
- A NATURAL DOG FOOD: BLUE dry dog food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals; BLUE contains NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives
- Contains one (1) 11lb bag of BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Diet, Grain Free Natural Adult Dry Dog Food, Salmon & Potato
Blue Buffalo is unique both in flavor and its special blend of antioxidants, nutrients, and minerals that are supportive of optimal immune health while keeping a healthy oxidative balance. This blend is sure to help your puppy at every stage in their life and any challenges therein.
Key Specifications
- Flavors Available – Lamb & Potato, Salmon & Potato, Turkey & Potato
- Main Components – Deboned high-quality meat, pumpkin, potatoes
- Easy to Digest – YES
- Why We Recommend – Unique flavors such as salmon, supports immune health
Its unique flavors and single-animal protein source complemented by the highest quality, nutrient-rich ingredients make this a healthy option that is designed not to cause any allergies or stomach upset for your puppy.
Additionally, the carbohydrates in this product come from potatoes and pumpkin, both vegetables being very easily digestible.
Blue Buffalo is also enriched with Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids which will guarantee healthy skin and a shiny coat for your puppy. But it will never contain any chicken or beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy or eggs, all of which have been known to cause sensitivities and inflammation in puppies.
Pros
- Made from deboned meat, a single animal protein source
- Contains easily digestible carbohydrate sourced from potatoes and pumpkin
- Provides an optimal balance of Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids for a shiny coat and healthy skin
- Grain-free and enhanced with vitamins
- Contains a unique to Blue blend of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals
- Helps support the immune system
- Does not contain chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy or eggs
- There are no artificial flavors or preservatives in this product
- Unique salmon flavor
Cons
- Higher price point
This is a very good option for your pooch as it provides complete nutritional balance, promotes easy digestion, and is jam-packed with nutrients to keep your puppy healthy and happy.
Bottom Line
With so many great options to choose from, it was difficult to pick a winner this time – but ultimately Wellness Simple won our vote!
With multiple flavors to choose from, a grain-free recipe, and added antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals – this is a great choice for most dogs; even the fussy ones!
Of course, the ideal food will vary depending on your dog’s unique sensitivities. The Blue Buffalo feed, for example – contains meat that some dogs may have sensitivities to. If you’re unsure of the type of food that will suit your dog, start with an exclusion diet! If you’re unsure how to start, have a chat with your veterinarian, they’ll be more than happy to help!
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Razvan
Razvan is a dog trainer and veterinary technician with over 10 years of experience working with dog daycares, animal shelters, vet clinics and private dog training. Razvan is one of the lead publishers on Dog Struggles covering the latest product reviews and dog health advice.
