Hypoallergenic Dog Food: Which is the Best of 2024?
Find top hypoallergenic dog food picks for 2024! Explore the best options for your furry friend’s health. #DogNutrition #HypoallergenicFood
If your dog suffers from a food intolerance or allergy, your vet will have told you that he needs hypoallergenic dog food. When it comes to your pet’s health, and especially food, it is important to pay attention to every detail before buying and always look for the best products to guarantee its well-being.
The list of ingredients, the composition and the nutritional report of each type of hypoallergenic dog food will give you all the necessary information to best suit your dog and his allergy or intolerance. We have prepared this article with all kinds of details about this product. Choose the best hypoallergenic dog food!
The most important
- We do not have to tell you how uncomfortable an allergy can be, of whatever type, and more to some food: itching, irritation or discomfort, among others. They no longer only affect people and more and more dogs suffer from them. Thanks to hypoallergenic dog food, we can eliminate or minimize these discomforts.
- A dog with allergic symptoms or a food intolerance needs a food specialized in its composition. For example, that it does not contain gluten, cereals, dairy, some type of meat or what does not feel good to the dog, but as long as this does not affect its quality and its nutritional contributions.
- An intolerance is related to the digestive system and an allergy to the dog’s immune system. It is important that you discuss this with your vet. He will give you all the necessary recommendations to choose the best hypoallergenic dog food. Other factors to take into account before buying will be the size and weight of your dog, or his tastes.
The best hypoallergenic dog food on the market: our recommendations
There are several types of hypoallergenic dog food, such as wet food, but we usually talk about feed because it is the product that dogs consume the most. Based on the characteristics and composition of different brands, we have made a selection with the best hypoallergenic dog food. Be sure to check out this list!
- The best hypoallergenic chicken and rice-based dog food
- The best hypoallergenic food for small dogs
- The most dietary hypoallergenic dog food
- The best hypoallergenic dry dog food
- The most satiating hypoallergenic dog food
The best hypoallergenic chicken and rice-based dog food
Yerbero has this line of hypoallergenic dog food that takes into account the possible sensitivities or intolerances of the dog. A meal produced with ‘ Freshtrusion ‘ technology that allows the addition of fresh meat in manufacturing. It does not contain wheat, wheat gluten, soy, or egg derivatives. Other flavors are lamb or salmon.
The best hypoallergenic food for small dogs
Royal Canin hypoallergenic dog food is a very complete food for small adult dogs from 1 to 10 kg (kilograms). It is a feed for dogs suffering from food intolerances, available in 1 kg or 3.5 kg format. Among its advantages they point out that it maintains oral health and that it reduces the risk of allergic reactions.
The most dietary hypoallergenic dog food
Advance Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic is a complete dietary feed for puppies and adult dogs, with a selected source of protein (low molecular weight: high food tolerance) and a selected source of carbohydrates (purified cornstarch), which reduces intolerances to ingredients and nutrients. It also has coconut oil.
The best hypoallergenic dry dog food
Alpha Spirit has this dry food for adult dogs, with 100% natural ingredients and cooked in natural juices. Hypoallergenic dog food without cereals, gluten or meat flours, with excellent digestibility. Rich in natural vitamin A and iron. It stimulates the shine and strength of the hair, strengthens the immune system and protects against anemia.
The most satiating hypoallergenic dog food
Natural Greatness has this hypoallergenic dog food made with rabbit meat, low in fat. Its blend of natural fibers helps the dog feel full and satisfied, thus reducing calorie consumption. A recipe without cereals, with prebiotics, ideal for burning fat and strengthening muscle mass. Recommended for sterilized dogs.
Shopping Guide: What You Should Know About Hypoallergenic Dog Food
In the market you will find a wide range of types and brands of hypoallergenic dog food. If this is new for you and you do not know what to pay attention to, what conditions this type of food must meet, or what are the indications to give it to your dog properly, here is a shopping guide. We try to answer any questions you may have on the subject.
What is hypoallergenic dog food and what are its benefits?
In the same way that baby dog food is not the same as food for elderly dogs, hypoallergenic dog food is special food, which has certain ingredients. It is designed for the treatment of allergic, intolerant or digestive problems. It will help them lead a ‘normal’ life and better with a full diet.
Some of the advantages of consuming hypoallergenic dog food are:
- It significantly improves the life of the dog in general, which will stop noticing itching or other symptoms caused by that food that was not doing well.
- It is usually used in exclusion diets after the medical diagnosis of an allergy or intolerance, but being very complete it can be consumed regularly and continuously.
- It is a very digestive food that can also be used to mitigate the effects of other types of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs, such as gastritis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or an inflammatory bowel disease.
- It is a very nutritious food that is made without meat meal, based mainly on unconventional meats, but that will provide all the vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and minerals that the dog needs.
- Its taste will not be a problem, and the dog will like it. There is also a lot of variety.
- It helps the dog’s digestion, ensuring that it is not heavy.
- It improves the dog’s coat and helps it grow stronger, healthier and shinier.
What ingredients does hypoallergenic dog food have?
Although there are many types, hypoallergenic dog food generally contains unusual meats such as kangaroo, horse, or buffalo. They also include rice, potatoes, corn or millet instead of wheat, a wide variety of vegetables, quality herbs and fatty acids from fish oils to guarantee all the essential nutrients.
Hypoallergenic dog food, on the other hand, will never contain beef or pork, cereals or derivatives of soy or milk. Its composition has to be low in allergens, the cause of allergies and triggers of its symptoms. Some types do carry a small proportion of chicken, but this is not the norm.
Is hypoallergenic dog food the same as dog food with a sensitive stomach?
Is not the same. Certain breeds of dogs have sensitive stomachs, but that doesn’t mean they need hypoallergenic dog food. To take special care of these more sensitive breeds it is important to strengthen their immune system. Some recommendations are the consumption of breast milk in its puppy stage or always comply with its vaccination program.
If it has just been sterilized, you should look for a feed that will help it not to gain weight. It is important to get the dog to eat a healthy diet, exercise daily or eat your food regularly. Your well-being, and that of your stomach, will also improve with proper hygiene, a good place to sleep and without going through strong changes in temperature.
Does my dog need hypoallergenic dog food?
This question can only be answered exactly by a veterinarian. If you start to notice symptoms in your dog such as itching, hairless areas or digestive problems, make an appointment. Only a professional can diagnose an allergy and rule out other diseases. From there, the dog must eat a diet without the components that trigger it.
Studies show that certain breeds are more prone to food allergies, such as Sheepdogs, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, and Boxers. Other breeds also prone are Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, West Highland White Terrier, Ihasa Apso, Shar-Pei, Miniature Schnauzer, or Rhodesian Ridgeback.
In addition, hypoallergenic dog food is also advisable for certain dogs even if they do not suffer from allergies or food intolerances. It is always good to consult a veterinarian for these cases, but it would be the example of dogs with very sensitive skin, such as Bulldogs or Chihuahua.
What does hypoallergenic dog food treat?
Hypoallergenic dog food is intended to treat dog intolerances or allergies. To differentiate them, the first thing is to know that an intolerance is linked to the digestive system, being located in the intestinal area.
Each case is different, but in general, allergies can be caused by a change in the dog’s eating habits when consuming certain commercial feed with a component that causes allergies. Or also by some contact with a product or substance present in the environment, or by the simple contamination of its environment.
When talking about food intolerance, it means that the dog does not correctly assimilate the nutrients of certain foods, affecting its digestive process. Animal proteins are the main causes of these disorders: dairy products, eggs, chicken, everything that has beef origin, or the gluten present in wheat, barley and rye.
- Symptoms of a dog with an allergy: Intense itching and continuous scratching, gas and respiratory disorders. Also, the dog tends to suck its paws.
- Symptoms of intolerance: skin changes, pain in the abdominal area and chronic otitis. Other symptoms are itchy skin and diarrhea.
Once the vet diagnoses one of the two things, either allergy or food intolerance, he will give you recommendations to follow. In the roadmap you will find the hypoallergenic dog food, which you must give during the indicated weeks, during a diet of exclusion of certain foods to find out what feels bad, or for the necessary time.
What types of hypoallergenic dog food are there?
As with generic dog food, hypoallergenic dog food is also presented in a dry format, which is the hypoallergenic food for dogs, and the most recommended; wet food or semi-humid food, a field in which there are, for example, some snacks or sweets to give the dog as a treat from time to time.
A good hypoallergenic dog food should contain protein, fat and carbohydrates, in amounts adjusted to the dog’s age and physical demands. These proteins, fats and carbohydrates should come from sources that do not cause allergies. It will always be a meal free of wheat, gluten, soy, corn, eggs, milk and dairy products.
How long can hypoallergenic dog food be given?
With a food adapted to both his allergy and his weight, age and activity level, hypoallergenic dog food can be taken for a lifetime, always under the supervision of a veterinarian. There is no reason not to feed him long-term low-allergenic products, as long as they provide him with all the nutrients and minerals he requires.
Thanks to the reduction or elimination of typical allergens and the quality of their substitutes, hypoallergenic dog food usually has a high tolerance. In any case, it is recommended for specific treatments that your pet should consume it for an average of 2 or 3 uninterrupted months, depending on the case.
Is Homemade Hypoallergenic Dog Food Recommended?
Hypoallergenic dog food can be made at home, like any type of food, but it is certainly not recommended for many reasons, and it will not be economical either. You have to be almost an expert in animal nutrition and spend a lot of time preparing homemade hypoallergenic dog food.
It all depends on what is most comfortable for you and the time you have to dedicate to this, but it will be quite laborious and complicated. You have to maintain a balance in the diet and take care of every detail so that no nutrient is lacking. Also, you must bear in mind that the conservation period is not the same.
Where to buy hypoallergenic dog food?
Hypoallergenic dog food can be bought in specialized stores, in veterinary clinics, and of course in online stores . Made with duck meat, salmon, deer, kangaroo or vegetables, among others, and all in different formats and sizes so that you can adapt it as best as possible to your dog’s daily life.
As we have seen throughout this article, you will find different types of food, more focused on alleviating some problems or others. It is important to pay attention to this and to its recommendations that tell us if they are foods for adults, for dogs from one year of age or even for small breed dogs.
Purchase criteria
Once you are clear that you need to buy hypoallergenic dog food, here are some criteria to choose from among so many proposals and brands. The first of them we do not tire of repeating it and it is about consulting the veterinarian so that he can guide you in the specific needs of your pet. Remember that each case is different!
- Consult the vet
- Composition
- Benefits of its consumption
- Flavor and format
- Dog size and weight
- User Ratings
Consult the vet
To be sure that your dog’s diet is complete, consult with your veterinarian which one is best suited to his individual needs. It is important to look for a hypoallergenic dog food adapted to both his allergy and his weight, age and activity level. In addition, it will give you recommendations about how long to consume it.
Composition
The same thing happens with your diet. The composition of hypoallergenic dog food is very important, and it must guarantee the supply of all the nutrients and vitamins that your pet needs. The nutritional information will tell us the energy value of the food and its nutrients: proteins, fats, saturated fats, carbohydrates, sugars and salt.
Benefits of its consumption
Among the benefits of consuming hypoallergenic dog food, we find that it can improve joint diseases and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, that it promotes the shine and strength of the animal’s hair or that it is favorable against anemic conditions and keeps the immune system strong. . Do not overlook the indications of each type!
Flavor and format
When buying hypoallergenic dog food, we must also pay attention to the format in which it is presented, the amount of food our pet takes and, of course, the taste of it. The feed comes in bags of different sizes, the usual being 1 kg or 3.5 kg bags, and the larger 5 or 10 kg bags.
Dog size and weight
It is something that you will see in the product sheets themselves as soon as you start the search for hypoallergenic dog food. Food for a small dog is not the same as for a large one, just as the weight of the animal and its age must be taken into account. There is specific food for puppies or only for adult dogs. Based on all this you can choose.
User Ratings
As we always recommend, it is important to take a look at the comments that we can read of verified purchases of hypoallergenic dog food, since they will provide us with interesting and relevant information about the product. It is one of the advantages of buying online. In this case, it must be taken into account that, as it is food, it will not fit every dog or breed.
Summary
In the same way that humans are increasingly taking care of our diet and avoiding ultra-processed and unnatural foods, we must also take care of our dog’s diet to the maximum. In addition to this, a dog that suffers from allergies or a food intolerance will need a specific treatment in order to lead a happy life.
Hypoallergenic dog food is composed of specific meats that do not cause allergies, fish or rice oils. Depending on the ingredients, it will be more beneficial for certain breeds of dogs or for the problem to be treated. We have already seen that an allergy is not the same as an intolerance problem and now you can differentiate them better.