Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food: 8 Top Picks

Do you have a pup with a funky stomach or itchy skin? If so, you likely have had a hard time finding food that doesn’t cause distress. It may be time to consider hypoallergenic dog food, which avoids ingredients that cause stomach disturbances. There are a few different varieties to pick from, which can be a challenge. I’ve looked into the best hypoallergenic dog food options to help you find the right one for your pup. Let’s get into it.

What Is Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

Hypoallergenic dog food uses a limited ingredient list to help avoid food intolerances or allergies. There are a few different varieties. Some include alternate proteins, and others use hydrolyzed proteins, with the proteins broken down so much that your pup’s immune system cannot recognize them. Hypoallergenic dog food recipes also work to avoid common allergens like wheat and corn.

Many hypoallergenic dog foods are only available with a veterinarian’s prescription, but there are some options you can get without needing one. Many fresh and human-grade options work well for dogs with allergies, dietary intolerance, and sensitive stomachs and are available without a prescription.

Why Would My Dog Need Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

Hypoallergenic food might be an option if your pup has dietary allergies or even skin allergies. The most common culprits are dairy, chicken, wheat, and beef. Many dogs also have allergies or intolerance to corn, eggs, fish, lamb, pork, and soy. Symptoms of these allergies can cause skin problems, itching, chronic ear infections, bloating, loose stools, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, excessive gas, loss of appetite, and dry skin. Remember, this is not a complete list of symptoms of a dietary allergy or intolerance.

Dietary allergies can have varying effects on a dog’s physical health. Feeding them meals made with limited, fresh ingredients is often a great benefit and helps improve their digestion and overall health. If you are concerned that your dog has a dietary allergy or intolerance, it is best to consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes. They will be able to assess your pup’s condition and symptoms and give you better directions on whether they believe the symptoms are from allergies or not. Additionally, your veterinarian can direct you toward the right type of diet for your pup, as not all dogs who suffer from dietary allergies have the same symptoms or health concerns.

In many cases, it will take some time to identify the specific ingredient that is causing your dog’s allergy symptoms. Many vets suggest an elimination diet that removes certain items that are found in many traditional pet foods, including ingredients like wheat, eggs, corn, soy, milk, beef, and, in many cases, chicken. Many elimination diets use a novel protein, which is a protein that is not often used in dog chow and can include things like duck, venison, wild boar, or even crickets.

It is always best to discuss any suspected food allergies with your veterinarian. They can perform the appropriate diagnostic tests to accurately determine what is causing your dog’s health issues and devise the right plan to help remedy them.

Best Hypoallergenic Dog Foods

A hypoallergenic diet may be a choice if your dog is intolerant or allergic to certain ingredients. Offering them fresh, limited-ingredient diets and making a conscious effort to avoid ingredients that cause them stress will greatly benefit their digestion, overall health, and even attitude. Below, I have researched and reviewed several of the top choices for hypoallergenic dog foods.

Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food Overall: The Farmer’s Dog Review

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The Farmer’s Dog is a top pick for all dogs, but especially those with sensitive stomachs, skin, or allergies. These recipes are made from fresh, wholesome, human-grade ingredients and delivered flash-frozen to your door. The Farmer’s Dog provides farm-to-bowl freshness with no preservatives, artificial ingredients, or fillers. You can personalize your pups’ plan to meet their specific needs, and all meals are pre-portioned for each pet.

Currently, they offer four grain-free recipes: chicken, beef, turkey, and pork. The Farmer’s Dog uses USDA whole-food protein, as well as fruits and vegetables fortified with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, to meet the nutritional requirements for all dogs at any life stage. I recommend the pork recipe for dogs with dietary concerns, as it is easy to digest.

When you set up a subscription with The Farmer’s Dog, you fill out a health profile that considers over 15 different health issues, including allergies, dietary sensitivities, digestive issues, and other health problems. All recipes are AAFCO-certified to meet all life stages. The Farmer’s Dog is grain-free, but you can always add in rice or other grains if you want your dog to have those. Due to the extremely high quality and care taken with the ingredients of preparation and carefully crafted recipes, The Farmer’s Dog is an excellent pick for fur babies with sensitive stomachs as well as allergies and dietary sensitivities.

One thing to keep in mind is that The Farmer’s Dog is a premium option that requires a subscription and has a high price tag. However, it is well worth the high price to feed your dog this incredibly high-quality hypoallergenic food.

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Best Dog Food For Skin Allergies: JustFoodForDogs Pantry Fresh Joint & Skin Support Review

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The Pantry Fresh Joint & Skin Support recipe from JustFoodForDogs uses limited ingredients and novel proteins, as well as antioxidants and omega fatty acids that support skin health. The recipe is fortified with type II collagen to support healthy joints, is free from preservatives, and is shelf-stable (when unopened) for up to two years.

This Pantry Fresh recipe contains easy-to-digest natural elements. The ingredients include pork loin and tenderloin, quinoa, kale, carrots, and apples. None are feed-grade, meaning they are 100% human-grade and good enough for you to eat (not that I recommend that!). You can purchase the Pantry Fresh Joint & Skin support without a prescription. This recipe meets the AAFCO guidelines for adult maintenance.

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Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food For Dogs With Sensitive Skin: Stella & Chewy’s Skin & Coat Support Review

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For dogs with sensitive skin, novel proteins (those other than poultry and beef) can help soothe irritation and improve skin and coat health. Fish is a top protein choice for dogs with dietary allergies as well as sensitive skin. Stella & Chewy Skin & Coat Support freeze-dried recipe is a great pick for dogs with dietary allergies. It is nonprescription and available through several different retailers. It is free of peas, lentils, potatoes, and poultry.

The first two ingredients in this recipe are grass-fed lamb and wild-caught salmon, which guarantee high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. The recipe has added taurine and probiotics to promote healthy digestion. Stella & Chewy’s makes several other recipes, including novel proteins like a rabbit, making them a top pick for dogs with special dietary needs like allergies.

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Best Nonprescription Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food Spot & Tango Unkibble Review

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Spot & Tango makes both fresh and dry recipes. The Unkibble is made from the same healthy ingredients as their fresh foods but is a shelf-stable option. The recipes are minimally processed and vet-developed, packed full of superfood ingredients, and free of many common dietary allergens.

Spot & Tango’s Unkibble Cod and Salmon is a great pick for dogs who need hypoallergenic nutrition but prefer the texture of dry food. Unkibble is air-dried and uses 100% fresh ingredients, no fillers, and no artificial preservatives. Ingredients include cod, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, salmon, carrots, pumpkin, a unique S&T nutrient blend, strawberries, spinach, and more. It is grain and poultry-free and made just for dogs with allergies. It meets or exceeds the AAFCO’s nutrient profiles for dogs in all life stages.

S&T Unkibble is a top pick for hypoallergenic dog food, as they carefully craft recipes to cater to pups with tricky tummies. If your pup isn’t a fan or you want to add fresh meals, their fresh recipes are also a top-notch pick.

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Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food For Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs: Ollie Review

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Ollie is a dog food company that delivers fresh meals to your door. All recipes are all-natural and use fresh, whole-food ingredients. They are free of soy, corn, and wheat. Ollie also customizes recipes based on your pup’s specific dietary and allergy needs.

A veterinarian formulates all Ollie recipes. I suggest the lamb and pork recipes for dogs with sensitive stomachs and dietary allergies. The lamb recipe features real lamb, cranberries, butternut squash, kale, chickpeas, green beans, potatoes, salmon oil, chia seeds, and various nutrients and minerals. One thing to remember is that Ollie ships in bulk, so if you go with this option, you must have plenty of room in your freezer, as you can expect a delivery every four or eight weeks.

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Best Hydrolyzed Protein: Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Review

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Blue Buffalo’s Natural Veterinary Diet is a prescription kibble, so you will need to ask your vet for one if you want to try this specific recipe. It is made with hydrolyzed protein, meaning it is broken down into a basic, unrecognizable form, which helps dogs digest it better. Blue Buffalo’s recipe is made specifically for dogs who have allergy issues.

The recipe has no grains, corn, soy, or wheat. The protein source is salmon, which is a top pick for dogs with food allergies, especially for other animal proteins like chicken. Additional ingredients like flaxseed, fish oil, pumpkin, and dried kelp add healthy fats and fibers. No chicken or poultry ingredients are used, which are common dietary allergens. Blue Buffalo’s hydrolyzed protein formula is not a long-term solution to food allergies but is often suggested as part of an elimination diet and to help regulate your pup if they are having a bad reaction to other foods.

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You can learn more about hydrolyzed dog food and our top picks in our in-depth guide.

Best Canned Limited Ingredient Hypoallergenic Dog Food: Merrick Limited Ingredient Review

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For some pups, canned food is the best choice, and Merricks Limited Ingredient Diet, a grain-free recipe with lamb, is worth a try. It is made with a limited number of ingredients to provide a balanced diet but avoid common food sensitivities. This canned recipe is formulated for adult dogs and features a single protein source without peas, potatoes, corn, soy, or grains.

Merrick’s limited-ingredient recipe uses deboned lamb, lamb liver, sunflower oil, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Lamb is easy to digest and a very nutritious protein, making it a good pick for pups with sensitivities to other proteins.

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$45.36 ($4.76 / lb)

Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food With Novel Proteins: Chippin Dog Food Review

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Chippin is a little different from many of the other hypoallergenic dog foods you may have heard of. This company uses a very novel protein, crickets. Chippin is made with human-grade protein and is dehydrated, so it is shelf-stable for a very long time. You must mix the recipe with water in order for your pup to eat it. This recipe uses crickets, oat flour, rolled oats, dehydrated pumpkin, ground flaxseed, dehydrated carrots, cranberries, dried sage, kelp, and other superfood ingredients.

Chippin is developed to support dogs with sensitive stomachs and is free of common allergens. While it is a bit different, Chippin gets rave reviews and is dedicated to giving back to the planet. The recipe promotes a healthy gut and is rich in healthy omega fatty acids. Chippin is a top pick if your pup is allergic to more common proteins like poultry, beef, and other red meats.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below, I’ve addressed some of the most commonly asked questions I have seen about hypoallergenic dog food. If I didn’t get to yours, let me know in the comments.

Is Hypoallergenic Dog Food Worth It?

Hypoallergenic products are often much more expensive than traditional canned wet food or dry kibble. However, for dogs that suffer from dietary allergies, the higher price tag is well worth it. Feeding your pup a diet that does not trigger ongoing symptoms is better for their overall health and will end up being a better investment in the long term.

What Is The Number One Food Allergy In Dogs?

Beef is one of the most common dietary allergens for dogs, followed by dairy, chicken, wheat, and lamb. Though not as prevalent, other allergens include corn, egg, fish, pork, rice, and soy. It is also possible that pups can be allergic to other things, including certain fruits and vegetables. However, those are less commonly found ingredients in commercial pet foods.

What Should I Feed My Dog With A Chicken Allergy?

According to BMC Veterinary Research, as many as 15% of all dogs suffer from a chicken allergy. If your puppy is allergic to chicken, consider an alternative protein source that is not poultry-based. Fish, duck, rabbit, or venison are top picks as these are very healthy and easier to digest for pups suffering from a chicken allergy. We cover this in great detail in our guide on the best chicken-free dog foods.

Is There A Specific Food I Should Feed My Dog With Itchy Skin?

If possible, try to find a recipe that is developed to address skin and coat health. Fresh foods will have higher percentages of healthy ingredients that are known to address skin and code health, like fish oil and fresh fruits and vegetables. Recipes that are developed to address skin health issues usually have a single animal protein source, as well as a single grain or alternative grain source. Try to avoid options with known allergens like beef or chicken, and look for those that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which often come from flaxseed and fish, as well as antioxidants, lean proteins, and soluble fibers.

How Are Food Allergies In Dogs Diagnosed?

You will need help from your veterinarian in order to diagnose your fur baby with a dietary allergy and identify the specific triggers. Your veterinarian may suggest a trial diet, called an elimination trial, for eight to twelve weeks. Elimination diets do not contain any known ingredients that a dog has been fed previously. Elimination diets also rarely allow for treats, supplements, or added foods. The idea is to eliminate any potential triggers. After the elimination diet, your vet will instruct you to reintroduce your pup’s old chow, and if symptoms occur, it is highly likely your pup has a food allergy.

Why A Healthy Diet Matters For Your Dog

A healthy diet is one of the most significant factors in your dog’s overall health throughout their lifetime. Regardless of any food allergies, intolerances, or other dietary obstacles, feeding your pup the best quality food you can afford goes a long way to keeping them healthy and by your side for many years to come. Keeping the contents of your pup’s bowl healthy, wholesome, and nutritious now will pay off tenfold in the long run. A balanced diet and proper exercise levels ensure that your pup stays at a healthy weight and avoids health complications associated with obesity and the development of diabetes. Your veterinarian is your partner in keeping your pup healthy as long as possible. Always contact them first with any dietary or food allergy concerns.

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Why Trust Canine Journal?

Dogs have held a special place in Danielle’s life since she was a very young child. She has cared for and raised several rescue pups and has over 30 years of experience as a dog owner. Danielle has opened her home to dogs with special medical needs, including epilepsy, dementia, anxiety, heart concerns, and more. As a professional researcher, Danielle has reviewed and vetted over 100 different pet food brands, as well as countless other supplements, treats, and dog products. She spent over eight hours researching hypoallergenic dog food, including seeking out personal experience and feedback from dog owners whose pups suffer from food allergies. She is proud to be part of Canine Journal’s dedicated team of professionals, sharing the goal of bringing our readers the most accurate, recent, and valuable information to better the quality of their pet’s lives.