Small dog running with empty bowl in mouth

What is the Best Dog Food for Allergies?

TL;DR: Dogs can suffer from food allergies and sensitivities, often reacting to ingredients like beef, dairy, wheat, and soy. Symptoms of food allergies in dogs include skin irritation, digestive issues, and ear infections. High-quality, allergy-friendly dog foods often exclude common allergens and are rich in nutrients like Omega-3 Fatty acids.

Simply Naked's fish-first recipes provide balanced nutrition and are ideal for dogs with food sensitivities.

Did you know that your dog can be allergic to certain foods? Just like humans, dogs can have negative reactions to ingredients that are common in standard pet foods.

Of course, our furry friends can’t always tell us when something isn’t sitting right. So, as pet parents, it’s important to know the signs of an allergic reaction or sensitivity to help switch your dog to a better diet.

Read on to learn more about common food allergies and how you can find the best dog food for a dog with allergies that is allergy-friendly and packed with all the nutrients they need to thrive.

Common Food Allergies for Dogs

Allergies in dogs are more common than you may think. Some experts estimate that 20% of pets will develop allergies over their lifetime. This includes common environmental allergens triggered by anything from pollen, grass, or dust, to food allergies.

Luckily, true food allergies (which we’ll get into more soon) are actually less common than environmental ones. Food sensitivities are more prevalent, and while they don’t cause an immune response, can still make your dog sick or uncomfortable.

According to Rover, some of the most common food allergens and intolerances for dogs include:

  • Beef
  • Dairy
  • Wheat
  • Eggs
  • Chicken
  • Lamb/mutton
  • Soy
  • Pork

Wheat, soy, and dairy are used in many popular dry dog foods. It is not a coincidence that your dog doesn’t feel their best if their diet is made up mainly of these ingredients. That’s why many pet parents are making the switch to dog food for dogs with allergies.

Food Allergies vs Food Sensitivity

Before looking into the best allergy food for dogs, it’s important to understand the difference between a food allergy and sensitivity. The experts at VCA Animal Hospitals explain that a true food allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts and produces antibodies to substances that it would normally tolerate.

So, when it comes to food, the antibodies are often produced in response to a particular animal protein or complex carbohydrate. Food allergies can often manifest after prolonged exposure to one type of food. In other words, if your dog is eating the same foods day in and day out, there is a chance they could develop an allergy or intolerance to that protein.

Real allergies can manifest in various symptoms, varying from one dog to another, but some common symptoms of dog food allergies include: Skin irritation, constant licking and scratching, ear infections, issues with digestion, vomiting, diarrhea, and hair loss.

Many more dogs may have a food sensitivity or intolerance. In these instances, food doesn’t trigger an immune response but instead a digestive response like an upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting.

If your dog has any of these issues, it is so important to find them the best dog food for allergies. If you have any doubts regarding a specific issue your dog is having, be sure to consult your vet, as well.

The Link Between Food Sensitivities and Skin

Did you know that a dog's skin, along with its coat, makes up 12% of its body weight? According to The Regional Veterinary Referral Center, that’s why your dog needs a lot of nutrients to keep their skin and coat shiny and healthy.

You can tell a lot about the health of your dog from their skin and fur. Poor skin conditions such as dry, dull hair with split ends, slow growth, or dry skin flakes can all be signs that your dog needs a better diet. While there may be other underlying causes of skin issues, a food intolerance or nutritional deficiency are two common, yet sometimes overlooked, culprits.

As the experts at VCA Animal Hospitals explain, a nutritional deficiency can occur when a dog is fed “a poor quality commercial dry food, a commercial food that contains nutrient excesses, or if a commercial diet is supplemented inappropriately.” This can have a huge negative impact on a dog’s skin and coat.

The best dog food for skin allergies not only has ingredients rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids that promote skin health, but it also offers balanced nutrition. In addition to choosing the best dog food for sensitive skin, additional supplements like fish oil for dogs can be beneficial. These further improve skin health and reduce inflammation, providing relief from itchy and sensitive skin.

Signs Your Dog Has a Food Allergy

Dog with allergies biting his itchy skin

As a pet parent, you want to make sure your dog always feels their best. It’s important to know the signs of an allergy in dogs so you can find the best dog food for allergies for them.

Here are a handful of common food allergies or intolerance symptoms in dogs you should be watching out for according to the American Kennel Club:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Itchiness, especially on the paws and face
  • Dry skin and dull or patchy coat
  • Chronic ear infections

If you suspect your dog has a food allergy, you should consider a food trial. This involves feeding your pet a limited-ingredient diet for eight to twelve weeks. This strict process requires you to feed your dog only foods they don’t normally eat (i.e. if chicken is their main source of protein, switch to beef or turkey). Ideally, their allergy symptoms should resolve.

After this period, you can introduce past ingredients back into your dog’s diet one at a time. Watch for any of the allergy symptoms to return to discover which ingredient is the culprit.

Best Food for Dogs with Allergies

There’s no one-size-fits-all best dog food for allergies (since it all depends on what your pet is sensitive or allergic to). But knowing which ingredients are causing these unpleasant symptoms can help you find the best dog food for your dog with allergies.

Let's take a look at the best next steps as you explore a new diet.

Avoid Common Allergens

First things first, you should avoid giving your dog any food that contains common allergens. With many grain-free recipes available, it’s easy to avoid carbohydrates like wheat, soy, and dairy in your dog's food.

The majority of dog food recipes are available with chicken or beef, which are also among the most common allergens, so try to avoid these by introducing a new primary protein. We recommend our fish-first recipes of course, but lamb, turkey and other proteins are also available.

So, which proteins are good for your dog? Fish happens to be one of the best! Not only is it packed with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to help your dog feel their best, but it’s also easy to digest. In fact, fish is one of the least common food allergens for dogs. Take a look at our best-selling, grain-free fish based recipe for dogs.

Ensure Balanced Nutrition

As we said before, it’s always important to feed your dog a balanced diet to avoid a nutritional deficiency. Fish are one of the finest naturally occurring protein sources on earth because they are packed with lean protein, vitamins, and micronutrients that are vital to a well-balanced, healthy diet.

At Simply Naked, our fish-first dinners include a lot more than just seafood. Each meal is complete with fish oil, naturally occurring probiotics, and a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals to provide your pet with a well-balanced meal bowl after bowl.

Prioritize Rotational Feeding

Of course, feeding your dog a single protein isn’t the ideal solution. The best dog food for food allergies should offer a variety of protein sources so you can practice rotational feeding for your pet.

Rotational feeding keeps your pet excited to dive into every bowl, but also has a variety of health benefits. This includes helping mitigate food allergies, improving digesting, and enhancing nutritional value.

Simply Naked Dinners for Dogs have limited ingredients and a variety of proteins in each recipe, which make rotational feeding a breeze.

Simply Naked: Dog Food for Dogs with Allergies

Simply Naked is simply the best food for dogs with allergies. Fish is our forte and it’s the first ingredient in every limited-ingredient Simply Naked pet food recipe.

Fish is one of the best proteins for pets, especially those with food intolerance or allergies. Plus, it’s a tremendous source of lean protein and a natural source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids to help create healthy immune systems, decrease inflammation in joints, and improve heart health and brain development.

Browse our fish-first dinners for dogs today.

Did you know we also offer Trial Packs for just $4.99? They even ship for free!

trial pack sample dog food from Simply Naked Pet Food

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Comments

  • Would like to try this Domino has been on hydrolized protien sence he was a pup he is 12 now.

    Patricia Lester on
  • I want to know more about the the best dog food for skin allergy

    shrabonbd on

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