What’s the best dog food for dogs with allergies? Before I give my advice on the best food for dogs with allergies, it’s important to understand what an allergy is. It’s also important to understand the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance.
In this article, I’ll explain the symptoms of dog food allergies, common culprits of dog food allergies, what food intolerance is and then I’ll give you a list of the best dog food for dogs with allergies and sensitive stomachs.
What is a Food Allergy?
As with humans, when a dog’s immune system perceives a particular food or food ingredient as harmful, it creates defensive antibodies to fight off the invading culprit. In the case of dog food, it could be any number of ingredients. But there are several ingredients commercial brand dog food uses that are known allergens to pets that are clearly not the best food for dogs with allergies.
What is Food Intolerance?
Like I said, knowing the difference between food intolerance and food allergies will help you decide which brand is the best dog food for dogs with allergies and sensitive stomachs.
Food intolerance refers to a usually violent gastrointestinal response often triggered by certain ingredients. For example, a puppy or dog with a sensitive stomach may not be able to tolerate certain ingredients such as corn or soy, which if eaten, would lead them to diarrhea, vomiting or irritable bowel syndrome.
What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Food Allergies?
How would you know if your dog was having an allergic reaction to his food. What should you look for?
- Itching
- Scratching
- Skin Rash
- Hives
- Paw Biting
- Obsessive licking
Before I recommend some of the best dog food for dogs with allergies, let’s take a look at the top 6 allergy causing ingredients in so-called “premium” commercial dog food.
The 6 Top Allergens in Commercial Dog Food
1. Soy
2. Corn
3. Wheat
4. Dairy Products
5. Egg
6. Grains
Dogs Love Meat
Although sometimes dogs are allergic to beef, lamb, chicken, duck and turkey, it’s not the norm. You see, dogs are carnivores. Remember, dogs come from the wolf family, so eating meat is second nature to them. The best dog food for dogs with allergies is a pure protein based diet.
You might think, “Well, what is my dog going it eat?” since most dog foods are made with corn, soy, wheat, and by-products. Not to worry. There’s a process of elimination you can do to figure what’s the best dog food for dogs with allergies.
Stick with One Brand
If you change dog food brands all the time, your dog will likely get diarrhea and vomit. And you won’t know which is the best dog food for dogs with allergies. So stick with one brand as you do a process of elimination. Make sure that brand does not have by-products of any sort.
Read The Ingredients
When determining the best food for dogs with allergies, make sure that the first 4 ingredients on the label consist of pure protein and protein broth. Some dogs can tolerate rice and grains. If your dog can tolerate these ingredients, go for it.
But, if you suspect your dog is allergic to the food you’ve been feeding him, read the ingredients. If the dog food has soy, buy a brand without soy and see how he reacts to it.
If he still reacts badly to it, see what other ingredients are in there, like wheat and then go purchase a dog food that doesn’t contain wheat. Remember, this is all a process of elimination.
Go For Grain Free
Honestly, most dogs are allergic to grains, so the best dog food for dogs with allergies should be grain free and one that’s particularly formulated for sensitive stomachs.
In this short video, Dog Food Secrets, the owner (a vet) gives an inside scoop of how the dog food industry is killing our dogs with certain commercial dog food. Watch his video right here.
