What Is The Top Rated Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

It can be hard to figure out what is the best hypoallergenic dog food to feed your dog. There are several brands that use only the highest quality ingredients and process the food in such a way as to preserve the most nutrients that your dog so desperately needs.

And if your dog does have dog food allergies, then you want a food that not only is free of the offending ingredient, but you also want the healthiest dog food to help build up and strengthen your dog’s immune system.

If your dog has non-food allergies, a special dog food for allergies is still invaluable. The quality of the ingredients and the nutrition your dog will be getting from these types of food will help them immensely in their allergy fight.  A healthy body and immune system will enable your dog to fight off internal problems better as well as make them more unattractive to parasites, such as fleas and mites.

All About Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Dog food allergies are definitely on the rise. And the most common culprits, in no particular order, are:

• corn
• wheat
• soy
• dairy
• beef
• chicken

Why The Increase In Dog Food Allergies?

Some people think it is because in some dog food there are very low quality ingredients and by-products. Another commonly thought reason is that these foods are overfed to our dogs. Whatever the reason, your dog is miserable from it. Common dog food allergy symptoms include a host of skin issues (severe itching, hot spots, constant licking) as well as intestinal problems (constipation and diarrhea).

Artificial Ingredients

However, there is another category that we tend to overlook that probably causes as much allergy symptoms as meat and grains – and that is the artificial ingredients. By this I mean artificial colorings, flavorings, preservatives, hormones, and pesticides. These ‘ingredients’ can wreak as much havoc to your dog’s immune system as any allergic food ingredient.

What Makes For The Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Firstly, you will not find any of the above listed ingredients in it. Many hypoallergenic dog foods use protein sources that are not common, such as duck, venison, elk, bison, rabbit, and salmon. They also do not use common grains like corn, wheat, or soy, but instead you will find ingredients like potatoes, sweet potatoes, barley, oatmeal, brown rice, and millet.

They are a special dog food that uses both limited and uncommon ingredients. They are commonly called a hypoallergenic dog food, allergy dog food, minimal ingredient dog food, or limited ingredient dog food. They are all basically the same. These dog foods use very high quality, minimal ingredients that are packed with nutrients your dog needs to thrive.

The best hypoallergenic dog food will be at least all-natural, which means they do not use any artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives. The best hypoallergenic dog foods will also be organic, using free-range animal meats and pesticide-free grains, fruits, and vegetables.

On the other side of the dog food spectrum, a low quality, or economy, or cheap dog food contains lots of grains and grain by-products as well meat by-products that provide very little nutrients for your dog. This tends to leave your dog’s immune system in overdrive, in a hyper sensitive state, making him have a reaction to just about anything (i.e. allergies).

If your dog has food allergies, you might want to switch your dog food, hypoallergenic (that has completely new protein and carbohydrate sources)  might be all your dog needs. Not only will this more than likely not include the offending ingredients, but the quality of the food is much higher, giving your dog a much more nutrient-dense dinner. Giving your dog better quality ingredients will help strengthen his immune system, which will help him battle his allergies and food intolerance easier.

So the best hypoallergenic dog foods will have:

• a limited number of quality ingredients,
• different types of ingredients than your dog is used to,
• nothing artificial.

There are basically two types of dog food for dogs with allergies: pre-mixes and complete.

Hypoallergenic Dog Food: Pre-Mix – You Add Your Own Meat

These types of dog foods are actually my favorites. These pre-mixes are so convenient and easy to use. You just add whatever meat source you want (I go by what is on sale at the grocery store).

I am a big supporter of raw – especially in the meat department. As a side note – I have never had any problem with either of my dogs eating raw meat. See my article on Is Raw Meat Dangerous for more information. However, you provide the meat in whichever way (raw or cooked) is comfortable for you and your dog. Either way, your dog will be getting a good meat source.

If you want to try this method, two of the best are Sojo’s and Honest Kitchen.

Sojo’s

Honest Kitchen

Hypoallergenic Dog Food: Complete Foods

The most commercially popular hypoallergenic dog foods are the complete dog foods – where the meat is included. Quite simply, this is just easier than ensuring you have fresh meat to add to each meal.

The best dog food for allergies have ingredients that range from common sources (such as chicken -but in this case free-range, organic) to uncommon sources, like bison, venison, salmon, whitefish, lamb, and turkey (among more).

The best rated dog food of the hypoallergenic dog food brands include Raw Addiction, Wysong, Natural Balance LID, Sojo’s Complete, and Wellness. Start feeding your dog one of these best limited ingredient dog foods and watch their allergy symptoms disappear.

Addiction Raw

Natural Balance LID

Sojo’s Complete

Wellness Simple

Technically Not Hypoallergenic, But Still One Of The Best

What makes for a hypoallergenic dog food? Mainly limited, quality ingredients. Why limited – to reduce the number of possible offending ingredients. This next dog food is considered to be one of the BEST: Natura Karma. It is a 95% organic dog food and, although it uses chicken (a common meat source), their chicken is organic (free-range, hormone free, antibiotic free). The dog food is also holistically formulated, which means it is aimed at keeping the body, as a whole, healthy with extra vitamin, minerals, and nutrients you won’t find in common dog foods. If you want a top rated dog food, Natura Karma is my vote!

Natura Karma

Whichever route you take, the best hypoallergenic dog foods will create a healthier dog who is better able to fight off disease and parasites, as well as give relief to your dog’s allergies. Try one of these top rated dog foods and see if you don’t see a difference in your dog.