The 7 Best Dog Foods for Allergies, According to 407 Alleviated Dogs And Their Humans

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Assortment of the best dog foods for allergies we recommend on an orange background

The Spruce Pets / Amelia Manley

If your dog is experiencing ongoing or re-occurring bouts of diarrhea, vomiting, or skin issues—such as itching, rashes, redness, and hair loss—then your first stop should be your veterinarian, because it might be an immune response triggered by an allergen. Most allergens for dogs are environmental, including local pollen, fleas, or dust mites, but some dogs have allergic reactions to their dog food.

“The most common food allergy which afflicts dogs is the protein source,” says Dr. Michelle Burch, a Veterinarian and Veterinary Consultant with Safe Hounds Pet Insurance. "The most common allergies include beef, chicken, lamb, and wheat.”

Dog food allergies can often be remediated by changing the protein source in their dog food. There are limited ingredient dog foods that can provide alternate proteins, formulas to address less common allergens like wheat, and easy to audit ingredient lists to help you eliminate your dog's specific allergen from their diet. But depending on your veterinarian's guidance and the severity of your dog's allergy, your dog may need a prescription diet to find relief from symptoms. Prescription diets have carefully vetted ingredients, unique proteins unlikely to trigger an allergic response, and are manufactured to prevent cross-contamination.

“A family who can maintain nutritional restrictions will find their dog has an excellent prognosis," Burch said.

For help evaluating dog foods, we surveyed 407 households with dogs, polling them on the dog food brand and product that works for their dog, while gathering data like their dog's size, age, and breed. You can learn more about our polling methodology below our recommendations, under the heading How We Found The Best Dog Food for Allergies.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Hill's Prescription Diet Hill's Prescription Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Hill's Prescription Diet d/d Dry Dog Food

Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

What We Like
  • A variety of wet and dry food recipes for dogs with food allergies

  • Developed by scientists, veterinarians, and nutritionists

  • Human-grade food manufacturing facilities with consistent quality control in the United States

  • Lots of Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants

What We Don't Like
  • Requires a prescription

  • Limited breed-specific and specialized formulas

With clear and thorough labeling of ingredients paired with consistency in their production process, Hill's Prescription Diet Dog Food is our top recommendation for most dogs with food allergies and sensitivities. Among our 407 panelists, Hill's Science Diet is the top rated dog food brand earning exceptionally high marks for overall satisfaction (both human's and hound's) and for the brand's ability to address specific health needs.

Dog food manufacturers take two general approaches to addressing a protein allergy, either providing a novel protein that's unlikely to trigger an allergic response, or with "hydrolyzed" proteins, which have been broken down into their constituent amino acids, removing the allergen component. Hill's Prescription Diet's d/d formula takes the first approach, using duck, salmon, or venison to avoid the most protein common allergies. It also eliminates other potential confounding allergens (since it's not always easy to definitively identify your dog's exact allergen), eliminating soy protein and other common protein additives.

Hill's Prescription Diet d/d formula comes in a few varieties, including two flavors of wet food and three flavors of dry food. There is also a line of z/d formula dog foods, which use hydrolyzed protein. Hill's non-prescription "Science Diet" may also be able to address some allergies, such as grain-free options for dogs with wheat sensitives, like Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Grain-Free Chicken & Potato Dog Food.

Hill's Pets, the manufacturer of Hill's Science Diet pet food, employs over 220 Ph.D. nutritionists, veterinarians, and scientists, and its safety standards are modeled after those of human food manufacturers. Each recipe for dog food within the Hill's Science Diet brand was developed and manufactured in the United States, and the dog food comes in a variety of flavors and formulations to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of every shape and size.

With the right flavor and formulation for a dog, we found that consistently serving Hill's Science Diet leads to less dietary issues, straightforward potty sessions, and lots of cuddles. But the price of this dog food has increased as of late, and the canned variety could benefit from an improved pull tab lid to make it easier to open without the use of a can opener.

Food Type: Dry, wet | Packaging Sizes: 5, 15, or 33-pound bag; 5.8 or 12.8 ounce can

Best Hydrolyzed Protein

Royal Canin Veterinary Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein

Royal Canin Veterinary Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

Royal Canin SAS

What We Like
  • Range of formulas, including small dog and weight management options

  • Formulated for skin and digestive health

  • Includes prebiotics and lots of fiber

What We Don't Like
  • Requires a prescription

Royal Canin's prescription dog food has a lot in common with Hill's Prescription Diet, including both novel protein and hydrolyzed options for addressing your dog's allergies. Among our surveyed dog houses, they were a less popular but similarly trusted brand. Both are excellent dog foods, with vetted ingredients and high-quality omega fatty acids. However, if you are looking for a hydrolyzed protein food to address your dog's protein allergy, then Royal Canin offers a slightly wider range of options that may suit your dog's specific needs better.

Dry food options include both a version with hydrolyzed chicken and a formula that has no meat protein at all, instead using hydrolyzed soy protein. There's also a formula for small dogs, and two different options for weight management.

Food Type: Dry, wet | Packaging Sizes: 13.7-ounce can; 7.7-, 17.6, 25.3-pound bags

Best Non-Prescription Wet

Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Wet Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Wet Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan

What We Like
  • Beef, salmon, or lamb is lead source of protein

  • Made with easy to digest prebiotic fiber

  • Free of poultry, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives

  • Dry formula also available

What We Don't Like
  • Only offered in one size can

  • May contain corn oil

If you prefer to feed your dog a wet food, Purina Pro Plan offers three poultry-free recipes within their Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach line of dog food—beef & oat meal, salmon & rice, and lamb & oat meal. The recipes are made without common culprits of allergies and upset stomachs, including chicken, wheat, soy, and artificial flavors.

The wet foods from Purina Pro Plan are made with fiber, probiotics, prebiotics, and easy-to-digest grains (barley, rice and/or oat meal), animal fat, fish oil (omega-3), and sunflower oil (omega-6). Depending on the size of your adult dog, each 13-ounce can may contain multiple meals or just one meal. Plus, the recyclable cans have an easy pull tab on top, and the wet recipes are often sold as a bundle.

You can also pair the wet food with Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin Formula dry dog food which comes in three recipes, salmon & rice, lamb & oat meal, and turkey & oat meal, which is packaged in bags ranging from four to 40 pounds.

Food Type: Wet | Packaging Size: 13 ounces

Best Non-Prescription for Poultry Allergies

Blue Buffalo Basics Salmon and Potato Recipe

Blue Buffalo Basics Salmon and Potato Recipe

Blue Buffalo

What We Like
  • Single animal protein source

  • Made without chicken, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs

  • Formulas for puppies, adults, seniors, small breed, and large breed

  • Free of artificial flavors and preservatives

What We Don't Like
  • Some recipes are more difficult to find

For dogs with a chicken allergy, Blue Buffalo offers a full line of limited ingredient dry and wet dog foods all made with a single animal protein source. Basics from Blue Buffalo is our top choice for dogs with a chicken allergy because the brand manufactures this dog food without by-product meals—including chicken by-product meal which is commonly added to recipes from other brands—making it easier to completely avoid the chicken allergen causing your dog discomfort.

Each serving of this nutritionally balanced dog food provides antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to bolster your dog's overall health. The food is also free of corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs—all of which are common allergens.

Blue Buffalo Basics offers six dry food recipes for adult dogs: salmon & potato, turkey & potato, grain free duck & potato, grain-free lamb & potato, grain-free turkey & potato, and grain-free salmon & potato. There are variations for small breeds, large breeds, seniors, and puppies, along with wet food recipes packaged in 3.5 ounce trays and 12.5 ounce cans—all made without chicken.

Food Type: Dry, wet | Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Packaging Size: 11 or 24-pounds; 3.5 or 12.5-ounces

Best Subscription

The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food

The Farmer’s Dog Custom Fresh Dog Food

The Farmer's Dog

What We Like
  • Four recipes to choose from, each made with one primary protein

  • Made with USDA meat and human-grade ingredients

  • Customized for your dog's age and activity level

What We Don't Like
  • Only available via subscription

If your dog is allergic to an animal protein source, the Farmer's Dog Custom Fresh Dog Food will bring dog food—made without the source of your dog's affliction—right to your door. The subscription service enables you to choose up to four recipes—beef, chicken, pork, and/or turkey—to be included in your dog's personal meal plan. That means if your dog is allergic to chicken, they can still enjoy the other three recipes: beef, turkey, and pork.

To help each dog steer clear of their personal allergens, the Farmer's Dog first asks you a series of questions about your dog's current health, food sensitives and allergies, breed, age, daily activity level, and weight. If you have a rescue, an approximation for birthday and breed composition is suitable.

Each recipe is made in the United States and was developed by veterinarian nutritionists to provide nutrients, vitamins, fat, protein, and fiber in each serving. Recipes are always made with USDA animal meat, starches—such as lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, and vegetables—such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.

Once you've placed your order, a box with individually frozen packs to last 28 or 56 days will arrive. Each pack can be frozen for up to six months and once thawed the food should be consumed within four days. Depending on the size of your dog, one pack can have four servings of food (small breed) or your dog may require more than one pack at mealtime (large breed).

Food Type: Frozen | Packaging Sizes: Varies

Best for Wheat Allergies

Fromm Family Heartland Gold Dog Food

Fromm Family Heartland Gold Adult Dog Food

Fromm

What We Like
  • Provides taurine for hearth health

  • Blend of probiotics and prebiotics to support regularity

  • Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals

What We Don't Like
  • Not as widely available as other dog food brands

For dogs with wheat allergies, a grain-free food will ensure that the food you serve to your dog has not come into contact with a potential allergen during the production process. Fromm Heartland Gold Adult Grain Free Dog Food provides amino acids—such as taurine—for healthy functioning muscles, including the heart and the kidneys, antioxidants for strong immunity, and a blend of probiotics and prebiotics to support the digestive system.

The primary ingredient is beef, with pork and lamb as additional sources of protein, all combined to create a meaty flavor dogs enjoy. The grain-free formula is made with legumes—peas, lentils, chickpeas—and potatoes as the primary starch. Among the 407 dog parents we polled, Fromm received top marks for reliable use of human-grade ingredients along with overall satisfaction, engagement, and enjoyment experienced by their dog.

Food Type: Dry | Packaging Size: 15 or 30-pound bag

Best for Environmental Allergies

Purina One Plus Skin & Coat Formula Dog Food

Purina One +Plus Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food

Purina

What We Like
  • No artificial flavors

  • Provides vitamin E, omega 6 fatty acids, and glucosamine 

  • Salmon is primary ingredient

  • Readily available and affordable

What We Don't Like
  • Made with chicken by-product meal

Purina ONE +Plus Skin & Coat Formula is made with salmon as the first ingredient along with rice flour, barley, oat meal, beef fat, and fish oil. It also includes grains and chicken by-product meal. Combined, there are a lot of potential allergen triggers in Purina ONE, so this is not a suitable food for dogs with food allergies.

However, Purina ONE +Plus may provide some relief from symptoms due to environmental triggers like pollen or fleas. It includes Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, which studies have shown can help promote a healthy coat and skin in dogs. The recipe—developed by scientists and veterinarians—also has antioxidants, glucosamine, and is fortified with additional vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. While it can't address your dog's environmental allergies, it's formulated to boost immune support and relieve common symptoms like itchiness.

Food Type: Dry | Packaging Size: 8, 16.5, or 31.1-pound bag

Final Verdict

Our top recommendation is Hill's Prescription Diet Dog Food because all recipes are developed by scientists, veterinarians, and nutritionists to provide balanced nutrition a dog needs, and their combination of limited ingredients and novel proteins can effectively relieve your dog's allergy symptoms. If your veterinarian recommends considering a hydrolyzed protein, we recommend taking a look at Royal Canin. While Hill's Prescription Diet also offers hydrolyzed protein dog foods, Royal Canin offers more specialized formulas for small dogs, weight management, and more.


What to Look for in Dog Food for Allergies

Alternate Proteins

Since most dog food allergies are allergic responses to specific proteins, the first move in remediating your dog's allergy is typically a change in protein. Food designed to address protein allergies will typically have a limited ingredient list that eliminates many common triggers. There are typically two approaches prescription diets use to address a protein allergy:

  • Novel Proteins: Venison, ostrich, duck, and other protein sources can be used in place of chicken, beef, lamb, and other common allergens. This also means restricting the use of multiple types of animal byproduct.
  • Hydrolyzed Proteins: Hypoallergenic foods that use this approach typically start with chicken protein, but then subject it to a chemical process (often involving high heat or acid) that strips protein down to its most basic nutrients, eliminating the allergen component.

Signs of an Allergic Reaction

When looking for the right dog food, it’s important to first know what an allergic reaction looks like. “Symptoms of a food allergy can affect multiple organ systems in your dog, but the skin tends to be the most affected,” says Dr. Michelle Burch, a Veterinarian and Veterinary Consultant with Safe Hounds Pet Insurance. “Skin symptoms include severe itching along the face, paws, rear, and underbelly. Other signs can include fur loss from around the eyes, repeated ear infections, and secondary skin infections.” When you know the signs of an allergic reaction to look out for, you will be able to better pinpoint what’s causing their discomfort.

Vet Consultation

Always consult with your veterinarian before changing your dog's food, and when changing your dog's food, it should be done gradually, as abrupt changes can also be the cause of digestive issues. “Dogs diagnosed with a food allergy may need to be fed a prescription diet,” explains Burch. While not a substitute for allergy medications, these prescription dog foods are made with strict protocols so there is no possibility of cross-contamination. If your dog is extra sensitive to a certain ingredient, prescription food may be your best bet to ensure the allergen is not present in their food.

Grain-Free

Grains that are commonly found in dog food include barley, corn, oats, rice, wheat, rye, and sorghum, but this is not an exhaustive list. To create grain-free food for dogs, legumes (e.g. peas, lentils) and starches (e.g. potatoes, sweet potatoes) are often used in place of grains. The FDA is currently investigating a potential link between "grain-free" labeled dog foods and heart health issues, primarily dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). From the FDA's report, grain-free dog foods with peas and/or lentils were more prevalent in cases of DCM. A direct connection has not yet been established. With the information we have, we do not recommend feeding your dog a diet of grain-free food unless you have been directed by your veterinarian.

How We Found The Best Dog Food for Allergies

To evaluate dog food for allergies, our research panel put together a comprehensive questionnaire, asking for dog owner's to describe the qualities that matter most to them when they choose a food for their dog at each life stage. We learned what brands were recommended by veterinarians, and which had the most trustworthy list of ingredients. We also looked for high-value brands that can fit in people's budgets, and brands with wide retailer availability, such as at these great places to buy dog food.

We also gathered details about a dog's size, breed, age, and health history, which helped us make picks tailored to a wide range of dogs, since the best food for a German Shepard with a chicken allergy won't be the best dog food for a rescue with a beef allergy.

In total, 407 respondents described how they and their dogs felt about the foods they currently feed or previously fed at home, using a combination of numerical scores and detailed feedback.

FAQ
  • Are grain-free foods better for dogs with skin allergies?

    When considering what dog foods are best for skin allergies, it is recommended to try changing up the protein source first before going completely grain-free. This is because current research shows a possible link between some heart disease and certain ingredients that appear in a higher concentrations in grain-free dog foods.

    “I currently do not recommend feeding grain-free food to dogs due to the increased risk of developing nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy,” says Burch. “If you are interested in providing a grain-free diet to see if your dog responds positively to skin allergies, I recommend speaking with your veterinarian before switching.”

  • Can I test my dog for food allergies at home?

    There are a few home test kits for allergies but they may not be as effective at determining your dog's allergies. “I do not recommend using blood, hair, or saliva tests for food allergies,” explains Burch. “These products can have a high number of false positives and negatives.” The best way to test your dog’s allergies is through an at-home food trial under the guidance of a vet, so you can monitor the ingredients in your dog’s food and how they react to it.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This story was updated by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.

We also took a comprehensive survey on preferred brands and feeding habits. Each respondent provided data on their dog's age, size, and breed, in addition to a detailed history of the dog food brands and products they mutually enjoy.

A previous version of the story was written by Steven Rowe who experience caring for two nervous, picky-eating beagles. When he noticed that his dog started to chew his front paws after mealtime he tried out different proteins and discovered his little guy had a chicken allergy. When writing this article, he chose products based on what he feeds his own tummy-sensitive doggos, his personal experience with the products, customer reviews, product ingredients, and recommendations from veterinarians.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Allergies in dogs - dog owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.

  2. Mueller RS, Olivry T, Prélaud P. Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and catsBMC Vet Res. 2016;12:9. doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0633-8

  3. Q&AS: FDA's Work on Potential Causes of Non-Hereditary DCM in Dogs. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.