Choosing the best allergy formula dog food can prove to be quite a challenge. After all, your dog may be allergic to a whole host of things that are different from what my dog is allergic to.
It also depends a lot on what type of dog allergy your pet is suffering from. If your pet is suffering from seasonal allergies or an allergy caused by a flea bite, then choosing one dog food over another may not do much to relieve the symptoms of those types of allergies.
Choosing a food with ingredients designed for sensitive skin and to promote a healthy coat may help in reducing dry skin and the resulting itching and scratching that can be brought about by allergies.
Now if your dog is suffering from dog food allergies, then obviously the diet you feed her will determine if she will have an allergic reaction or not. We talked about diagnosing food allergy in dogs previously. Using a food trial you will probably know what ingredients are causing the allergic reaction in your dog. Avoid those ingredients and your dog should be fine.
As part of the food trial you probably selected a food with a protein source that your dog never had before. Some like duck, venison, or rabbit would be good. There are several manufacturers producing dog food with those ingredients.
I tried to find foods specifically made to address allergy issues. There were not many that claimed to be made especially for dogs with allergies. However, there was quite a variety of food made with all natural ingredients, limited ingredients, and interesting protein sources like:
- duck
- rabbit
- venison
- buffalo
- lamb
- sweet potato
So, with a small disclaimer…
Disclaimer: The foods below are based on claims by the manufacturers and not by Dog Care Journey.
Here is a small sample of allergy formula dog food.
Anergen™ (Wysong)
Anergen™ is a natural based dog food made from lamb and brown rice. It is a great choice for dogs that need a diet made with limited ingredients. Anergen™ is a healthy alternative for pets with allergy problems.
“…it has served as a lifeline to thousands of pets unable to consume traditional pet foods.” Source
Anergen™ is designed to be fed to either your dog or your cat. It does not have many of the protein sources and other whole ingredients that are common allergens found in other pet foods. Yet, it is nutritionally sound.
Anergen™ does not contain any beef, poultry, beef byproducts, wheat, or dairy products.
To check for price and sizes Click Here.
Natural Balance Potato and Duck Small Bite Dog Food
Natural Balance created the Potato and Duck Formula to help dogs with food allergies.
“Natural Balance Potato and Duck Formula is a proven formula for dogs with allergies based on a unique protein and carbohydrate blend.” Source
The Potato and Duck Formula combines fresh duck, and a source of carbohydrates not commonly found in dog foods, along with other natural ingredients designed to help rebuild your dog’s immune system.
Duck is a protein source not available in typical commercial dog foods, so many dogs have never been exposed to it. This is an important factor when dealing with food allergies.
It is designed to reduce allergy symptoms associated with food allergies. But it also reduces other symptoms such as skin irritations, irritable bowels, and upset stomachs.
The Potato and Duck Formula is made with fresh duck, fresh potatoes, canola oil, and salmon oil. No artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, or bleached ingredients are used.
Natural Balance also produces another variety, the Sweet Potato and Venison Dry Dog Food Formula. It is designed in the same way as the Potato and Duck Formula, but using sweet potatoes and venison instead.
To check for price and sizes Click Here.
Have you tried any of these foods to relieve allergy symptoms in your dogs? What other types of foods have you tried? Please share with us in the comments below.
Dogs and Allergies is a series of articles discussing the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of dog allergies. Go back to the previous article, Dog Allergy Recipes.
Best,
Omar Reyes
For a wide selection of other natural dog foods visit the Cherrybrook dog food section.
My puppy Holly was on regular, generic kirkland brand dog food and she seemed ok, but rather itchy. Switched to Blue Buffalo with high protein and things got worse. She was itchier and had more diarrhea. Hard to say if it’s the food or the wind that’s causing her itchiness. Switched to Natural Balance and she seems less itchy but I guess only time will tell. Overall, I like it thus far
Stetson and Linus both eat Natural Balance Duck and Potato. They enjoy the food, but I’m not sure if its helping Stetson’s allergies. I have a feeling he has allergic reactions to fleas or something else in the environment. I’ll have a better idea when flea season comes around.