Best dog food for skin allergies

Is your pup always scratching or licking their paws? Then you’re not alone! Allergies are an extremely common cause of itchiness in dogs.

If you’re looking for information about the best dog food for skin allergies, then you’ve come to the right place.

We’re going to discuss hypoallergenic diets and why the right food could help your pet live a happier and more comfortable life..

Top-quality dog insurance

We've got your dog's back.

Nose-to-tail dog insurance for accidents and illnesses at competitive prices with no hidden fees.

Protect your pet

What’s hypoallergenic dog food?

A hypoallergenic diet describes a safe dog food that has been specially formulated to reduce the risk of triggering an allergic reaction. This could either be through:

• Limiting ingredients: Utilising limited ingredients and protein sources that a dog won’t have encountered previously. This means that their immune system won’t have developed a sensitivity to them (often referred to as novel proteins).

• A hydrolysed diet: The protein molecules it contains have been broken into small fragments by hydrolysis, meaning that they are less likely to trigger an immune response in your dog.

Common triggers: what allergies can traditional dog food cause?

Top allergens

The most common triggers for dogs with food allergies are beef, chicken, dairy, wheat, and soy. These are readily available ingredients found in many pet foods and treats.

Dogs will therefore encounter them regularly, which is fine for most of them. But the constant exposure does mean that allergy-prone pups can develop a sensitivity.

Once this hypersensitivity has occurred, your dog’s immune system goes into overdrive each time they become exposed.

Remember: your pet can develop a sensitivity to more than one type of ingredient, which can complicate things.

Also, you need to consider that environmental allergens, like pollen or house dust mites, may be contributing to symptoms, not just food ingredients.

Food allergies vs. food intolerances

• Food allergy: Involves the immune system, triggering an exaggerated response to even a small amount.

• Food intolerance: Doesn’t involve the immune system, meaning some pets can handle small amounts of food before developing symptoms.

Dogs with intolerances have gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea and increased gas, whereas food allergies can affect the skin, as well as the digestive system.

How to find the right food for your allergic dog

Run an elimination diet

To run a successful elimination diet or ‘food trial,’ you will need to do the following:

• Choose a novel protein diet or a hydrolysed diet, speaking to your vet for advice.

• Gradually introduce your pet to the new food, mixing their old diet in with the new over at least seven days. This will help to make sure they accept the new food successfully.

• Feed your new hypoallergenic diet solely for at least eight weeks, ideally up to 12 weeks.

• Avoid offering any extra treats, titbits or table scraps as these may contain the very proteins your pet is sensitive to, which will undo your dietary trial. Hypoallergenic treats do exist, if needed.

• Remember that pet toothpastes or supplements may also contain meat proteins, so check on these.

• Some dogs with gastrointestinal allergy symptoms may improve as early as two-to-three weeks from starting their elimination diet, whereas dogs with skin symptoms could take four to 12 weeks according to some sources.

Remember: the best hypoallergenic dog food is the one you and your tailmate can stick to strictly for at least 8-12 weeks. If your dietary trial has been successful and your pet’s symptoms have improved, then the next step is to challenge the diet, but it’s best to chat this through with your vet.

Consider what food you'd like to trial carefully

Hydrolysed diets: These tend to be the easiest, as you know they have been carefully formulated in a controlled factory environment to ensure they are allergen-free. Plus, you don’t have to remember every protein source your dog has eaten in the past, which can be tricky. But palatability may be an issue for some pets.

Novel protein foods: These can work well for many pets, and there are lots to choose from. The key is being able to pick a protein your dog hasn’t ever encountered before. Examples may include trout, venison, ostrich or insects! These tend to be a bit cheaper than hydrolysed foods.

So, which is the best for skin allergies?

Neither is necessarily better than the other; it all depends which you can stick to best when running your food trial (more on this below!) Cost, availability, and your vet’s recommendation will factor into your decision-making.

Read the ingredient lists carefully

It’s important to check the ingredients list carefully and not just follow the headline label. While the manufacturer may proudly display a novel protein like ‘venison’ or ‘duck’ on the front of their packet, some will still contain varying amounts of other meat or fat sources. This will defeat the purpose of your diet change.

There is also the risk of factory cross-contamination, meaning some novel protein diets may accidentally contain small amounts of the proteins you are trying to avoid. This can lead to low-level reactions in very sensitive pets. Always check with the manufacturer for more information.

See a vet

Skin allergies are complicated. It’s not always possible to figure things out by yourself, and many dogs can develop secondary complications from their allergies, like bacterial or fungal infections.

You should see the vet if your dog has any of the following symptoms:

• Inflamed, broken, or sore skin.

• Hair loss or coat thinning.

• Intense itchiness or paw licking, especially if they are doing it at night.

• Smelly, itchy, or dirty ears.

• Their coat has a lot of scurf or grease.

• Vomiting or diarrhoea that isn’t resolving.

It’s also worth speaking to your vet before you embark on a dietary trial to rule out parasites and get advice on the types of dog food for dogs with skin allergies.

Is there such a thing as the “best” hypoallergenic dog food?

Honestly, no. Different foods work better for different dogs, so there’s no “best” option. More often than not, it takes trial and error and your vet’s guidance.

The best option here is to chat with your vet, as recommendations will vary depending on your dog’s allergy, underlying health conditions and dietary requirements.

Top-quality dog insurance

Covering your dog's "boops" and "oops"

Tail-wagging dog insurance for accidents, with up to £20k vet fee cover on our Complete Care plan. Woof.

Quick quote

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my dog has a food allergy or an environmental allergy?

The only way to determine this is by speaking with your vet. Blood samples can help identify sensitivities to environmental allergens, whereas a strict trial with a hypoallergenic diet is usually best at diagnosing specific food allergies.

Can a dog suddenly become allergic to their regular food after years of eating it?

Yes, pets can develop allergies over time. An allergy-prone pet’s immune system becomes hypersensitive to allergens that it encounters regularly. This is why the most diagnosed food allergies in dogs are to ingredients found in many regular pet foods, like beef, chicken, dairy, and wheat.

Is chicken really a common allergen for dogs, or is that a myth?

This is definitely true! One study showed that the most common food allergen is beef, affecting 34% of food-allergic dogs. However, chicken was still identified as the third most common, after dairy, affecting 15% of dogs.