What Is Hypoallergenic Dog Food

What Hypoallergenic Dog Food Is And Its Different Kinds

Hypoallergenic dog foods are what’s hot for pet owners—especially those with pets with certain conditions like allergies and other issues.

There are many different kinds of hypoallergenic dog foods, varying from over-the-counter options and prescription dog foods.

This pet food can be bought in local stores, online, or at a vet’s clinic.

Over the Counter Hypoallergenic Dog Food Options

Hypoallergenic pet foods available over the counter are more accessible and usually preferred by pet owners than prescription dog foods. There are three kinds of labels that over the counter hypoallergenic foods are labeled. You can choose foods based on what type of pet food you need.

Grain-Free Dog Food

Most people don’t know that grain-free is a kind of hypoallergenic diet. Grain-free dog food is dog food without much grains included in the ingredients. Eliminating grains in dog food is one way of controlling the number of allergens that your dog might be allergic to. However, grains are a rarer allergen for food allergies, so feeding grain-free food to a dog with allergies may not be the option your pet you need.

Gluten-Free Dog Food

Gluten is a protein found in grains. Gluten-free dog foods aren’t necessarily grain-free, although the grains they contain are free from gluten. Dog owners should know that this kind of hypoallergenic diet isn’t necessary to switch to, although several brands highly market these products as a healthy diet for dogs with food allergies. The fact remains that grains are rarely the allergen causing food allergies and skin problems in dogs.

Limited-Ingredient Dry Dog Food

Limited-ingredient foods are dog food made with fewer ingredients to reduce the allergens that a puppy or adult dog can be exposed to, especially those with food allergy symptoms.

Pet owners should be very cautious about buying limited-ingredient diets. Some commercial-made products include more than one source of meat protein. This is an essential factor to consider when looking for LIDs. Always check the ingredient list to know what kind of food ingredients the brand has used in making the product. Commercial-made LIDs have traces of other ingredients that you may not be aware of. This could cause allergic reactions in your dog.

If you’re interested in trying budget-friendly options to manage your dog’s allergies, you could try a grain-free, gluten-free, or limited-ingredient diet. However, you should still speak to a vet and ask for recommended brands to try. Most vets will recommend a prescription or homemade dog foods. You could think of the options you have before deciding. After careful consideration, you should be sure of what you choose regarding your pet’s health.

Prescription Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

There are two kinds of prescribed hypoallergenic dog foods. These are hydrolyzed and novel protein dog food, both of which can be bought in vet offices.

The Hydrolyzed protein dog food is the kind that is broken down into small molecules, so much that its ingredients are not recognizable as allergens by the immune system. Some are also purified to remove materials that can cause dog food allergies, but most are made like the former. Hydrolyzed proteins do not contain animal protein. Instead, it heavily relies on rice or starch since rice rarely causes reactions in dogs.

Novel Protein Dog Food

Unlike the previous diet, novel protein is much simpler. Basically, just any animal protein that your dog hasn’t had before; the same applies to carbohydrate sources. This diet contains one new protein source and one carbohydrate ingredient.

Options for Proteins include:

• rabbit

• duck

• lamb

• venison

• turkey

Many carbohydrate sources can be used as an ingredient for this diet. Make sure to note which foods your dog hasn’t had and choose which you’ll be using. You can also consult a vet for a recommendation of animal proteins to use.

What Does Hypoallergenic Mean In Dog Food?

The word hypoallergenic can be broken down into two words. These words are hypo and allergen, which means low or reduced, and a substance or ingredient that causes allergic reactions.

In a literal sense, hypoallergenic dog food means food with reduced allergen ingredients.

What Is The Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

As far as many types of hypoallergenic dog food go, there are the best options for each type.

Grain-Free

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

• It has a single protein source, which is deboned salmon

• Contains quality proteins to maintain lean muscles

• Easily digestible carbs to be easily absorbed by the body

• Does not contain filler products or artificial preservatives

Gluten-Free

Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food

• Contain protein-rich ingredients like bison, venison, buffalo, and others

• Natural recipe with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support dog health

• Trusted and sustainable sources

Limited-Ingredient

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

• Contain lamb, venison, and fish-based ingredients

• It does not include artificial flavoring or preservatives

• Rich in omega fatty acids

Hydrolyzed Protein

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hypoallergenic Dog Food

• Low molecular weight

• Contains DHA and EPA fatty acids to promote a healthy digestive system

• Supports skin barrier for better skin health

Novel Protein

Hill’s Prescription Diet Potato & Venison Formula Dry Dog Food

• Contain high levels of fatty acids to nourish the skin and coat

• Contain antioxidants to maintain the immune system

• It also contains four different novel protein sources

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Allergic To Food?

Allergies are known to be very common among dogs. A dog experiencing food allergy symptoms is exposed to an allergen or the ingredient causing the allergic reaction. Food allergies can cause the immune system to react to the exposed allergen through the set of symptoms that a dog might experience.

It can be complicated to understand the nature of canine allergies. However, there are certain signs you can take note of as a guide for observation.

Common signs of food allergies in dogs:

1. Recurring Ear Inflammation

2. Skin Infections

3. Vomiting

4. Diarrhea

5. Hair Loss

6. Hot Spots (hot and moist skin lesions, particularly on the head, hips, or chest)

Is Hypoallergenic Good For Dogs?

Having healthy dogs will set your mind at ease, but if you have dogs with digestion problems, itchy ears or paws, and sensitive skin, you should consider the possibility that your dog has a food allergy or food intolerance.

Choosing a diet for allergic dogs is difficult, especially when there are many options available for you. But your best bet is to invest in a high-quality hypoallergenic food that can successfully determine your dog’s condition and has a good amount of carbohydrates and protein sources for their nutrition.

As a pet owner, it is your job to decide the best treatment choice for your dog. Hypoallergenic food is the best and vet-recommended choice for dogs with allergies. You can opt for over-the-counter hypoallergenic dog food or visit your vet for a prescription for one.

Several dog food brands offer hypoallergenic food choices, either prescriptive or not, but they all present the same feature free from preservatives, artificial coloring, and especially low-quality ingredients like fillers.

These are excellent choices for your dog, considering that some also offers a healthy amount of essential fatty acids, proteins, some even with probiotics that all positively impact your dog’s health, let alone ease their symptoms.

Caring and concerned pet owners who love their pets dearly should be given more credit, especially those who endure difficult times like pet sickness. Remember to listen to the vet’s recommendations and avoid feeding your dog with foods known to be a common allergen for food allergies.

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