Is your dog suffering from food intolerance? Then hypoallergenic dog food can help. We show you the best food options and provide you with comprehensive information on the topic in our extensive XXL guide.
Our Top Picks
[table id=14 cache_table_output=false /]
How we test 🐶
Our first approach was the individual products. We examined all products closely to determine if they could be responsible for intolerance. We not only paid attention to the ingredients themselves but also to the quantities in which they were present. Products with high quantities of ingredients often didn’t make the cut.
Then we looked closely at the preparation method. There are also significant differences in preparation. Hypoallergenic dog food should be prepared very gently. The cold pressing method is ideal for this.
The cold pressing method ensures that no additional heat needs to be applied during production. Using a drum, the ground ingredients are processed under pressure and pressed through a nozzle. This only generates heat of around 122°F (50 degrees Celsius). Nutrients, vitamins, and minerals are largely preserved.
In addition, hypoallergenic dog food should avoid artificial additives. Colorants and preservatives should be completely avoided.
Who is this test for?
The test for hypoallergenic dog food is aimed at all dog owners who are concerned about their dog’s allergies. It’s also ideal for newcomers who want to explore the topic of healthy nutrition.
How we selected
Before starting our test, we consulted experts and various veterinarians on the topic of hypoallergenic dog food. They advised us on important ingredients and provided tips on what we should base the dog food test on.
For our extensive review, we had numerous food varieties delivered to test them thoroughly for quality, ingredients, and suitability. This allowed us to test the most well-known brands for you and determine a winner.
What does Hypoallergenic Dog Food stand for?
Not only humans struggle with the intolerance of certain foods. It is now known that many dogs also have this problem. Some foods can trigger sensitivity or intolerance.
To prevent the dog from suffering from problems, specialized hypoallergenic dog food is recommended. While the food contains all the ingredients a dog needs for a healthy life, it contains lower levels of ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions or irritations.
Which ingredients can trigger intolerance?
There are some ingredients that are known to trigger intolerance or irritation. The most well-known allergens are grains, but certain types of meat can also be responsible. Ingredients such as eggs, milk, corn, or soybeans can also trigger food allergies.
Grains, in particular, are an ingredient that can cause many allergies. Hypoallergenic dog food completely avoids grains and instead uses ingredients like potatoes. Additionally, manufacturers of hypoallergenic food rely on a single protein source to minimize allergy triggers.
How meaningful is hypoallergenic dog food really?
Hypoallergenic dog food is indeed meaningful if a food allergy or intolerance is known. Of course, you can also opt for hypoallergenic food from the beginning to minimize the risk of your dog consuming an allergic trigger.
Basically, hypoallergenic dog food is a good and healthy dietary option for any dog.
What variants are there?
In the realm of dog food, numerous brands are on the market. Hypoallergenic dog food is not yet fully developed, but there are some brands that offer both wet and dry options.
Many manufacturers offer hypoallergenic dry food made from exotic meat varieties. The most well-known are springbok, water buffalo, and even kangaroo. Rabbit is generally considered very tolerable and has been recommended by many veterinarians for allergic dogs.
What allergies can a dog have?
In reality, your dog could be allergic to any ingredient in dog food. However, there are some allergies that are more prevalent than others. The most common allergy is grain allergy, especially wheat.
But also: beef, pork, lamb, duck, chicken, turkey, rabbit, red deer, wheat, soy, barley, rice, potatoes, corn, oats, cow’s milk, eggs, salmon, fish, or even exotic varieties are possible.
In the image above, you can see a typical test that you can conduct with your veterinarian. In this example, our dog should be fed a diet consisting of rabbit or turkey. He should avoid pork, soybean, rice, oat and kelp.
But this can be different for every dog. The rule is: the fewer ingredients, the better.
What do you need to pay attention to?
To switch to hypoallergenic food, you should first find out which ingredient your dog is allergic to.
The first sign is persistent diarrhea, but vomiting or loss of appetite can also occur. The fur suddenly becomes dull, loses its luster, and teeth and claws become brittle. Itchiness or hair loss can also occur.
When these symptoms arise, it’s advisable to consult a veterinarian who can conduct an allergy test. This can quickly identify an allergy. If a food allergy is evident, then you must switch directly to hypoallergenic food.
How long should the food be administered?
If your dog has been diagnosed with an allergy, hypoallergenic food should be administered for its entire life. Because your dog will likely have these intolerances for its entire life.
When does the food take effect?
Improvements will only become apparent with time. Some dogs react immediately to the dietary change. For others, it may take many days.
In general, symptoms should decrease after a few days, and after twelve weeks, they should be completely gone.
Which dog breeds can be affected?
In principle, any dog can develop an intolerance or allergy. However, there are some breeds in which reactions occur more frequently. These breeds include, for example, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Boxers, or Dachshunds.
BUT: It’s not only purebred dogs that are affected by food allergies; mixed-breed dogs can also develop intolerance.
7 Signs of good Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Good hypoallergenic dog food should meet very high quality standards:
- The ingredients should all be high quality, up to food grade. The protein sources should be individually chosen for your dog to promote skin and gut health.
- The raw materials should all be well cleaned to prevent your dog from reacting sensitively to them. Fish oil is very commonly used, but it should not contain fish proteins.
- All ingredients should be easily digestible.
- Ideally, the food should contain dietary fiber or probiotics. These ingredients are perfect for a disrupted gut flora. They promote a healthy balance and strengthen intestinal bacteria at the same time.
- All ingredients that may trigger allergies or intolerances should not be included.
- Artificial additives should not be included.
- Grain-free ingredients are recommended.
Can I simply cook it myself?
In general, hypoallergenic dog food can also be cooked at home. However, there are two significant disadvantages:
- Obtaining the individual ingredients and preparing them properly is not only very labor-intensive but also time-consuming and costly. After all, this effort must be made throughout your dog’s life.
- To prevent malnutrition, all nutrients, minerals, and vitamins must be retained. This task poses a challenge. However, your veterinarian can certainly recommend a good cooking recipe.
