Some of the biggest tell-tale signs of food intolerances in dogs are gastrointestinal irritations. This could mean vomiting, excessive gas, or digestive issues. It can also result in your dog having loose bowel movements. These differ from food allergies, which usually trigger symptoms like rashes, itchiness, and paw-licking. Food intolerance can go hand in hand with food allergies, leaving your dog with a lot to handle. One way brands are dealing with food intolerances is by limiting ingredients and making use of ingredients that are easier to digest. The Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet is free of grains, wheat, corn, soy, chicken, beef, fish, dairy, eggs, chickpeas, and potatoes. If your dog is allergic to almost everything, then this could be the best dog food for you. This formula’s main ingredient is lamb, which is said to be easily digested by most dogs with food intolerances. The way this formula stays limited is by using only one protein, one carbohydrate, and one vegetable. This can also make it easier for you to see if your dog is allergic to certain proteins found in meat or vegetables. It can take a lot more time but it will be easier to rule out allergens if there aren’t a lot of ingredients to decipher. The lamb used here is grass-fed and the kibble is freeze-dried raw for added nutrition and taste. Vets sometimes recommend a pure diet for dogs with many digestive issues. The Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet is one of the few brands that minimally process their food so that your dog is getting the most nutrients possible in an easily digestible way.

Purina has another line of dog food for allergies called the Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach. It’s a bit similar to the Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Formula in that its main ingredient is salmon. However, the Pro Plan Focus line is free of any corn, wheat, and soy. It does contain rice, barley, and oatmeal so it’s not grain-free. Grain-free diets are not necessary for all dogs anyway, so this is a pretty viable option for your dog especially if you’ve been feeding it rice with no problems. This line is completely free of chicken and corn so it’s great if your dog’s particularly sensitive to those ingredients. The Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach comes in two flavors: salmon and rice, and lamb and oatmeal. These are both supposed to help with digestive and skin issues. The added vitamins, antioxidants, and prebiotics also help boost the immune system and improve your dog’s gut health. The kibble size is on the smaller side but even those with large dogs didn’t complain about any choking. The smell of the salmon flavor can be overwhelming, but it surprisingly doesn’t cause any bad breath in dogs. This type of dog food is meant for adult dogs, however, it may not be the best for senior and sedentary dogs. The formula is high in fat and can cause unnecessary weight gain in older dogs. Too much fat in food can also cause loose stool in dogs who aren’t that active.

One of the most common ingredients in dog food is chicken. It’s a common source of protein used in dog food and many dogs actually react well to it. However, the chicken used in dog food is often fed with corn, and this can cause adverse reactions in dogs. Loose stool, vomiting, and hot spots are common symptoms of food allergies in dogs. It can be tough to find corn-free chicken in dog food, so many vets recommend staying away from that ingredient altogether. Purina has a reputation for being a brand that just mass-produces dog food at a cheaper cost, but they have products such as the Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Formula that say they do care about what dogs eat. This formula is a salmon-based formula meant to help dogs with digestive issues and food sensitivities. If you’ve discovered your dog is sensitive to ingredients like beef, lamb, and chicken, this product might work for you. It does contain chicken by-product, beef fat, and grain ingredients, though. It seems to work well in large dogs who have had problems with chicken-based dog food and shedding. The vitamin-rich formula also helps the joints and immune system, making this better for adult dogs. The kibble size is quite small, so if you have a large dog it might choke on the pieces of food. However, you do get a good bargain for the size of the bag. This is good dog food for dogs with slight sensitivities and experience just one or two allergy symptoms like loose stool and itchiness.

One of the most common allergy symptoms in dogs is dry and itchy skin. This is also one of the more obvious signs of an allergy that pet owners notice. Unfortunately, it’s also a symptom that takes quite a while to go away. Pet food brand AvoDerm decided to combat dry skin by including avocados in their dog food. The nutrients, omega-3, and omega-6 help nourish your dog’s skin and coat for less itchiness and more shine. Their line of dog food for food intolerance and sensitivities is the AvoDerm Grain Free Limited Ingredient Diet Revolving Menu. Their dog food for allergies is grain-free, wheat-free, corn-free, and soy-free. If your dog is experiencing more sensitivity to grains and corn than meat, then this is a good dog food to try out. Dogs are known to be ok with eating the same kind of food every single day. Some even still get excited about the same food day in and day out. But other dogs get tired of the flavor or taste if it doesn’t change. The good thing about this line of AvoDerm is that it’s great for rotational feeding. There are 3 flavors to choose from aside from Lamb and Sweet Potato: Duck, Trout and Pea, and Lamb. If your dog is quite the picky eater and is sensitive to grain or wheat, then this is the perfect dog food for your pup. Most pet owners found that they didn’t need to rotate the flavors that often but it’s a good option to have.

Limited ingredient diets are one of the top recommendations for dogs with allergies. Formulas made with limited ingredients usually connote no additives, fillers, or preservatives. But finding truly limited ingredient formulas for dogs with allergies can be difficult. As there is no one definition for the term “limited ingredient”, many brands can call their pet food “limited ingredient” as long as it has one protein source or one carb source. It all boils down to what your dog needs and prefers. If your dog is sensitive to carb sources like grains, then check out the Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free dry dog food. This formula comes in the following flavors: lamb and sweet potato, duck, salmon, and venison. There are also different kibble sizes depending on your type of dog. Many dogs are actually more allergic to protein sources than carb sources so check with your vet to see if your dog really needs a grain-free diet. If they do, then this limited ingredient formula can be a good option. Nutro makes their dog food with ten key ingredients or less so you know exactly what you’re feeding your dog. This formula has vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to make sure that your dog is still getting what it needs despite not having any grains. There’s no trace of chicken or chicken by-products in these formulas so it’s also great for dogs with chicken allergies. Boosted with vitamins and supplements, this formula ensures your dog still gets the nutrients he needs despite eating limited ingredients.

The trouble with a lot of dog food for allergies is that they’re not the most appealing. Lots of dogs aren’t in love with the food that they’re not allergic to because they have strong smells or weird textures. The best way to get your dog to love his food is to make it tasty and treat-like! That’s what P.S. did with their Grain-Free Complete Dog Food Lamb Recipe. This beef jerky-like dog food is made with limited ingredients, is free of grains and potatoes, and is air-dried to perfection. This particular type of dog food is low glycemic. This is to help with paw-licking, which is caused by too much yeast in the paws. Low glycemic food can help reduce the yeast build-up in your dog’s paws, resulting in less paw-licking and/or biting. The lamb used in this recipe is human-grade, grass-fed, and free-range. That means you’re getting the purest kind of meat for your dog with no fillers, antibiotics, or flavorings. The jerky type of meat is addicting for dogs of every size and shape, but it can be hard for some breeds to digest. If your dog digests better with kibble, this isn’t the brand for you. But if your dog is more used to digesting food that’s closer to raw or cooked meat, then try this out. Unfortunately, you don’t get a ton of food in each bag for the price but it does help for dogs with allergies and they love the taste.

Not all dogs need a grain-free diet. While it is highly recommended for dogs with allergies, studies show that only a small percentage of dogs actually have grain allergies. Dogs are more allergic to protein sources like beef and chicken. So if you’ve been struggling with finding the right food for your dog and his allergy issues, it might not lie in grains. Sometimes all your dog needs is a simple diet with easy-to-digest ingredients. One of the most basic meals for dogs is chicken and rice. Often dogs with sensitive stomachs are put on this diet to help calm their digestive system or see if they have any allergies. Chicken is a common allergen as well but if you’re unsure of what’s causing allergies in your dog, feel free to try this formula. The AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal and Brown Rice formula is free of corn, potato, and wheat so it’s ruling out a number of allergens. It’s meant to help bring back your dog’s shiny coat and reduce itchiness and dryness in the skin. The avocado, found in all AvoDerm dog food, definitely helps nourish your dog’s coat and skin from the inside. It’s a good option for older dogs as well as the nutrition content in this formula is quite balanced. The kibble smells fresh and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the hands when touched. However, the size of the kibble can be a bit small for larger dogs. If your dog has a habit of just swallowing his food and ends up throwing it up later on because it’s undigested, you might have to soften the food with water or mix with larger kibble.

It can be tough switching dog foods because you’ll often have to invest in a whole bag just to try it out with your dog. But that’s the price to pay when it comes to caring for a dog with food allergies. Luckily, there are many brands that are transparent with what they put in their food so you can rule out a number of allergens already. If you know your dog can’t process meat like beef, chicken, pork, or lamb, then maybe your dog will benefit from a fish-based diet. But many fish-based formulas out there contain traces of other meat meals or by-products. With the Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula For Adult Dogs, you know you’re only getting hydrolyzed salmon as the main protein source. It’s important to note that the first ingredient of this formula is peas, which is the main carbohydrate source. This can make it easier to digest for older dogs who might have a harder time digesting protein from meat. This formula is grain-free hence the high amount of peas. The omega fatty acids from the salmon help to improve your dog’s skin, which is likely itchy and dry from allergies. It contains egg protein however so make sure your dog isn’t sensitive to that before feeding this to him. Though most dogs are fine with eggs and it can even help with dogs who have trouble in their digestive system. The probiotics in this formula make sure your dog’s gut health is in tip-top shape and that their stool forms firmly.

It can be tough to find the right dog food for allergies if your dog has a lot of skin issues and food sensitivities. Many formulas might look free of allergens at first glance, but a closer look at the ingredients list will tell you otherwise. Some formulas may use fish as their main protein source but will include other meat-based ingredients like beef fat or chicken meal. This can cause an allergic reaction in your dog despite being branded as fish-based dog food. Luckily, there are brands like Diamond Naturals that really limit the ingredients of their dog food. If your dog is struggling with skin issues and many allergies to protein sources like beef, venison, and lamb, then choosing the Diamond Naturals Skin and Coat Salmon and Potato Formula can be beneficial for you and your dog. You get quite the bargain with this 30-lb bag and the kibble size is good any dog size and breed. However, the kibble can be a bit tough so you might have to turn it into wet food for dogs who have difficulty chewing. This formula contains superfoods like kale, chia seeds, and flaxseed for antioxidant properties. It also contains probiotics to help with your dog’s digestive system and gut health. It’s got a decent amount of vitamins and vegetables in it while the carb source is potatoes and lentils. Some ingredients to watch out for are fava beans and canola oil, which can cause adverse reactions in some dogs. While most vets don’t recommend you feed your dog fava beans, many dogs don’t show any reactions to it.

Rachael Ray isn’t just a fan of cooking for humans. She loves her pet pitbull and decided to make several lines of dog food to make sure her pup was getting the best. Her Nutrish Zero Grain line of dog food makes it on this list of dog food for allergies because it’s grain-free and makes use of simple ingredients. The main protein source and first ingredient is salmon if you get the Salmon and Sweet Potato recipe. The other two flavors are Beef, Potato, and Bison and Turkey and Potato. All of these formulas contain potato or sweet potato as the carbohydrate source so make sure your dog isn’t allergic to these ingredients. While the food is free of poultry meal or by-products, it does contain poultry fat. It’s unsure whether even the fat from poultry can cause allergies in your dog but if your dog has shown severe allergic reactions to anything with poultry, it might still be best to find another brand. If your dog is just experiencing slight allergies to grains and corn, then this could be the best dog food for your pet. The bison flavor is particularly good for dogs who need a rare protein source. The salmon flavor can have a strong fishy smell that some dogs (and owners) don’t really like. But it’s shown to be good for dogs with skin sensitivities that manifest around the ears and paws. If you’re looking for a basic grain-free recipe for your allergic dog, then the Nutrish Zero Grain is a readily available option with several flavors.