best dog food for dogs with allergies uk

Best and worst dog food brands

There are hundreds of dog food options available, from dry to grain-free to raw, but which ones will have your furry friend licking the bowl clean?

We surveyed 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they buy to uncover the brands that customers (and their dogs) love and which offer the best value for money.

See how brands such as Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin are rated by customers, as well as supermarket options from the likes of Aldi and Lidl.

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Dog food brands rated

Our top-scoring dog food brand achieved an impressive customer score of 82%, and five-star ratings for how much pets liked it, as well as their wellbeing when eating it.

At the other end of the scale, two brands scored less than 60%, with just two stars out of five each for how healthy the dog seemed when eating food from that brand.

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Make sure your furry friend is covered see our guide to the best pet insurance for your dog

How to choose the best dog food for your pet

Deciphering all the pet nutrition information on the internet can seem like an impossible task. It can range from confusing to completely contradictory.

We spoke to real pet nutrition researchers to understand what actually matters. Good news: it isnt as complicated as it seems.

The most important part of choosing a food is actually monitoring your pet, said Dr Teresa Hollands, senior lecturer in veterinary nutrition at the University of Surrey. If you're feeding your pet a particular brand of food, and they have plenty of energy and seem well in themselves, then you are on the right track.

Dr Nigel Kendall, lecturer in nutrition at the University of Nottingham, agreed: If your pet is on completely the wrong diet, then there will be physical signs.

Signs that your pet is eating a nutritious diet, and the right food for their needs, include:

• good overall health
• plenty of energy
• good sleeping habits
• regularly passing firm stools
• maintaining a healthy weight.

Also a cat owner? See our guide to thebest and worst cat food brands

How to feed your dog the best and healthiest diet

As well as choosing the right food, you can also maximise the nutritional value of your pets diet by feeding them in the right way.

We spoke with Dr David Gardner, professor of physiology at the University of Nottingham, to find out more:

Choosing a complete food

Start by making sure you are feeding your pet a complete food, he said. Thats really important, but it isnt always clearly labelled.

Complete foods are designed to give your pet all the nutrients they need, so you can feed them the same thing every day without causing a nutritional imbalance or deficit.

Weighing your pet food

David also highlighted the importance of weighing your pets food every time you feed them.

Remember, you may not notice that you're overfeeding your pet if you increase the size of their feed very slightly each day.

Varying your pet food

If you want to take additional steps to ensure your pet is getting the best nutrition, David also suggested varying the food you give them, provided that this doesnt upset their stomach.

These changes could be as small as varying the flavour of food that you give to your pet.

If you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month, try the chicken next time, David suggested.

If you do want to try changing the type or brand of your pet food, remember to do so gradually. Your pet's meal should be no more than 25% new food for the first couple of days, increasing over the course of a week.

Dogs can be fussy, so know that varying your pet food is not essential. The main thing is that they eat and enjoy their food and that it's nutritionally complete.

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Is wet or dry dog food better?

Both wet and dry foods can be nutritionally complete, meaning that they should contain all the nutrients your pet needs. That means there is no significant advantage to either food type.

David recommended feeding your pet a mixture of wet and dry food.

Evidence suggests that there are slight differences in the nutritional composition of wet and dry food. That means you are going to cover more nutrients if you mix them together.

If you want to feed your dog exclusively one type of food, then wet food does tend to be more appealing. However, it is often more expensive and it can predispose pets to dental disease.

In contrast, dry food is beneficial to dogs teeth and gums, and it is usually easier and cheaper to use and store. Just make sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water, as they will not be getting hydration from their food.

Best food and drinkwe've rated the tastiest food for humans too. Discover our top picks, from chicken soup to red wine

Can dogs be vegan?

Yes, provided you are careful about the type of food you give them.

There are commercial dog foods available that are vegetarian or vegan and nutritionally complete.

Some people may want to prepare homemade vegetarian or vegan meals for their dog, which is not typically recommended by experts.

This is because evidence suggests that homemade food (including meat-based diets) is typically not nutritionally complete even when people follow recipes labelled as such.

Is raw food good for dogs?

Raw pet food has become more popular over the past few years, especially for dogs, but experts don't generally recommend it.

I would not recommend a raw food diet due to the risk to human health, says Dr Heather Bacon, dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.

Bacteria present in raw meat can include salmonella, listeria, campylobacter and E-coli. These cause significant illness in humans and animals, particularly young, old and immune-compromised individuals.

These can be spread around the house during food preparation and eating. They can also be passed from animals to humans if your pet kisses your face after eating.

All of these bacteria are destroyed when meat is correctly cooked.

How much should my dog weigh?

According to a 2022 survey by UK Pet Food, 50% of dogs (and 43% of cats) are overweight or obese.

Your pet being overweight can have a huge impact on its quality of life, including limiting their ability to exercise or sleep properly. According to the RSPCA, it also predisposes them to illness including:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• cancer.

How to if tell your dog is overweight

Dr Teresa Hollands recommends an easy method for checking your pets weight.

Create a fist with your hand, and feel your knuckles with your fingers, she said. If your pets ribs feel like that, they are underweight.

Then lay your hand flat, and feel your knuckles again. If their ribs feel like that, they are the perfect weight.

Finally, keep your hand flat, turn your hand over, and run your fingers over the pads on your palm at the base of your fingers. If their ribs feel like that, they are overweight.

Physical signs that your dog is overweight

• Very thin(more than 20% below ideal body weight) Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen (in short-haired pets), obvious loss of muscle bulk, no fat can be felt under the skin.
• Underweight (10-20% below ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen, obvious waist and abdominal tuck, very little fat can be felt under the skin.
• IdealRibs, spine and hip bones easily felt, visible waist and abdominal tuck, small amount of fat can be felt.
• Overweight(10-15% above ideal body weight): Ribs, spine and hip bones are hard to feel, waist barely visible, broad back, layer of fat on belly and at base of tail.
• Obese (more than 15% above ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones extremely difficult to feel under a thick layer of fat, no waist can be seen and belly may droop significantly, heavy fat pads on lower back and at base of the tail.

How we rated dog food brands

To uncover the best and worst dog food brands, in July 2023 we surveyed 2,304 Which? members who had bought dog food recently, and asked all about their experiences with their chosen brand.

We asked them to rate the brand on various attributes including value for money, how their dog responded to the food, and its perceived wellbeing on the food.

Overall customer scores are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand overall and whether or not they would recommend it.

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The Top 10 Best Dog Foods for Allergy Relief in 2024

Ingredient Analysis and Allergy-Friendly Benefits

James Wellbeloved Adult Small Breed Duck & Rice is specially formulated for small dogs with food sensitivities. It features duck meat as its primary protein source an ideal novel protein for pups with allergies to more common meats like chicken or beef.

Duck acts as a hypoallergenic protein that doesnt trigger inflammatory immune responses in dogs with food allergies or intolerances. The easily digestible duck meat provides essential amino acids for maintaining muscle mass and healthy organ function without upsetting sensitive stomachs.

Additionally, this food contains brown and white rice as its main carbohydrate sources. Both types of rice are gentle grains that are easy to break down and unlikely to cause adverse reactions. The rice delivers sustained energy from slow-releasing carbs to suit smaller breeds faster metabolisms.

James Wellbeloved also includes omega-rich linseed to nourish the skin and coat from within. Linseed is packed with anti-inflammatory alpha-linolenic acid to soothe skin irritations and minimise excessive scratching or licking associated with allergies. Its vitamin E content bolsters the immune system while the omegas promote a glossy, healthy coat.

Together, this thoughtful blend of duck meat, easily digestible rice, and skin-loving linseed creates a formula tailored to small breed dogs with food sensitivities. It supports overall body health and reduces allergy symptoms for improved wellbeing.

Nutritional Profile and Immune System Support

In addition to its allergy-friendly ingredients, James Wellbeloved Adult Small Breed Duck & Rice delivers complete and balanced daily nutrition for adult dogs under 10kg.

It provides precisely calibrated levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to cater to smaller breeds faster metabolic rates. This ensures they receive adequate nutrition without consuming excessive calories or experiencing spikes and crashes in energy levels.

The duck and rice formula supplies high-quality protein for building and repairing muscles, alongside omega fats to nourish healthy skin and coats from within. It also includes an antioxidant blend with vitamin E, vitamin C, lutein and patented EXTRAX to bolster immune defences and enhance overall wellness.

Moreover, this recipe is made without artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. The absence of these unnecessary additives reduces exposure to potential allergens or irritants. It also ensures easy digestibility to support sensitive stomachs.

In short, James Wellbeloved Adult Small Breed Duck & Rice delivers the balanced nutrition little dogs need alongside the gentle ingredients they can tolerate. It fuels robust immune systems to prevent reactions while fulfilling special dietary requirements.

Customer Feedback and Real-World Effectiveness

The true test for any pet food is how it performs for real-life dogs with real allergies or intolerances. Numerous customers praise James Wellbeloved Duck & Rice for improving their small breed dogs skin, coat, digestion and overall happiness.

For example, Lauren S. had struggled for years to find a food her French bulldog could tolerate without itchy skin and ear infections. Once switching to James Wellbeloved, she saw a remarkable turnaround:

I have a fussy Frenchie who has always suffered with bacterial infections in between his skin folds and persistent ear infections. We have tried him on so many sensitivity and skin diets which he always ended up reacting to. Since he has been on James Wellbeloved my boy has gone from strength to strength His skin is the best its looked in years no more angry rashes or infections!

Similarly, Emma S. calls the food a miracle cure for her Westie with horrendous allergies:

My westie has an allergy to everything environmental and most foods, we were struggling so much with him as the allergy was making his skin bright red, itchy, eyes runny etc no matter what we used or how much we groomed.James Wellbeloved duck and rice has been an absolute miracle cure, his skin is white again, eyes and nose are clear. Its made such a difference to his life.

These glowing reviews demonstrate the real-world value of James Wellbeloved Adult Small Breed Duck & Rice for improving allergic reactions. The easily digested formula soothes irritation and supports immune function providing true quality of life benefits.

Numerous customers specifically praise improvements in skin, coat, eyes, ears and digestion after switching to this thoughtful recipe. For small breed dogs with sensitivities, it appears James Wellbeloveds tailored approach is the answer.