hypoallergenic dog food uk reviews
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Foods for 2022
How To Choose The Right Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Check With Vet
Always consult your vet when considering switching diet for your dog, and if they believe your mutt is prone to allergies, they should be able to steer you in the right direction.
Choose Single and Novel Protein Sources
Dogs are most commonly allergic to certain types of meat, so try and avoid products which mix several in one recipe. Choosing novel proteins that dogs arent often exposed too will also limit chances of a reaction.
Hydrolysed Protein Diet
Free from lean sources of meat, this form of kibble uses broken down molecules of carbs and proteins to avoid immunogenic detection by immune system cells, thus, not triggering any allergic reactions.
Free From Artificial Ingredients
Nasty junk like fillers and preservatives are often found in standard dog foods, and it may well be these that are making your canine poorly.
Common Dietary Allergens For Dogs: What To Avoid
Believe it or not, the most common allergens and food intolerances for pups are usually certain types of meat and fish! But as protein is so important in doggy diets, it can often be hard to avoid meat sources in food, as well as identify which meat might actually be causing the issue.
The most common allergy-inducing meats are:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Fish
- Pork
Common allergens that are not meat-based are usually:
- Corn
- Wheat
- Soy
- Yeast
- Dairy
Avoiding all these ingredients can cause a mighty headache, so if youre unsure what it is your dog is allergic too, dont waste your time reading through every brands ingredients list.
Instead, choose hypoallergenic foods described as having hydrolysed ingredients. These wont feature a meat source or natural ingredients, and instead, focus on being as least allergen-inducing as possible.
Types of Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Limited Ingredient Formulas/ Standard Hypoallergenic Food
Truthfully, these sorts of hypoallergenic food arent allergen-free for every pup.
e.g. As the most common allergens in dogs occur from meat products, a canine who is sensitive to chicken is technically not going to thrive on a hypoallergenic chicken dish.
However these recipes do limit their overall ingredients, and so its easier to spot something your dog is sensitive too if its included.
These sorts of foods tend to focus more on removing things like dairy, wheat, soy and other less common allergens.
Novel Protein
These recipes take the idea that the most common allergens are meat-based and so use a protein source which is rare or unusual, and so therefore unlikely to have a negative effect on your mutt.
These are often things like venison, rabbit, duck and turkey.
They will then be paired with one single source of carbohydrate, keeping the ingredient list small and limiting the chance of a reaction.
Hydrolysed Protein
These are the best foods to use for when trying to actually determine whether your dog is suffering from food allergies, as they aim to limit all reactions. Hydrolyzed protein diets break protein and carbohydrate molecules down into smaller sizes that are easily digested and so avoid immunogenic detection by immune system cells.
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food for the UK Pet Owner
What exactly is hypoallergenic dog food?
Quite simply its about what the dog food DOESNT contain, rather than what it does.
Confused?
Think of a person with a peanut allergy. Would you give them a peanut butter sandwich?
Uh-oh! NO!
Hypoallergenic dog foods contain a limited range of ingredients. The recipe is kept simple so as to reduce the potential for causing an allergy. Think of it this way; if you have only few ingredients in a product, its much easier to choose one that doesnt contain nut products.
What has this to do with dog food?
Check Out the Top Rated Pick on Amazon:
Royal Canin Veterinary Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food 14Kg- Incorporates a moderate calorie content to help maintain ideal body weight.
- Contains antioxidants to support the barrier effect of the skin. Includes hydrolysed protein with...
- Contains moderate phosphrous levels to help support healty kidney function.
Feed a dog with a chicken allergy a hypoallergenic dog food made from chicken and rice, and guess what? He still show signs of allergy such as itching or diarrhoea. In practical terms this means sometimes even feeding a good hypoallergenic dog food for itchy skins can give disappointing results if it contains an ingredient your dog reacts to.
So where do you start if your dog is itchy and the vet suggests feeding a hypoallergenic food for skin allergies?
Whilst it might be realistic to feed the vet-recommended hypoallergenic dog food for french bulldogs to a small breed like this, feed that same expensive diet to a Rottweiler and youll spend more on dog food than your dinner.
However, there are good alternative options when you know how to shop savvy. Which is why weve done the taste testing for your best fur-friend and come up with the best hypoallergenic dog foods in the UK.
Related:
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Top Rated  | Top Rated Royal Canin Veterinary Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food
|
| Check on Amazon |
 | Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets
|
| Check on Amazon |
 | Burgess Sensitive Dog Food (British Turkey and Rice)
|
| Check on Amazon |
 | Dr John Hypoallergenic (Lamb with Rice)
|
| Check on Amazon |
 | Hills Dog Food Z/D Allergen Free Prescription Diet
|
| Check on Amazon |
 | Lilys Kitchen Lovely Lamb with Peas and Parsley Dry Food for Dogs
|
| Check on Amazon |
Normally when we do product reviews we like to include a clear winner, in this case its not possible. Allergies and diets are something that is very unique to each and every dog. Only you and your dog will know your situation and what may suit you best. With that, review each hypoallergenic dog food product on its own merits and see what works best for you.
Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Royal Canin Veterinary Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food 14Kg- Incorporates a moderate calorie content to help maintain ideal body weight.
- Contains antioxidants to support the barrier effect of the skin. Includes hydrolysed protein with...
- Contains moderate phosphrous levels to help support healty kidney function.
This gem of a hypoallergenic dog foodis a one of a few diets prescribed by vets for food allergies AND available outside of a vet clinic. In other words, if you want a food with the highest chance of working but without visiting the vet, this is one to choose.
The reason this Royal Canin hypoallergenic dog foodis effective is it contains hydrolyzed protein.What,you ask, is hydrolyzed protein? Good question, especially as it goes to the heart of why this food works. Here goes.
Food allergies are triggered when a food molecule fits into a receptor in the gut wall. Like putting a key in a lock, add the two things together and a door openswhich in this case means triggering the symptoms of the allergy.
A hydrolyzed protein is one that is broken into pieces that are too small to bridge the receptor. Think of it like snapping the key in half so it wont turn the lock. Long story short, hydrolysed protein molecules are extremely unlikely to trigger food allergies, whilst remaining good wholesome nutrition.
LIKES
Most pet parents found their were happy to chow down on this food. This is great news as even if a diet is nutritionally perfect, if the dog doesnt eat it theres a problem.
DISLIKES
In all honesty complaints are few and far between, most often about damaged packaging and slow delivery than the product itself.
OVERALL VALUE
This hypoallergenic dog foodisnt cheap but it is less expensive than when purchased at the vets. If the vet has recommended a special hypoallergenic dog food for ibd (inflammatory bowel disease) but you cant afford the price tag, then this is your best option. Balance the purchase cost off against money saved from fewer vet visits!
SUMMARY
- A vet recommended product with a saving on the purchase price
- Highly effective at settling food related allergies such as itchy skin or diarrhea
Purina Hypoallergenic Dog Food
PURINA PRO PLAN | HA Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food 3 kg- - Hypoallergenic elimination diet for food trials - Long-term management of food allergy -...
- Single hydrolysed protein with low molecular weight to help avoid allergic responses.
- Purified carbohydrates sources to help avoid allergic responses
You know everything we just said about the Royal Canin product? Well, this is another great food stocked by vet clinics that the savvy pet parent can purchase at a saving.
Purina HA is also a hydrolysed diet, where the protein molecule has been broken up to a size where it cant bridge the allergy receptor. In addition, the carbohydrate part has been purified to make it less likely to trigger allergies. Its also rich in omega oils which are a natural anti-inflammatory.
LIKES
For many owners whose dogs have itchy skins or suffer debilitating diarrhea, this diet made a big difference. Some dogs that didnt respond to medication, turned a corner when put onto Purina HA, which is also a food recommended by veterinary specialists.
DISLIKES
Some pet parents felt the food appeared a little bland. However, be wary of adding tasty titbits as these could undo all the good work done by the special diet.
OVERALL VALUE
Good quality and effective products dont come at bargain basement pricesand neither does this Purina hypoallergenic dog food. However, what you will get is a saving on the price at the vets, plus quite possibly save the cost of repeated vet visits.
SUMMARY
- Highly respected and vet recommended
- Easy to digest
- Very unlikely to trigger dietary allergies
- Ideal to feed to work out if food is the cause of your dogs itchy skin or upset tummy
Burgess Sensitive Dog Food
Sale Burgess Sensitive Dry Dog Food Turkey, 2 kg- Weve changed our look, but we still have the same trusted recipe for your sensitive dogs
- Burgess Sensitive is a dry dog food made without many of the typical ingredients that can cause...
- Burgess Sensitive Dog Food Turkey is formulated to support a sensitive tummy
This Burgess food used to be our top pick, but they recently dropped the Hypoallergenic claim from their packaging, which makes us wonder what changed. It is still marketed as a Sensitive dog food and has a great price point, so we have left it in our product listings for now.
On the plus side, this food has a limited range of ingredients, which means less potential for triggering allergies. But on the minus side, to be considered a true hypoallergenic diet it should contain just one protein source and one carbohydrate source.
LIKES
A more affordable option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The limited number of ingredients is damage limitation when it comes to triggering dietary allergies. This means some dogs may do very well on this food.
It also helps improve the quality of the dog poop and reduce bad gas smellswhich has to be good.
DISLIKES
This may not be the answer for some dogs with dietary allergies. Strictly speaking it has a limited ingredient list, which helps reduce the potential for an allergy. However, dogs that are sensitive to the ingredients are still going to flare up.
OVERALL VALUE
Top marks for an affordable price for what is a good food.
SUMMARY
Describing this Burgess dog food as hypoallergenic could be considered slightly misleading. Whilst around 50% of the recipe is turkey and rice, this leaves the remaining 50% as other ingredients (all with the potential to trigger allergies.)
Thus, many dogs will do well on this food, but some wont. A dog with an allergy to one of the other ingredients in this hypoallergenic diet may still shows symptoms such as itchiness or upset tummies.
Dr John Hypoallergenic Lamb and Rice
Sale Dr John Wheat-Free Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food - Lamb with...- TASTY WHEAT-FREE LAMB WITH RICE Dr. John Hypoallergenic Lamb with Rice is a perfectly balanced...
- COMPLETE NUTRITION we use only the finest ingredients in a nutritious formula that contains 21%...
- HEALTHY SKIN, JOINTS & COAT our balanced formula contains yucca extract for joint support,...
This Dr John Hypoallergenic dog foodis described as suitable for working dogs. This implies it has higher energy levels. The latter means it contains more calories and best avoided if your dog is prone to weight gain.
LIKES
A good quality food that can benefit some dogs with allergies.
DISLIKES
Sadly, for some owners of dogs with allergies this food didnt make a difference.
OVERALL VALUE
A competitively positioned food in terms of cost, for the pet parent who doesnt want to break the budget feeding a low allergen diet to their dog.
SUMMARY
This Dr John food ticks lots of boxes and for a dog with allergies to wheat should work well. It also (like many hypoallergenic diets) bases many claims on it being wheat and gluten free. However, wheat allergy is relatively unusual in dogs (certainly not as common as pet food leads you to believe) so dont set too much store on the importance of being gluten-free.
Hills Z/D
Hill's Prescription Diet z/d canine - 10 kg dry food- Hypoallergenic food formulated with highly idrolisato Chicken as the only animal protein source
- Digestive Nutrition skin and clinically proven to help reduce the symptoms caused by allergies
- Helps to nourish the skin and the coat
The grand-daddy of hypoallergenic dog foods. This was the first truly hypoallergenic commercially available dog food and the one to which other diets aspire. First, on the market, it set the standard for other hydrolysed diets such as Purina HA and Royal Canin Hypoallergenic.
LIKES
An 80% five-star approval rating says that this product does what it says on the label.
If your dog has food allergies and you offer ZD and nothing but ZD, then their symptoms are highly likely to clear up
As close as its possible to get to a cure without drugs, for those dogs with a food allergy.
DISLIKES
Not the most appealing flavour for some dogs, and may not go down well with picky eaters.
Shouldnt be mixed with other foods or youll forfeit its hypoallergenic goodness
OVERALL VALUE
This is an expensive diet but for a reason! It will provide for all your dogs nutritional requirements but in a way that is extremely unlikely to trigger a food allergy. On the one hand the diet isnt cheap, but on the other it could save distressing stomach upsets and costly vet visits.
SUMMARY
Hills Z/D is the ideal to feed as a dietary trial to test out if your dog has food allergies. The idea being that this food is very, very unlikely to trigger a dietary allergy, so if his symptoms persist despite being on ZD then he doesnt have a dietary allergy.
Lilys Kitchen
Sale Lily's Kitchen Natural Grain Free Complete Adult Dry Dog...- Made with freshly prepared meat and offal, this dog food features freshly prepared lamb as well as...
- We also add glucosamine and chondroitin to help support joints, along with prebiotics to help...
- Our offering includes wet, dry and treats for all lifestages, including recipes with one source of...
In all honesty this food doesnt market itself as hypoallergenic. But we felt compelled to include it because it contains a limited range of good quality ingredients and has many of the properties of a hypoallergenic diet. If youre looking for a good wholesome food that is free from cheap ingredients that upset your dogs stomach, then consider this diet.
LIKES
Tasty.Made from natural ingredients.Widely available
DISLIKES
Hmm, none really.
OVERALL VALUE
A great all purpose diet that has similar features to a hypoallergenic dog foodbut without making unsubstantiated claims.
SUMMARY
A sensible option if your dog has mild problems and youre wondering about a change of food.
Never underestimate the importance of ruling out food allergy if your dog has itchy skin or regular stomach upsets. However, choosing a hypoallergenic dog food can be tricky if you dont know what to look for.
Remember, a label claim stating hypoallergenic, doesnt mean a great deal. Your best guide is to read the ingredients and seek a product low in whatever it is that makes your dog sickAnd if in doubt, choose a food containing hydrolysed protein.
FAQs
What is the difference between normal and hypoallergenic dog food?
Dogs can be allergic to a variety of things, just like humans. Allergies in dogs are often caused by environmental factors, but their diet can also potentially be one factor. It is therefore important to choose the right food for your allergy-prone pooch. Ingredients that might trigger allergies include certain proteins, grains, or preservatives. Hypoallergenic dog food is free from some of these potential allergens. Instead, it is made with alternative ingredients that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. If youre not sure which type of food is right for your dog, first talk to your veterinarian. They can help you select a food that will provide all the nutrients your dog needs without triggering their allergies.
What are the symptoms of food allergies in dogs?
Some signs of food allergies in dogs include:
- itchy skin
- digestive disturbances such as vomiting or diarrhea.
- excessive flatulence (farting)
- weight loss
- lack of energy
- hyperactivity or aggression.
