Best Dog Foods For Skin Allergies

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It’s completely normal for your dog to scratch once in a while. But if your dog seems to be scratching more often or if you notice other symptoms like dry skin or hair loss, it could be something more than just the occasional itch.

Skin allergies in dogs are more common than you might think, and they could be linked to your dog’s diet. Food allergies in dogs typically show up in skin-related symptoms, which can be hard to determine.

Keep reading to learn more about skin allergies in dogs, how to treat them, and how to choose the right dog food to treat them.

At a Glance: Best Dog Food for Skin Allergies

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below, where we have highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Compare Best Dog Foods For Skin Allergies

OVERALL BEST 1. The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food View on Prf Read Review	BEST AFFORDABLE 2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review	BEST FOR PUPPIES 3. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey & Potato Recipe Puppy Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review	BEST SMALL BREED DOG FOOD 4. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review	BEST LARGE BREED DOG FOOD 5. Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food View on Chewy Read Review
Protein 24% Min	Protein 20% Min	Protein 26% Min	Protein 26% Min	Protein 20% Min
Fat 14% Min	Fat 13% Min	Fat 15% Min	Fat 18% Min	Fat 13% Min
Fiber 6% Max	Fiber 4% Max	Fiber 5% Max	Fiber 3.5% Max	Fiber 3.5% Max
Calories 506 kcal/cup	Calories 321 kcal/cup	Calories 394 kcal/cup	Calories 469 kcal/cup	Calories 475 kcal/cup

The Top 5 Best Dog Foods For Skin Allergies

Understanding what causes skin allergies in dogs is the first step toward choosing the right dog food to treat them. In addition to choosing a dog food that is unlikely to trigger your dog’s allergies, you should also choose one that contains skin-supporting nutrients like essential fatty acids.

OVERALL BEST

1.

The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 24% Min
• Fat: 14% Min
• Fiber: 6% Max
• Calories: 506 kcal/cup

Pros

• Made with a limited number of human-grade ingredients
• Contains novel sources of protein and carbohydrates
• Highly digestible and rich in essential fatty acids

Cons

• Some dogs dislike the texture of reconstituted dried food

If your dog suffers from skin allergies, it is important to find a dog food made with a limited number of high-quality ingredients. This Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Duck Recipe is an excellent choice because it contains just a handful of human-grade ingredients freeze-dried to preserve their nutritional content. This recipe is completely grain-free, highly digestible, and packed with healthy fats for skin and coat support.

BEST AFFORDABLE

2.

Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 20% Min
• Fat: 13% Min
• Fiber: 4% Max
• Calories: 321 kcal/cup

Pros

• Made with just 6 main ingredients including novel protein (lamb)
• Supplemented with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
• No artificial additives, corn, wheat, or soy

Cons

• Not a grain-free recipe

Many limited ingredient dog foods designed for skin allergies are pricey, but this Rachael Ray Just 6 Limited Ingredient Diet is very affordable by comparison. It contains just 6 main ingredients to reduce the risk for triggering food allergies and skin sensitivities, plus it is made with lamb as a novel source of protein. This recipe is nutrient-rich and free from artificial additives, plus it contains a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat support.

BEST FOR PUPPIES

3.

Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey & Potato Recipe Puppy Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 26% Min
• Fat: 15% Min
• Fiber: 5% Max
• Calories: 394 kcal/cup

Pros

• High protein content
• Supplemented with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
• Highly digestible recipe and supplemented with probiotics

Cons

• Price on the high side
• The main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil)

This Blue Buffalo Basics Turkey & Potato Recipe Puppy Food is a great choice for puppies with skin allergies because it contains a novel source of protein and digestible carbohydrates. This recipe is made with a limited number of main ingredients to help reduce the risk for food allergies and skin sensitivities, plus it is rich in essential fatty acids from canola oil and fish oil. You’ll also be glad to know that it is free from fillers and artificial ingredients, and supplemented with probiotics and chelated minerals.

BEST SMALL BREED DOG FOOD

4.

Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food

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Product Info

• Protein: 26% Min
• Fat: 18% Min
• Fiber: 3.5% Max
• Calories: 469 kcal/cup

Pros

• Made with novel protein and limited number of ingredients
• Grain-free to reduce the risk for skin allergies and sensitivities
• Contains a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin health

Cons

• Expensive compared to other brands

If you’re in the market for a recipe formulated specifically for small breed dogs, you can’t do much better than this Nature’s Variety Instinct LID Small Breed Recipe. Not only is it made with a limited number of main ingredients to reduce the risk for allergies, but it contains a novel protein as well – turkey. This recipe is also grain-free with further reduces the risk for sensitivities and it contains a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin support.

BEST LARGE BREED DOG FOOD

5.

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food

View on Chewy

Product Info

• Protein: 20% Min
• Fat: 13% Min
• Fiber: 3.5% Max
• Calories: 475 kcal/cup

Pros

• Novel protein, chicken-free, and limited number of ingredients
• Highly digestible with grain-free carbohydrates
• Supplemented with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

Cons

• Customer reviews suggest that some dogs don’t like the flavor.
• Kibble size very small – not best suited for large breed dog

Formulated specifically to meet the nutritional needs of large-breed dogs, this Nutro Limited Ingredient Large Breed Adult Recipe is great for dogs with skin allergies. Not only does it contain a shorter list of ingredients, but it is made with a novel source of protein (lamb) and is entirely chicken-free. In addition to being highly digestible, this recipe is particularly designed to nourish your dog’s skin and coat thanks to a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

What Else Can You Do for Skin Allergies?

Feeding your dog a diet rich in skin-supporting ingredients is important, but there are also helpful ways to supplement its diet.

Adding a little canned food to your dog’s routine can add moisture to its diet and to its skin. Providing plenty of fresh drinking water is essential, and supplementing your dog’s diet with healthy fatty acids like flaxseed oil or fish oil could be helpful as well.

In addition to choosing a healthy diet for your dog, you can also improve its skin allergies by giving it a bath with some kind of skin-soothing shampoo and conditioner.

Natural ingredients like oatmeal and aloe can soothe your dog’s itchy, irritated skin and help moisturize it so it can heal. After bathing, simply towel your dog dry instead of using a blow dryer, because that could be too drying.

Understanding Skin Allergies In Dogs

When you think of food allergies and the related symptoms, you probably think of digestive issues like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. In dogs, however, food allergies most commonly present with skin problems like frequent scratching, sores and hot spots, hair loss, dull coat conditions, excessive shedding, and recurrent ear infections.

Dogs can develop allergies to any food ingredient, but they are most commonly triggered by corn, wheat, chicken, beef, soy, and dairy. Many dogs are also sensitive to grains and GMO ingredients. The key to treating your dog’s skin allergies is to find a food that doesn’t contain the offending ingredient and that includes plenty of skin-supporting nutrients.

Here are some of the things to look for in dog food for skin allergies:

• Quality Ingredients. One of the biggest causes of skin problems in dogs is an unhealthy diet, often made with low-quality ingredients and artificial additives. Look for a recipe that lists a quality protein first with digestible carbohydrates, healthy fats, and no artificial additives or fillers.
• Novel Proteins. A novel protein is simply one your dog hasn’t had before. Switching your dog to a recipe with a novel protein may help relieve skin allergies, so your dog can heal.
• Essential fatty acids Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids like DHA and EPA are an essential part of any dog’s diet but are particularly important for skin and coat health.
• Supplements. In addition to protein and essential fatty acids, your dog needs a blend of vitamins and minerals in its diet for skin support. Fresh fruits and vegetables are natural sources of key nutrients, but chelated minerals and probiotics are beneficial additions to look for as well.

How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Skin Allergies

The best place to start when choosing a dog food for skin allergies is to consider your dog’s basic nutritional needs. All dogs need a minimum of 18% crude protein and 5% crude fat in their diet—more when they are puppies—to maintain lean muscle mass and fuel their metabolisms.

Protein is the most important nutrient for dogs and should come from high-quality animal sources. Keep in mind, however, that skin allergies are often caused by allergic reactions to common proteins such as chicken and beef, so you may want to choose something less common like fish or game meat. You may also want to choose a less common or grain-free carbohydrate to reduce the risk of allergies; sweet potatoes, legumes, and other vegetables are good options.

Fat provides your dog with a concentrated source of energy, but more importantly, it nourishes your dog’s skin and coat. Your dog needs a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and the best sources are animal-based. Look for things like chicken fat and salmon oil with plant-based sources like flaxseed and sunflower oil for supplementation.

Keep reading to see our top 5 recommendations for the best dog food for skin allergies.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best dog food for skin allergies can be tricky because it may not always be obvious which ingredient is causing your dog’s allergic reaction. The best thing you can do is choose a recipe made with novel protein and carbohydrate sources and feed it consistently until your dog’s symptoms resolve. To get started, try one of the best dog foods for skin allergies that we’ve reviewed above.