The 5 Best Chicken-Free Dog Foods
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Many people are concerned about food allergens and sensitivities in their dogs. According to veterinarians, dogs can have reactions to many things other than their food but our dog’s diet is something that most of us feel we can control.
Perhaps that’s why we look at our dog’s food first when there is a problem of any kind. Chicken is one of the most common ingredients used in dog foods and it’s a common trigger for food allergies and sensitivities in dogs.
If you suspect that your dog might be having a reaction to chicken in his diet, we can show you the best chicken-free dog food. Let’s have a look.
Compare Best Chicken-Free Dog Food To Buy
OVERALL BEST  1. Weruva Chicken-Free Just 4 Me Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Dog Food | RUNNER UP  2. Wellness Complete Health Adult Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food | BEST AFFORDABLE  3. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Bison Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR DIGESTION  4. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Dog Food | BEST FREEZE-DRIED  5. Instinct by Nature's Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Dog Food |
Protein 8.0% Min | Protein 22.0% Min | Protein 20.0% Min | Protein 25.0% Min | Protein 36.5% Min |
Fat 1.4% Min | Fat 12.0% Min | Fat 10.0% Min | Fat 15.0% Min | Fat 20.5% Min |
Fiber 0.5% Max | Fiber 4.5% Max | Fiber 4.0% Max | Fiber 5.0% Max | Fiber 3.5% Max |
Moisture 87% Max | Moisture 10.0% Max | Moisture 10.0% Max | Moisture 10.0% Max | Moisture 10.0% Max |
Caloric Content 136 kcal/5.5-oz can | Caloric Content 400 kcal/cup | Caloric Content 3460 kcal/kg, 375 kcal/cup | Caloric Content 3,611 kcal/kg, 338 kcal/cup | Caloric Content 4,460 kcal/kg, 524 kcal/cup |
Introduction To Chicken-Free Dog Food
Food allergies in dogs are primarily caused by reactions to proteins, with beef being the most common cause. A British study found that beef is the biggest cause of food allergies, producing over one-third of the cases diagnosed. Dairy, chicken, and wheat are the other allergens. Soy, lamb, corn, and eggs are also common allergens.
Breakfast is not a bad ingredient for dogs, as they love it and it’s good for them. However, more exposure to an ingredient can lead to an allergic reaction. For example, if fish-based dog food becomes popular, it may become a frequent allergen. Chicken, a popular meat protein in dog food, is both nutritious and affordable. Many companies include whole chicken and chicken meal in their foods, and some use chicken by-products. However, if a dog develops an allergy or food sensitivity to chicken, they may have trouble.
Food allergies occur when the dog’s immune system perceives a protein in the food as a threat, leading to itchy skin or other allergy symptoms. Food sensitivity reactions are more likely to be a response through the dog’s gut, leading to vomiting or diarrhea.
Symptoms Of A Food Allergy
- Itchy skin (most common)
- Hives: scratching can lead to hair loss
- Gastrointestinal problems (gas, vomiting, diarrhea)
- Swollen face
- Chronic ear and paw infections: repeated infections of ears and paws can be a sign of a food sensitivity instead of a food allergy
If you and your veterinarian discover that your dog cannot eat dog foods that contain chicken, we have some recommendations for you for the best chicken-free dog food.
The 5 Best Chicken-Free Dog Foods Reviewed
Weruva Chicken-Free Just 4 Me Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 8.0% Min
- Fat: 1.4% Min
- Fiber: 0.5% Max
- Moisture: 87% Max
- Caloric Content: 136 kcal/5.5-oz can
- Chicken-free
- Grain-free, gluten-free, GMO-free
- Contains essential nutrients including omega fatty acids
- Easy to use, meal-portioned cans to serve alone or as toppers or mixers
- Canned foods can be costly if you have a larger dog to feed
These formulas contain no chicken, gluten, or grains so they are perfect for dogs with food sensitivities.
Available in 5.5 ounce case of 24; and 14-ounce case of 12.
Wellness Complete Health Adult Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 22.0% Min
- Fat: 12.0% Min
- Fiber: 4.5% Max
- Moisture: 10.0% Max
- Caloric Content: 400 kcal/cup
- No chicken
- Fish is the only animal protein
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Features easily-digestible carbohydrates
- No meat by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Contains peas as the third ingredient
Barley, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes provide useful carbohydrates that dogs with sensitive digestion should be able to handle. The fish in the food also provides a good source of omega fatty acid for healthy skin and coat.
Available in 5-lb, 15-lb, and 30-lb bags.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Bison Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 20.0% Min
- Fat: 10.0% Min
- Fiber: 4.0% Max
- Moisture: 10.0% Max
- Caloric Content: 3460 kcal/kg, 375 kcal/cup
- No chicken
- Sensitive digestion, limited ingredient diet formula
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Grain-free
- No artificial flavors or colors
- Contains a single animal protein and limited carbohydrates
- Like many limited ingredient diets, this formula has rather low protein
And, if this formula doesn’t work for your dog, Natural Balance has many other limited ingredient diets. One of them might help your dog.
Available in 4.5-lb, 13-lb, and 26-lb bags.
Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 25.0% Min
- Fat: 15.0% Min
- Fiber: 5.0% Max
- Moisture: 10.0% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,611 kcal/kg, 338 kcal/cup
- No chicken
- Lamb is the only meat protein
- Grain-free
- No corn, wheat, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Includes a proprietary strain of probiotics for digestive health
- Includes pea ingredients
This is a grain-free formula with sweet potatoes as a carbohydrate source. Chelated minerals help your dog absorb minerals more easily. Omega fatty acids support your dog’s healthy skin and coat.
Available in 5-lb, 14-lb, and 28-lb bags.
Instinct by Nature's Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 36.5% Min
- Fat: 20.5% Min
- Fiber: 3.5% Max
- Moisture: 10.0% Max
- Caloric Content: 4,460 kcal/kg, 524 kcal/cup
- No chicken
- Farm-raised rabbit is the first ingredient
- Contains 71 percent real animal ingredients and nutritious oils
- No grains, no glutens, potatoes, corn, wheat, soy, or by-product meal
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Contains guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics
- Features kibble that is coated in freeze-dried raw food
- Contains chickpeas and peas
Plus, this is the only kibble that includes raw nutrition in every piece. The kibble is coated with freeze-dried raw food that dogs love!
Available in 4-lb and 20-lb bags.
What to Look For When Shopping for the Best Chicken-Free Dog Food?
Here are some things to look for when you’re reading labels and searching for chicken-free dog food.
- If your dog can’t eat chicken, he may not be able to eat other kinds of poultry. This can depend on your individual dog. For some dogs, turkey might be different enough from chicken that your dog could eat it. With other dogs, turkey and other kinds of poultry would be too similar to chicken. It could produce the same kind of problems you are trying to avoid with chicken.
- Check all of the ingredients listed on the label. Most of us think of chicken as a meat protein in its whole form but it can appear in other forms in your dog’s food. Chicken meal and chicken by-products are also common ingredients. Some foods can contain chicken broth, chicken liver, hearts, and other organs. Foods that claim to have natural forms of glycosamine and chondroitin may obtain these ingredients from chicken cartilage. Foods that are “chicken-flavored” are out, too, since they can use some chicken parts to obtain flavoring.
- Consider the fat source in your dog’s food. Some foods use chicken fat as a fat source. According to some sources, a dog with an allergy or sensitivity shouldn’t react to chicken fat since it’s not a protein. However, there are some dogs that will react to chicken fat, too. This may happen because pet food companies cannot always be completely responsible for the purity of their ingredients, especially before they are purchased.
- Eggs can be okay. Strange as it may seem, eggs can be okay for your dog, even if he has an allergy or food sensitivity to chicken. This can change over time but eggs are considered to be a separate allergen. Only a small portion of dogs have a reaction to eggs compared to a larger percentage that react to chicken. There are some dog foods that use eggs as an animal protein so you might consider these foods.
- If your dog is very sensitive to chicken, consider a prescription diet. If you are buying commercial dog food, there is always some risk of cross-contamination. This can occur when companies make various recipes, one after another, using the same machinery. You might be buying a fish-based recipe for your dog but if a chicken formula was made over the same machinery, it’s possible that your dog’s food could contain some trace amounts of chicken. If your dog is highly allergic to or very sensitive to chicken, you might consider buying a prescription food. More care is supposed to be taken in the manufacture of these foods so there won’t be any cross-contamination.
- When in doubt, contact the manufacturer. It’s never easy having a dog with a food allergy or sensitivity. If you are in doubt about the ingredients in a food or how the food is made, contact the manufacturer and ask careful questions. Sometimes the ingredients listed on a label are vague and you need to be certain about them before you feed them to your dog.
Final Thoughts
Many dogs have food sensitivities, including chicken allergies. Finding dog food without chicken can be challenging. Some recommended dog foods include chicken-free options, but if these don’t work, try other recipes or consult a veterinarian for a prescription diet.
The FDA advises against dog foods containing legumes as main ingredients, as they are generally considered the first 10 ingredients listed in a food’s ingredient list before the first vitamin or mineral ingredient. Additionally, dogs should be cautious about dog foods that “split” ingredients and use multiple legumes lower in the ingredient list, as they can make up a large amount of the food. Prescription diets can be more expensive but can be effective.
