Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food for the UK Pet Owner

Normally when we do product reviews we like to include a clear winner, in this case it’s 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

(£65.92 at review time)

This gem of a hypoallergenic dog food is 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 food is 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 opens…which 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 doesn’t eat it there’s 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 food isn’t 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 can’t 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

(£57.49 at review time)

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 can’t bridge the allergy receptor. In addition, the carbohydrate part has been purified to make it less likely to trigger allergies. It’s 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 didn’t 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 don’t come at bargain basement prices…and 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 dog’s itchy skin or upset tummy

Burgess Sensitive Hypoallergenic Dog Food

(£34.00 at review time)

This Burgess food has a great price point and is labelled as hypoallergenic. Makes it a bargain! Or does it?

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 smells…which 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 won’t. 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

(£21.99 at review time)

This Dr John Hypoallergenic dog food is 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 didn’t make a difference.

OVERALL VALUE

A competitively positioned food in terms of cost, for the pet parent who doesn’t 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 don’t set too much store on the importance of being ‘gluten-free’.

Harrington’s Salmon and Sweet Potato Hypoallergenic Dog Food

(£23.97 at review time)

As the name suggests this hypoallergenic dog food is made from salmon and sweet potato. It has a great reputation and is competitively priced.

But here’s the rub, it also contains other nutritional goodies such as green lipped mussel (for joints), rosehips, oregano, sage, and citrus extract. This is all very well, but each additional ingredient is an extra which could potentially trigger an allergy.

LIKES

An affordable premium product that works well for some dogs

DISLIKES

Contains other ingredients such as tomato, citrus essence, and herbs, which some dogs may be allergic to.

Unfortunately the Harringtons food upset a few dogs stomachs, possibly proving the point that with hypoallergenic diets sometimes less-is-more when it comes to ingredients.

OVERALL VALUE

A real winner for those looking for a quality hypoallergenic diet on a budget. However, doesn’t it doesn’t work for everyone.

SUMMARY

As with so many hypoallergenic diets, keep an eye on the added extras. Remember the more ingredients there are, the more there is for the dog to react to. If your dog’s symptoms don’t improve with this diet, it might be one of the ingredients he’s reacting to.

Lifelong Hypoallergenic Diet for Dogs

(£30.00 at review time)

INTRODUCTION

With no artificial colours, flavourings, or preservatives, this Lifelong hypoallergenic diet majors on being low in many of the ingredients that trigger food allergy. It advertises having a few, good quality ingredients, however at the same time it boosts of added vitamins, minerals, and ingredients that are ‘beneficial for overall good health.’

LIKES

The majority of the dogs love the flavour and eat it with enthusiasm

For some dog this food stopped their itchy skin and upset tummies.

DISLIKES

Some users report the product goes mouldy, even when kept in an airtight containers

OVERALL VALUE

A competitive price for dogs who would benefit from being fed a food with a limited ingredient list.

SUMMARY

Another good quality dog that offers benefits for dogs with a sensitive digestion. However, like so many hypoallergenic dog foods, this diet is low in many of the ingredients which can trigger an food intolerance, rather than being a true hypoallergenic diet.

Hills ZD

(£52.99 at review time)

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 it’s 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.

Shouldn’t be mixed with other foods or you’ll forfeit it’s hypoallergenic goodness

OVERALL VALUE

This is an expensive diet …but for a reason! It will provide for all your dog’s nutritional requirements but in a way that is extremely unlikely to trigger a food allergy. On the one hand the diet isn’t cheap, but on the other it could save distressing stomach upsets and costly vet visits.

SUMMARY

Hills ZD 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 doesn’t have a dietary allergy.

Lily’s Kitchen

(£37.79 at review time)

In all honesty this food doesn’t 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 you’re looking for a good wholesome food that is free from cheap ingredients that upset your dog’s 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 food but without making unsubstantiated claims.

SUMMARY

A sensible option if your dog has mild problems and you’re 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 don’t know what to look for.

Remember, a label claim stating  ‘hypoallergenic’, doesn’t 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 sick…And if in doubt, choose a food containing hydrolysed protein.

Simple! Ciaou, everyone.