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Best* Dog Food for Skin Allergies of 2023
Have a pup with sensitivities to foods that can irritate their skin? Skin allergies can be very frustrating, but pet parents have a wide range of solutions to help ease discomfort caused by dry and itchy skin. Here are some of the best dog food brands for dogs with skin allergies. For information on other ways to help a pup who suffers from skin allergies, take a look at our guide to Dog Skin Allergies—Causes, Symptoms and Treatments.
What to look for in the best dog food for skin allergies
Limited Ingredients
Try to find brands with fewer ingredients—if your dog has sensitivities to certain foods, fewer ingredients mean a lower chance there’s something that will cause a flare-up. It’s also good to stick with brands with fewer preservatives and fillers.
Avoid Certain Grains
Some grains can act as trigger foods for skin sensitivities—a good reason to explore some of the best grain-free dog food for skin allergies. It may even be a good idea to omit them from your pet’s diet until you can pinpoint the allergy. You may even want to ask your vet about the benefits of going completely grain-free and whether it could be an option for your pup.
Don’t Forget About Treats
Changing your dog’s food is a great step in combatting skin allergies—but it won’t help if you’re still giving them treats with trigger ingredients. Make sure you get rid of any treats that may have allergens and let friends and family know that your pet can’t be fed any people food.
Pet parent faves
Finding the proper diet to combat itchy skin and coats can be challenging. Luckily, our pet parents know what they need to give their pup relief. Here is a list of some of Petco’s best-selling dog food for skin allergies based on pet parent popularity.
Hill's
Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
Hill’s is often recommended by veterinarians and has been a trusted brand for decades. This blend is formulated for both skin and stomach sensitivities and still has a rich, meaty flavor.
Features:
- Available in 4-, 15.5- and 30-lbs. bags
- Enriched with vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids for skin nourishment
- Contains no chicken by-product meal
- Not artificially preserved
- No synthetic colors or artificial flavors
Royal Canin
Sensitive Skin Care Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog Food
One of the best-selling dog foods for skin allergies, this loaf food is suitable for dogs of all sizes. It supports skin health while still featuring a delectable flavor and rich sauce dogs love. Royal Canin has been specializing in dog nutrition since 1968 and specializes in breed and health-specific foods.
Features:
- Available in single 13.5-oz. cans or 12-packs
- Formulated for adult and older dogs
- Manufacturer satisfaction guarantee
- Tailored for dry and sensitive coats
- Can be used in conjunction with kibble
Purina
Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
Fish contains essential fatty acids to help keep your dog’s coat silky and smooth. This Pro Plan formula is packed with salmon and rice to help keep your dog full while providing essential oils and nutrients for skin health.
Features:
- Available in 5-, 16-, 30- and 41-lbs. bags
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Packed with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids
- Contains rice and oatmeal to help keep your dog full
- No corn, wheat and soy
Hill's
Prescription Diet Derm Complete Environmental and Food Sensitivities Original Flavor Dry Dog Food
This tasty dog food option is designed specifically for dogs experiencing itching due to food sensitivities. Like some other powerful best-selling dog food for skin allergies, this option from Hill’s requires a prescription from your veterinarian. Once it’s obtained, you can get it filled through our Petco Pharmacy and have it conveniently shipped to your door.
Features:
- Available in 6.5-, 14.3- and 24-lbs. bags
- Must have veterinarian authorization
- Clinical nutrition
- Can produce visible skin improvement in as little as 21 days
- Formulated for most breed sizes
Jiminy's
Good Grub Dry Dog Food
Jiminy’s uses insect protein to make their food easy on the planet and other animals. While proteins like chicken and beef have commonly been known to cause allergy flare-ups, insect protein is hypoallergenic and typically easier to digest. Along with nutrient-dense ingredients like sweet potato, flaxseed and oats, it’s also specially baked, so it’s less processed and retains more nutrients.
Features:
- Available in 3.5-lbs. and 10-lbs. bags
- Hypoallergenic proteins
- Formulated for all life stages
- Veterinarian formulated
- Oven-baked in the USA
Wholehearted
Grain-free Skin and Coat Care Pea and Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food
Does your dog have sensitivities to wheat and corn? Wholehearted has a great option to help pups and their parents. This grain-free formula uses the power of peas to help nourish your pet and keep them feeling full, as well as delicious salmon to help promote skin and coat health. This carefully crafted recipe is one of the best grain-free dog foods for skin allergies.
Features:
- Available in 5-lbs. and 25-lbs. bags
- Rich in antioxidants and vitamin E
- Formulated for all breeds
- Contains hydrolyzed salmon to help reduce allergic reactions
- Provides amino acids to help maintain a natural protective health barrier
Wholehearted
Skin and Coat Care Turkey Recipe Wet Dog Food
When it comes to some of the best dog food for skin allergies, turkey is one of the best hypoallergenic protein sources and has a rich flavor many dogs love. It’s packed with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids—as well as zinc and vitamin E—to help maintain a shiny and well-moisturized coat.
Features:
- Available in single 13.2-oz. cans or 12-packs
- Grain-free
- Soy-free
- Formulated for all breeds
- For dogs in the adult life stage
Instinct
Raw Boost Skin and Coat Health Grain-free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
Instinct combines protein-packed kibble with minimally processed bits of freeze-dried chicken and cod for a delicious formula designed to help maintain skin wellness and a shiny coat. It has many benefits of raw food with the convenience of being shelf-stable and nutritious, thanks to freeze-dried ingredients.
Features:
- Available in 4-lbs. and 18-lbs. bags
- Grain-free
- Contains no soy
- Made with no artificial flavors or preservatives
- Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient
JustFoodForDogs
Vet Support Diets Joint and Skin Frozen Dog Food
If you’re looking for a fresh food solution to your dog’s skin sensitivities, look no further than this minimally processed option from JustFoodForDogs. It’s cooked fresh, then frozen for your convenience—simply thaw and serve. This is some of the best dog food for skin allergies for large breeds and small breeds alike that can also help you manage your pup’s joint diseases and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Features:
- Available in 18-oz. or 72-oz. packs
- No artificial coloring or preservatives
- Delicious pork flavor
- For adult life stages
- Contains quinoa to help keep your dog full
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Learn More About Dog Food for Skin Allergies
Just like humans, dogs can have a variety of sensitivities. Some known foods that can commonly trigger dog allergens include the following.
- Corn
- Wheat
- Beef
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Soy
- Rabbit
- Fish
If you notice your dog has sores, is scratching excessively, has inflamed ears, is shaking their head or is licking and biting at their paws, it could be a food sensitivity. Consult your veterinarian on an appropriate course of treatment, but it may also be a good time to start investigating some of the best dog food brands for dogs with skin allergies.
If these are new symptoms, and you changed something in your dog’s diet, their food might be to blame. It may be helpful to take read the labels on the new food or treats and compare them to their old brand. You can also take pictures of the ingredients to take to your vet, along with any supplements your pet may be taking. Take note of any new grooming solutions as well.
Finding the trigger food or foods can be key. Your veterinarian may run tests to try to determine the root allergy. They may also want to put your pet on an elimination diet to determine the culprit causing an immune response. Once they discover the irritant, they can help you eliminate it from your dog’s diet and reduce symptoms.
At Petco, we offer some of the best dog food for small dogs with skin allergies, as well as for large breeds. Some even help address multiple health conditions common to canines.
Treating your dog’s food sensitivities can be frustrating because the reactive food could be anything. Consulting your veterinarian is essential. Once you find out which food is triggering your dog, our dog food blends for skin allergies make it easier to avoid. However, some of the best dog food for skin allergies and shedding typically feature limited ingredient formulas, avoid overly processed ingredients and feature supplements that help moisturize your pet’s skin.
*Based on petco.com sales data.