Hypoallergenic Dog Food

What is hypoallergenic dog food?

The term hypoallergenic dog food has coined a few different meanings over the years depending on the trends and fashions of terminology in the dog food industry. Hypoallergenic in its purest form, suggests that the dog food is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction or adverse reaction as it is sometimes called.

This is due to fewer ingredients being used and those that are used are generally ‘free-from’ substances. For example, wheat-free dog food and grain-free dog food. Hypoallergenic food for dogs has close links to ‘natural’ dog food, which depending on your use of terminology is also created using ‘free-from’ ingredients. Both hypoallergenic dog food and natural dog food can also be free-from added artificial colourings and artificial preservatives too. 

Here at Laughing Dog, we’re passionate about getting things right and for us, that means we strive to make tails wag and tummies 100% dog happy for every four-legged friend who tries our naturally-delicious recipes. Even those with allergies and sensitivities who require hypoallergenic dog food.

How do I know if the dog food I select is hypoallergenic?

Due to the different ways manufacturers advertise their dog foods, it can be difficult to understand if you’re getting the right hypoallergenic food for your four-legged friend.

However, if your dog has either been advised by a veterinarian of potential allergies or intolerances, or you’re aware that they have a sensitive stomach, skin, or coat, you can follow these straightforward steps to understand what to look out for on packaging to make sure your selection of hypoallergenic dog food is properly informed. 

Step 1: The ingredient list.

Some of the most common food allergens found in dogs are from proteins, which are commonly found in beef, chicken, eggs, wheat, and dairy. It is usually difficult to pin down the exact cause of your dog’sallergy/adverse reaction or food intolerance, so opting for a wheat-free or grain-free diet is always a great place to start.

Before purchasing the alleged hypoallergenic dog food, be careful to check the ingredients list. Remember the term ‘hypoallergenic’ is subjective, and different manufacturers use it to cover different aspects of a dog’s diet. You want to be looking out for any mention of wheat, dairy, and soya. These ingredients should not be appearing in hypoallergenic dog foods.  

Step 2: The additives list.

Sometimes, depending on the manufacturer, the ingredients (or composition) list and additives lists are separate and other times they are clubbed together. 

Within this section, you want to be looking out for vitamins and minerals, for example, iron, magnesium, and zinc. However, alarm bells should be ringing if you notice any substances on the list noted as; various sugars, colourants, oils and fats (which are not descriptive so you don’t know what species it’s come from) and flavouring. 

The shorter the ingredients and additives lists, usually the better, and they should always be descriptive. If you notice in the ingredients list any mention of just ‘cereals’ for example, with no breakdown of which exact cereals then stay away, not just from a hypoallergenic dog food perspective, but who knows what is in there!

By law ingredients can be indicated using category names, such as ‘meat and animal derivatives’, ‘cereals’, ‘derivatives of vegetable origin’. Alternatively, ingredients can be listed by their own individual names – at Laughing Dog we prefer the latter approach to ensure that pet parents can understand the label and ensure the ingredients are suitable for their dog.

Step 3: The manufacturer.

As discussed, manufacturers use the term ‘hypoallergenic dog food’ to cover different meanings. This isn’t deliberately misleading, as the term is open to interpretation. However, a good manufacturer who is open and honest about their product should always state their take on the term hypoallergenic dog food, so you know exactly what you’re buying. 

At Laughing Dog Food we make our hypoallergenic food for dogs formula open and accessible. We strongly believe that all dogs should be getting the best diet possible and that is why the majority of our products are naturally wheat gluten and grain free. We opt for only naturally-sourced ingredients and break down the ingredients list with descriptives of each of our product ingredients so you can really understand the benefit of them being in there.

All of our hypoallergenic dog foods have been carefully formulated with no added wheat gluten, sugar, soya, or dairy. These substances can cause issues for a sensitive dog and therefore our hypoallergenic food for dogs is a more gentle alternative.

The different types of hypoallergenic dog food 

Wheat Free Dog Food:

Wheat is just one of a number of different cereals. The most common cereals include maize, oats, and wheat. Wheat free dog food means that it may contain other cereals, but does not contain any added wheat (or wheat gluten). OurWheat Free dog foods contain rice and barley which have low GI (glycaemic index) values which mean they can help to stabilise blood sugar levels and as a result give that fuller for longer feeling. Importantly, neither barley or oats contain any wheat gluten, which can often be the common cause of adverse reactions in dogs.

Our range of limited ingredient dog food recipes, Naturally 5, are also formulated free of wheat and wheat gluten.

Our wheat free complete dog foods and dog treats are enjoyed by all dogs looking for delicious and nutritious foods – not just dogs requiring a specifically wheat free diet.

Grain Free Dog Food:

Grain free dog food means that the product contains no added grains (also known as cereals) – therefore it does not contain any wheat, wheat-gluten or cereals such as barley, wheat, maize, rice or oats. Our Naturally Complete and Gloriously Grain Free dog foods use potato and/or sweet potato as a base, which is an easily digestible source of slow-release energy and contains no gluten. It is perfect for dogs with sensitive tummies, dogs that have adverse reactions to cereals and a specific need to avoid grains, or simply if you would just prefer to feed your dog a grain free diet.

See what our dog happy client has to say: