Buy hypoallergenic dog food

Hypoallergenic dog food is specifically developed for dogs that are oversensitive or allergic to certain ingredients in their food. These foods generally contain a single protein source (mono-protein), no wheat or other common allergens, and high-quality, easily digestible raw materials. At Fidello you'll find a wide range of hypoallergenic dog food in dry food, wet food, cold pressed kibble and BARF form — from leading premium brands such as Carnilove, Renske, Naturis, Lily's Kitchen, Hill's Z/D, Royal Canin Anallergenic and Bf Petfood.

Whether your dog has itching, a dull coat, loose stools or recurring ear infections — a hypoallergenic diet can make a world of difference. In this overview, you'll read everything about what hypoallergenic food is, which dogs it's suitable for, how to carry out an elimination diet and which protein sources have the most hypoallergenic effect.

What exactly is hypoallergenic dog food?

Hypoallergenic food is food in which the most common food allergens for dogs have been avoided. The term "hypoallergenic" literally means "less allergenic" — not "no allergens". A food is hypoallergenic if it:

• Contains a single protein source (mono-protein) — usually an unusual protein such as lamb, duck, rabbit, venison, horse, ostrich or insects
• Is free from common allergens such as wheat, maize, soy, gluten
• Contains no artificial colours, flavours and aromas
• Doesn't use "meat and animal by-products" — only identifiable ingredients
• Is often also grain free
• Sometimes uses hydrolysed proteins — proteins broken down into such small particles that the immune system no longer recognises them as allergens

Important: there is no legal definition of "hypoallergenic" for animal feed. Quality and composition vary per brand. Therefore always read the label carefully.

Food allergy or food intolerance?

Many owners use the terms "allergy" and "intolerance" interchangeably, but there's an important difference:

• Food allergy — an overactive immune reaction to a protein. Symptoms: itching, skin rash, ear infections, sometimes gastrointestinal complaints. Occurs in about 1–2% of all dogs.
• Food intolerance — a digestive problem without immune reaction. Symptoms: loose stools, gas formation, vomiting, sometimes skin complaints. Occurs more often.

Both cases can benefit from hypoallergenic food, but the approach and duration of treatment differ.

Symptoms of food sensitivity in dogs

How do you know if your dog might be sensitive to his food? Common signals:

• Persistent itching — especially on paws, ears, armpits, groin or belly
• Bald patches or excessive scratching and licking
• Redness, skin rash or bumps
• Scales or oily skin
• Dull or thin coat
• Recurring ear infections — often in both ears
• Loose stools or diarrhoea
• Gas formation and flatulence
• Frequent vomiting or regurgitating food
• Anal itching — scooting along the ground
• Mouth ulcers or swollen lips

Note: these complaints can also be caused by environmental allergies (pollen, dust mites), fleas, skin fungus or parasites. Visit a vet for the correct diagnosis when in doubt.

When should you choose hypoallergenic dog food?

Hypoallergenic food is especially suitable for:

• Dogs with a suspected food allergy or intolerance
• Dogs undergoing an elimination diet to find the culprit
• Dogs with chronic skin and coat complaints of unknown cause
• Dogs with recurring gastrointestinal complaints
• Dogs with chronic ear infections
• Dogs previously confirmed allergic to standard proteins such as chicken or beef
• Dogs with a sensitive digestion in general

How do you carry out an elimination diet?

An elimination diet (also called exclusion diet) is the gold standard for tracking down a food allergy. It works like this:

• Step 1 — Select a new protein source. Choose a protein your dog has never eaten. Common options: horse, venison, rabbit, ostrich, insects or hydrolysed protein.
• Step 2 — Feed exclusively this hypoallergenic food for 6 to 8 weeks. No snacks, no chews, no leftovers, no flavourings in medications. Really only the elimination food and water.
• Step 3 — Assess the symptoms. Do the symptoms disappear or significantly diminish? Then there was probably a food sensitivity in the old food.
• Step 4 — Provocation test. Feed the old food again. Do the symptoms return within 1–14 days? Then the allergy is confirmed.
• Step 5 — Identify the allergen. Add ingredients of the old food one by one (one per two weeks) to see which is specifically the culprit.

Preferably do this under guidance of a vet. Patience is crucial — an elimination diet requires 6–8 weeks of consistency, and many owners give up too soon.

Common protein sources in hypoallergenic food

The choice of protein is essential. A hypoallergenic food only works if the dog has never had the protein before. Common alternative proteins:

• Lamb — mild, often well tolerated, but many dogs have already had it
• Duck — hypoallergenic option, provided not eaten before
• Rabbit — lean, mild, rarely allergenic
• Horse — exclusive protein, ideal for elimination diet
• Venison / game — exclusive and tasty
• Ostrich — very rare in standard food, so rarely allergenic
• Insects — sustainable, hypoallergenic, strong trend (black soldier fly, mealworm)
• Fish (salmon, white fish) — if your dog hasn't had fish before
• Hydrolysed protein — protein broken down into particles so small that the immune system doesn't recognise them as allergens. Used in vet diets such as Hill's Z/D, Royal Canin Anallergenic and Purina HA.

Benefits of hypoallergenic dog food

• Suitable for dogs with food sensitivity or allergy
• Single protein source — clear and transparent composition
• Free from common allergens such as wheat, maize, soy
• Often also grain free available
• Can reduce itching, scales and skin problems
• Helps prevent recurring ear infections
• Supports healthy digestion
• No artificial additives or fillers
• Suitable for elimination diet under vet guidance
• Wide choice in protein sources for variety
• Available in dry food, wet food, cold pressed kibbles and BARF

Considerations with hypoallergenic food

• Only works if the dog hasn't had the protein before — choose a truly new protein for an elimination diet
• No cross-contamination — don't give snacks, leftovers or chews during an elimination diet
• Can be more expensive than standard food due to exclusive ingredients
• Patience required — improvement can take 4–8 weeks
• Guidance recommended — consult a vet with severe or prolonged complaints
• Not always necessary — for dogs without complaints, hypoallergenic food has no demonstrable benefit

Hypoallergenic dry food, wet food, raw or cold pressed?

Hypoallergenic food is available in every food form:

• Dry food (kibble) — practical and well preserved. Browse dog kibbles
• Wet food — extra moisture, tasty, good for dogs with sensitive teeth. See wet food
• Cold pressed kibble — natural production, good for sensitive digestion. Browse cold pressed dog food
• Raw meat / BARF — fits the natural diet, ideal for strict elimination diet

Hypoallergenic food for different life stages

Hypoallergenic food is available for every life stage:

• Hypoallergenic puppy food — specially for young dogs with adapted calcium-phosphorus ratio. Browse puppy food
• Hypoallergenic adult food — for adult dogs from 1 to 7 years
• Hypoallergenic senior food — combines hypoallergenic with the additional needs of older dogs. See senior dog food

Combining hypoallergenic food with supplements

Many dogs with skin and coat complaints benefit from extra support. Well-combined supplements:

• Salmon oil — omega 3 for skin and coat (provided no fish allergy)
• Probiotics — for healthy gut flora
• Curcuma — natural anti-inflammatory
• Quercetin — natural "antihistamine" for allergies
• Zinc and biotin — for skin recovery

Frequently asked questions about hypoallergenic dog food

What's the difference between hypoallergenic food and grain free food?
Grain free food contains no grains (wheat, maize, barley, rice), but may contain multiple protein sources. Hypoallergenic food focuses on avoiding all common allergens — usually with a single protein source and often also grain free. Hypoallergenic is therefore stricter than just grain free.

How long does it take before a hypoallergenic diet works?
With food allergies, you usually see improvement within 4–8 weeks. Give the diet at least 6 weeks before drawing conclusions. Stopping too soon or "sneaking" a snack disrupts the entire process.

Can I give snacks during an elimination diet?
Only snacks made from exactly the same protein as the elimination food. So with hypoallergenic food with horse, only horse snacks. No chew bones, no leftovers from the table, no flavourings in tablets or pastes for deworming.

Which protein do I choose for an elimination diet?
One your dog has never had before. Ask yourself what your dog has eaten in his entire life (think of all the flavours of kibble, snacks, leftovers). Safe choices are often horse, venison, rabbit, ostrich or insects — provided new.

What is hydrolysed protein?
Protein that has been broken down by the production process into such small molecules that the immune system no longer recognises them as a threat. Used in medical diets such as Hill's Z/D, Royal Canin Anallergenic and Purina HA. Effective, but expensive.

Can a dog become allergic later in life?
Yes. Allergies often develop after long exposure to a protein. A dog that has eaten chicken for years can suddenly develop complaints at five or six years old.

Does hypoallergenic food also help against environmental allergies?
Not directly. Pollen, dust mite or grass allergy doesn't respond to food changes. However, nutritional support with omega 3 (salmon oil) and quercetin can strengthen the skin barrier.

My vet advises a diet from the clinic. Is that the same?
Often hydrolysed protein foods specifically developed for allergy diagnosis (Hill's Z/D, Royal Canin Anallergenic, Purina HA). More effective than regular hypoallergenic foods, but more expensive. For the long term, a commercial mono-protein food may suffice.

Do insect foods really work hypoallergenic?
Yes. Insect protein (especially from black soldier fly and mealworm) is a new protein for most dogs and is rarely recognised as an allergen. Furthermore sustainable.

Tips for choosing hypoallergenic dog food

• Choose a single protein source (mono-protein)
• Select a new, exclusive protein your dog doesn't yet know
• Read the label: no "meat and animal by-products"
• Preferably also grain free and without artificial additives
• Avoid food with multiple meat types — then you don't know what's causing any complaints
• Start with a small bag to test tolerance
• Build up gradually (10–14 days)
• Keep a symptoms diary during an elimination diet
• For severe complaints, do it under vet guidance

Order hypoallergenic dog food at Fidello

Browse the complete range of hypoallergenic dog food below and choose nutrition that suits the sensitivity and needs of your dog. Quickly delivered and with personal advice from our dog experts. Combine with salmon oil for extra support of skin and coat, or check out our other nutritional categories such as grain free dog food, senior food or cold pressed kibbles.