10 Best Hypoallergenic Grain-Free Dog Food for Pups with Allergies

Hypoallergenic grain-free dog food is a real lifesaver for owners of dogs with allergies and grain intolerances. Allergies are immune reactions to foreign bodies like foods that most people, or dogs, don’t react to. Common food allergies in dogs include wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, and proteins from meats like chicken and beef. Hypoallergenic dog foods are guaranteed to be free from all of them. 

To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our top ten hypoallergenic grain-free dog foods on the market, starting with Nom Nom Pork Potluck and followed by Redbarn Grain Free Ocean and Just Food For Dogs Lamb, plus seven more to meet the needs of different dogs. Just a heads-up, this list is intended for adult dogs, not puppies or seniors. Let’s take a closer look at our top picks, as well as some helpful info on feeding dogs with allergies.

Top Picks

• Best Overall – Nom Nom Pork Potluck 
• Runner Up – Redbarn Grain Free Ocean 
• Best Fresh Food – Just Food For Dogs Fish & Sweet Potato
• Best Wet Food – Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food
• Best For Fussy Eaters – Canidae Grain-Free Pure Limited Ingredient 
• Best For Small Dogs – ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Dog Food
• Best For Large Dogs – Zignature’s Limited Ingredient
• Best For Active Dogs – American Journey Lamb & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
• Best Fish Recipe – Wellness CORE Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon Dog Food
• Best Vegan Option – Halo Holistic Vegan Dog Food

Dealing with Food Allergies in Dogs (Quick Overview)

Food allergies in dogs can cause low energy, digestive issues, and poor skin and coat quality. It can also make them a little smelly and affect their mood. If you think your dog is allergic to something in their diet, talk to your vet about doing an elimination diet.

Depending on what they’re allergic to, you may be able to work around it with their regular food, but if the issue is more complex, the simplest and most cost-effective solution is hypoallergenic grain-free dog food. 

It’s also common for dogs to have sensitivities and intolerances without being clinically allergic to anything, especially certain breeds like Dachshunds, and dogs who have experienced gastrointestinal illnesses during puppyhood. 

Of course, that’s a simplified explanation. check out our complete guide to dog food allergies. For now, though, let’s get to the reason you’re really here: our picks for the best hypoallergenic dog food.

Best Overall Hypoallergenic Dog Food: Nom Nom Pork Potluck 

Nom Nom Pork Potluck contains a premium recipe with few ingredients, perfect for dogs with allergies. The brand offers several flavors on subscription to be home-delivered, all of which are free from fillers and additives, but Pork Potluck is also free from grains.

Specifications:

• Veterinary formulated 
• Subscription service & home delivery
• Fresh pork
• Nutrient-rich vegetables
• Complete & balanced meals
• Free from grains & fillers

What we like: Their Pork Potluck recipe contains delicious fresh pork and nutrient-rich vegetables like potatoes, green beans, squash, kale, and mushrooms for a complete and balanced meal. It’s fresh and minimally processed for a rich taste and optimal nutritional value. 

You know you can trust Nom Nom to deliver the absolute best in canine nutrition because each recipe is formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to meet nutrition levels established by AAFCO Food Nutrient Profiles. The brand believes that feeding pets well is the best way to prevent chronic disease, and their food reflects that.

What to consider: The brand offers a subscription-only service, which may not suit everyone. However, they also offer new customers a trial run to see if it’s right for them.

Runner Up: Redbarn Grain Free Ocean 

Redbarn Grain Free Ocean dog food is air dried for maximum flavor and nutrition and comes in 4 lb and 22 lb bag sizes, with the option to buy a case of five 4 lb bags. The brand is committed to high-quality ingredients and is rich in essential nutrients for optimum performance. 

Specifications:

• Air-dried kibble
• 4 lb & 22 lb bag sizes
• High protein content 
• Delicious & nutritious 
• Grain-free options
• All-natural ingredients  
• Free from by-products, poultry & fillers
• Made in the USA

What we like: Redbarn’s grain-free food is packed full of protein, with animal proteins listed as the first five ingredients, plus nutrient-rich superfoods like pumpkin, turmeric, and flaxseed. Their foods are designed to support healthy skin and glossy coats with plenty of Omega fatty acids and no GMOs or filler ingredients. 

It also features a blend of pumpkin, probiotics, miscanthus grass, and prebiotic fiber for optimal gut health, plus methionine, taurine, and l-carnitine to support your dog’s heart. 

What to consider: There’s not much to consider with this food, although it is on the pricey side, considering the smaller bag sizes. 

Best Fresh Food: Just Food For Dogs Fish & Sweet Potato

Just Food For Dogs Fish & Sweet Potato dog food contains totally fresh ingredients and comes in convenient 18 oz bags and boxes of 7, 21, or 30. The food should be kept in the freezer until it’s ready to use. Once thawed, it lasts 5 days, and once opened, it must be used within 3 days. 

Specifications:

• #1 vet-recommended fresh food brand
• 100% human-grade ingredients
• Wild-Caught Alaska Pacific Cod
• Gluten-Free & Grain-Free
• JustFoodForDogs nutrient blend
• 26 calories per ounce
• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

What we like: The brand has a lot of great recipes, but their fish and sweet potato one is totally grain and gluten-free. It’s suitable for adults and puppies and crafted with 100% human-grade ingredients. It contains just seven ingredients; wild-caught Alaska Pacific cod, sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, green beans, broccoli, and safflower oil, as well as the brand’s own JustFoodForDogs nutrient blend for complete and balanced nutrition.

The blend is rich in Omegas, linoleic acid, essential vitamins, vitamins, and fiber for thriving digestion, immunity, and heart health, plus strong bones and muscles and beautiful skin and coat. Each serving is low in calories and comes in convenient packaging. The brand also offers 40% off your first order and 5% off with recurring auto-ship orders.

What to consider: The only thing to consider with this fresh food is that it does require refrigeration once opened and needs to be stored in the freezer until it’s opened, which may not be desirable to owners with limited space in their fridge/freezer. It’s also low in calories, which isn’t ideal for all dogs. 

Best Wet Food – Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food 

If your sensitive dog prefers wet food, Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food could be the one for you. It comes in cases of twelve 12.7-oz cans and its grain-free lamb formula is designed to be suitable for adult dogs of all breeds. 

Specifications:

• Whole foods & high-quality formula
• Comes in cases of twelve 
• 12.7 oz cans 
• Tasty for fussy eaters
• Fortified with essential nutrients
• Poultry-free
• Quality assured
• Affordable 
• Made in the USA

What we like: Merrick’s Limited Ingredient formula offers a premium and balanced diet for adult dogs with real, deboned lamb, which is rich in essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It excludes poultry, grains, and artificial additives to cater to dogs with sensitive stomachs. It is perfect for use alone as a whole meal or as a meal topper with dry food and the cans it comes in feature a convenient pull-tab for easy use. 

What to consider: Although wet food is typically higher in fat than dry food, this formula is higher than average at 9% crude fat content (6% is average), so if your dog’s sensitive stomach reacts badly to high-fat foods, this may not be the right choice for them.

Best For Fussy Eaters – Canidae Grain-Free Pure Limited Ingredient 

This Canidae Grain-Free Pure Limited Ingredient dry food contains a grain-free, limited-ingredient formula for dogs with allergies and sensitivities. It comes in 4, 10, 12, 21, and 24-pound bags and eight delicious flavors.

Specifications:

• Limited ingredient formula with less than ten ingredients
• All-natural
• No fillers
• Available in eight flavors
• Five bag size options
• HealthPLUS blend of nutrients 
• Made in the USA

What we like: It comes in eight flavors, so if your dog is picky with food or gets bored easily, you can easily switch it up without worrying about whether a new formula will upset their stomach. The available flavors are chicken, chicken with lentils and peas, lamb with peas, bison with lentils and carrots, duck with sweet potato, lamb with goat and venison, salmon with sweet potato, and wild boar with garbanzo beans. 

Each formula contains less than ten ingredients which are all natural and recognizable foods, including real meat and vegetables, and no soy, wheat, corn, fillers, or additives. Their food is also fortified with the brand’s HealthPLUS blend of essential vitamins, minerals, probiotics, antioxidants, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for whole-body health, wellness, and protection.

What to consider: Whilst we love these formulas, they’re slightly higher in fat than average dry foods, so if your dog reacts to high-fat foods, this may not be the right product for them. 

Best For Small Breeds – ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Duck & Pear Grain-Free Dry Dog Food 

ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Duck & Pear Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is designed for small and medium-sized breeds and comes in several flavor combinations, including our favorite, duck & pear. Made in the USA with quality ingredients from around the world, this grain-free hypoallergenic food comes in 4.5, 13 lb, and 22.5 lb bags and is free from all allergens, grains, fillers, and artificial additives. 

Specifications:

• Single-source protein formula
• 65% meat 
• 35% fruits and vegetables
• Complete nutrition
• Free from fillers
• Promotes healthy skin and coat
• Available in 4.5, 13 lb, and 22.5 lb bags
• Free-roaming USA meat 

What we like: The limited-ingredient, grain-free recipe starts with duck as its single source of protein. It contains a balanced blend of 65% high-quality meat from free-roaming farms in the USA and a 35% fiber-rich, nutritious blend of fruits and vegetables like pears and pumpkin for complete nutrition and ideal body condition and wellness, including healthy skin and coat.

What to consider: The food is quite expensive, especially considering the bag sizes aren’t that big, but it is a truly high-quality product that leaves zero room for reactions, even from the most sensitive of tummies. 

Best For Large Breeds – Zignature Limited Ingredient 

Zignature’s Limited Ingredient fish-flavored dog food is designed to meet the needs of breeds of all sizes, including large and giant ones. It’s available to buy in 4lb bags, 12.5 lb bags, and 25 lb bags. 

Specifications: 

• 4 lb, 12.5 lb, and 25 lb bag options
• Eleven flavor options
• Nutrient-rich
• Highly digestible
• No fillers
• Added probiotics
• Made in the USA

What we like: The formula is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, with highly digestible protein sources, creating a complete source of nutrition for your dog. It’s also free from fillers, additives, grains, and common allergens, with added probiotics to help support your sensitive dog’s gut health. 

There are eleven flavors to choose from; catfish, goat, duck, lamb, pork, salmon, turkey, trout & salmon, venison, whitefish, and kangaroo, but this isn’t available to buy in the United States by law. 

What to consider: Some buyers have put off the kangaroo option! But rest assured, the other flavor options are totally kangaroo-free! 

Best For Active Dogs – American Journey Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food 

American Journey Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is available to buy in 4 lb, 12 lb, and 24 lb bags and contains a salmon and sweet potato recipe with a single source of natural and high-quality protein that makes up a quarter of its formula. 

Specifications:

• Comes in 4 lb, 12 lb & 14 lb bags
• Real lamb is the first listed ingredient
• 32% protein 
• Lamb & sweet potato recipe
• Single source protein
• Antioxidant-rich formula 
• Plant-based Omega fatty acids
• Free from grains, corn, wheat, soy, & poultry by-product meals
• Made in the USA

What we like: As well as its single source of protein which is the first listed ingredient, the formula is also rich in essential vitamins and antioxidants from healthy fruits and veggies like blueberries and carrots and contains nourishing Omega fatty acids for joint, skin, coat, and cognitive health from natural plant-based sources like flaxseed and sunflower oil. 

At 32% protein, it’s also great for active dogs and working dogs, and reviews by other customers claim that the product has made a noticeable difference in their dog’s digestion.

What to consider: Some of the customer reviews state that the size of the kibble pieces is too big for smaller dogs to safely eat, so if you own a smaller breed, this might not be the one for you. 

Best Fish Recipe – Wellness CORE Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food 

The Wellness CORE Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food comes in 4 lb, 12 lb, 22 lb, and 26 lb bags. It provides complete and balanced nutrition powered by fish; with whitefish, herring, and salmon. It’s the perfect choice for dogs who are allergic to protein meats but not fish. 

Specifications:

• Whitefish, herring & salmon flavor
• High in protein
• Essential vitamins and fatty acids 
• Low in saturated fats
• Promotes lean muscles 
• Free from grains & fillers
• Supports whole-body health
• Available in 4 lb, 12 lb, 22 lb, and 26 lb bags

What we like: This fish-flavored option is high in protein, rich in essential vitamins and fatty acids, and low in saturated fats. It promotes lean and healthy muscle development and is totally grain-free, as well as free from fillers, poultry, corn, soy, gluten, and all artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. 

The nutrient-rich recipe also supports a healthy heart, gut, bones, and joints with its nutrient-rich fruits and veggies, glucosamine, probiotics, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and taurine.

What to consider: Whilst there are hundreds of five-star reviews, there are a handful of buyers that claim the food didn’t go down well with their fussy eater.

Best Vegan Option – Halo Holistic Vegan Dog Food

If you want to feed your dog a plant-based diet or they can’t stomach any animal-based proteins at all, Halo Holistic Vegan Dog Food is 100% plant-based and vegan. It comes in 3.5 lb, 10 lb, and 21 lb bags and it’s available to buy in two different flavors; plant-based with kelp and plant-based with superfood. 

Specifications:

• 100% vegan & plant-based
• Two flavor options: with superfood or kelp 
• Homegrown & globally sourced ingredients
• Sustainably sourced ingredients
• Complete & balanced nutrition
• High-protein formulas
• Free from meat, dairy, grains, soy, GMOs & artificial additives
• Comes in 3.5 lb, 10 lb, and 21 lb bags
• Resealable packaging 
• Made in the USA

What we like: Halo’s vegan dog food provides essential and balanced nutrition for adult dogs of all sizes, with natural, wholesome, and sustainably sourced ingredients that are easy to digest. The superfood option contains nutrient-rich fruits and vegetable “superfoods” like chickpeas and green peas, whilst the ocean flavor option contains nutrient-rich sea kelp. 

Both options are just as rich in protein as other high-quality meat-based dog foods and contain taurine for heart health and added nutrients for immune support. Their foods are also completely free from GMOs and all artificial additives, as well as meat, dairy, soy, and grains like wheat and corn, plus, they come in helpful resealable packaging. 

What to consider: Vegan food for dogs is a controversial topic, as they are carnivores by nature. We would recommend this option only for dogs who cannot handle any food containing animal products. 

What is an Elimination Diet?

To find out what your dog is allergic to, you can do what is called an elimination diet. This is where you feed them completely hypoallergenic foods for several weeks and gradually reintroduce the things they normally eat one at a time to see what they react to, identify the problem, and cut it out of their diet. If a dog has several allergies or is generally sensitive, it is best to stick to hypoallergenic dog food. 

Top Tips For Feeding Dogs With Allergies 

All dogs should eat foods that provide complete and balanced nutrition for their size and age, powered by real, natural ingredients. This means vitamins like A, B, C, D, E, and K for healthy organs, minerals like calcium and magnesium for strong bones, healthy muscles, nerves, and cellular function, as well as high-quality sources of protein and healthy carbs for energy, plus omega-3 fatty acids for coat and skin health, joint support, and cognitive health. 

It can be difficult to get these nutrients when your dog has allergies, which is why the right food is so important. We recommend foods powered by carb sources like potato, sweet potato, green pea, and brown rice meal, and protein sources like fish or plant-based protein sources if your dog is allergic to fish. We also recommend looking for foods with additional antioxidants for strong immunity and pre and probiotics for digestive support, plus foods that have been air-dried or slow-cooked to preserve taste and nutrients. 

What To Avoid

If your dog is sensitive, you should avoid the common canine food allergens and intolerances:

• Beef (34% of dogs with food allergies)
• Dairy (17% of dogs with food allergies)
• Chicken (15% of dogs with food allergies)
• Wheat (13% of dogs with food allergies)
• Lamb (5% of dogs with food allergies)
• Less common allergens include soy, corn, egg, pork, fish, rice & other grains.

Many low-quality dog foods also contain cheap, hard-to-digest filler ingredients that can be harmful to dog’s health, especially if they are sensitive or vulnerable. These include: 

• Artificial colors & dyes like nitrates
• Artificial flavors like propylene glycol & MSG
• Artificial preservatives like BHA & BHT
• GMOs 
• Meat by-products
• Rendered fats 
• Chemicals & synthetics like hormone-fed meat
• Added salt & sugar
• Corn syrup

FAQs

How do I know if my dog has an allergy? 

If your dog is allergic to something in their diet, the most obvious signs are regular digestive issues and stomach upsets. They may also be a bit smelly, have a dull or brittle coat, sensitive skin, and low energy or mood. 

Should I feed my sensitive dog smaller meals? 

Feeding your dog smaller meals won’t help to relieve allergy symptoms. Unless your vet has told you to feed your dog smaller meals due to their health or weight, you should feed an adult dog twice per day according to guidelines (or your vet’s advice) based on their size/breed, activity level, and age. 

Is dry food better than wet food for sensitive dogs? 

Dry food isn’t necessarily better than wet food for sensitive dogs, it depends on the quality of the food and your dog’s needs. Soft and wet foods are easier to chew and digest, but they’re also higher in fat, which could affect a sensitive dog’s tummy. Dry dog foods tend to have a lower fat content, but if your dog finds it hard to digest, you can add warm water to the food to soften it. 

Final Thoughts

We can’t recommend these products highly enough, especially our top pick, Nom Nom Pork Potluck. If your dog suffers from allergies or intolerances, it’s crucial to get them eating the right food so they can live a happy, healthy, stress-free life. Are you going to try out one of these foods with your dog? Let us know in the comments down below. 

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