10 Best Dog Foods for Dogs With Allergies in 2025, Vet Recommended

This top-rated diet from Purina Pro Plan won our veterinary panel’s pick for best overall dog food for dogs with allergies.

Fortified with immunity-boosting antioxidants, it’s made from easily digestible fish proteins, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, and sunflower oil, which is rich in omega-6 fatty acids.  

“This is an excellent over-the-counter choice for dogs with allergies to the environment—such as pollen, dust, or grass, among others—and for dogs with food sensitivities, as it contains a limited protein source … of fish,” says Dr. Price. 

While not appropriate for dogs with diagnosed food allergies, it can help relieve the itchy skin and gastrointestinal distress caused by environmental allergies, flea allergies, and food sensitivities.  

“Since allergies in dogs often manifest as skin issues, this diet is rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants to aid in skin health,” says panelist Barri Morrison, DVM. “Allergies can also manifest as stomach upset, and this diet contains oatmeal, as well as natural prebiotic fiber to help aid digestion.” 

As always, consult your veterinarian if you’re concerned about your dog’s digestion or skin.

“If a dog is experiencing chronic skin and/or digestion issues, pet parents should always have their dog examined to rule out other serious conditions,” adds panelist Jo Cornett, DVM. 

This diet from Royal Canin impressed our panel with its pup-approved flavor, well-researched recipe, and skin-soothing ingredients.  

“Royal Canin puts extensive research into their diets, and very specifically the palatability of their diets,” says panelist Stephanie Howe, DVM. “A healthy skin barrier helps to protect against environmental irritants. This diet is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids—including EPA, DHA, and GLA—which help nourish dry skin and promote a healthy coat.” 

In addition to veterinarians, pet parents report being impressed with this formula’s results. “According to a consumer survey, 91% of owners were satisfied with this diet after feeding it to their pup for two months,” says Dr. Price. “This diet is top-quality and is complete and balanced, so it may be fed short-term or long-term.” 

If your pup is a picky eater, they might be tempted by the recipe’s carefully developed flavor, texture, and aroma.  

“In my opinion, Royal Canin is one of the most palatable diets on the market,” says panelist Veronica Higgs, DVM. “So this could be a great dry-food option for dogs who tend to be a little picky about their food.” 

If your dog thrives on a wet food diet, consider this formula from Purina Pro Plan, which won our veterinary panel’s seal of approval. Gentle on the digestive system, it’s formulated specially for dogs with sensitive stomachs.  

“This formula contains easily digestible, novel proteins like salmon and lamb, which are less likely to trigger dietary allergic reactions compared to more common proteins, such as beef and chicken,” says registered veterinary technician Stacie Schroeder, RVT. “It also has prebiotic fibers, which help boost overall GI support and beneficial gut bacteria.” 

Our panel was also impressed by its skin-soothing ingredients. “This food contains linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid important to skin health,” says Dr. Cornett. “Dogs with skin allergies have a weakened skin barrier, making them prone to skin infections, itching, and inflammation of the skin.” 

If your dog is a picky eater or would benefit from increased water intake, this wet food might be the perfect pick.  

“Wet food can be beneficial in boosting hydration status in dogs who may not drink enough water and can be more appealing for dogs with finicky appetites,” adds Schroeder. 

Specially formulated for petite pups with sensitive skin and a dry coat, this formula from Royal Canin won over our panel with its size-conscious approach.  

Small dogs’ nutritional needs are different from those of larger dogs.

“In addition to a smaller kibble size for their smaller teeth and mouth, small dogs require higher levels of calories per pound of body weight than large dogs,” explains Dr. Price. “And since smaller dog breeds can often be more fussy eaters than large dogs, it’s important that their food tastes extra yummy to make sure they eat enough of the nutrients they need.” 

Designed to improve the skin barrier and coat, this recipe can help alleviate the itching, scratching, and infections associated with skin allergies.  

“It contains a blend of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids, which have been shown to improve skin health,” says Dr. Cornett. 

For small dogs with sensitive skin, the right diet can be a game changer.

“By decreasing a dog’s symptoms, they can potentially have improved quality of life, while decreasing or even eliminating the need for medication to treat environmental allergies,” adds Dr. Cornett.  

Like small dogs, large dogs benefit from specially tailored nutrition—and this diet from Purina Pro Plan checks all the boxes.  

Fortified with glucosamine and the omega-3 fatty acid EPA for joint health, this recipe is ideal for the metabolic needs of big dog breeds.  

“Large-breed dogs need a diet with fewer calories per cup and lower fat levels than small dogs do, because large-breed dogs have a slower metabolism,” explains Dr. Price. “It is extremely important that large- and giant-breed dogs avoid becoming overweight, which has serious health consequences, including joint problems and other diseases.” 

Antioxidants support immune system function, omega-6 fatty acids boost skin and coat health, and natural prebiotic fiber helps keep sensitive systems running smoothly.  

“I love the variety of prebiotics,” says Dr. Howe, who feeds this formula to her own large-breed dog with a sensitive stomach. “Prebiotics are fiber food sources that feed the beneficial gut bacteria and produce short-chain fatty acids, which is food for the colon. This is huge in keeping the colon happy!” 

This senior diet from Purina Pro Plan won high marks from our panel for its easily digestible ingredients, immunity-boosting antioxidants, lower calorie count, and added joint-health supplements.  

“Seniors often have joint issues and tend to be less active, meaning they need foods lower in calories to prevent obesity,” says registered veterinary technician Brianne Binkley, RVT.  

It’s ideal for seniors with sensitive skin, thanks to a healthy dose of sunflower oil. “Sunflower oil is a source of linoleic acid that is needed to produce ceramides [a type of fat found in the outer layer of skin] to keep skin healthy and hydrated,” explains Dr. Cornett. “Dogs who have environmental allergies have less ceramides in their skin, making them susceptible to itching, skin inflammation, and infections.” 

Made with easy-to-digest salmon as the first ingredient, as well as oats and rice, this food is well-suited for older, more sensitive digestive tracts. And it contains glucosamine and EPA to support joint health. 

Packed full of the nutrients puppies need to support their growth, this formula from Hill’s Science Diet impressed our panel with its premium, gentle-on-the-tummy ingredients.  

“I like this diet because it’s formulated for the growing needs of puppies, containing high-quality protein for building lean muscles and DHA from fish oil for healthy brain and eye development,” says Dr. Price. “This food is top-quality, easy to digest, and formulated by Hill’s Science Diet, which employs board-certified veterinary nutritionists.” 

It’s also designed to support sensitive skin, a common issue among puppies.

“Puppies have more sensitive skin than adult dogs do as they get used to living in the world outside their mom’s tummy,” says Dr. Howe. “This diet is full of easily digestible ingredients that include all of the needed nutrients to help your pup grow, as well as vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and fur.”  

Before switching your puppy’s food, discuss any allergy concerns with your veterinarian.  

“I would strongly encourage pet parents to work with their primary care veterinarian to determine the cause of their puppy’s skin issues and create a long-term plan to manage them,” says Dr. Cornett. “Environmental allergies are lifelong, so it is important for the pet parent to be proactive while the puppy is young.” 

If your veterinarian has recommended a grain-free diet for your dog, this formula from Hill’s Science Diet topped our panel’s list with its well-researched recipe and skin-soothing nutrients.  

Though most dogs with food allergies are allergic to protein, a small portion are allergic to other ingredients including grain, which can lead to itchy skin, frequent ear infections, and vomiting and/or diarrhea.  

“This is the best grain-free option for me, because it is formulated by a company that does clinical trials and has research to stand behind their claims,” says Dr. Cornett. “I also like that it contains vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids to support a healthy skin barrier.” 

Additionally, it’s gentle on sensitive digestive systems.

“This product contains added beet pulp, a nourishing prebiotic fiber,” says Dr. Howe. “It contains high-quality, easy-to-digest ingredients that are gentle on the stomach.” 

Always follow your veterinarian’s guidance when feeding a grain-free diet.

“Grain-free diets can be a concern, as dogs on grain-free diets have been shown to be more prone to certain heart disease,” adds Dr. Howe. “It is important when deciding to feed a grain-free diet that you first discuss the change with your veterinarian to ensure it is the right choice for your pet.” 

If your veterinarian determines that your dog is suffering from a true food allergy, they will likely recommend a prescription diet. Royal Canin’s Ultamino, available with vet authorization only, tops our panel’s list for dogs with diagnosed food allergies.  

Clinically tested to reduce skin reactions, Ultamino is a hydrolyzed protein diet, meaning the protein molecules are broken down into tiny pieces that the body won’t recognize and identify as an allergen.  

“Ultamino is the gold-standard hydrolyzed protein diet for dogs with food allergies,” says panelist Heather Zarrella, DVM. “Ultamino is manufactured on its own specific equipment to avoid cross-contamination with other protein sources.” 

Specially formulated to support the skin barrier, it’s also easy on sensitive stomachs.  

“This diet includes specific nutrients to support healthy skin, including B vitamins, amino acids, and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as an exclusive blend of fibers to support digestion,” says Dr. Howe. “This is the definitive diet for pets with true food allergies.” 

Top-quality doesn’t have to mean top dollar. For pets with environmental allergies and food sensitivities, this budget-friendly option from Purina earns high marks from our veterinary panel.  

“This is a great budget food by Purina, a vet-trusted brand,” says Dr. Higgs. “This over-the-counter skin formula still contains omega supplements at the lower price point.” 

Additionally, the salmon-based recipe might be helpful for dogs with a sensitive stomach.  

“The first ingredient is salmon, which is a highly digestible protein containing omega-3 fatty acids that can help with inflammation,” says Dr. Cornett. “I also like that this food contains glucosamine to support healthy joints and antioxidants for immune health.” 

If you’re feeding your pup a sensitive diet over the long term, the savings can add up.

“This is an excellent over-the-counter choice for pet parents on a budget,” says Dr. Price. “A 16-pound bag is just under $2 per pound, whereas comparable diets of the same size bag are close to $4 per pound.”