Best Food for Dog Allergies?

One of my dogs has pretty serious allergies that seem to be food related. I have heard that beef and corn are common dog allergies. I switched her to an all natural venison food that has seemed to help quite a bit. It’s very expensive, though. Does anyone have ideas for affordable food option for dogs with skin allergies?

Hi Mary,

I’m so glad you found a food that helps relieve your dog’s skin allergies. Unfortunately, your question comes up a lot from other caretakers, and it seems that all the foods formulated to be hypoallergenic are also more expensive. In the long run, it may be worth it to put your dog through allergy testing to find out exactly which food(s) your dog is allergic to. For example, if it’s just corn, it’s possible to find a brand that doesn’t include it, but is also more affordable. You can also think of it this way; what you’re spending extra for your current brand is probably less than what you would spend for ongoing clinic visits and medications. You may actually still be saving money even though you’re feeding a more expensive food.

All of that said, if anyone else is dealing with a dog that has food allergies, what brand are you feeding, and just how expensive is it?

A friend of ours has a dog who eats Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d for allergies. She says that her veterinarian charges only a little more than what she use to pay for regular dog food.

Is your dog on a prescription dog food? If so, can you find your dog’s prescription dog food online at a discount? You will need a prescription from your veterinarian to purchase the food. However, online retailers may be a consideration. You can also call other veterinarian offices and see if they carry the food at a lower price than your dog’s vet.

If your dog is on a non-prescription natural dog food, you can continue to shop around for a more affordable quality food. Like Kelly said, hypoallergenic foods and organic diets are usually more expensive than other types of dog food.

Hope that helps.

Adrienne