Best Food For Golden Retriever With Allergies

Allergies Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers With Skin Allergies

Golden retrievers can be allergic to foods such as grains, wheat, and corn. While there is no straightforward way to figure out exactly what they will have an allergic reaction to, it is crucial to apply trial and error to see which food delivers the best results and mitigates allergies.

You may also want to consult your local veterinarian to run tests on your dog by extracting DNA to see which food components trigger an allergic reaction.

Natural Balance Lid Limited Ingredient Diets Dog Food Sweet Potato & Venison Formula

Brand: Natural Balance is a brand that strives to bring a more natural, high-quality product to dogs of all shapes and sizes. This limited ingredient blend is great for strict diets or sensitivities.

The Important Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, venison, pea protein, potato protein, canola oil, brewers dried yeast, salmon oil, flaxseed, dried potato products, vitamin E supplement, niacin, rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract.

Price: About $70 for a 26-lb bag.

Senior Dog Food For Skin Allergies

Some senior dogs have a harder time of it than others. For those dogs, they may need a little extra help with staving off some of the more annoying irritants that come with older age.

To that end, weve put together some of our favorite foods that are suitable for senior dogs and their sensitive skin.

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Purina Pro Plan Sport Formula Dog Food

PetListed Verdict:

Purina Pro Plan Sport is made specifically for active dogs perfect for a healthy, lively Golden. This food blends 30% protein and 20% fat for lean muscle, as well as EPA and glucosamine for joint heath . A number of customers have also noted that their dogs coats have become shinier by using this option. Pro Plan Sport is available in varieties including chicken, salmon & rice, and turkey.

Key Details:

• Available in multiple recipes: grain-free chicken, chicken, salmon, and turkey
• EPA, Glucosamine, Amino Acids
• Meat is the #1 ingredient
• Suitable for any age, from puppy through senior
• Made in the USA

PetListed Verdict:One of the highest rated products we examined, Taste of the Wild is an all natural, grain free dog food with real salmon as the first ingredient. The food is packed with other healthy ingredients including fruits, vegetables, superfoods, and a probiotic for optimal immune and gut health.

Key Details:

• Grain free, with no corn, wheat, or fillers
• Salmon is the first ingredient
• All natural with no artificial flavors or colorings
• Includes vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for digestion health
• Salmon oil provides marine sourced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
• On the pricier end of dog foods, considering the ingredients

What Are The Best Foods For Dogs With Allergies

Following the diagnosis, your vet will work with you to determine the best diet for your dog. A number of food options are available to help alleviate your dog’s allergy symptoms.

Prescription Dog Food

If your dog’s food allergy symptoms are severe, your vet may recommend that you feed your dog prescription dog food. While this option can be pricey, novel protein and hydrolyzed diets available by prescription only are typically superior to those that can be purchased over the counter.

Grain-Free Dog Food

If your pet has a sensitivity to corn, wheat, and other grains a grain-free dog food may be ideal. These foods have the added benefit of also being gluten-free.

Limited Ingredient Dog Foods

Limited ingredient dog foods address the presence of allergens by including just one protein source, , often combined with just a single carbohydrate source. When shopping for limited ingredient dog foods it’s important to check for a seal of approval from the Association of American Feed Control , as well as a “complete and balanced” claim from the manufacturer.

If you are under the suspicion that your dog is affected by food allergies, contact our vets at Tumwater Veterinary Hospital to book an appointment for your dog.

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Tips To Protect Your Golden Retriever From Skin Allergies Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers With Skin Allergies

Flea and tick control

Allergies from parasites such as fleas and ticks, are common. At the same time, dogs can be ultrasensitive to some forms of flea and tick treatment. If your dog is having a reaction to these chemicals, make sure to consult with your vet and get a recommended flea and tick strategy that is best for your dog and their needs.

Chemicals

There are various types of chemicals around. Because of its sheer volume, it is very challenging to know which one is causing allergic reactions in your dog. Your vet may aid you in pinpointing the root of the problem. One thing you can do is to transition to environmentally friendly cleaners and household products.

Diet

It is typical for dogs to be extra sensitive to most commercial dog foods components. Their reactions can vary from skin irritations to swelling, rashes, and many others. The presence of corn, wheat, and soy are not helping either. These are sprayed heavily with chemicals. If your dog is reactive to chemicals, you should steer clear from heavily sprayed ingredients. Artificial colorings and flavorings can also cause food sensitivities. These are just utilized by companies to make the food appealing to people but it has no effect on your dog. As a dog owner, avoid any food or treats with weird colorings added to them.

Seasonal allergies

Best Dog Food For Skin Allergies

The best food for skin allergies can depend on what hes allergic to.

An easily remedied food allergy will require a different course of action to skin allergy caused by, lets say, pollen.

A good dog food for skin allergies may be able to strike right at the source, but will always relieve the symptoms via nutrients like fatty acids.

Whatever the cause of your dogs ailments, there is the best dog food for skin allergies affecting her is out there.

Hopefully this article helped you find just that! Have you tried any of the foods in this article? Are there any other foods that worked for you Let us know in the comments?

Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.

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What Is The Best Dog Food For Dogs With Allergies And Sensitive Skin

Currently, there are so many dog food formulas and brands in the market that make shopping for one quite challenging, especially if you have a dog with allergies and sensitive skin. In general, specialized dog foods might be a little more costly than ordinary dog food because proteins like venison, duck, and bison form part of its ingredients.

Environmental Allergies And How To Treat Them

Golden retrievers, and most other breeds, can suffer with allergen agents. What makes it difficult to spot in golden retrievers though, is their thick coat. It can actually hide any skin reactions they have.

Atopic dermatitis is a genetic condition that can affect some golden retrievers. It causes them to develop inflammation and reactions to things like:

• grasses
• tree pollen
• dust

To spot an allergic reaction in golden retrievers, there are some symptoms to look out for. Keep an eye out for:

• hot spots
• lesions
• scratching

If left, this can result in infections or eczema forming. So, if you spot anything like the above, its important you speak to your vet. You want to try to narrow down whats caused the issues and start treatment.

The first thing you can do to treat skin allergies is to bath your golden retriever on a regular basis. Every 4 or so weeks should be good for most goldens.

This will help relieve the itchiness. Be careful not to bathe them too often or youll strip the skin of essential oils and dry out the skin further. If after a monthly bath your golden retriever is still itchy, talk with your vet.

When your golden retriever goes out, wipe them down with a damp cloth after. This will remove any allergens from their coat and skin.

That thick coat is beautiful but is also vulnerable to skin irriations

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Most Common Dog Food Allergens

“Meat, dairy, and eggs are often thought to be the most common dog food allergens,” says Shmalberg. “Yet generally, it’s the protein part of those foods that tend to be problematic, rather than, say, the meat itself.” Keep in mind, veggies can contain protein, so they’re not automatically safe.

That same review BMC Veterinary Research identified some of the most frequently reported dog food allergens involved in adverse food reactions. Here’s a look, from most-reported to least-reported.

Top Dog Food Allergens

Shmalberg calls out two important caveats to keep in mind here.

More facts about dog food allergens that are helpful to know:

Symptoms Allergy Warning Signs To Look Out For

Spotting an allergy to your Fido might be relatively easy. Ear biting, face rubbing, or constant paw licking are possible manifestations that your Golden Retriever might be suffering from canine allergies. However, there are indicators of allergies that are somehow non-specific. You cant determine just by merely looking at your dog that he might have an issue with allergies. However, these symptoms will occur over time. If enough indicators are present, you should investigate further or better yet work closely with your vet.

The most evident sign of canine allergy is scratching. Vigorous scratching at the same parts of the body indicates that there is something wrong going on. If your dog is doing it repeatedly, you might suspect of an allergic reaction. Consequently, scratching at the same area in repetition may cause redness or scabs, which may impose another problem leading to skin damage, infection, and discomfort.

Aside from vigorous and repeated scratching, there are other common allergy indicators or signs and symptoms that you need to look out for. These include:

• Sneezing
• Swollen paws due to paw chewing
• Snoring due to inflamed throat or infection
• Scab or hair loss

Once it has become evident that any of these signs and symptoms occur, make sure to contact your vet right away to deal with the situation as soon as possible. In fact, it is important that even during the earliest stage of the canine allergy, you should already be working closely with the expert.

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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain

Rating:

Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken is one of 18 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal , peas, pea protein, tapioca starch
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult goldens

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken obtains the majority of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 17% fat and 38% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.

This recipe also includes zinc amino acid complex and other chelated minerals, ingredients which deliver superior nutrition for larger breeds. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewI get a few different flavors, but the dogs love it and they have no digestive issues and are very healthy. Their coats shine like they have been oiled. No dental issues. Blue Buffalo wilderness has been a favorite with us for a long time.

Curing Skin Allergies Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers With Skin Allergies

Make sure to focus on your Golden retrievers nutrition. Food is the main culprit, and food is also the antidote to this problem.

If youre feeding your Golden retriever food they are allergic to, then eliminating these from their diet can solve your problem.

Make sure to change your dogs diet, and youll start to see a marked difference.

The following are two simple solutions to stop skin allergies on your Golden retriever:

Please make sure they are in an environment that is suitable and clean.

Be vigilant about the food you give to your dog.

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A Goldens Unique Needs

While Goldens are known as a relatively healthy dog breed, there are a few medical conditions theyre predisposed to. While some conditions, like hypothyroidism or hip and elbow dysplasia, are difficult to predict or protect against, there are other common conditions which can be prevented through proper diet and eating habits.

Cancer Nearly 60% of golden retrievers die from cancer. The causes for cancer are many, and in most cases, theres nothing that could have been done to prevent it, theres one thing you can control which may help your dog avoid cancer: proper diet.

Lower quality dog foods often contain ingredients which have been linked to cancer, and avoiding them is the best action you can take to help your dog avoid developing cancer. Avoiding foods with artificial ingredients, colors, fillers or preservatives is a great way to limit the likelihood of your golden developing cancer.

Cardiovascular Disease While goldens are prone to developing cardiovascular disease, you can mitigate this risk tremendously by keeping your dog at a healthy weight thats in line with your vets recommendations.

A healthy dog at the right weight is far less likely to develop a heart condition as they get older. If you notice your dog trending a bit towards the heavier side, dont wait, consult with your vet about putting them on a diet for weight management.

How To Transition Your Golden Retrievers Diet

Transitioning your Golden Retrievers diet should not be done in haste and can sometimes lead to some side-effects such as decreased eating habits, stomach upset, and even diarrhea. As such, you should make the process smooth so you do not make your dogs condition uncomfortable.

The time taken to change your canine buddys diet should range between 5 to 7 days and must be done gradually as you are introducing them to a new food they are not used to. Check out this food transition guide from the AKC site:

Table: AKC recommendation for Food Transitioning

It is that easy and your Golden Retriever is ready to continue eating the new diet comfortably.

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Freely Flexitarian Recipe Limited Ingredient Whole Grain Dry Dog Food

Main Ingredients: Brown rice, eggs, deboned turkey, oat groats, pearled barley, turkey meal, millet, sunflower oil , quinoa, natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, and vitamins.

Where To Buy It: Available from Freelypets and Chewy.com.

How Much Is It? $59.99 .

Bottom Line

This flexitarian limited ingredient blend takes a more minimalistic approach to dog food, with wholesome ingredients that wont take up the entire label.

Pay Attention To The Protein Source

Top on the list of allergy triggers is proteins. Common culprits include beef, chicken, dairy, lamb, fish, just to name a few. However, reactions to these proteins vary from dog to dog. But before you take a chance with diets containing such ingredients, establish whats behind the allergy in your pooch.

If your worst fears are confirmed that proteins could be behind it, then your best bet is novel proteins such as venison or duck. In fact, novel proteins should be your first consideration because they are too friendly to allergic dogs. So, check that the first ingredients comprise novel proteins and ingredients that are less common .

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Hills Science Diet Wet Dog Food

Do you want the best dog food for your Golden Retriever with skin allergies at an affordable price? You can never go wrong with Hills Science Diet. The tender turkey & rice stew recipe has been crafted to provide your adult dog with optimal digestive health.

With tender turkey as the first ingredient, this grain-free wet dog food features high-quality protein in a palatable flavor that your dog will enjoy. To ensure your Golden Retriever with skin allergies has smooth digestion, the recipe is crafted with natural ingredients like rice. This supports easier stool pick-up.

We also like that the food contains omega-3 and vitamin E to support healthy skin and a lustrous coat.

Pros:

Purina One Smartblend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food

PetListed Verdict:

Purina One is a solid choice for those looking for high quality dog food at an affordable price. The food has 30% protein content, with real turkey as the first ingredient, and Omega-6 fatty acids for a healthy coat.

Key Details:

• 30% protein content, made with real turkey and venison
• Turkey is the #1 ingredient
• Good for active adult dogs, with balanced nutritional content
• Includes Omega-6 for healthy skin and coat
• Well priced compared with other dog foods

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Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food : Hills Prescription Diet Z/d Dog Food

Hills Prescription Diet z/d is a special chicken-flavored kibble for dogs with skin and/or food sensitivities. This food, which requires a vets prescription, is formulated by nutritionists and veterinarians and clinically tested to help dogs avoid skin and digestive symptoms from adverse food reactions. It includes hydrolyzed animal protein and a single purified carbohydrate.

What is hydrolyzed protein? Hydrolysation is a process that breaks a protein structure down into basic amino acids. In this form, the protein is small enough that its unlikely to cause an adverse immune reaction.

While its not cheap, many customers say Hills z/d worked wonders for their dogs symptoms and is worth the cost. If youve tried out several non-prescription hypoallergenic foods with no improvement, you may want to discuss this diet with your veterinarian.

Price

Many pet parents find that this Purina Pro Plan dog food formula is a huge help for their dogs skin issues compared to similar products. Its primary ingredient is salmon, rather than traditional chicken, beef, pork, or other protein sources that aggravate skin allergies. It also contains no corn, wheat, or soy.

This sensitive skin dog food formula is also fortified with live probiotics for digestive and immune health and contains oatmeal as a healthy carbohydrate source. And if youre looking for hypoallergenic puppy food, Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach also comes in a puppy formula.

Price

• 24 lb bag :