As a parent of a dog with allergies, I understand the struggle of finding hypoallergenic treats and foods that my dog, Ginger, can eat.
If you’ve ever read the ingredients on the typical dog treat bag, you would be shocked. I found that chicken by-products or chicken meal are in just about every dog food and treat.
Whenever we visit the pet store, we look for new treats to see if our dog, Ginger, can have them. Reading labels has become part of my job as a dog mom.
This is Part 3 of 3 in my Dogs with Allergies Series. It’s important to know what your dog is allergic to. If you aren’t sure, go back and read
Chewy.com and Amazon are my two favorite sources to buy our dog food, treats, and bones. I’ve included links below to both sites so you can choose which is more convenient for you. Save 30% on your first Autoship Order with Chewy!
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will receive a small commission, but it won’t cost you a penny more). Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Hypoallergenic Treats for Dogs with Allergies
Here are the 7 best treats I found for dogs with allergies. Since chicken is the number one source of allergies in most dogs, none of these contain chicken of any kind.
1. Fruitables
These are available in a variety of flavors so make sure to read the labels. We stick with the non-protein-based flavors such as pumpkin, apple, strawberries, and blueberries.
Ingredients for the pumpkin/blueberry flavor: Pumpkin, Ground Oats, Barley, Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Molasses, Cinnamon, Blueberry Pomace, Natural Blueberry Flavor, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (To Preserve Freshness).
Click here to find Fruitables Dog Treats on Amazon
Click here to find Fruitables Dog Treats on Chewy.com
2. Green Mussels Freeze-Dried Dog Treats
Any freeze-dried treat should be one ingredient, but I recommend reading the label just in case. I stick with the fish-based because that’s the protein our dog can eat.
Ingredients: Green Beef Tripe.
Click here to find Green Mussels on Chewy
Click here to find Green Mussels on Amazon
3. Stewart Single Ingredient Freeze Dried Raw Dog Treats
The Stewart brand offers a variety of freeze-dried options, ranging from beef to fish, making it easy to find the perfect choice for your dog.
Ingredients: Only one ingredient, depending on the chosen flavor!
Click here to find Steward Treats on Amazon
Click here to find Stewart Treats on Chewy.com
4. Vital Essentials Bites Freeze-Dried Dog Treats
Rabbit is one of a few novel proteins that dogs with allergies may be able to eat. Vital Essentials also carries other proteins such as duck, beef ,and salmon.
Ingredients: Rabbit, Rabbit Liver, Rabbit Kidney, Rabbit Heart.
Click here to find Vital Essentials on Amazon
Click here to find Vital Essentials on Chewy.com
5. Fresh or Raw Diet for Dogs
Feeding dogs a fresh or raw diet is becoming increasingly popular because it allows you to have complete control over what your dog eats. I started feeding my dogs raw a couple of years ago and saw a huge difference in their coat and overall health.
If you plan to feed fresh, pre-made food, it’s still essential to read the ingredients. Just because it’s labeled “fresh” doesn’t mean the ingredients are “healthy”.
Homemade Dog Treat Options
If you feel ambitious and want to make your dog homemade treats, the best ingredients to use are:
- Peanut butter
- Pumpkin
- Banana
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Coconut Oil
I have a few homemade treat recipes. Click here to pick one for your pup!
6. Homemade Frozen Dog Treats
The easiest way to make homemade treats is to simply freeze fruit or vegetables. Anytime our fruit starts to get too ripe, I cut it up into treat-sized pieces and throw them into the freezer.
7. Homemade Dehydrated Dog Treats
Again, a very simple way to make treats for your allergy-prone dog. You can use protein, vegetables, or fruits.
Simply slice the food and put it in your dehydrator. I’ve made sweet potato treats this way, and the dogs love them!
Limited-ingredient Dog Food Brands
I’ve gone through an elimination diet with our dog, Ginger, to determine what she is allergic to. It came down to the fact that the only protein she can eat is fish.
It’s obviously different for every dog, so I’ve included a variety of options below. These include brands I’ve heard others have success with. These are all very limited-ingredient dog foods.
8. Zignature
Zignature is our go-to brand. They offer several novelty proteins, including those from kangaroo, salmon, venison, and more. Their ingredient list is extremely limited, and many dogs with allergies have found success with their food.
Click here to find Zignature on Amazon
Click here to find Zignature on Chewy.com
9. Stella & Chewy’s
Stella & Chewy’s offers a variety of freeze-dried foods with different protein options, allowing you to choose the one that works best for your dog. I’ve tried a few samples of this, and my dogs love it, but with two large dogs, it would be very expensive to feed them both.
Click here to find Stella & Chewy’s on Amazon
Click here to find Stella & Chewy’s on Chewy
10. Instinct Original Rabbit
We’ve also fed Ginger The Instinct Rabbit recipe, she loves it. But the price tag is higher than Zignature. So I will rotate this one every few months.
Click here to find Instinct on Amazon
Click here to find Instinct on Chewy.com
Bones and Chews for Dogs with Allergies
Chewing on bones helps keep a dog’s teeth clean and healthy. But when you have a dog with allergies, it can be difficult to find something they can chew on. If your dog is not allergic to beef, then you will have an easier time finding bones. But since Ginger can not eat beef, I need to find alternatives. Here are a few I found that my dogs love.
11. Elk Antler
12. Himalayan Dog Chew
15. WHIMZEES Alligator Dental Dog Treats
P.S. Comment below to let me know what your dog’s favorite is on this list. I love hearing from my readers and will always respond right away!
