Hypoallergenic food is suited to pets that are allergic or have an intolerance to one or more ingredients found in regular pet food.

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy occurs when a pet's immune system mistakenly identifies a particular food or ingredient as harmful and then creates defensive antibodies to fight it. The symptoms of an allergy can include, but are not limited to: a skin rash, hives, paw biting, obsessive licking or diarrhoea/vomiting. We recommend you consult your vet first if you are concerned by any symptoms your pet is displaying before addressing their diet.

What are hypoallergenic foods typically made up of:

Hypoallergenic diets classically contain a limited number of ingredients that are less likely to cause allergic reactions, such as foods made without grain or chicken.

They may also contain novel ingredients, which your pet may not have been previously exposed to, and therefore is less likely to be allergic to, such as buffalo, pheasant etc.

Veterinary prescription hypoallergenic foods - these foods are usually comprised of a hydrolysed protein source, which means the protein has been chemically broken down into very small parts that are meant to be unreactive to the pet’s immune system. They usually also contain a single purified carbohydrate source such as corn starch, and are enriched with essential fatty acids, to help improve the skin barrier, and antioxidants.

Surprisingly, these foods do not require a prescription and do not contain any medicines but are usually recommended by a vet to help manage various allergies. They should only be used following the recommendation of your vet after they have examined your pet.

Benefits

For a dog or cat suffering with allergies or intolerances, a hypoallergenic diet can help reduce the frequency and/or severity of their flare ups. Consult your veterinary surgeon before feeding your pet a hypoallergenic diet as they may recommend several other treatments too.

Our articles are not a replacement for face-to-face vet advice. It’s important to consult with your vet on a regular basis to raise any pet concerns that you may have.