I recently came across a question in the forums asking if Purina made hypoallergenic dog food. Many people are trying to find over-the-counter hypoallergenic dog food so they can help their dogs and save money. The answer is yes. Purina does make hypoallergenic dog food. They actually make both over-the-counter and prescription varieties.
Related: Your Guide to Hypoallergenic Dog Food at PetSmart
Over-the-Counter Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Affiliate links included below.
Many people don’t know this, but Purina has been making prescription hypoallergenic dog food for a long time. They have also introduced an over-the-counter hypoallergenic dog food to their line of products. This food was developed to support sensitive skins and stomachs, and while it doesn’t specifically call itself hypoallergenic, its ingredients make it so.
Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula
This hypoallergenic food was created to support the sensitive skin and stomach of a dog with food allergies. I like this food because it uses salmon, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential to skin health, and they also support joint health. This is a bonus for people with large or giant breed dogs.
- Salmon as a protein source
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Naturally preserved
- Good source of omega-3 fatty acids for skin and joint health
- Good source of glucosamine for joint health
Purina Pro Plan Select Grain Free Formula
While not hypoallergenic in the truest since of the word, this formulation is free of grains and soy, the major players in dog allergies. This dog food uses chicken at its protein source, so it isn’t for dogs with protein sensitivities. However if grains and soy are your dog’s kryptonite, this is an excellent choice.
- Chicken as main protein source
- No grain or soy
- Omega-6 fatty acids and zinc for healthy skin and coat
- Easily digestible
Related: Hypoallergenic Grain Free Dog Food
Prescription Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Purina makes a prescription hypoallergenic dog food that is highly recommended by the vet I used to work for. The clients who put their dogs on it all had wonderful results, as well. This formulation is a bit of a departure from other approaches to hypoallergenic dog food.
Purina HA actually uses soy as its main protein source. However, it’s not just any old soy. They take quality soy protein and hydrolyze it. Hydrolyzing the protein partially breaks it down and reduces its molecular weight, making it extremely easy to digest. Soy protein lends itself to the hydrolyzation process very well, which is why they use it.
The use of soy also means that this hypoallergenic dog food is 100% vegetarian. The thought process with this hypoallergenic dog food was to get away from animal proteins completely to reduce the chances of allergic incidences.
- Vegetarian formula
- Hydrolyzed soy protein for easy digestion
- One low-allergen carbohydrate source
- Highly digestible carb source and hydrolyzed soy
Purina HA Chicken Flavor
Purina HA Chicken Flavor is the same food is original HA with added hydrolyzed chicken for flavor. This food was developed primarily for dogs who didn’t like the original flavor. Although the chicken protein is hydrolyzed, this food is still not recommended for dogs with allergies to chicken.
Highly Recommended by Vets and Owners
All of these hypoallergenic dog food options from Purina receive consistently high marks from both vets and consumers. In my seven years at the vet, I saw exceptional outcomes using the prescription food, and I had many clients tell me how well their dogs were doing on the over-the-counter hypoallergenic food as well.
Purina’s hypoallergenic dog food choices have all be shown to be extremely effective and tasty for pooch palettes. If your dog is exhibiting signs of food allergies, talk to your vet. See what he or she thinks of Purina. If your dog is already on a hypoallergenic dog food, and you’re looking to save a little money, ask your vet about Purina’s over-the-counter hypoallergenic dog food options. They may be something to try.
Have you ever tried Purina hypoallergenic dog food? What are your thoughts on the brand?
