Best Dry Dog Food For German Shepherds With Skin Allergies
The best dry dog food for German Shepherds with skin allergies will give them the best chance of overcoming the condition. German Shepherds are typically vulnerable to skin allergies which can worsen if left unchecked.
While there are numerous possible treatment options available, diet is the most important one when dealing with skin allergies. Diet also happens to be a possible cause of skin allergies, making it the perfect solution.
Due to the prevalence of this condition amongst German Shepherds, there are numerous possible dry food options to choose from. To help make choosing easier, here are some of our selections for the best dry dog food for German Shepherds with skin allergies.
Best Dry Dog Food For German Shepherd Puppies With Skin Allergies
Skin allergies rent typically common amongst puppies, but they occur regardless and need the appropriate diet. There aren’t too many options to choose from, but regardless, we take a look at our favourite dry food for German Shepherd puppies with skin allergies.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Grain-Free Puppy Dry Dog Food
Limited-ingredient diets are the ideal recipes for combating allergies and Natural Balance delivers one. Designed for large-breed puppies, your German Shepherd puppy can receive a proper diet to help combat its allergies.
It also contains enough protein to fuel your puppies’ activities and still contribute to muscle growth and development. If your German Shepherd puppy has allergies, then there is hardly a better dry food than this.
Features
- A limited-ingredient diet
- A grain-free product designed for puppies
- Free of artificial flavours, colours, soy and gluten
Pros
- This product is designed by veterinarians
- It provides fast relief from allergies
- It contains fibre which improves digestion
- A protein-rich diet that helps with muscle strength
Cons
- It may cause an unpleasant odour on your dog
Main Ingredients: Duck, Duck Meal, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, and Tapioca Starch.
Nulo Freestyle Limited Puppy Grain-Free Turkey Dry Dog Food
Nulo Freestyle may not be the most popular dog food brand, but it certainly produces worthwhile products. This grain-free dry food is formulated for dogs with food sensitivities and allergies.
The recipe doesn’t contain chicken, egg, peas or any other common allergen, and is perfectly suited to large breed dogs. Your German Shepherd is sure to love this dry dog food even if they are a picky eater.
The product may be on the expensive side, but it is worth every penny to see your German Shepherd get the nutrition it deserves.
Features
- Free of artificial colouring and preservatives
- Suitable for puppies and adults alike
- It uses a single protein source
Pros
- It is easily digestible and gentle on the stomach
- 100% made in the USA
- It is designed to improve gut and immune system health
- It has a low-carb concentration
Cons
- It is an expensive product
Main Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chickpeas, Sweet Potatoes, and Canola Oil.
Best Dry Food For Adult German Shepherds With Skin Allergies
As adults, a dog’s needs change and its diet needs to be adjusted to match these needs. Adult German Shepherds with skin allergies especially those recently manifested need a stronger diet for allergies.
Here are some of the best dry dog foods for Adult German Shepherds with skin allergies.
Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Grain-Free Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo is a household name when it comes to dog food. With a mission to provide the best diet to ensure pets are healthy, most recipes are targeted at affected dogs.
This recipe is designed for dogs with skin allergies and is designed to minimize sensitivities and improve the existing condition. You can rest easy knowing that your German Shepherd is in the best hands and will emerge free of allergies and be the happiest pet.
Features
- An all-natural product, made without any inorganic ingredients
- Free of any by-products
- A single animal protein source
Pros
- It is easily digestible
- Fatty acids help improve skin and coat health
- It is designed to help reduce food sensitivities
- Ingredients are carefully selected for their benefits
Cons
- It may not be suitable for some dogs
Main Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Potatoes, Turkey Meal, Pea Starch, Peas.
Castor and Pollux ORGANIX Organic Dry Dog Food
Castor isn’t the most popular dog food brand in the world, but it produces one of the best recipes for dogs with allergies. Designed for large-breed dogs like German Shepherds, this all-organic product is the perfect answer to allergies.
With a USDA certification, you are sure your German Shepherd will get the best possible nutrition in each serving. The recipe is fast acting and you will start to notice positive changes within a few meals.
Features
- A non-GMO product with all-natural ingredients
- Free of artificial flavours, colours and preservatives
- A complete and balanced nutrition
Pros
- It is made using organic ingredients
- It contains a nutrient-rich superfood blend
- Made in the USA
- It helps improve digestive health
Cons
- The odour may be too powerful and not all dogs like it
- It is an expensive product
Main ingredients: Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Meal, Organic Oatmeal, Organic Barley, and Organic Brown Rice.
Best Veterinarian Picked Dry Dog Foods For German Shepherds With Allergies
Veterinarians are the foremost authority on all things animals, including the best dry dog foods.
While there are numerous dry dog food options for German Shepherds with skin allergies, not all of them are highly recommended by vets.
Here are some of the top veterinarian-recommended dry dog food for German Shepherds with Skin Allergies.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete Dry Dog Food
Hill’s is known for its scientific approach to creating dog food and puts this method to good use here. This dry food is crafted to improve skin conditions and battle allergies and does this scientifically.
A product that is only available with a veterinary prescription, it is a highly-rated recipe amongst experts. The results are quickly evident with your German Shepherd getting a chance to live a normal life.
Features
- Single animal protein source
- Designed to lower scratching, especially at night
- It is crafted to clinically stop itching
Pros
- Reports claim it helps dogs sleep better
- Skin improvement is often visible in a short period
- Fortifies skin barriers and protects from environmental allergens
- It helps to normalize the immune system
Cons
- It may not affect some dogs
- You need a prescription to buy this product
Main Ingredients: Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Egg Product, Rice Protein Concentrate, and Soybean Oil.
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dog Food With Probiotics
Purina Pro Plan boasts a range of specialized dry dog food, with one designed for large-breed dogs. This recipe is designed for dogs with skin and stomach sensitivities and is a great option for German Shepherds with skin allergies.
The recipe contains probiotics to help improve gut microflora and overall digestive health. Free of some notable allergens including chicken, this is arguably the best possible diet plan for any dogs with allergies or food sensitivities.
It is approved and recommended by veterinarians worldwide so you know it is a trustworthy product.
Features
- Free of soy, wheat and corn
- Designed for skin and stomach relief
- Perfectly formulated for large-breed dogs
Pros
- It promotes a healthy skin
- A source of high-quality protein
- It is an easily digestible product
- Prebiotic and probiotics fibres help improve digestive health
Cons
- The fish smell remains on your dog’s breath
Main Ingredients: Salmon, Barley, Rice, Oat Meal, and Canola Meal.
How Do You Treat German Shepherd Skin Allergies?
Specialized shampoo is one of the most effective solutions against skin allergies or infections. You bathe your dog with this shampoo, focusing on the affected areas. Shampoo may be infections specific so you need one that is ideal for the infection your dog faces.
The earlier you detect and start treating the infection or allergy, the better your dog’s chances of making a full recovery. Apart from shampoo, there are skin creams and lotions that can also help stave off infections.
Another possible solution for treating skin allergies and infections is to use a specialized diet. Allergies often have internal and external implications, as does a proper diet.
Specialized diets are often designed to fight off skin infections and allergies, and are a very effective option. By strengthening your dog’s immune system and improving skin and coat health, skin allergies and infections are limited.
What Are German Shepherds Most Allergic To?
The most common food allergies with German Shepherds are animal protein sources. Beef and chicken are the most common triggers for dogs in general and food rich either protein source can be triggering.
The higher the protein level of any such dry food, the greater the allergic reaction will be.
Milk, fish, eggs and lamb are some other popular allergens for German Shepherds. The common theory among many experts and dog owners is that some German Shepherds are allergic to high protein content.
Allergies can be evident on the skin or cause dietary problems in your dog. Once you observe a food allergy in your dog, you should switch to a more appropriate diet.
Other possible causes of allergies include environmental pathogens and insect bites. With environmental or insect factors, a change of diet isn’t usually the solution. You can contact your vet to recommend an appropriate course of action before the condition worsens.
Why Does My German Shepherd Keep Getting Skin Infections?
Continuous exposure to allergens is the reason your dog keeps getting skin infections. Skin infections are caused by certain allergens, and will only appear where they are present.
The infection itself may be minor but scratching and rubbing against the infected area can cause it to spread. If your dog has any skin infections, you should treat them immediately before it spreads to other areas.
Identifying the cause of the skin infection makes it easier to determine the best course of action for your dog. Where environmental factors are responsible, tidying up or relocating your dog may be the best chance at avoiding an infection.
If the skin infection is caused by their diet, a change in diet will solve the problem and return your German Shepherd to a healthy state.
Regardless of the cause, once you notice skin infections on your dog, you can switch them to a dry dog food designed for this purpose. Diet is one of the most effective actions you can take against skin infection and usually yields rapid results.
Conclusion: Best Dry Dog Food For German Shepherds
German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and happen to be vulnerable when it comes to skin allergies. When left unchecked, allergies cause dogs to itch and scratch, which worsens the condition.
To keep your dog as healthy and active as possible, you’ll need to treat the allergies at the source. As diet is the most popular cause of allergies in German Shepherds, diet is the obvious solution.
Anyone of our listed dry dog foods above should provide fast and effective relief from allergies for your German Shepherd.
