Best Dog Food For Pit Bulls With Skin Allergies

First Three Ingredients: Water, pea starch, hydrolyzed soy protein | Food Type: Loaf | Life Stage: Adult | Size: 13.7 ounces can (24 pack)

The Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf is safe for any dog with food allergies, regardless of what they react to. To allow this diet to work, you should feed it exclusively for at least eight weeks and avoid giving any other foods, including treats and chews.

The recipe contains an exclusive fiber blend that promotes a healthy gut and is ideal for those prone to loose stools or gas. The soft loaf is rich in flavor and easy to eat, making it a tempting choice, even for picky eaters.

What We Like:
• Fully hydrolyzed
• Supports digestion
• Highly palatable

What We Don’t Like:
• The top two protein sources are vegetable-based
• Not a whole food diet

First Three Ingredients: Salmon hydrolysate, water, potato starch | Food Type: Wet pâté | Life Stage: Adult | Size: 12.5 ounces can (12 pack)

The Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet HF is an excellent food for pit bulls with skin issues, as it contains hydrolyzed salmon as the first ingredient. Oily fish like salmon are rich in fatty acids, which promotes healthy skin. A strong skin barrier helps prevent the entry of allergens and retains moisture, reducing dryness, itching, and flaking.

This dog food is designed for dogs with food sensitivities and may be suitable for those prone to certain urinary tract diseases. Since it’s wet dog food, it’s an excellent choice for dogs with underlying bladder issues or chronic cystitis.

Blue Buffalo’s formula is low in fat and perfect for a pit bull that needs to lose weight or is prone to episodes of pancreatitis. While some low-fat diets can be unappealing, pet parents say their dogs enjoy the taste of this Blue Buffalo offering.

Note: To diversify your dog’s diet, consider baking small biscuit-like treats from the food.

What We Like:
• Grain-free recipe
• Fish as the first ingredient
• Complies with AAFCO regulations
• Low-fat option

What We Don’t Like:
• Strong smell

First Three Ingredients: Corn Starch, hydrolyzed soy protein, powdered cellulose | Food Type: Dry kibble | Life Stage: Adult and senior Size: 8, 17.6, or 25-pound bag

Hill’s Z/D is a top choice for veterinarians when they need to prescribe a diet for dogs with allergies. This option is perfect for overweight dogs and those requiring a low-fat diet, especially pets with a history of pancreatitis.

This diet is formulated to enhance the skin’s natural barrier and alleviate itching. It also contains Hill’s exclusive ActivBiome+ formula, intended to boost the gut microbiome and long-term changes in stool quality.

Feeding a hydrolyzed diet is an excellent idea if you suspect food allergies but aren't sure what foods could trigger your pup’s reactions. 

What We Like:
• Low fat
• Fully hydrolyzed
• Excellent flavor, approved by many happy canines

What We Don’t Like:
• Corn starch is the first ingredient
• Contains flavorings

First Three Ingredients: Corn starch, hydrolyzed soy protein isolate, coconut oil | Food Type: Dry kibble | Life Stage: All life stages | Size: 6, 16.5, 25-pound bags

This hydrolyzed diet from Purina is aimed at dogs with allergic dermatitis and those with food intolerances and inflammatory bowel disease. 

Based on 2023 research published in the Animal Journal, coconut oil, a medium-chain triglyceride added to the Purina formula, may improve cognition in senior dogs and can help support general alertness (1).

The diet contains broken-down animal and plant proteins, so it shouldn't trigger any allergic reactions and is gentle on the digestive system.

What We Like:
• Single carbohydrate source
• Added coconut oil for better brain function
• Suitable for puppies as well as older dogs

What We Don’t Like:
• Lack of whole food ingredients
• High price

First Three Ingredients: Lamb, whole yellow peas, red lentils  | Food Type: Dry kibble | Life Stage: Adult and senior | Size: 4 or 24-pound bag 

BIXBI RAWBBLE’s Fresh Lamb Recipe combines whole foods, including fresh lamb, eggs, peas, raspberries, and coconut flour. The ingredients read more like a healthy grocery list than a dog food label, providing a highly digestible diet beneficial for a dog’s gut microbiome.

BIXBI formula freshness, flavor, and nutritional value by having moisture removed, and most dogs love freeze-dried foods.

Note: While you won't find common allergens in this recipe, some dogs may have allergies to more novel food, including peas, lamb, and eggs, which are in the BIXBI recipe.

What We Like:
• Freeze-dried ingredients
• It doesn’t contain most common food allergens
• Delicious flavor

What We Don’t Like:
• A sudden change to this diet may result in loose stools

First Three Ingredients: Beef, beef tripe, beef heart | Food Type: Air-dried dog food | Life Stage: All | Size: 1, 2.2, 5.5, or 8.8 pound bag

Air-dried dog foods are dehydrated to absorb nutrients and flavor while removing moisture. This type of food is an excellent alternative to homemade raw diets, with a lower risk of food poisoning and the assurance of a complete, balanced formula.

Ziwi Peak provides a hearty fresh beef protein that will have your dog drooling. It’s the perfect choice for Pitbulls, helping them keep their muscles lean and strong, even the most active ones.

We appreciate the inclusion of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which promote joint health in all dogs, especially pit bulls with joint disease.

What We Like:
• Air-dried for optimal nutrition
• No added fillers or grains
• Premium pet food with an excellent reputation
• Easy to digest
• Added joint supplements

What We Don’t Like:
• Protein sources aren't hydrolyzed

First Three Ingredients: Salmon, menhaden fish meal, sweet potatoes | Food Type: Dry kibble | Life Stage: Adult | Size: 4, 12, or 24-pound bag

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Salmon Recipe is a complete and balanced diet made from a single protein source and contains no grains. The formula is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which, according to a 2004 paper published in the Journal of Small Animals, effectively alleviates symptoms in dogs with atopic dermatitis (2).

Despite many fatty acids, the Natural Balance formula has a relatively low fat content, about 13-14% on a dry matter basis. It is ideal for overweight dogs or those prone to pancreatitis.

What We Like:
• Limited-ingredient diet
• Single animal protein source
• Enriched with fish oil
• High-quality protein

What We Don’t Like:
• Proteins have not been broken down
• Not suitable for dogs with a fish or potato allergy

First Three Ingredients: Bison, vegetable broth, potatoes | Food Type: Wet food | Life Stage: All | Size: 13-ounce can (12 or 24 pack)

Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison Recipe is a delicious recipe for Pitbulls with skin allergies. It contains natural foods such as venison, sweet potato, and ground flaxseed. Sweet potato is an excellent source of slow-release energy, perfect for dogs who lead an active life.

With only a few ingredients and no grains or common allergens like chicken, soy, or dairy, this recipe is unlikely to cause allergic reactions in dogs with skin issues. However, owners should closely monitor their dogs for adverse reactions since it hasn’t been broken down (hydrolyzed).

What We Like:
• Novel protein reduces the likelihood of allergic reactions
• Venison is the first ingredient
• Highly palatable
• No artificial colors

What We Don’t Like:
• Potent smell

First Three Ingredients: Whitefish, menhaden fish meal, herring meal | Food Type: Dry kibble | Life Stage: Adult | Size: 4 or 22-pound bag

When it comes to food for your pit bull, one of the main things is that you choose a diet they love to eat and are excited about. This kibble from Wellness CORE has a ton of rave reviews, with dogs enjoying the flavor of the tasty white fish and herring.

Fish is an excellent source of fatty acids, which can reduce signs in dogs with food and seasonal allergies. Fatty acids are also great for your dog’s overall health and well-being. In addition to being used in inflammatory skin disorders, they benefit those with renal disease, arthritis, and primary hyperlipidemia (3).

Fish and brown rice are easily digestible and perfect for those prone to upset stomachs. They can help firm up loose stool, and the added probiotics may shorten acute episodes of diarrhea (4).

What We Like:
• Probiotic-coated food to support the microbiome
• Contains fruit and vegetables such as pumpkin, papayas, and apples
• Supports immune system

What We Don’t Like:
• Some dogs find large kibble tricky to chew

First Three Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, yellow peas | Food Type: Dry kibble | Life Stage: Adult (1-6 years) | Size: 4, 15.5, 30, or 36-pound bag

Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and Skin is a tasty diet for sensitive skin and stomachs. It is highly digestible and gentle on the stomach, containing prebiotic fiber to provide a food source for healthy gut bacteria. 

The formula is also enriched with vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, which help nourish skin and promote a shiny coat. The first listed ingredient is chicken, an excellent protein and fat source. However, if you suspect your dog has a chicken allergy, it is best to avoid this food.

What We Like:
• Prebiotic fiber
• Formulated for young adult dogs
• Delicious, meaty taste
• Highly digestible
• Recommended by vets

What We Don’t Like:
• Contains some common allergens, including chicken and egg
• Not suitable for senior dogs