Best Dog Food for Labs with Allergies

Labrador retrievers are energetic, lovable, and unfortunately, prone to skin and stomach issues. If your Lab is scratching nonstop, chewing their paws, or dealing with soft stool and gas, food allergies or sensitivities might be part of the problem.

The challenge is that there are dozens of “sensitive” and “hypoallergenic” formulas on the shelf, and not all of them truly help allergic dogs. This guide focuses on a handful of well-regarded foods that veterinarians commonly recommend for Labs with suspected or confirmed food allergies, plus how to choose the right one for your dog.

Quick picks

• Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Dry Dog Food – Best for confirmed food allergies
  A highly purified, hydrolyzed-protein formula designed specifically for dogs with diagnosed food allergies. Ideal if your vet has recommended a strict elimination or long-term allergy diet for your Lab.
• Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Vegetarian Formula Dry Dog Food – Best for severe multi-protein allergies
  Uses hydrolyzed soy as the sole protein source, which can be helpful when your Lab reacts to many different meats. Often used as a true elimination diet to sort out complicated allergy cases.
• Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Recipe – Best non-prescription allergy-friendly food
  A limited-ingredient, salmon-based formula that skips chicken, beef, dairy, corn, wheat, and soy. Good for Labs with milder skin or digestive sensitivities when you want an over-the-counter option.
• Zignature Limited Ingredient Turkey Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Best novel-protein option
  Turkey-based, limited-ingredient kibble that avoids common triggers like chicken, beef, and dairy. Works well if your Lab has done better on novel proteins and needs a cleaner ingredient list.

For any prescription diet, you will need to work with your veterinarian. If you are not sure your Lab truly has food allergies, talk with your vet before investing in specialty foods.

In-depth reviews

Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Dry Dog Food review

This food is built for Labs with confirmed or strongly suspected food allergies, especially if they have both skin and digestive symptoms. It uses hydrolyzed chicken protein, which is broken into very small pieces that are much less likely to trigger the immune system.

The carbohydrate source is carefully selected and the overall recipe is kept simple to reduce exposure to potential allergens. Many vets choose z/d when they want a reliable, long-term diet that has been studied in allergic dogs. The kibble size is on the smaller side, but most adult Labs adapt quickly and handle it without trouble.

The biggest downsides are cost and the need for a veterinary prescription, plus some dogs find the taste less exciting than regular kibble. Compared with Purina Pro Plan HA, Hill’s z/d gives you an animal-based protein source, which some owners prefer, whereas HA is fully vegetarian. If your Lab has not yet tried a hydrolyzed diet, either can be a strong starting point, and your vet’s experience with each brand can guide the choice.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Vegetarian Formula Dry Dog Food review

Purina Pro Plan HA is often chosen for Labs with very complicated allergy histories who seem to react to multiple meats and traditional kibbles. It uses hydrolyzed soy protein in a vegetarian formula, which avoids animal proteins entirely and dramatically narrows what your dog is exposed to.

Because the ingredient list is so tightly controlled, HA is frequently used as a true elimination diet. Your vet may ask you to feed nothing but this food for 6 to 8 weeks to see if skin and stomach symptoms calm down. Owners often report firmer stools and less gas fairly quickly, while itchy skin can take longer to improve.

The formula is plain by design, which means fewer flavor boosters and sometimes slower acceptance for picky eaters. It is also prescription-only and pricey, similar to Hill’s z/d. Compared with z/d, Purina HA is a good choice if your vet is worried that even hydrolyzed chicken might be a problem, or if previous allergy diets have not given clear answers.

Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Recipe review

This Blue Buffalo Basics formula is a solid option for Labs with milder allergies or simple food sensitivities where a prescription diet is not yet necessary. It uses salmon as the single animal protein source and relies on potatoes and peas for carbohydrates, which helps many dogs who react to chicken, beef, or grains.

The recipe leaves out common allergens such as chicken, beef, dairy, corn, wheat, and soy, and it includes pumpkin and gentle fiber sources for gut health. Many owners see improvements in itchy skin, soft stool, and general coat quality within a few weeks. It is also easier to find and more affordable than prescription foods, which matters if you are feeding a large Lab.

There are still a few trade-offs. As a grain-free food that uses legumes, it may not be the best fit for every dog, especially if your vet has concerns about grain-free diets and heart health. Compared with Zignature’s limited-ingredient formulas, Blue Basics feels a bit more like a mainstream kibble with added extras, while Zignature keeps things even more stripped down for very sensitive dogs.

Zignature Limited Ingredient Turkey Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food review

Zignature’s Turkey Formula is built around the idea of minimizing ingredients and avoiding the proteins that most commonly cause trouble, such as chicken and beef. Turkey is often a novel or less frequently used protein for many dogs, which can help if your Lab has reacted to more typical meats.

The ingredient list is short and focused, without chicken by-products, dairy, or many of the fillers that can confuse allergy investigations. The protein level is relatively high, which suits active Labs who burn a lot of calories. Owners of sensitive dogs often like that there are no artificial colors or flavors, and that the formula is consistent from bag to bag.

On the downside, it is another grain-free formula that relies on peas and chickpeas, which some owners and vets are approaching more cautiously. It can also be too rich for Labs with very delicate digestion, especially if you switch too quickly. Compared with Blue Buffalo Basics, Zignature feels more like a clinical limited-ingredient diet, while Blue offers more extras and slightly broader appeal for average sensitive dogs.

How to choose the right allergy diet for your Lab

Before you pick a food, it helps to clarify what you and your vet are trying to figure out. Is your Lab dealing with a true food allergy, a general sensitivity, or mostly environmental allergies where food is only part of the picture?

Use these points to narrow your choices:

• Get a veterinary diagnosis first. Chronic ear infections, year-round itching, frequent soft stool, or vomiting are reasons to involve your vet. They can rule out infections, parasites, and other diseases before changing food.
• Decide between hydrolyzed and novel-protein diets. Hydrolyzed diets like Hill’s z/d and Purina HA break proteins into tiny pieces so the immune system does not recognize them. Novel-protein diets like Zignature Turkey or salmon-based foods rely on the idea that your Lab has never reacted to that meat before.
• Keep the ingredient list simple. For allergy testing, fewer ingredients is usually better. Limited-ingredient formulas like Blue Basics or Zignature make it easier to see what your dog tolerates.
• Match the food to your Lab’s life stage and body condition. Most allergy diets focus on adult dogs. If your Lab is a puppy, senior, overweight, or extremely active, let your vet know so they can help choose a formula and portion plan that keeps weight and joint health on track.
• Be realistic about budget and availability. Prescription diets can be pricey, especially for a big Lab. If long-term cost is a concern, you might use a prescription hydrolyzed diet for diagnosis, then move to a carefully chosen non-prescription food like Blue Basics under your vet’s guidance.
• Plan for treats and extras. Any allergy diet will fail if your Lab still gets flavored chewables, table scraps, or random treats. Ask your vet which treats match your chosen food so you can keep everything consistent.

Switching your Lab safely to a new food

Even the best allergy-friendly food can cause problems if you switch too fast. Labs often have big appetites and will inhale anything you offer, but their stomachs still need time to adjust to a new recipe.

Use this simple transition schedule unless your vet gives you a different plan:

• Days 1 to 2: 75 percent old food, 25 percent new food.
• Days 3 to 4: 50 percent old food, 50 percent new food.
• Days 5 to 6: 25 percent old food, 75 percent new food.
• Day 7 and beyond: 100 percent new food.

For a true elimination diet with a hydrolyzed or strict limited-ingredient food, your vet may recommend a slightly faster or slower transition. The key is to watch your Lab’s stool, energy level, and skin during the switch. If you see vomiting, very soft stool, or a sudden increase in itching, pause at the current mix or call your vet for advice.

During any allergy trial, all treats, table scraps, flavored medications, and chews must match the new diet or be eliminated. Even a daily chicken-flavored joint chew can keep allergy symptoms going and make the food look like it is not working.

Final thoughts

Finding the best dog food for a Lab with allergies takes some patience, but the payoff is a more comfortable, healthier dog. For serious or long-standing issues, a prescription hydrolyzed diet like Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d or Purina Pro Plan HA is usually the cleanest way to test whether food is part of the problem.

If your Lab has milder symptoms and your vet is comfortable starting with a non-prescription option, limited-ingredient formulas like Blue Buffalo Basics Salmon & Potato or Zignature Turkey can be very effective. Whichever route you choose, commit to the plan for several weeks, keep everything your Lab eats consistent, and keep your vet in the loop so you can adjust based on real results.

See also

If you enjoy digging into your dog’s health data, our Embark dog DNA test review shows another way to understand your pet’s unique needs.

• For cat owners in the same household, see our detailed look at the Litter-Robot 4 self-cleaning litter box.

FAQ

What are the most common food allergies in Labs?

Labs most often react to proteins rather than grains. Chicken, beef, dairy, and sometimes egg are common triggers. That is why many allergy-friendly diets either use hydrolyzed protein that the body does not recognize in the usual way or rely on less common meats like salmon or turkey.

Grains can cause issues for some dogs, but true grain allergies are less common than protein allergies. Before eliminating grains entirely, ask your vet whether a grain-free diet is appropriate for your particular Lab.

How long does it take for an allergy diet to help my Lab?

Digestive signs like soft stool or gas often improve within 1 to 2 weeks after switching to a suitable allergy diet. Skin issues such as itching, red paws, and ear problems usually take longer, often 6 to 8 weeks, to show clear improvement.

During this time, your Lab must eat only the prescribed food and approved treats. Any slip, such as a flavored chew or table scraps, can restart the clock and make it hard to know whether the food is actually helping.

Can a Lab puppy eat allergy dog food?

Puppies have different nutritional needs, especially large-breed puppies like Labs that are still growing and building strong joints. Most hydrolyzed and limited-ingredient allergy diets are formulated for adult dogs, not growing puppies.

If your Lab puppy shows signs of allergies, talk with your veterinarian before changing food. They may choose a carefully balanced large-breed puppy formula with different proteins, or a specific allergy-friendly diet that is safe for growth, and will guide you on portions to protect your puppy’s bones and joints.

Are grain-free diets better for Labs with allergies?

Grain-free diets are not automatically better for allergic dogs. Since most food allergies in Labs involve proteins like chicken or beef, simply removing grains does not always solve the problem and can complicate things if the new food still uses the same proteins.

Some grain-free diets have been linked in research to certain heart issues in dogs, although the exact cause is still being studied. This is why many vets now prefer a carefully chosen limited-ingredient or hydrolyzed diet, with or without grains, tailored to your Lab’s specific history rather than choosing grain-free by default.

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