3 Hypoallergenic Dog Treat Recipes for Canines with Food Allergies

Reviewed By Joana Garrido DVM

Food allergies can severely limit the type of food allowed for a dog’s consumption. Pawrents need to be painstakingly careful with whatever snacks they offer to their dogs to avoid triggering allergic reactions.

However, just because a pooch has dog allergies does not mean he should be entirely cut off from eating dog treats.

In this article, we will briefly talk about the key factors to consider when choosing hypoallergenic dog treats and share homemade recipes suitable for pooches with food allergies.

Why Do Dogs Develop Food Allergies?

Repeated exposure to a certain food causes dogs to develop food allergies. This condition can occur at any time regardless of age.

While any type of food may incite an allergic reaction, proteins, particularly from beef, chicken, dairy, corn, wheat, and soy are the most common allergens in canines.

When a dog ingests a food allergen, his immune system misidentifies it as a foreign compound. As a result, it will initiate an attack, which generates a slew of unwanted adverse reactions like:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Skin and ear infections
• Persistent itching
• Hives
• Anaphylaxis

Take note that true food allergies only affect around 1% of dogs according to a study. Thus, the veterinarian will need to run some tests to rule out the possibility of other health conditions. But food allergy should be a differential diagnosis if your dog has year-round and non-seasonal skin issues or chronic gastrointestinal problems.

How Are Food Allergies in Dogs Diagnosed?

The veterinarian will likely suggest that dogs suspected of having food allergies undergo an elimination diet. Elimination diet trial is the gold standard method for diagnosing food allergies.

The process involves feeding your dog food that contains a single novel protein and also 1 novel carbohydrate for a span of 8 to 12 weeks. The term “novel” refers to ingredients that your dog has not been exposed to yet.

During the food trial, dog owners must strictly avoid allowing their dogs to consume other proteins. Otherwise, it would be difficult to identify the source of the allergic reaction if ever it occurs. Supervise all your pet’s intake, including treats, toothpaste, chews, table food, and flavored meds.

If no allergy symptoms manifest, the veterinarian will begin conducting a food challenge. They will gradually add more foods to your dog’s meals until an allergic response is triggered.

Once the culprit is identified, the veterinarian will help you form a diet devoid of your dog’s food allergen. Switching to hypoallergenic dog food and treats might be recommended too.

Finding a suitable diet can be challenging if you lack information about your pet’s diet history, especially if you adopted your dog as an adult or if they’ve tried foods with various ingredients. Novel ingredient diets might not be the best choice in these situations due to the possibility of protein cross-reactions between sources. A hydrolyzed or elemental diet is often the preferred option for an elimination diet attempt.

What to Look for In Hypoallergenic Dog Treats?

Hypoallergenic refers to a product that is less likely to induce an allergic response. However, ingredients that can cause food allergies may vary from dog to dog.

Thus, it is extremely important to know the source of your dog’s allergic response to find hypoallergenic dog treats suitable for him.

Here are some of the things to look for in hypoallergenic treats for dogs:

1. Novel Animal Proteins

As we have mentioned, common animal proteins like beef and chicken are highly potential food allergy triggers.

Hypoallergenic dog treats do not have these types of ingredients and instead opt for novel proteins like:

• Duck
• Kangaroo
• Lamb
• Salmon
• Turkey
• Venison

2. Easily Digestible Carbohydrates

Many hypoallergenic treats contain carbohydrates. Always check the ingredients list for highly digestible and grain-free carbs such as sweet potatoes and green peas.

3. Free from Artificial Preservatives and Additives

Artificial ingredients have been observed to cause food allergies in some dogs. So be sure to go for hypoallergenic dog treats made up of all-natural ingredients.

Go for products preserved with mixed tocopherols of vitamin E and rosemary extract. These preservatives are nonsynthetic and will less likely incite an allergic response.

3 Homemade Natural Hypoallergenic Dog Treats

If you prefer to make hypoallergenic treats for your dog at home, here are some simple recipes you can give a try:

1. Thumbprint Cookies Hypoallergenic Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 1½ cups arrowroot flour
• ¼ cup raw honey
• ¼ unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup 100% natural and sugar-free jam
• 1½ tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet.
3. In a large bowl, combine the arrowroot flour and salt.
4. Whisk the honey, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and applesauce in a different bowl.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until a cohesive cookie dough is formed.
6. Let it chill in the fridge for around 30 minutes.
7. Use a spoon to form 1-inch balls out of the dough.
8. Place them all on the lined baking sheet at least 2 inches apart.
9. Press a clean thumb on the center of each ball to create a well.
10. Fill every hole with a dog-friendly jam of your choice.
11. Bake the hypoallergenic dog treats for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
12. Let them cool down completely before allowing your dog to feast on them.

Note

• Refrigerating these hypoallergenic dog treats will make them last for up to 5 days.

2. Ice Cream Sandwich Hypoallergenic Dog Treats

Ingredients

For the ice cream

• 1 cup coconut cream
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5 whole ripe bananas

For the cookie

• 2 cups tapioca flour
• ¼ pumpkin puree
• ¼ ground flaxseed
• 6 tablespoons carob powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

For the ice cream

1. Place all ingredients needed to make ice cream in a blender.
2. Blend until the mixture is smooth and silky.
3. Transfer it to a container. Place a parchment paper on top of the mixture before freezing it for 2 to 3 hours or until solid.

For the cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the tapioca flour, carob powder, salt, and baking soda thoroughly.
4. Combine the pumpkin puree and ground flaxseed in a separate bowl.
5. Mix both the dry and wet ingredients until you have a soft and sticky dough.
6. Use a small cookie scoop to create smaller dough balls.
7. Arrange them at least 3 inches apart on the line baking sheets.
8. Refrigerate the dough balls for around 20 minutes to keep them from spreading.
9. Bake these hypoallergenic dog treats for about 10 to 12 minutes or until they have puffed slightly and their tops are dry.
10. Take them out of the oven and allow them to cool for 6 minutes.
11. Chill these hypoallergenic dog treats until they are ready to use to prevent them from easily breaking when assembling the ice cream cookie sandwich.

Assembly

1. Line a large tray with parchment paper.
2. Line up the cookies in pairs. One line of cookies should be placed upside down as they serve as the base of the ice cream sandwich.
3. Using a small scooper, scoop out a disc of ice cream and put it on the upturned cookie.
4. Firmly press the other cookie on the ice cream to create a sandwich. Repeat until you have used up all the cookies.

Notes

• These hypoallergenic dog treats can be kept in the fridge for around 5 to 7 days.
• Any leftover cookie or ice cream can be enjoyed by dogs as is or used to make a different snack for Fido.

Read:

• 6 Dog Ice Cream Recipes You Can Share With Your Pooch
• 6 Homemade Frozen Dog Treats to Keep Fido Cool

3. Sweet Potato Salmon Fish Cakes Hypoallergenic Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 1 cup chickpea breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 3 cooked skinless salmon fillet
• 1 large sweet potato

Instructions

1. Wash the sweet potato and dry it rigorously.
2. Use a fork to poke holes in the sweet potato so it can easily release steam when cooked.
3. Place the sweet potato in a microwave-safe container, then microwave for 3 minutes.
4. Carefully flip it over the other side and microwave for another 3 minutes until tender.
5. Mash the cooked sweet potato using a fork. Set aside to cool.
6. In a large bowl, flake the salmon with a fork.
7. Add the chickpea breadcrumbs, parsley leaves, salt, ground pepper, and mashed potato once cooled.
8. With clean hands, mix the ingredients until they create a mixture firm enough to mold into fish cakes.
9. Shape 1½-inch balls out of the mixture. Press down slightly on their center to flatten them.
10. Heat olive oil in a large pan or skillet. Then fry the sweet potato salmon fish cakes over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
11. Let these hypoallergenic dog treats fully cool down before serving them to your pooch.

Notes

• Avoid overcooking the sweet potato. This causes the food to be extremely soft, which could make it difficult to form fish cakes without them breaking.
• When storing these hypoallergenic dog treats, line them up in a single layer in a container. Keep the fishcakes from sticking to each other by placing parchment paper between every patty.
• These hypoallergenic dog treats can last for up to 3 or 4 days when kept in the fridge.

Read: 3 Homemade Sweet Potato Dog Treat Recipes

FAQs About Hypoallergenic Dog Treats

1. What Does Hypoallergenic Dog Treats Mean?

Hypoallergenic dog treats mean this type of snack for pooches has little likelihood of triggering allergic reactions due to the ingredients used.

These products shy away from using common food allergens in canines like chicken, beef, pork, soy, corn, and wheat.

2. How Do I Know If My Dog Treats Are Hypoallergenic?

You will know if your dog treats are hypoallergenic by inspecting the ingredients list. Ideally, they should be mainly composed of novel animal proteins such as turkey, salmon, or venison or hydrolyzed protein.

If carbohydrates are used, they should be of the grain-free and easily digestible variety such as green peas and sweet potatoes.

Do not forget to check for the presence of artificial additives and preservatives. Even these ingredients can cause an allergic response in some dogs.

3. What Treats Can You Give a Dog on a Hypoallergenic Diet?

Limited-ingredient dog treats composed of all-natural ingredients are the most suitable treats for dogs on a hypoallergenic diet.

Keeping the number of ingredients used to a minimum and avoiding artificial preservatives and additives avert the risk of accidentally triggering food allergies or sensitivities in canines.

4. How to Make Hypoallergenic Dog Treats at Home?

The very first thing to do when making hypoallergenic dog treats at home is to know what food your dog is allergic to. This will make it easier to choose the most appropriate recipes and ingredients for him.

Keep in mind that food allergens may vary from dog to dog. Hence, it is possible for some hypoallergenic dog treat recipes to contain an ingredient that your dog might be allergic to.

So always double-check first before proceeding. Make sure to replace any allergy-inducing ingredient with safer alternatives. Once done, simply follow the cooking or baking instructions of the recipe.

Read: 5 Easy-to-Make Natural Dog Treats

Summary

Dogs with food allergies cannot safely indulge in eating regular dog treats due to the risk of allergic reactions. They should be given a different snack specifically formulated to avoid unwanted allergic responses.

Hypoallergenic dog treats are a good fit for this kind of health issue. They are made with special all-natural ingredients like novel proteins and easily digestible carbs that are unlikely to cause adverse reactions in dogs with food allergies.

If you are looking for grain-free dog treat recipes, we got you covered. Check out our article, “4 Homemade Turkey Grain-Free Dog Treats.”