8 Best Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers with Skin Allergies

Finding the right dog food for golden retrievers with skin allergies can be a challenge, let alone having to deal with symptoms like itchiness, redness, and unhealthy skin and coat, which can be frustrating for your dog and you. 

Whether your golden retriever has food allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients, we carefully researched and narrowed down the list of 8 best foods for golden retrievers with skin allergies to ensure healthy skin and coat. 

Quick Picks

Best Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers with Skin Allergies

1.    Best Overall: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach and Stomach Large Breed Dog Food

This dog food contains real salmon as the first ingredient to provide a protein-rich diet. Omega-6 fatty acids from sunflower oil coupled with omega-3 fatty acids from salmon ensure healthy skin and coat. 

It also contains oatmeal for easy digestibility and is gentle on the digestive system. Whereas the guaranteed live probiotics play a key role in digestive and immune health. It doesn’t contain corn, wheat, or soy, which may trigger your golden retriever’s food allergies or sensitivities. 

(If you’re looking for more Purina dog food options, check out our review – 6 Best Purina Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers) 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Salmon, Rice, Barley, Oat Meal, Fish Meal

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

Pros

✅ Free of artificial colors or flavors

✅ Helps with mobility and joint health

✅ Contains natural prebiotic fiber for digestive health

✅ Recommended by vets

Cons

❌ May be expensive for some

2.    Best Budget: Nature’s Recipe Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Since wheat is one of the common food allergens for dogs, this dog food is free of wheat and any other grains and contains taurine to support a healthy heart. It is formulated by expert vet nutritionists with high-quality and purposeful ingredients for an affordable price. 

The first ingredient (real salmon) acts as a quality protein source, and fiber from pumpkin and sweet potatoes supports digestion and the immune system. The second ingredient (chicken meal) is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints in addition to vitamin E.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from salmon helps with the healthy skin and coat of your dog. Calcium, copper, phosphorus, and essential minerals strengthen bones and teeth. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Salmon, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Tapioca Starch, Canola Meal

👍 Age Range: All life stages

👍 Type: Grain-free

Pros 

✅ No poultry by-products or artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors   

✅ Includes zinc to support a healthy immune system

✅ Most dogs tend to love sweet potato and pumpkin flavoring

✅ Ensures solid poop for easier pick-up

Cons

❌ Contains chicken, which may trigger skin allergies in some

3.    Best Wet Food: Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food

If you’re looking for the best wet food for golden retriever with sensitive skin and stomach, this might be the one for your dog! It contains slow-cooked stew with a delicious turkey flavor that ensures your dog enjoys their mealtimes while making chewing easier and providing a little hydration.

The first five ingredients are chicken broth, turkey, carrots, pork liver, and rice. The easy-to-digest ingredients ensure healthy digestion and easier stool pickup. To nourish your adult dog’s skin and coat, it comes with vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids. 

(You can also check out our detailed review on the best wet foods here – 5 Best Canned Wet Foods for Golden Retrievers)

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken Broth, Turkey, Carrots, Pork Liver, Rice

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-free

Pros

✅ Ideal for dogs with grain allergies since it’s free of grains

✅ Contains taurine

✅ Mixes well with the kibble

✅ Has nice chunks

✅ The pull tab opens easily without needing a can opener

Cons

❌ The smell may be a little overpowering to the human nose

4.    Best Dry Dog Food: Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food

This is the best dry dog food for skin allergies as it offers nutrition for optimal digestive and skin health. The prebiotic fiber fuels beneficial gut bacteria, and vitamin E & omega-6 fatty acids nourish skin and coat.

It comes with chicken as the number one ingredient and clinically proven antioxidants and vitamins C and E for a healthy immune system. Its highly digestible formula ensures optimal nutrient absorption while being gentle on the stomach. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Yellow Peas, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

Pros

✅ Free of chicken by-product meal

✅ Recommended by vets

✅ Contains whole grains

Cons

❌ Some pet parents complain about the dog food being less for the price

5.    Best Fish Formula: Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food with Grains

If your golden retriever is allergic or sensitive to beef, chicken, wheat, and dairy products, this is the best dog food for skin allergies. Nutritionists and vets created this formula using whitefish and ground barley as the first two ingredients for whole-body health. 

Guaranteed levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (also sourced from flaxseed) support healthy skin and coat, and easily digestible carbs from sweet potatoes support healthy digestion.

Moreover, guaranteed levels of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A support healthy teeth and gums, and vitamins A and E support a healthy immune system. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Whitefish, Ground Barley, Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal, Oatmeal

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

Pros

✅ Free of poultry by-products, wheat, wheat gluten, corn, soy, artificial colors, or preservatives

✅ Contains non-GMO ingredients

✅ Dry crunchy kibble

✅ Great value for money

Cons

❌ The fish smell may be a bit too strong for some pet parents 

6.    Best for Active Dogs: IAMS Adult High Protein Large Breed Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken

This high-protein formula contains real, farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient to maintain bone and joint health and support muscles, including the heart, for large-breed active dogs. 

It contains a tailored blend of natural fiber and prebiotics to promote digestion and omega-6 fatty acids from chicken fat for healthy skin and coat. To help with strong bones, it’s fortified with essential minerals. 

Wholesome grains like ground barley, ground whole-grain corn, and ground whole-grain sorghum provide essential nutrients and carbs for healthy energy.  

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken By-Product Meal

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

Pros

✅ Also available in lamb and rice flavor

✅ Comes in different size packs

✅ Features smaller crunchy kibble size

✅ Ideal for picky eaters

✅ Affordable 

Cons

❌ Not ideal for dogs allergic or sensitive to chicken 

❌ Some pet parents don’t like the fact that the third ingredient is corn

7.    Best for Puppies: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Large Breed Puppy Food with Probiotics

This puppy food supports an appropriate growth rate for large-breed puppies. It contains sunflower oil rich in omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A for healthy skin and coat, and rice to ensure it’s gentle on the digestive system. 

The first few ingredients are salmon, rice, barley, fish meal, canola meal, oatmeal, dried yeast, and pea protein. DHA from omega-rich fish oil supports vision and brain development, and antioxidants support a puppy’s developing immune system.

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Salmon, Rice, Barley, Fish Meal, Canola Meal

👍 Age Range: Large-breed puppy

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

Pros

✅ Contains taurine

✅ Helps build strong bones and teeth

✅ No corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, or flavors

✅ Supports digestive health

✅ Kibble is small enough for easy chewing

✅ Can help your pup have solid stools

Cons

❌ May be too expensive for the size for some

8.    Best for All Life Stages: Diamond Skin & Coat Real Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food with Wild Caught Salmon

From puppy to senior, this salmon and potato formula meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO for all life stages and is great for dogs with food-related skin sensitivities. Omega fatty acids from salmon, flaxseed, coconut, and chia seeds support immune health and ensure a healthy skin and shiny coat. 

A mix of soluble and insoluble fibers from pumpkin, chia seed, dried kelp, and coconut combined with prebiotic fiber supports a healthy digestive system. 

Various fruits and veggies like blueberries, oranges, carrots, kale, and spinach offer powerful antioxidants and vitamins for a healthy lifestyle. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Salmon, fish meal, potatoes, lentils, peas

👍 Age Range: All life stages

👍 Type: Grain-free

Pros

✅ Ideal for dogs with grain allergies or sensitivities since it’s grain-free

✅ Adequately priced

✅ Free of corn, wheat, and filler 

✅ No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives added

✅ Great for picky eaters

Cons

❌ Only comes in two size packs (15 and 30 pounds bags)

How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Golden Retrievers with Skin Allergies?

Noticing your golden retriever scratching and licking themselves constantly with red skin and a dull coat may worry you a lot. However, finding the right food for your dog with skin allergies may stress you out more. 

Some pet parents tend to provide homemade food for dogs with skin allergies to eliminate the ingredients triggering their sensitivities or allergies. 

Most vets recommend against it because it’s hard to get the nutritional requirements right and provide a complete and well-balanced diet, which puts your dog at risk of malnourishment. 

The good news is that you can find plenty of top foods for your golden retriever with skin allergies on the market, but you must keep these factors in mind when shopping.

Factor #1: Ingredients List

Most pet parents ask, “What food to avoid for dog with skin allergies?” Since certain ingredients trigger food allergies or sensitivities in dogs, you need to identify them by working with your vet and carefully read the ingredients list before making a purchase. 

Most dog foods for sensitive stomachs (which also affect the skin) tend to contain easy-to-digest sources of carbs, like rice and sweet potatoes. 

Moreover, sources of fatty acids like flaxseed and fish also help reduce inflammation and improve skin and coat health. 

As the most common food allergens for dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, and wheat, as per a study, you should watch out for these ingredients. 

Of course, ingredients that your golden retriever may be sensitive or allergic to may differ. Hence, you should read the ingredients list to avoid them. 

For example, instead of the most common protein sources like beef or chicken, you can look for fish, duck, lamb, or bison.  

Factor #2: Grain-Inclusive vs. Grain-Free 

Talking about ingredients, wheat (a type of grain) is also a common food allergen in dogs. It’s also possible that your dog may be sensitive to other kinds of grains. 

However, reported cases signal that dogs eating grain-free may be at risk of developing cardiovascular disease dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). 

Keep in mind golden retrievers were the most frequently reported breed to the FDA for DCM cases. We have already published a well-researched article and put a light on the FDA investigation in the article below. 

Recommended Reading: Should Golden Retrievers Eat Grain-Free? 

Your vet will help you identify the ingredient(s) causing food allergies or sensitivities. You must consult your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet to not compromise their health at any cost. 

IF your golden retriever is allergic to a specific grain, such as wheat, you can find many food brands that exclude this ingredient and add other high-quality whole grains.   

Factor #3: Reviews

If you’re anxious about whether dog food will help your canine companion with their skin allergies, you can always read the reviews on Amazon, Chewy, etc., from pet parents like you. 

Remember that most brands create tailored formulas for dogs with sensitive skin and stomach (like we’ve listed above), so picking one of those could be your best bet.

It’s better to find high-quality dog food created in collaboration with pet nutritionists and vets. The food packaging should also come with an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1.    How do I moisturize my golden retriever skin?

To moisturize a golden retriever’s skin, use vet-approved canine moisturizers, maintain a balanced diet with essential fatty acids, ensure regular grooming to distribute natural oils, and provide adequate hydration. Avoid over-bathing as it can strip natural oils from their skin.

2.    Are golden retrievers highly allergic?

Golden retrievers can be prone to allergies, often exhibiting sensitivities to certain foods, environmental factors like pollen, and fleas. Symptoms may include skin irritation and ear infections. Regular veterinary check-ups and tailored diets can help manage these allergic reactions effectively.

3.    What helps golden retriever skin allergies?

Managing golden retriever skin allergies involves identifying triggers through veterinary tests, using hypoallergenic diets, administering prescribed medications or supplements, maintaining regular grooming, and possibly using special shampoos. Avoiding known allergens and providing a clean, stress-free environment also helps in reducing allergic reactions.

4.    What is the best food to feed a dog with skin allergies?

The best food for a dog with skin allergies is typically a hypoallergenic diet, often containing novel proteins or hydrolyzed proteins to minimize allergic reactions. Consulting a veterinarian for specific recommendations and potential allergy testing is crucial for determining the most suitable diet.

5.    What are golden retrievers most allergic to?

Golden Retrievers are commonly allergic to certain foods (like beef, dairy, and wheat), environmental allergens (such as pollen, mold, and dust mites), and flea bites. Symptoms often manifest as skin irritation and ear infections, making identification and avoidance of these allergens crucial for their well-being.

6.    What can I feed my golden retriever with allergies?

For a Golden Retriever with allergies, feed a hypoallergenic diet with novel or hydrolyzed proteins. Avoid known allergens and consult a vet for specific dietary recommendations. Including omega-3 fatty acids can also help manage skin allergies. Regular vet visits are essential for monitoring their health.

Conclusion

Finding the best dog food for golden retrievers with skin allergies is not hard as long as you know what ingredients your dog is sensitive or allergic to by working with your vet, following the best practices that we shared, and even try finding the right dog food by going through our list. 

If you’re on the hunt for the best puppy foods for your golden retrievers, we recommend checking out this review next – 7 Best Puppy Foods for Golden Retrievers