Top 10 Best Dog Foods Without Chicken | Dog Parents Making Smart Choices

As a dog parent, one of the most important jobs we have is ensuring that our pups are healthy. The diet we feed our dogs has the most significant impact on their day to day health, which is why choosing the best dog food is so critical.

There are two main health reasons why you would feed a chicken free diet. The first is because of food allergies, whether it is because your dog already has allergies or to avoid your dog’s getting allergies from overexposure. The second reason is to ensure proper nutritional balance in your dog’s diet and the only way to accomplish that is to rotate your dog’s food to avoid deficiencies or excesses of essential nutrients and vitamins.

Understanding why a chicken free diet is important is only half of the decision, the other half is choosing which dog food is best. Several factors go into determining which dog food is best, factors like your dog’s health, cost, and availability. Below you will find a guide that helps narrow down your choices when deciding on what dog food is best and the top ten list of chicken free dog foods.

Why Dog Parents are Switching to a Chicken Free Dog Food

There are two main reasons that you should switch your dog’s food to a chicken free dog food. The first reason for changing your dog’s food is allergies or intolerances. Even if your dog doesn’t currently suffer from a chicken allergy, it is still recommended to rotate your dog’s main protein to avoid them. However, if you think that your dog has a food allergy chicken is one of the most common proteins dogs are allergic to.

The second reason is that it is recommended to change your dog’s food to a chicken free dog food is to ensure proper nutritional balance. When dogs, or any mammal, eats the same foods all of the time they risk both nutritional deficiencies and excesses in their diet.

Whatever your reason for changing your dog to a chicken free dog food the important thing is to make sure you choose a good quality dog food. There are several dog food choices on the market and sometimes knowing which food would work best can be challenging.

What to do if you Think your Dog is Allergic to Chicken

Unfortunately, food allergies are becoming more prevalent, and chicken is one of the more popular food allergens.

Symptoms of Food Allergies

• Itching, scratching or chewing in the area of the face, ears, feet, and rear
• Red and inflamed ears
• GI upset like vomiting or diarrhea

If your canine is experiencing any of these symptoms, your dog likely has a food allergy. By consulting your veterinarian, they will be able to determine the cause of these symptoms better.

After consulting with your veterinarian and they also suspect that the food is the culprit behind your dog’s discomfort, they will suggest that you do a food trial with your dog. First, they will recommend you change your dog’s diet to a chicken free diet.

Chicken free diets mean that all foods your dog consumes can’t contain any form of chicken. Changing only your dog’s food and not their treats will not be enough to resolve the food allergies.

It can take between 2-8 weeks of your dog being completely off chicken before you see results.

However, if your dog is suffering from only the GI upset issues, your dog may have a food intolerance. Food intolerances are like food allergies, but the symptoms are generally not as severe.

Food Intolerances versus Food Allergies

Food intolerances are different from food allergies. Allergies cause a reaction in the dog’s immune system, and intolerances cause reactions in the digestive system. Neither issue has a cure other than removing the offending food from your dog’s diet.

Determining if your dog has an allergy or intolerance can be difficult, but diagnosis starts with your dog’s symptoms. If your dog’s symptoms manifest in itchiness, skin irritation, or inflammation in their ears, it’s an allergy. However, if your dog is showing gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting or diarrhea without any of the skin irritations or itchiness, it could be a food intolerance. Both allergies and intolerances are resolved the same way, which is to remove the food that is causing the negate reaction in your dog.

Nutritional Balance

Dog food labels state that the food inside is a balanced diet. This statement is not a lie; however, by only ever feeding the same food to your dog, they may develop certain nutritional deficiencies or excesses. An example would be if we only ever ate chicken, brown rice, apples, and celery, it would be considered healthy, but we would lack vital nutrients and vitamins.

By rotating your dog’s food to include different proteins, this will reduce the risk of nutritional imbalances in your dog. You can consist of different brands or stick with the same one, just as long as the proteins and other main ingredients are being changed up.

Things to consider choosing the right dog food

Once you have decided to go with chicken free food, you need to look at your dog’s other dietary needs. By creating a list of what your dog nutritional requirements, you will inevitably narrow down your choices, making it easier to decide on the best food.

Things to consider choosing the dog food that is right for your dog. Things like:

• Weight
• Age
• Size/Breed
• Health – Heart disease, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and so on
• Other Allergies
• Cost
• Availability

Chicken-Free Dog Food Alternatives

There are several different proteins on the market. However, if your dog has a food allergy, it is best to look at unique proteins as some of the more traditional proteins like beef are also more likely to cause issues with allergies.

Here is a list of the best unique proteins found in dog food:

• Duck
• Turkey
• Mackerel
• Salmon
• Trout
• Buffalo
• Kangaroo
• Lamb
• Pork
• Rabbit
• Venison
• Goat

The 10 Best Dog Foods Without Chicken

In today’s pet food market, we are lucky that there are multitudes of dog food options. There are literally over 100 different dog food companies, and each company usually has several different dog food lines. With so many different dog food options, it can be a bit daunting to know which food is the best.

I have tested and researched a variety of brands, and here is my list of the best chicken free dog foods on the market. The list is in no specific order. The foods chosen are all mainstream foods, meaning they are not age, weight, or size specific. Also, I have intentionally included a wide variety of proteins from the protein list.

Each of the descriptions below will include the guaranteed analysis, key features, animal proteins included, and the pros and cons of each formula.

1. Instinct Original Grain Free Dry Dog Food with Rabbit Recipe

Rabbit is a unique protein, so for dogs with severe food allergies, this would be a great choice. Also, Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Rabbit is higher in protein, which helps to build and retain muscle mass. However, because this is a grain-free option, it wouldn’t be the right choice for dogs with heart issues. Finally, the food is enhanced with probiotics, which aids in ensuring a healthy digestive system.

Key Features:

• Raw Dry Dog Food
• Grain Free
• Additional chicken free varieties
• Chicken free dog treats available

Animal Proteins:

• Rabbit
• Salmon
• Menhaden
• White Fish (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish)

2. Farmina N&D Ocean Codfish & Orange Ancestral Grain Adult Dry Dog Food

Farmina is an extremely high-quality brand made in Italy. The food has an abundance of superfoods which aid in boosting the immune system. Also, because this food contains both healthy grains and healthy fats, it is a healthy diet for dogs with heart disease or those predisposed to heart disease. Another benefit of feeding this food is that it has both chondroitin and glucosamine, which supports healthy joints.

Key Features:

• Contains Grains
• Additional chicken free varieties
• Specialty formulas for small dog breeds

Animal Proteins:

• Cod
• Herring

3. Fromm Hasen Duckenpfeffer Recipe

This food has multiple unique proteins, all of which are unique enough that it would be rare for them to trigger an allergy. The triple protein combination allows for the right balance of different nutrients all in one food. The slightly higher than average protein levels are a good fit for dogs looking to retain muscle mass. Also, the higher fiber level will aid in maintaining a healthy weight.

Key Features:

• Grain Free

Animal Proteins:

• Rabbit
• Duck
• Pork

4. Gentle Giants Natural Dog Food with Salmon Feast

Gentle Giants dog food has been associated with claims of dogs living longer. The food is made up of a lot of dried fruits and vegetables, which helps to retain the nutrients in the ingredients. Gentle Giants Salmon Feast is a grain-free diet, so not recommended for dogs with heart issues. However, because this is salmon based and hypoallergenic, it is an excellent food for dogs suffering from food allergies. The addition of the chondroitin and glucosamine make it an excellent choice for dogs with joint health issues.

Key Features:

• Grain Free

Animal Proteins:

• Salmon

5. ACANA Dry Dog Food with Pork and Squash Recipe

Acana Pork and Squash is a limited ingredient food, which is perfect for dogs with allergies. This formula is abundant in superfoods and is made up of 60% Yorkshire pork. Acana Pork and Squash is a grain free diet so not the recommended for dogs with heart issues. The protein levels in the Arcana Pork and Squash recipe is above average and would be suitable for active dogs.

Key Features:

• Grain Free
• Other chicken free options available

Animal Proteins:

• Pork

6. Zignature Goat Formula Dry Dog Food

Goat is a novel protein with a slim chance for an allergic food reaction in your dog. Goat is a healthy lean protein. The Zignature Goat Formula is a limited ingredient formula so would be a fabulous choice for dogs with allergies or for proactively avoiding allergy issues.

Key Features:

• Grain free
• Several other chicken free formulas available
• Small breed formulas available

Animal Proteins:

• Goat

7. Orijen Tundra Grain-Free Dog Food

Orijen Tundra is a high protein grain-free formula. Tundra is an excellent food for dogs who are active as well as dogs looking to gain and retain muscle mass. Because of the high protein levels, this is not recommended for dogs suffering from kidney issues. Also, because it is grain-free, it is not the right choice for dogs with heart issues unless grains are added to the food.

Key Features:

• Grain free
• Other chicken free formulas available

Animal Proteins:

• Goat
• Boar
• Venison
• Arctic Char
• Trout
• Pilchard
• Duck
• Mutton

8. Pure Vita Dry Dog Food with Duck and Oatmeal Recipe

Pure Vita is a natural holistic style of food. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, which aid in boosting your dog’s immune system, heart health, joint health, and mental health. Because of the abundance of superfoods and the addition of chondroitin and glucosamine, this formula is an excellent choice for seniors.

Key Features:

• Contains Grains
• Other chicken free formulas available
• Grain free formulas available

Animal Proteins:

• Duck

9. Taste of the Wild Pine Forest Canine Recipe

Taste of the Wild is an entirely grain-free dog food brand. The Pine Forest recipe is a protein-rich formula perfect for dogs looking to build or retain lean muscle. This brand is one of the most readily available dog foods on the list. Also, Taste of the Wild prides themselves on creating a protein-dense high-quality food at an affordable price.

Key Features:

• Grain free
• Other chicken free formulas available
• Small Breed varieties available
• Puppy formula available

Animal Proteins:

• Venison
• Lamb
• Ocean fish meal

10. The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey Recipe

The Honest Kitchen’s dog food is dehydrated, which means that a 4-pound bag of food makes 16 pounds of food after preparation. The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey Recipe is a grain-free recipe, so it is suitable for dogs with allergies, but not so great for dogs with heart disease. All of the ingredients in this food are human-grade quality ingredients.  Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey recipe is the perfect choice for dogs that don’t require a lot of protein and would benefit from a weight maintenance style food.

Key Features:

• Dehydrated food
• Human grade food
• Other chicken free formulas available
• Grain free formulas available

Animal Proteins:

• Cage free turkey

FAQs

Are there canned dog foods without chicken?

Yes, several dry dog formulas have a corresponding canned food.

If my dog is allergic to chicken, will they also be allergic to other poultry?

Not necessarily, often dogs who are allergic to chicken can still eat turkey or duck without any issues.

How often should I rotate my dog’s food?

A minimum of every three months. Remember, if your dog has a sensitive GI system, it is a good idea to blend the two foods when transitioning from one food to another.

If my dog is allergic to chicken, is it okay for them to have chicken fat?

Absolutely, if your dog is allergic to chicken, they can still have chicken fat. The allergen found in chicken is only in the protein, and fat does not contain protein.

If my dog is allergic to chicken, is it okay for them to have chicken meal?

No, chicken meal is made up of chicken meat which contains the proteins that cause the allergic reaction.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that if you change to a chicken free diet, there are multitudes of high-quality options. I have only listed 10 of the best varieties, but there are far more than just 10, but the list would be ridiculously long if I were to write about all of the great chicken free dog foods.

Keep in mind that this list is made up of only dry dog food formulas and does not include canned foods, frozen, or freshly prepared meals.

One thing to note is that it is critical to read the ingredients list carefully. Often, even if the food states a different protein in the name, it doesn’t mean that other proteins aren’t included in the recipe. Many companies will include chicken or chicken meal into their formulas because of the nutritional value and because it is inexpensive

Chicken isn’t bad for dogs, but some dogs aren’t able to process it as well as other dogs. Also, even if your dog can consume dog foods containing chicken without ill effects, it is still highly recommended to change your dog’s protein to ensure proper nutritional balance.