Homemade Dog Food for Allergies: 12 Recipes to Try!

When commercial kibble no longer cuts it, many owners turn to homemade dog food for allergies to help their canines with food-borne sensitivities.

I know because I did when my dog, Lucky, started itching and avoiding his food. He even got bald spots and started having diarrhea!

With pre-made food, you never really know what you will get.

But when I make food at home, I know they're safe, well-cooked, and carefully prepared.

Food allergy is one of the most common allergies in dogs, and it is more likely to be caused by the environment and sometimes genetics.

However, dogs can still be allergic to various things, including grains, dairy, corn, and meats.

In fact, Dr. Jangi Bajwa, a Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatologist at VetDERM Clinic in Surrey, BC, says that:

The most common cause of a canine food allergy is other protein sources such as chicken, beef, and milk products.

You can alter or substitute ingredients in these hypoallergenic dog food recipes to fit your pup's needs.

It's one of the most popular approaches to the elimination diet to help determine the cause of allergic reactions.

This way, we found out that Lucky has sensitivities to chickens.

We're now fixing this with the help of our trusted vet, so all's good. But I'm still feeding him the following homemade dog meals to be safe!

REMEMBER: These recipes are just loose suggestions and are not good for every dog.

Always check with your vet before changing your dog’s diet and using any of these homemade dog food recipes for allergies.

ASK A VET: Does Hypoallergenic Dog Food Really Work, and Why?

Homemade Dog Food for Allergies: Try These 12 Recipes!

1. Turkey Stir Fry

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. of turkey (cubed)
• 1 ½ lbs. of turnips
• 1 lb. of spinach (minced)
• ½ lb. of lentils
• ¼ cup of olive oil

Directions

• Add turkey and olive oil to the pan or wok.
• Cook on medium-high for about 5 minutes. Stir often.
• Add other ingredients.
• Cook for an additional 15 minutes. Stir often.
• Cool and serve.

RELATED: Recipe: Turkey Stir Fry Dog Food for Allergies

2. Crockpot Duck Chuck

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice
• 2 cups of water
• 1 cup of carrots
• 1 cup of green peas
• 1 lb. of duck

Directions

• Place ingredients in the crockpot in the order listed.
• Cook on low for 8 hours.
• Cool and serve.

RELATED: Recipe: Crockpot Duck Chuck for Dogs with Allergies

3. Deer-ly Easy Dinner

Ingredients

• 1 lb. venison (ground or cubed)
• 2 cups of sweet potatoes (diced)
• 8 oz. of frozen broccoli/cauliflower/carrots combo
• 1 tbsp. dried rosemary
• 6 cups of water

Directions

• Put water, venison, sweet potatoes, and rosemary into a large Dutch Oven or pot.
• Bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce to low heat.
• Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add frozen vegetables and simmer for 5 minutes more.
• Cool and serve.

4. Cold and Bold Bone Treat

Ingredients

• ½ cup of coconut oil (melted)
• 1 banana (mashed)
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger

Directions

• Mix banana and coconut oil until completely blended.
• Add ginger and mix again.
• Pour the mixture into the silicone bone mold.
• Freeze for one hour.

RELATED: Best Frozen Dog Treats Recipes for Hot Summer Days

5. Bison Medley 

Ingredients

• 3 pounds of round bison
• 3 cups white basmati rice
• 3 cups water
• 3 tbsps. of raw apple cider vinegar
• 36 ounces of various fresh or frozen veggies
• 1 ½ cups of blueberries
• 6 tbsps. of coconut oil
• 6 tbsps. of ground flax seed

Directions

• Soak rice in water with apple cider vinegar overnight.
• Strain the rice and set aside. Make sure to keep the water in a separate container.
• Add the meat to a programmable pressure cooker and sauté for about 10 minutes (you should only cook the meat about halfway through).
• When the meat is about halfway done, add rice and strained liquid.
• Stir together.
• Add veggies and flax seeds on top. Do not stir.
• Cook for an additional 12 minutes.
• Add coconut oil and blueberries.
• Mix completely, cool, and serve.

6. Mutton Mutt’s Dinner

Ingredients

• 8 oz. of mutton (cubed)
• 3 ½ cups of oatmeal
• ½ cup of cucumber (shredded)
• 5 tbsps. of fish oil

Directions

• Boil mutton for 1 ½ hours or until done.
• Cook oats according to package directions.
• Drain water from the mutton and mix in oatmeal, cucumber, and fish oil.
• Serve when cool.

7. Squash Mash

Ingredients  

• 2 ½ pounds of ground turkey
• 1 ½ cups of jasmine rice
• 1 can of kidney beans
• 1 ½ cups of chopped butternut squash
• 1 ½ cups of chopped carrots
• ½ cup of peas, frozen or canned
• 4 cups of water

Directions

• Place all ingredients into a 6-qt slow cooker. Stir together.
• Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours.
• Cool and serve.

RELATED: Recipe: Squash Mash Dog Food for Allergic Dogs

8. Hearty Healthy Stew

Ingredients

• 3 pounds of turkey thighs (boneless, skinless)
• 2 medium carrots (peeled and sliced)
• 1 cup of frozen green beans
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• 1 apple (cored and sliced)
• 1 handful fresh parsley (chopped)
• 3 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

• Add water, turkey, carrots, green beans, and apple to the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on low for 7 hours.
• Add peas and parsley and cook for 15 minutes more.
• Transfer to a mixing bowl and add olive oil. Mash together.
• Cool and serve.

9. Zucchini Strips

Ingredients

• 1 large zucchini
• 2 tsp. of olive oil
• 1 tsp. of dry-ground mustard
• 1 tsp. of beef bouillon

Directions

• Preheat oven to 200°.
• Slice zucchinis to ⅛” thickness.
• Toss zucchini in olive oil.
• Spread the chews out on the baking sheet about ½ inch apart.
• Sprinkle lightly with dry mustard and bouillon.
• Bake for 5 hours.
• Cool and serve.

RELATED: Recipe: Homemade DIY Dog Chews

10. Vegetable Delight

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. of lean ground turkey
• 2 tbsps. of raw turkey liver (pureed)
• 2 medium carrots (chopped)
• 1 cup of broccoli florets
• 1 cup of cauliflower florets
• ½ zucchini (sliced)
• 2 tbsps. of olive oil

Directions

• Steam carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini for about 10 minutes.
• Cook turkey and liver in a skillet until fully browned. Drain.
• Combine the meat and vegetables and mash or chop in a food processor.
• Toss with olive oil.
• Serve when cool.

11. Doggy Turkey Stew

Ingredients

• of ground turkey
• 1 large sweet potato (diced)
• 1 medium carrot (diced)
• ½ cup of frozen peas
• 2 tbsps. of coconut oil
• 2 cups of water

Directions

• Sauté the meat in a pot until brown.
• Stir in coconut oil, potatoes, carrots, and water.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Stir in frozen peas until heated.
• Cool and serve.

12. Almond Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice flour
• ½ cup of oatmeal
• ½ cup of almond butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp. water

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350˚.
• Mix rice flour, oatmeal, almond butter, and eggs (with shells) in a bowl.
• Slowly stir in water.
• Roll out dough ¼ inch thick and shape as desired.
• Bake for 12 minutes.
• Cool and serve.

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Gluten-Free Homemade Dog Food for Allergies—Effective or Not?

Many dog guardians are into the gluten-free lifestyle, which they also have their pooch do.

And there sure are many benefits to a gluten-free diet, both in humans and pups!

However, Dr. Bajwa said that this lifestyle is not a cure-all for food allergies in dogs. He said:

Like almost all dietary ingredients, gluten is neither inherently good nor bad. Gluten is surely one of the proteins that can cause allergies, but is no worse than chicken or beef. Thus, while gluten-free dog food may be the ideal choice for a small subset of dogs that exhibit gluten-specific sensitivity, it is not the best food for all dogs.

So if your dog has gluten sensitivities, by all means, go ahead with the gluten-free diet!

But if not, it might be best to give your Fido a variety of healthy food so he can get a balanced and nutritious meal that he'll benefit from the most.

If you want to try making homemade gluten-free meals for your furballs, check out these recipes!

• Recipe: Homemade Wheat and Gluten-Free Dog Treats
• Recipe: Homemade Gluten Free Dog Food
• The Best Gluten-Free Dog Foods and Recipes for Dogs with…
• Recipe: Carob Crunchies Dog Treats (Wheat and Gluten Free)

FAQs about Homemade Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Is homemade dog food better for allergies?

Yes, homemade dog food can be better for allergies because you control every ingredient!

It allows for elimination diets, which help identify and avoid allergens such as certain proteins, grains, or additives.

Always consult your vet to ensure the diet is nutritionally balanced.

What food should I feed my dog with allergies?

Feed your dog a limited-ingredient or hypoallergenic diet, focusing on novel proteins (like duck, venison, or fish) and grain-free or gluten-free carbs (like sweet potatoes).

Avoid artificial preservatives, beef, dairy, wheat, and chicken as these are common dog allergens.

RELATED: 8 Most Common Allergies In Dogs You Should be Aware of

So there you have it!

These homemade dog food for allergies recipes are a good start if you want to begin making home-cooked meals for your Fido with sensitivities.

You can also jumpstart your dog's elimination diet with these.

But in general, we recommend you discuss this with your veterinarian before cooking and feeding your dogs with these recipes.

Your vet will know better what to do with your dog's condition.

Good luck, fur parent!

Related Articles

• The Veterinarian’s Guide on Shopping for Hypoallergenic Dog Foods
• Allergy Meds For Dogs: When Does Your Dog Need Them?
• How to Feed Dogs with Food Allergies and Hypersensitivity