If your dog has some type of food allergy and you visit your vet, there are majorly two types of dog foods they prescribe for your dog. The limited ingredients are dog food or hydrolyzed protein dog food. The former are foods made with fewer ingredients than what standard dog foods contain. In this way, it takes out all the unnecessary additions that may trigger your dog’s allergy.
Food allergy in dogs happens when their gastrointestinal or their immune system overreacts to one of the ingredients in their food and most times, the major ingredient that causes this is the protein source – which may include beef, chicken, chicken eggs, dairy, soy, or wheat gluten. This overreaction then causes some skin or stomach discomfort.
Our dogs cannot do without proteins because it is one of their major nutritional needs to maintain sound health but these allergies make it difficult for us to feed them proteins. Well, this is when your vet recommends the Hydrolyzed Protein Do Food.
What is hydrolyzed protein dog food?
Hydrolyzed protein dog foods are foods formulated with proteins that have undergone the process of hydrolysis (breaking down into tiny components using enzymes) instead of regular proteins. These proteins are broken down bit by bit into smaller components (amino acids and peptides) that become unidentifiable by your dog’s immune system. The trick is, these allergies are triggered when their body identifies the protein as a foreign entity or as a threat and so you want to disguise these proteins as something else so when they get in the body of your dog, they are not detected.
All this process just to feed your dog proteins? Yes. This is because protein is an essential component of any diet. The muscle tissues, organs, disease-fighting antibodies, bones, skin, and hormones of your dog all consist of proteins and so there is a need to keep replenishing the body to sustain their overall wellness. Imagine the damage that will be done if their body lacks protein.
The Benefits of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
Hydrolyzed protein dog food is more effective than regular protein and so has a lot of benefits. Depending on the dog’s condition, it can benefit them in different ways. Let us take a look at some benefits:
- Hydrolyzed Proteins for Dogs with Sensitive Stomach
Vet recommends these hydrolyzed protein diets for dogs with sensitive stomachs and digestive issues. This is because most times this sensitivity results from the difficulty in digestion. Since the hydrolyzed meal is broken down into smaller components, it makes digestion easy and has a nutritional profile than regular proteins.
- Hydrolyzed Proteins for Dogs With Food Allergies
If your dog has a food allergy caused by proteins, it is because its immune system considers it as a threat. Hydrolyzed proteins (amino acids and peptides) are too small to be noticed by their immune system and so they get digested and absorbed without causing an allergic reaction.
- Hydrolyzed Proteins For Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
When dogs with this allergy receive hydrolyze proteins, Studies show that it reduces the severity of the symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease and enhances the health of the intestinal membrane. This is expected since the difficulty of digestion is minimized which should keep the intestinal membrane in good shape.
- Hydrolyzed Proteins For Dogs With Sensitive Skin
This allergy may result from different causes which include environmental- dirt or pollen- or seasonal- winter or summer- and so may not be directly related to proteins. But, remember proteins are found in the skin too so feeding your dog with this allergy hydrolyzed protein may help improve their skin and coat health.
What is contained in Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Foods?
Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food is formulated with the following major ingredients:
- Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are ten essential amino acids including isoleucine, lysine, arginine, tryptophan, valine, methionine, histidine, leucine, threonine, and phenylamine.
- These forms of proteins make digestion easier as they already exist in simpler forms.
- Vitamins: Vitamins are healthy because they enhance the immune system of your dog. Essential vitamins like vitamins B, A, D, E, and K are good for your dog’s skin and coat health and boost their immune system.
- Minerals like iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium are very essential for your dog’s growth and development
- Fatty Acids including omega-3 and omega-6 are extremely important for the health of your dog’s skin.
- Peptides: These are also proteins in simpler forms. They are short chains of amino acids. The best peptide is known as collagen peptide and it is very healthy for the skin and joints.
Some types of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Foods
Let us look at some types of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Foods:
Hills Prescription Diet For Food Sensitivities.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Food Sensitivities is formulated to aid your dog’s skin and food sensitivity. It is prepared to help eliminate adverse reactions from allergies. It works to improve your dog’s digestion and stool quality with highly hydrolyzed protein, helps eliminate food-related causes of skin irritation, and results in a visible improvement of the skin and coal and also maintains a healthy skin barrier, and is enriched with essential fatty acids.
Ingredients:
Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Glyceryl Monostearate, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), DL-Methionine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene.
Guaranteed Analysis:
| Crude Protein (Min) | 19.1% |
| Crude Fat (Min) | 14.4% |
| Crude Fiber (Max) | 4.40% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids (Min) | 0.3% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids (Min) | 4.43% |
| Calorie Content | 354 kcal/cup |
Feeding Instruction:
| Weight (lbs) | Daily feeding (cups) |
| 5 | ⅝ |
| 10 | 1 |
| 15 | 1⅓ |
| 20 | 1⅔ |
| 30 | 2¼ |
| 40 | 2¾ |
| 50 | 3¼ |
| 60 | 3¾ |
| 70 | 4¼ |
| 80 | 4⅔ |
| 100 | 5½ |
| 120 | 6⅓ |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein HP Dry Dog Food
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein HP Dry Dog Food is made with hydrolyzed protein for adult dogs and puppies. It is formulated to soothe skin and gastrointestinal reactions resulting from sensitivities to common proteins found in dog food, supply essential nutrients to promote healthy skin in dogs with skin irritation, and also minimize the reactions suffered when your dog’s allergy gets triggered by proteins. It is made with essential vitamins, omega fatty acids, prebiotics, and fibers all to support your dog’s overall wellness.
Ingredients:
Brewers Rice, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Monocalcium Phosphate, Vegetable Oil, Sodium Silico Aluminate, Fish Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharides, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Dl-Methionine, L-Tyrosine, Taurine, Vitamins [Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source Of Vitamin E), Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement], Choline Chloride, Trace Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Iodate], Marigold Extract (Tagetes Erecta L.), Magnesium Oxide, Rosemary Extract, Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid.
Guaranteed Analysis:
| Crude Protein (min) | 19.5% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 17.5% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 3.1% |
| Moisture (max) | 10.0% |
| EPA + DHA | 0.2% |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 0.5% |
| Calorie Content | 3856 kcal/kg, 332 kcal/cap |
Feeding Instructions:
Recommended Daily portion for adults.
| Weight lbs | Daily Feeding (cups) |
| 4 | ⅝ |
| 6 | ⅞ |
| 10 | 1⅛ |
| 20 | 2 |
| 30 | 2⅝ |
| 40 | 2 |
| 50 | 3¼ |
| 60 | 4⅜ |
| 70 | 4⅞ |
| 80 | 5⅜ |
| 90 | 5⅞ |
| 100 | 6⅜ |
| 110 | 6⅞ |
| 120 | 7¼ |
| 130 | 7 ¾ |
| 140 | 8⅛ |
| 150 | 8⅝ |
| 160 | 9 |
| 170 | 9⅜ |
| 180 | 9¾ |
Recommended Daily Feeding Portion – for Puppies
| Adult Target Weight (lbs) | 2 Months (cup) | 3 Months (cup) | 4 Months (cup) | 6 Months (cup) | 8 Months (cup) | 10 Months (cup) | 12 Months (cup) |
| 4.4 | 5/8 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | Transition to the Adult Feeding Guidelines |
| 11 | 1¼ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7/8 | 7/8 | Transition to the Adult Feeding Guidelines |
| 22 | 1⅞ | 2⅛ | 2¼ | 2¼ | 2¼ | 2¼ | Transition to the Adult Feeding Guidelines |
| 33 | 2½ | 2⅞ | 3⅛ | 3⅛ | 3 | 3 | 2⅞ |
| 44 | 3 | 3½ | 3¾ | 3⅞ | 3¾ | 3⅝ | 3⅝ |
| 66 | 3½ | 4¼ | 4¾ | 5⅛ | 5⅛ | 4⅞ | 4⅞ |
| 88 | 4 | 5¼ | 5⅞ | 6⅜ | 6¼ | 6⅛ | 6⅛ |
| 110 | 5¼ | 6½ | 7⅛ | 7½ | 7⅞ | 7¾ | 7⅝ |
| 132 | 5¾ | 7¼ | 8 | 8½ | 9 | 8⅞ | 8¾ |
| 154 | 6⅛ | 7⅞ | 8¾ | 9½ | 10⅛ | 10 | 9¾ |
| 176 | 6½ | 8⅝ | 9½ | 10⅜ | 11⅛ | 11⅛ | 10⅞ |
We recommend that you divide these amounts into two or three meal daily.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA canine formula is formulated to provide your furry companion with balanced nutrition at their puppy stage and help keep adult dogs healthy and active. It is developed with a single high-quality protein source and single carbohydrate source specially formulated to be highly digestible and provide your dog with all the nutrients they need.
Ingredients:
Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate, Partially Hydrogenated Canola Oil Preserved With Tbhq, Coconut Oil, Powdered Cellulose, Tricalcium Phosphate, Corn Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Hydrolyzed Chicken, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Salt, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Oxide, Dl-Methionine, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Garlic Oil, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Sodium Selenite. B-2627.
Guaranteed Analysis:
| Crude Protein (min) | 18.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 9.5% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 4.0% |
| Moisture (max) | 10.0% |
| Calcium (min) | 0.7% |
| Phosphorus (min) | 0.6% |
| Ash (max) | 5.0% |
| Calorie Content | 3782 kcal/kg, 342 kcal/cap |
Feeding Instructions:
| Weight lbs | Daily Feeding (cups) |
| 3 – 12 | ½ – 1⅓ |
| 13 – 20 | 1⅓ – 2 |
| 21 – 35 | 2 – 2¾ |
| 36 – 50 | 2¾ – 3½ |
| 51 – 75 | 3½ – 4½ |
| 76 – 100 | 4½ – 5½ |
| Over 100 | 5½ plus ⅓ for each additional 10 lbs |
If your vet suggests feeding your pup hydrolyzed protein dog food, one of these picks might be a good option for him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Side Effects of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Foods?
There may be some side effects to hydrolyzed protein diets such as a change in stool consistency. Since this is a prescription diet, it will be fed under your veterinarian’s supervision, so you will direct these kinds of questions to them and will follow their instructions carefully while making the transition.
How Long Can My Dog Be on Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?
Your dog will be on the food for a minimum of 6–12 weeks until their symptoms subside. After this period, you can start to introduce one protein source to their food. If they have a reaction to it, you know they’re allergic to that type of protein. This process can take time, but it’s important to work with your vet and follow their treatment advice when your dog is on this specialized food. It is an elimination diet that identifies which types of ingredients your dog is allergic to and can rule out environmental factors as the symptoms often mimic each other.
Can I Make It at Home?
Hydrolyzed protein dog food is expensive and wondering whether you can make it yourself at home is a reasonable question. But the food is so expensive for a reason, and that’s because it undergoes a special process and must be made in the lab by professionals, using the correct chemicals and equipment. It’s also made under strict conditions to avoid cross-contamination. Therefore, it cannot be made at home.
My Dog Has Allergies, Should I Have Them on a Hydrolyzed Protein Diet?
If your dog has allergies or is experiencing symptoms that could be indicative of food or environmental allergies, you should set an appointment with your veterinarian. They may have you try out other commercial food options before prescribing a hydrolyzed protein diet.
There are some limited ingredients, single protein, and other formulas on the market that are geared toward allergy sufferers. If you try these foods out under your veterinarian’s supervision and you find success, you may not need to go as far as a prescription diet. If your vet feels the hydrolyzed protein diet is the way to go, they will provide the prescription and further instructions.