When my dogs were prescribed to a Hypoallergenic diet, their veterinarian recommended Purina Veterinary Diets HypoAllergenic Dry Dog Food. I decided to write a review of this food because I bought an 18.5 lb. bag of it six months ago and I still have 17.5 lbs. of the food left.

My dogs absolutely refuse to eat this dog food. I think that's very bizarre considering that they will eat virtually anything else. I've heard that a dog will eventually eat once they get hungry enough. That apparently doesn't apply to my dogs because they wouldn't touch this food, even though it was the only food I made available to them for days. I tried adding water to it, they wouldn't eat it. I tried adding Hypoallergenic canned food to it, they ate the canned food and left the dry food in the bowl. After a few days of them being hungry but not eating, I insisted that their veterinarian suggest another food. In case you're interested, the veterinarian suggested Royal Canin's Hypoallergenic dog food and my dogs loved it instantly.

So, why wouldn't my dogs eat this Purina HypoAllergenic dog food? I can't be certain, of course, but I do have an idea as to why they refused this food. It must be incredibly bland. It comes in small off-white colored pieces. It has no smell...none at all! After reading the ingredients, I can't see anything that would add much flavor. Maybe the garlic or the "vegetable gums"?

Ingredients: Starch, hydrolyzed soy protein isolate, coconut oil, calcium phosphate, canola oil preserved with TBHQ, powdered cellulose, corn oil, potassium chloride, vegetable gums (gum arabic, guar gum), choline chloride, DL-methionine, salt, magnesium oxide, lecithin, taurine, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium carbonate, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, garlic oil, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.

The information on the back of the bag is set up in the form of questions and answers. One question asks, "Will my dog find the food flavorful and appealing"? The answer on the bag says, "Our flavor specialists have created a food that is highly palatable. Your dog will never feel deprived of great taste".

The truth is, my dogs didn't find this food to be palatable and they did feel deprived. I highly suggest that if you are going to buy this food, buy the smallest bag available first to see if your dog will eat it. My two dogs will eat nearly anything except for this food. Since neither one of the dogs will touch it, it must be really bad.

This food requires a prescription from your veterinarian. It comes in 8 lb., 18 lb., and 35 lb. bags. I paid nearly $50 for the 18.5 lb. bag at the veterinarian's office.

Recommended: No