A dog's body is made up of several organs that are working together to ensure good shape and better existence. One of which is the thyroid - a small gland located in the neck area and is responsible for hormone production that regulates a variety of essential bodily functions.
Just like in humans, the thyroid glands in dogs should also function fully and correctly; otherwise, it can cause more serious health issues such as hypothyroidism.
Dogs suffering from this condition often exhibit symptoms, including dull coat, thinning fur, scaly skin, excessive shedding, reduced physical activities, and weight gain.
While hypothyroidism is not life-threatening, it still requires lifelong treatment with proper medication and supplements. Moreover, making specific changes in the dog's diet can significantly prevent the condition from worsening.
In this article, we will give you a comprehensive guide on how to choose the best dog food for hypothyroidism.
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Best Dog Foods for Hypothyroidism on the Market: My Top 9 Choices
Editor's Picks | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
Best Choices | Canidae All Life Stage Dog Food | |
Most Affordable Dog Food for Hypothyroidism | Wag Dry Dog Food | |
Best Wet Dog Food for Hypothyroidism | Purina Beyond Simple Origins Dog Food | |
The Runner-up | Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dog Food | |
Best Grain-Free Food for Dog with Hypothyroidism | Wellness Core Grain-Free Dog Food | |
Best L.I.D. Food for Dog with Hypothyroidism | Instinct L.I.D. Dog Food | |
Best Anti-Allergy Food for Dogs with Hypothyroidism | Merrick Grain-Free Dog Food | |
Best Weight Management Food for Dogs with Hypothyroidism | Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dog Food | |
Most Efficient Senior Dog Food for Hypothyroidism | Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food |
Canidae All Life Stage Dog Food is an ideal diet for multi-dog families as it uses only the simplest and whole-food ingredients in its formulation.
To ensure optimum nutrition, this recipe is crafted using multiple protein sources such as real chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. It also uses easily digestible carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, peas, brown rice, lentils, and cranberries for a nutritionally dense formulation.
Every bite comes with a health-plus solution, which is fortified with the essential nutrients to provide a high level of nutrition for all dog breeds and sizes. In fact, it contains probiotics that are added after cooking to help support proper digestion and healthy absorption.
Moreover, this well-rounded meal comes with antioxidants to help maintain a healthy immune system. Also, it has Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid components to support beautiful skin and luscious coats.
For added safety of your pets, Canidae All Life Stage Dog Food is created without any corn, wheat, soy, and additives. Thus each pack simply provides all the nutrition needed by your dogs for better health.
- Multi-protein formulation
- Comes with a health-plus solution
- No added additives
- Suited for all breeds and sizes
- Contains rice by-products
Wag Dry Dog Food is an Amazon brand formulated to give your best buddies all the key ingredients for optimum growth and development.
This recipe contains 35% of protein from real poultry, particularly American turkey, to give a delicious blend and to keep your dogs at their bounding best. It is further enhanced with the addition of nutritious vegetables such as lentils and peas to ensure that your pets are active and strong.
Most veterinarians highly recommend this protein composition as it comes with a perfect number of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients for the ideal growth of your canines.
Moreover, this dog meal comes with an optimal blend of omega-3 fatty acids from salmon oil and dietary fiber from flax seeds. These provide a high-standard long-chain DHA to make your pets look amazingly beautiful and to support efficient muscle growth.
Lastly, Wag Dry Dog Food has no added grain, wheat, or corn. It also lacks any common allergens like artificial flavors, colors, chemical preservatives, and fillers, which can be harmful to canines.
- Rich in animal protein
- Optimum source of fatty acids
- No artificial additives
- Available in trial packs
- Limited whole fruits and vegetables
Purina Beyond Simple Origins Dog Food is a wholesome meal made from the combination of real, recognizable, and wholesome ingredients to promote proper nutrition and active lifestyle in dogs.
Its top ingredient, farm-raised chicken, is combined with other high-quality components to offer only goodness to your pets. In fact, this formula uses only nine simple ingredients to ensure the optimum nutrients your dog needs.
Each of the ingredients is purposely selected to work together towards wholesome nutrition. This includes the added vitamins and minerals from real, non-GMO, and nutritious fruits and vegetable sources.
The recipe is also formulated without any corn, soy, or wheat. It lacks any poultry by-product and preservatives to give your furry friends a grain-free and safe meal option. What's only added in the recipe is the essential nourishment towards complete and balanced nutrition, thus supporting a healthy and long life.
To top it all, Purina Beyond Simple Origins Dog Food comes with the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and other essential nutrients needed by your dog to grow strong and healthy.
- Well-balanced nutrition
- Right amounts of nutrients
- Wholesome ingredients
- No added grains and preservatives
- A bit pricey
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dog Food is carefully formulated using well-balanced and fresh sources to provide proper nutrition to your dogs.
It contains premium pasture-raised bison and pasture-raised venison as its main ingredient to provide highly digestible protein and an optimal amino acid profile. These components produced deliciously roasted-flavored dog food that ensured leaner and stronger muscles.
Also, this recipe comes with species-specific probiotics that promote a healthy digestive and immune system that's essential to your dog's overall health. The proprietary ingredient is added after the kibble is cooked to guarantee the effectiveness of live and active cultures.
Traces of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are also present in the right dosage to promote proper growth and development. It also contains sustainable sources of healthy fatty acid blends to help support healthy skin and coat.
Overall, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dog Food is a superior recipe with no added grain, wheat, corn, or any artificial additives and preservative. But instead, its formulation comes with highly-digestible ingredients and chelated minerals to promote the optimal health of your pets.
- Balanced formula
- High-quality protein sources
- No preservatives added
- Highly-digestible formulation
- Contains peas and potato protein
Wellness Core Grain-Free Dog Food is an ideal dog food due to its considerable amounts of animal-based protein and other nutrients, which is highly beneficial for dogs.
It's 100% grain-free recipe gives a perfect balance and complete dietary requirements for your pets. This also comes with highly-digestible real fruits and vegetables, which provides the essential vitamins and minerals needed to ensure growth and development.
As a top feature, the deliciously tasting dog food contains no artificial preservatives, colorants, flavorings, and additives in its formulation. It also lacks any fillers and highly-processed carbohydrates, which can be harmful to your dog.
Instead, it contains antioxidants, probiotics, fibers, and other nutrients to ensure optimum nutrition in all conditions. The recipe also comes with high amounts of omega fatty acids to provide your dog's healthy skin and luscious coats.
Overall, Wellness Core Grain-Free Dog Food is an excellent meal to provide nutrition and energy to your furry pets. It ensures only the best amount of nutrients for the optimum growth of both small and large breeds.
- High-quality protein
- Grain-free carbohydrates
- Rich in omega fatty acids
- No added preservatives and fillers
- May contain high amounts of fiber
Instinct L.I.D. Dog Food is a tasty and grain-free recipe making it a perfect blend for dogs dealing with a wide range of health-related problems.
Being a clean and simple diet, it is formulated using pure and real nutrition of raw materials sourced only from the finest suppliers around the world.
In fact, it uses real meat from grass-fed lamb as its sole animal protein source to ensure a healthy and highly-digestible protein with all the essential amino acids. Also, the highly-digestible peas serve as the single vegetable source to promote more nutrients without worrying much about the presence of starch.
This unique recipe lacks any sweet potato, grains, and gluten components, making it a low carbohydrate formula, which is suitable for those suffering from infections and allergies.
To top it all, Instinct L.I.D. Dog Food is the first raw kibble. This ensures that every piece is coated in freeze-dried raw to ensure freshness of nutrients and taste. Thus, making this dog food deliciously healthy for your pets to crave.
- All-natural and whole ingredients
- Limited ingredient diet
- Raw-coated kibble
- Tasty and flavorful
- For adult canines only
Merrick Grain-Free Dog Food is specially crafted using high-quality ingredients to keep your dogs healthy and active at all life stages.
Its primary ingredient, deboned real chicken, ensures the availability of the right level of high-quality protein. Thus, promoting a good-tasting meal with the right amount of energy to provide a better building of muscle mass.
This recipe also comes with carefully selected fresh produce such as apples, blueberries, and sweet potatoes. All of which helps in promoting optimum dog health due to its fiber, vitamins, and mineral components. The lack of any fillers and preservatives also guarantees an allergy-free diet for sensitive ones.
Additionally, it comes with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to eliminate any dry skin and growing fur, which is commonly observed in dogs with hypothyroidism. Its leading levels of glucosamine and chondroitin helps in maintaining the proper functioning of the hips and joints.
Lastly, Merrick Grain-Free Dog Food helps nourish all dog types, from small breed to large breeds and from puppies to senior ones.
- Real and fresh sources
- Grain-free formulation
- Rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals
- For all types of dogs
- Not recommended for typically active dogs
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dog Food is a nutritious recipe packed with outstanding flavors and rich nutrients to ensure the optimum wellness of your dogs.
Farm-raised chicken, being its primary ingredient, provides high-quality protein and fats to deliver delicious taste and helps support strong muscles. It is also packed with a mix of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables such as brown rice and lentils, which promote natural fibers for healthy digestion.
As a tailored source of nutrition, this dog food is crafted with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to ensure the functioning of the immune system. It is also rich in fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat. Moreover, this meal supports proper weight loss and healthy weight management of your furry friends.
Another great thing is that this recipe uses non-GMO ingredients. This ensures all the ingredients are from real sources and that they are free from any artificial additives and chemical substances.
Overall, Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dog Food is a healthy and delightful option for any dog breeds.
- Promotes healthy and proper weight
- High in protein and macronutrients
- Made with non-GMO ingredients
- No artificial additives
- May contain potential allergens
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food is specifically designed to help support the health and well-being of senior dogs.
This high-quality protein and limited carbohydrate formula are made from natural ingredients to build and maintain healthy muscles. In fact, it uses real chicken meat, wholesome grains, garden vegetables, and fruits to ensure only the best dog nutrition.
Each kibble is enhanced with LifeSource Bits, an exclusive technology that provides a precise combination of vitamins, minerals, as well as antioxidants to support your dog's immune system, oxidative balance, and life-stage requirements.
To top it all, this recipe comes with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which improves skin and coat health, especially in dogs suffering from thyroid problems. It also contains glucosamine and L-carnitine for overall mobility and joint health.
Overall, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food is processed using the finest technology to promote good health and proper nutrition. Plus, it is supported with valuable components that lack any by-products and artificial additives that can reduce its potency to your pets.
- Uses real and all-natural ingredients
- Rich in fatty acids and antioxidants
- Fortified with LifeSource Bits
- No artificial components
- Suitable only for senior dogs
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a common thyroid malfunction characterized by the underactive thyroid in dogs. This results in lesser production of hormones, which slow down the thyroid functioning and, in turn, cause a negative impact on metabolism and other bodily functions.
Some of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism in dogs include:
Dog Breeds Prone to Hypothyroidism
The majority of the dogs affected by hypothyroidism were relatively young adults between one and two.
While there is still no scientific connection between breed size and this condition, it has become increasingly common to the following breeds
Dog Food for Hypothyroidism: Buyer's Guide
Dogs suffering from hypothyroidism should be given the best and healthiest nutritional needs. Keep in mind that the healthier the diet, then the quicker and the better they'll be able to restore their optimal functions.
Here are the things to consider in choosing a good hypothyroidism dog food.
1. High-Quality Ingredients
To ensure healthy bodily functions, your dog food should have high-quality ingredients. The shorter the list of ingredients used in its formulation, the better results it can give to your pets.
Also, try to look for wholesome and natural foods such as protein, fats, fruits, and vegetables.
2. Animal Protein
High-quality animal protein from fish, meat, and poultry are the best foundation on your dog's diet. These components are biologically valuable since they contain all the ten essential amino acids entirely for your pet's growth and development.
Lean protein from turkey and chicken are also great options if your dogs gain weight due to hypothyroidism.
3. Grain-Free
While some dogs can tolerate whole grains, most commercially available dog foods use GMO ingredients, which can have a significant impact on the hormonal balance.
4. Highly-Digestible
Giving your dogs easy to digest foods offer maximum nutritional benefits.
While animal-based diets are the most digestible options, looking for digestion-supporting supplements such as probiotics and prebiotic fibers can also be of great help.
5. No Artificial Additives
The addition of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives can cause an impact on your dog's thyroid function, thus naturally preserved dog foods should be the primary choice.
6. Fatty Acids
Most of the symptoms caused by hypothyroidism are skin or coat related. The presence of healthy fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 can improve and maintain your dog's skin conditions.
Also, these fatty acids are good sources of concentrated energy and fat-soluble vitamins.
7. Digestible Carbohydrates
Since dogs have limited ability to digest plant products, the carbohydrates present in your dog's diet should come from highly-digestible sources such as starchy vegetables and whole grains.
8. Thyroid-supporting Nutrients
Formulations suitable for hypothyroidism should be rich in thyroid-supporting nutrients such as iron, iodine, folic acid, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Foods Should Be Avoided With Hypothyroidism?
Eliminating some foods in the diet can balance the hormones and prevent the symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs.
- 1Beef by-products - Eating beef by-products, which contains gullets or glands, are believed to disrupt the normal functioning in the dog's body.
- 2Highly-processed carbs - They tend to have a negative effect on the blood sugar control, which in turn upsets the insulin level in the dog's body.
- 3Grains - The presence of grains in the diet can cause bloatedness and affect the dietary health of your dogs.
- 4Artificial additives - These are toxic substances that can affect the health of your dogs.
How Can I Help if My Dog Has Hypothyroidism?
Other than a change in diet, some of the things that you can do to manage dogs suffering from hypothyroidism were as follows:
What if Hypothyroidism is Left Untreated?
Hypothyroidism is very treatable, but cannot be cured. Just because it can't be cured doesn't mean that you should forgo treatment.
When left untreated, dogs can have severe complications, including rapid weight loss and secondary diseases such as anemia, and corneal ulcers. Some dogs may also suffer from adult-onset problems like heart disease, seizures, and infertility.
Can Hypothyroidism Cause Dog Anxiety?
While the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are the physical ones, those untreated cases will eventually have behavioral problems such as depression, aggression, fearfulness, and anxiety.
In dogs, anxiety may be observed with excessive chewing, scratching, digging, or licking. They may also have the feeling of reluctance to leave the house and fearfulness with unfamiliar conditions.
Final Thoughts
Dogs with hypothyroidism are most likely to take medications for the rest of their life to ensure proper management of their condition. While it is not a dietary disease, feeding your dogs with high-quality foods can help support their health and help ease the hypothyroidism.
Among the products we reviewed, Canidae All Life Stages Premium Dry Dog Food is our ultimate choice for the best dog food for hypothyroidism.
This recipe is naturally sourced to ensure high levels of animal protein, healthy fats, and digestible carbohydrates, which deliver proper health and nutrition to all dog breeds and sizes.
Hey there, I’m Ruby Smith, founder of Pet So Fun, and I’m here to provide you with useful information about your precious pet. All pets deserve the best care, don’t they? But not all pet owners have access to the right products and tips for their pets. And the central core of my work here is to change that.