Flax-Free Dog Foods

Flaxseed is in more than a third of the dog foods we catalogue, over 1,500 recipes, almost always well down the ingredient list. Formulators use it as an inexpensive plant source of omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and fibre, and studies in dogs have linked flax supplementation to coat condition. That is why it is hard to avoid, not because it is a common problem.

Flax is not among the documented common food allergens in dogs, which are overwhelmingly animal proteins plus wheat. Owners look for flax-free food for other reasons: a dog whose loose stool or itching seems to track with flax-heavy recipes, a veterinarian's advice to keep a trial diet as plain as possible, or a preference to avoid seed oils and plant oestrogens. Whatever the reason, the fine print is the problem, and that is what this list solves.

Every food below is screened for flax in every form we track: flaxseed, ground or milled flaxseed, flaxseed meal, sprouted flaxseed, flaxseed oil and linseed. If you are still working out what your dog reacts to, start with our dog food allergy guide, and if you want the shortest possible ingredient list, our limited ingredient list pairs well with this one.