The most common protein in pet food, and for dogs one of the most common food allergens, with beef and dairy. If chicken is what your pet reacts to, it hides everywhere: chicken fat, chicken broth, chicken meal, natural flavor. On a label, chicken listed first is weighed with its water still in, so a food leading with fresh chicken often has less chicken protein than one leading with chicken meal. Neither is better; they are different measures.
How it appears on labels
You may see it listed as deboned chicken, fresh chicken, chicken meal, ground chicken, chicken meat.
Find foods with or without it
See every ingredient we explain
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual, food allergy
- BMC Veterinary Research 2016 allergen review
