1st Choice Dog Adult Hypoallergenic Duck, 4.5 kg is a grain-free super-premium dry food for adult dogs of all breeds with food allergies. The manufacturer calls duck the main hypoallergenic ingredient of the formula. It contains no chemical colourants, preservatives or flavour enhancers and is naturally preserved with vitamin E. Beyond everyday nutrition, the recipe supports digestion, joints and oral hygiene.
What the manufacturer says
Grain-free. The food is adapted to canine digestion and is especially suited to sensitive stomachs. Digestion. Natural fibre improves gut function, ginger extract stimulates motility and reduces gas, and chicory and yeast extract provide FOS and MOS prebiotics. Denta. Green tea, fibre, vitamin C and parsley freshen breath and help maintain dental hygiene. Joints. Shrimp and crab shells provide glucosamine, New Zealand green-lipped mussels supply glycosaminoglycans, and sea cucumber supplies chondroitin.
Ingredients: key details
The first ingredient is dried potato (46%), followed by fresh duck (15%) and duck meal. Note that despite "Sweet Potato" in the name, the ingredient list says ordinary potato, not sweet potato. Next come beet pulp, hydrolysed fish meal, vegetable oil, yeast culture, herring oil (a DHA source), hydrolysed chicken liver, linseed, berries, vegetables, quinoa and herbs. Per kilogram it adds vitamins A, D3, E and C, taurine 500 mg, L-carnitine 100 mg, zinc 220 mg and other minerals.
Key specs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| For | adult dogs of all breeds with food allergies |
| Main protein | duck (fresh meat 15% + meal) |
| Carbohydrates | dried potato 46% |
| Grain | none |
| Joint support | glucosamine, mussels, sea cucumber |
| Pack | 4.5 kg |
Pros
- Duck as the main protein. A source rarely found in ordinary foods.
- Grain-free. Suits dogs with sensitive digestion.
- Joints. Glucosamine, chondroitin and mussels.
- Oral hygiene. Green tea, parsley and mint against bad breath.
- Prebiotics and ginger. For the gut and less gas.
- No chemicals. No colourants, preservatives or flavour enhancers.
Cons
- Not a single-protein food. It contains hydrolysed fish meal, hydrolysed chicken liver, herring oil, shrimp and crab.
- Potato comes first. At 46%, there's noticeably less meat than carbohydrate.
- No analysis on the product page. Protein and fat percentages aren't given.
- Sweet potato confusion. The name says Sweet Potato, the ingredients say potato.
How to feed
Check the daily amount in the table on the bag based on your dog's weight and activity; guidelines are in how much food to give a dog per day. Adult dogs are usually fed twice a day. Switch gradually over 7–10 days, especially for allergic dogs with sensitive digestion. If you're using the food to identify an allergy, give no other treats or table food during the trial. Fresh water should always be available.
Is it right for an allergy?
If your dog reacts to chicken, beef or grains, this food may work: duck is the main protein, and chicken appears only as hydrolysed liver, to which a reaction is unlikely but not impossible. If the allergy is to fish or seafood, or a strict elimination diet is needed, choose a therapeutic hydrolysed diet such as Brit Veterinary Diet Hypoallergenic. More in hypoallergenic dog food and grain-free food: facts and myths.
Who it suits
Adult dogs that react to chicken, beef or grains, dogs with sensitive digestion and dogs that benefit from joint support. More foods are in the dry dog food section.
Verdict
1st Choice Hypoallergenic Duck is a grain-free duck food with prebiotics, ginger and additives for joints and teeth. A good option for dogs that react to chicken and grains. But it isn't a strict single-protein diet: it contains fish, chicken liver and seafood, and there's more potato than meat.
FAQ
Does it contain grain?
No, it's grain-free; the carbohydrates come from potato.
How much duck does it contain?
Fresh duck makes up 15%, plus duck meal.
Does it contain sweet potato?
According to the ingredient list, no: it lists dried potato (46%).
Does it contain chicken?
Only hydrolysed chicken liver.
Is it suitable for a fish allergy?
No, it contains hydrolysed fish meal and herring oil.
Does it include joint support?
Yes: glucosamine from shrimp and crab shells, mussels and sea cucumber.
What age is it for?
Adult dogs of all breeds.
