Gear Score Methodology
PetPal Gear Score
Best Limited-Ingredient Diets for Dogs and Cats With Food Sensitivities (2026)
We read 12 expert sources for this guide. They include Tufts Cummings Petfoodology, the Merck Veterinary Manual food-allergy chapter, the Cornell Feline Health Center, Today's Veterinary Practice, AAFCO, the FDA, peer-reviewed research, and maker documents. We did no first-hand product testing. This guide does not diagnose food allergies. It does not replace a vet visit.
PetPal Gear Score = (Expert Consensus × 0.35) + (Ingredient Transparency & Suitability × 0.25) + (Palatability & Tolerance × 0.20) + (Value × 0.20)Factor breakdown
Expert Consensus
35%We draw this from Tufts Petfoodology, the Merck Veterinary Manual, the Cornell Feline Health Center, Today's Veterinary Practice, AAFCO, the FDA, peer-reviewed research, and maker documents. The PetPal Gear Score is a composite of expert opinion, not a measurement — PetPalHQ does not run a testing lab. We do not diagnose food allergies.
Ingredient Transparency & Suitability
25%We look at how clearly a formula names its one protein and one carb. We check how short and honest the deck is. We also check how well it avoids the allergens the Merck Veterinary Manual flags. Foods that pare down to one protein and one carb, leave out corn, wheat, and soy, and carry a clear AAFCO statement score best. Vague 'sensitive' marketing scores lower.
Palatability & Tolerance
20%We weigh how well dogs and cats eat and digest the food. We read the reviews and vet-facing roundups for that signal. We also note support features like probiotics, fiber, and omega-3s for skin and coat. This is a read of expert and owner signal. It is not a test we ran.
Value
20%We judge price by the cost per pound for long-term feeding, not the sticker alone. Strict one-protein decks and grain-free foods often cost more. A clean deck at a fair per-pound price scores best. We treat premium pricing as a real trade-off.
See all score methodologies on the Gear Score index.