If you've been researching allergy supplements for your dog, you've probably seen products claiming to support itching, paw licking, sensitive skin, seasonal allergies, ear gunk and more.
But what actually makes them different?
To help dog owners make an informed decision, we've compared four popular allergy and itch-support chews:
- Funky Paws Allergy Chews
- NutriPaw All-Itch & Immunity Treats
- Bugalugs Itch & Immunity Chews
- Zesty Paws Aller-Immune Chews
We'll compare:
- Ingredients
- Cost
- Subscription savings
- How long each tub lasts
- Who each product may suit
- Who each product may not suit
Because the best allergy chew isn't necessarily the most advertised. It's the one that best matches what your dog needs.
What We Think Each Brand Does Best
| Brand | What It Does Best |
|---|---|
| Funky Paws | Broadest anti-inflammatory ingredient spread and value for money |
| NutriPaw | Triple-action gut, immune and skin support with a 365-day guarantee |
| Bugalugs | Named-dose transparency and zinc for skin & coat, at a long tub life |
| Zesty Paws | Simple, science-backed postbiotic formula (EpiCor® + PRIOME®) |
Before looking at ingredients, it's important to understand that all four products are trying to solve slightly different versions of the same problem — an itchy, uncomfortable dog.
Important: This Comparison Uses a 10kg Dog
To keep this comparison as fair and consistent as possible, all cost calculations, cost-per-day figures and tub duration estimates in this article are based on a 10kg dog following each manufacturer's recommended feeding guidelines.
If your dog weighs more than 10kg, you'll typically need to give more chews per day.
This means:
- Tubs will last fewer days
- Cost per day will increase
- Annual cost will be higher
Always check the feeding guide before purchasing any supplement, especially if you have a larger breed.
How Dog Size Impacts Cost
| Dog Size | Approx Weight | Effect On Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small Dog | Up to 10kg | Lowest cost per day |
| Medium Dog | 10kg-25kg | Moderate cost per day |
| Large Dog | 25kg-40kg | Higher cost per day |
| Giant Breed | 40kg+ | Highest cost per day |
Example Using Funky Paws Allergy Chews
| Dog Weight | Daily Chews | Approx Tub Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 11kg | 1 | 4 months (120 days) |
| 11kg-23kg | 2 | 2 months (60 days) |
| 23kg-35kg | 3 | 40 days |
| 35kg-45kg | 4 | 1 month |
| Over 45kg | 5 | 24 days |
Why We Chose A 10kg Dog
We wanted to compare every product on a like-for-like basis.
Using a 10kg dog allows us to compare:
- Cost per day
- Cost per year
- Subscription value
- Days supplied per tub
using the same benchmark across all brands.
Cost, Duration & Subscription Comparison (10kg Dog)
| Brand | Standard Price | Best Subscription / Discount Price | Days Supply | Lowest Cost Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funky Paws | £27.99 | £22.39 (20% off subscription) | 120 Days | 19p |
| NutriPaw | £34.99 | £27.99 (up to 20% off RepeatCare) | 120 Days | 23p |
| Bugalugs | £34.99 | £22.74 first order (35% off), then £27.99 ongoing (20% off) | 120 Days | 23p ongoing |
| Zesty Paws | £29.95 | £23.96 (20% off, small dog plan) | 90 Days | 27p |
Annual Cost Comparison
Using the best currently advertised discount or subscription option:
| Brand | Approx Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Funky Paws | £68/year |
| Bugalugs | £80/year |
| NutriPaw | £85/year |
| Zesty Paws | £97/year |
Bugalugs' annual figure blends one discounted first order (£22.74) with the remaining year's worth of tubs at the standard 20% ongoing subscription rate (£27.99 each) — a 10kg dog gets through just over three 120-day tubs a year.
What Surprised Us Most?
Bugalugs' headline "35% off" is a first-order-only offer — after that it settles to £27.99, the same 20% ongoing discount rate as Funky Paws and NutriPaw. Once you account for that, Bugalugs' real annual cost is closer to NutriPaw's than the initial discount suggests, and clearly behind Funky Paws, whose 20% subscription discount applies to every order, not just the first.
NutriPaw and Zesty Paws both cost meaningfully more per year, even on their best subscription terms — NutriPaw because its standard price is the highest of the four, and Zesty Paws because its 90-day tub means more frequent reorders than the 120-day tubs from Funky Paws, NutriPaw and Bugalugs.
Understanding What's Actually Doing the Work
One of the biggest sources of confusion when comparing allergy chews is understanding what each ingredient category is actually for.
Think of allergy support in three layers:
- Gut and immune support — probiotics, postbiotics and prebiotics that help calm an overactive immune response from the inside.
- Skin-soothing actives — turmeric, licorice root, ginger and colostrum, which target inflammation and irritation directly.
- Omega fatty acids — fish, krill or plant oils that support skin barrier function and coat condition.
Gut & Immune Support
All four products contain some form of probiotic, postbiotic or immune-supporting ingredient (colostrum, EpiCor®, PRIOME®, or a named probiotic strain).
Skin-Soothing Botanicals
Turmeric, licorice root, ginger and apple cider vinegar show up across most of the brands compared here, though not every product includes all of them.
Omega Fatty Acids
Not every product includes a dedicated marine or plant omega source. Bugalugs and NutriPaw both include salmon oil as standard. Funky Paws and Zesty Paws currently rely more on the botanical and probiotic side of the formula.
Does A Product Need All Three Layers?
Not necessarily.
Some owners specifically want a strong omega source for coat and skin condition. Others are more focused on calming inflammation from the inside with botanicals and gut support.
The best option depends on your dog's specific symptoms rather than the longest ingredient list.
One thing that stood out during our comparison is that Funky Paws and Bugalugs both publish exact milligram doses for every active ingredient on the label — NutriPaw and Zesty Paws list ingredients without a per-chew dose breakdown.
Ingredient Comparison
| Ingredient | Funky Paws | NutriPaw | Bugalugs | Zesty Paws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Probiotic Blend | ✅ 400 million CFU (6 strains) | ✅ 3-Strain | ✅ 2 Billion CFU (named strain) | ✅ (via PRIOME®) |
| Postbiotics | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ EpiCor® |
| Colostrum | ✅ 300mg | ❌ | ✅ 150mg | ✅ |
| Turmeric | ✅ 300mg | ✅ | ✅ 50mg | ❌ |
| Licorice Root | ✅ 100mg | ✅ | ✅ 100mg | ❌ |
| Ginger Root | ✅ 100mg | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Omega Oil (fish/salmon) | ✅ Salmon Oil (inactive ingredient) + Hemp Seed Oil 100mg | ✅ Salmon Oil | ✅ Salmon Oil 130mg | ✅ Salmon Oil |
| Zinc | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ 5mg | ❌ |
| Apple Cider Vinegar | ✅ 100mg | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Vitamin C / Vitamin E | ✅ Vit C 60mg | ✅ Vit C | ✅ Vit C 100mg | ❌ |
Funky Paws Allergy Chews
What Stands Out?
- Colostrum (300mg)
- Turmeric (300mg)
- FOS Prebiotics (160mg)
- Organic Virgin Hemp Seed Oil & Powder (100mg each)
- Licorice Root (100mg)
- Ginger Root (100mg)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (100mg)
- Vitamin C (60mg)
- Black Pepper Fruit Powder (32mg)
- 6-Strain Probiotic Blend (400 million CFU)
- Salmon Oil (listed among inactive ingredients)
May Be Best For
✅ Broad, natural anti-inflammatory support
✅ Itching, redness and irritation
✅ Sensitive tummies alongside skin symptoms
✅ Owners wanting size-tiered dosing
✅ Owners who want exact, labelled doses rather than a proprietary blend
✅ Owners looking for strong long-term value, on a one-off purchase or subscription
May Not Be Best For
❌ Owners specifically wanting a dedicated marine omega source as a headline active ingredient rather than a smaller inactive-ingredient inclusion
❌ Owners wanting zinc or a named postbiotic in the formula
NutriPaw All-Itch & Immunity Treats
What Stands Out?
- 3-Strain Probiotic Blend
- Salmon Oil
- Turmeric
- Licorice Root
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Vitamin C
May Be Best For
✅ Dogs whose itching centres on skin comfort and coat condition
✅ Owners wanting a dedicated omega-3 source included as standard
✅ Owners who value a long money-back guarantee window
✅ UK-formulated, size-tiered dosing
May Not Be Best For
❌ Owners prioritising value if not on a subscription — this is one of the two most expensive standard prices in the comparison
❌ Owners wanting postbiotics or zinc specifically
Bugalugs Itch & Immunity Chews
What Stands Out?
- Enterococcus faecium probiotic (2 billion CFU)
- Colostrum (150mg)
- Turmeric (50mg)
- Salmon Oil (130mg)
- Licorice Root (100mg)
- Vitamin C (100mg)
- Zinc (5mg)
May Be Best For
✅ Owners who want exact, labelled doses rather than a proprietary blend
✅ A well-rounded formula covering gut, skin and coat in one chew
✅ Owners wanting a generous first-order discount to try the product
✅ Zinc for skin and coat, which none of the other three include
May Not Be Best For
❌ Owners comparing on ongoing subscription cost — the 35% off is first-order only, dropping to 20% (the same rate as Funky Paws and NutriPaw) after that
❌ Owners buying one-off rather than subscribing — the standard price is on the higher end
❌ Owners wanting postbiotics or ginger root specifically
Zesty Paws Aller-Immune Chews
What Stands Out?
- EpiCor® Pets Postbiotic
- PRIOME® HT-AD Blend (postbiotic)
- Salmon Oil
- Colostrum Powder
- FOS Prebiotics
May Be Best For
✅ Owners wanting a science-backed, trademarked postbiotic formula
✅ Dogs needing omega-3 support for coat and skin condition
✅ Straightforward, simple ingredient list
May Not Be Best For
❌ Owners specifically wanting turmeric, licorice root or zinc
❌ Owners wanting the longest possible tub duration — 90-day supply is shorter than Funky Paws, NutriPaw or Bugalugs
Who Should Probably Buy None Of These?
An allergy chew may not be the right first step if your dog has:
- Open sores, hot spots or broken skin
- Hair loss that's spreading or worsening
- Recurrent ear or skin infections
- Symptoms that are getting worse rather than better despite consistent use
In these situations, it's best to speak with your vet before introducing supplements — allergy chews are a supportive tool, not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment.
Our Honest Verdict
After comparing all four products, we don't think there's a single "best" allergy chew.
Instead, each formula has a clear strength:
- NutriPaw stands out for a dedicated omega-3 source alongside a strong botanical blend and a lengthy money-back guarantee.
- Bugalugs stands out for labelled, exact-dose ingredients, added zinc, and a strong first-order discount — though its ongoing subscription rate matches Funky Paws and NutriPaw rather than beating them.
- Zesty Paws stands out for a simple, trademarked postbiotic formula backed by named research.
- Funky Paws stands out for combining the broadest spread of natural anti-inflammatory botanicals (turmeric, licorice root, ginger, colostrum) with a 6-strain probiotic blend, exact labelled doses, the cheapest one-off purchase price, and the lowest annual cost of the four once subscribed.
If you're specifically looking for a dedicated omega-3 source, NutriPaw or Bugalugs may be worth considering.
If postbiotics are your priority, Zesty Paws is the standout.
If value — one-off or subscribed — and ingredient breadth are most important to you, Funky Paws comes out on top in this comparison.
Ultimately, the best allergy chew is the one that best matches your dog's needs, not the one with the biggest marketing budget. 🐾
A quick word of caution before you buy any of these: persistent scratching, hair loss, open sores or symptoms that are getting worse rather than better are a vet visit first, supplement second.