Below are concise, up-to-date (Sept 14, 2025) picks and short reviews for top-rated limited‑ingredient pet foods — separated for dogs and cats — plus practical buying and elimination‑diet cautions. I’ve listed the most commonly recommended brands and what they’re best for so you can compare quickly. (Sources cited after the most important points.)

Top limited‑ingredient dog foods (good for food sensitivities / elimination trials)

• Nom Nom (fresh, single‑protein recipes) — Premium fresh meals, human‑grade ingredients, single protein per recipe; good for picky dogs and those needing a single novel protein. Higher cost, subscription model. (dogster.com)
• The Farmer’s Dog (fresh) — Human‑grade, novel‑protein options and several LID-style recipes; convenient preportioned fresh food that meets AAFCO profiles. Good for owners wanting fresh single‑protein diets. (dogfoodadvisor.com)
• Zignature (canned/dry limited‑ingredient formulas) — Focuses on single proteins (e.g., lamb, novel proteins), commonly recommended for dogs with suspected protein sensitivities; widely available in wet and dry forms. (dogfoodadvisor.com)
• Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 (budget dry LID) — Very few ingredients (e.g., lamb meal + brown rice); lower cost and easy to find; suitable for owners wanting a simple ingredient list on a budget. Watch protein/fat levels for individual needs. (dogster.com)
• Raised Right / Go! Solutions / Zignature (other specialist LID lines) — Several brands offer LID lines (including veterinary/novel protein and grain‑free options); quality and macronutrient profiles vary by recipe — check the label for AAFCO "complete & balanced" statements. (dogfoodadvisor.com)
• Raw / frozen LID options (e.g., MAEV, Answers) — Some raw brands market single‑protein LID recipes; raw carries higher handling/food‑safety risk and is not recommended for elimination trials unless advised by your vet. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

Top limited‑ingredient cat foods

• Instinct Limited Ingredient (wet) — Highly rated LID wet recipes with single main protein sources; good protein/moisture balance for cats with sensitivities. (catfoodadvisor.com)
• Natural Balance Limited Ingredient (dry & wet) — Longstanding LID line available in both forms; budget‑friendly and commonly used for novel‑protein trials. (catfoodadvisor.com)
• Merrick Limited Ingredient (pate/wet) — Popular LID wet pâtés with single proteins, generally high palatability and nutrient profiles for adult cats. (catfoodadvisor.com)
• Smalls (fresh human‑grade offerings) — Fresh, limited ingredient options for cats (subscription); useful for owners preferring fresh single‑protein diets. (resources.pangovet.com)
• Koha / Amazing Grace / hydrolyzed diets — Other well‑rated options; hydrolyzed veterinary diets are preferred when strict diagnostic elimination is needed. (catfoodadvisor.com)

Quick buying checklist (short):

• Look for an AAFCO or “complete & balanced” statement if you plan to feed the product as the sole diet. Foods without that statement are not complete diets. (fda.gov)
• For elimination trials: use a single‑protein (novel) diet or a veterinary hydrolyzed diet chosen with your vet’s guidance. Over‑the‑counter LID foods can be helpful, but contamination/cross‑contact is possible — veterinary diets are sometimes recommended for strict trials. (academy.royalcanin.com)
• Check the full ingredient list (one animal protein source, minimal fruits/veggies) and guaranteed analysis (protein/fat) to ensure it meets your pet’s energy needs. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

Elimination‑diet essentials and cautions

• Duration & expectations: typical elimination trials run 8 weeks for dogs and 8–12 weeks for cats; some pets take up to 12 weeks for full dermatologic improvement. Don’t give flavored treats, flavored meds, or table scraps during the trial. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions exactly. (academy.royalcanin.com)
• If you need a definitive diagnostic trial, vets may prefer hydrolyzed or prescription novel‑protein diets because manufacturing cross‑contact on commercial lines can interfere with results. Raw foods are usually not recommended for diagnostic trials because of contamination risk and handling concerns. (purinainstitute.com)
• After improvement, vets will perform controlled re‑challenges (adding back ingredients one at a time) to identify the specific trigger(s). Long‑term management usually requires avoidance of identified allergens or continued use of a safe novel/hydrolyzed diet. (vcahospitals.com)

Notes on sources and reliability

• The product picks above reflect repeated recommendations from independent reviewers and specialist sites (Dog Food Advisor, Cat Food Advisor, Dogster, plus veterinary guidance on elimination trials). If you’d like, I can pull nutrition panels, price comparisons, or the most recent lab analyses for any specific brand/recipe. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

If you want a short, tailored recommendation, tell me: dog or cat, age/weight, any known allergies (e.g., chicken, beef), and whether you need food for an elimination trial or just long‑term feeding — I’ll give the best 1–2 picks and a feeding plan (transition + portioning).