Humans are not the only ones who have allergies. Dogs can suffer from allergies too. Allergies in dogs can lead to a variety of skin conditions that can be difficult to deal with. These allergies can be caused by environmental factors or the food your dog eats.
Key Takeaways
- Dogs can be allergic to foods such as beef, chicken, lamb, wheat, soy, eggs, corn and nuts.
- Allergy tests for dogs are not reliable.
- The only proven way to find out what your dog is allergic to is to change the protein source or try an elimination diet.
The most common symptoms of food allergies in dogs include:
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Redness of the skin of the inner ear
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Itchy ears (chronic scratching of ears or shaking of head)
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Ear hematoma
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Chronic thickening of the ears
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Chronic ear infections
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Redness and itching in the feet or between the toes (biting the feet)
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Chronic plantar dermatitis
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Spotted hair loss along the neck and trunk
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Chronic skin infections (bacterial or yeast) that never go away
Skin problems are the most common symptom of dog food allergies. They are primarily seen as an allergic reaction to proteins absorbed in the food.
This response releases immune cells that weaken the bonds between skin cells and weaken the skin barrier, which can cause redness, itching, and make the skin more susceptible to infections caused by common bacteria and yeast.
The areas most commonly affected are the ears, feet and around the eyes, but sometimes the trunk and limbs can also be affected.
What are common dog food allergens?
The most common protein that dogs are allergic to is beef. Chicken, lamb, and wheat. Other less common causes of food allergies in dogs include soy, eggs, corn, and nuts.
Dogs can’t be tested for food allergies like humans can, because the tests currently available are unreliable. The only surefire way to find out what your dog is allergic to is to change the protein source or try an elimination diet.
An elimination diet trial involves removing all proteins your dog has been consuming for a period of two to three months, allowing the body enough time to completely eliminate the old protein sources and recover from chronic allergic irritation.
How to Help Dogs with Food Allergies
Elimination diet experiment Hydrolyzed diets are the best way to treat and diagnose food allergies in dogs. Starting with a prescription diet is the easiest. Hills® z/d or Royal Canin® Hydrolyzed ProteinThese veterinary diets contain proteins that are too small to be recognised by the immune system.
An elimination diet trial takes approximately 2-3 months to complete, giving your dog time to flush the old proteins from his system, and for your dog to stay on the diet long enough to notice a difference from their previous diet.
The most common mistake pet owners make is not waiting long enough before stopping a diet attempt. Changing your dog’s diet for just a week or two won’t give you perfect results, so it’s important to test foods and treats over the appropriate amount of time.
Another common mistake is feeding your dog something other than an elimination diet. Can not Do not feed table scraps or treats (unless there are treat options that fit into the elimination diet).
Changing your dog’s diet for just a week or two won’t give you perfect results, so it’s important to test foods and treats over the appropriate amount of time.
If your dog doesn’t improve after trying a hydrolyzed elimination diet for 2-3 months, it’s likely that he’s been exposed to some kind of environmental allergen, or there may be something else causing the problem, such as an autoimmune disease.
If the test shows a positive reaction, try giving your dog a new protein source such as venison, fish or kangaroo. If your dog reacts to these proteins, a mild reaction should appear within two weeks. If allergic symptoms return, discontinue the new protein source and switch back to the hydrolyzed food.
Try adding back one protein at a time every 2-4 weeks, and if your dog reacts, stop and keep them stable for another 2 weeks before trying another protein.
Before starting any dietary regimen, contact your veterinarian to get a prescription for a hydrolyzed diet. It is also important to visit your pet’s veterinarian to ensure that they do not have any co-infections. Co-infections are common because the allergic reaction disrupts the skin barrier. Infections can look like symptoms of a dog food allergy, so all infections should be cleared up during the food elimination regimen.
During the trial, please keep the following in mind:
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Make sure you are only feeding your pet the prescribed treats and meals – you cannot feed them human food or regular pet treats during a food trial as they may introduce the allergens you are trying to eliminate.
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Always start slowly when introducing a new food to your dog to avoid stomach upset or diarrhea.
Best dog food for allergies
Hydrolyzed Dog Food
Hydrolyzed foods are great for dogs with allergies because the proteins have been broken down into pieces so small that the body cannot recognise them. Hydrolyzed foods include:
New Protein Foods
Novel protein foods include proteins that your dog has never eaten before, such as duck, fish, venison, kangaroo, etc. Examples of novel protein foods include:
Food for puppies with allergies
Food allergies in puppies are rare, but there have been reports of allergic reactions in puppies as young as six months of age. If you suspect your puppy may have a food allergy, try feeding them lamb and rice formulas, such as Purina® Puppy Lamb & Rice Formulawould be a good starting point for a new protein.
If your pet has severe allergies and your vet has recommended a hydrolyzed diet, try Royal Canin® Hydrolyzed Protein Puppy Formula.
