How to Help a Dog With Food Allergies

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In one way, treating a dog’s food allergy is simple: Just stop giving them whatever they’re allergic to.

“It’s one of the best diagnoses to make, because all you have to do is avoid the offending allergen,” said Robert Kennis, DVM, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, a professor of veterinary dermatology at Auburn University. “If you find out that your dog is allergic to chicken, stop giving them chicken and you’ve cured your dog.”

But the reality of treating a dog’s food allergy is more complex than that—because the road to a diagnosis takes time, effort, and knowledge of what to look out for. Still, with the right guidance, you can help your dog enjoy mealtime without the itching or gastrointestinal discomfort that allergies may cause. Here’s what you need to know. 

Can dogs have food allergies?

Yes—like humans, dogs can have food allergies. An allergy is the immune system recognizing something that should be considered harmless as a threat. It then releases antibodies and inflammatory compounds to attack those allergens, resulting in an allergic reaction. In the case of food allergies, the immune system responds to the presence of an ingredient (usually a protein). In medical terminology, this is called an adverse food reaction.

Here are some foods dogs can be allergic to, according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA):

  • Soy
  • Rice
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Dairy
  • Eggs
  • Lamb
  • Wheat
  • Chicken

In a 2016 paper, beef, dairy products, chicken, and wheat were the most frequently reported food allergens provoking an adverse food reaction in 297 dogs. That’s not to say that all of the dogs in this small sample had food allergies. Dr. Kennis said that part of why we don’t know more about true food allergies in dogs is because they’re unusual, which makes them difficult to study. (“True food allergy” refers to an allergy as an immune condition—as opposed to a food intolerance, which does not involve an immune reaction.)

Dr. Kennis said that several breeds, among them spaniels and German shepherds, are predisposed to food allergies. A Swiss study also found that West Highland white terriers, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and pugs were at risk. Food allergies typically surface at less than 1 year old, but can emerge later “depending on dietary history,” according to the North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital.

A cute, floppy beagle scratches their chin in a grassy field one evening.

What are signs that my dog has a food allergy?

Itching and gastrointestinal upset are two of the most common signs of food allergies, and they can occur together. But the “classic food-allergic dog will present with clinical signs of itching,” Dr. Kennis said. In particular, they may lick, bite, or chew their feet. Constant scratching may result in a wound that gets infected. This is known as a secondary infection, and is another common sign of allergies.

Another indication of food allergies is oral allergy syndrome, in which a dog’s mouth gets itchy immediately after eating an allergen, Dr. Kennis said. One sign of this syndrome would be a dog rubbing their face against a carpet in an effort to scratch an itch. 

While a veterinarian or veterinary dermatologist can help you determine the allergen that’s bothering your dog, there are clues that they’re dealing with a food allergy of some kind. Here are some questions to consider:

  • Does your dog only show signs of allergies during a particular season?
  • Does your dog try to scratch their face immediately after eating?
  • Has your dog been treated for itch, and not responded well to anti-itch therapies?

Here are other clinical signs of food allergies:

  • Itching, scratching, biting, and/or rubbing the skin—especially on the face, paws, belly, limbs, ears, and rear end
  • Recurrent skin and ear infections (especially in spite of proper care)
  • Weight loss
  • Increased dandruff
  • Digestive upset (vomiting, diarrhea, soft stool, or gas)
  • Itching, scratching, biting, and/or rubbing the skin—especially on the face, paws, belly, limbs, ears, and rear end
  • Less commonly, hyperactivity or lack of energy

How common are food allergies in dogs?

“True food allergies are exceedingly rare in dogs,” said Alison Manchester, DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (SAIM), an assistant professor of small animal medicine at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2018, Banfield Pet Hospital published a paper estimating that just 0.2% of dogs have food allergies. However, a 2017 paper reviewing 31 articles found that as many as 2% of dogs had some form of adverse food reaction affecting the skin. In dogs with a skin condition, that figure rose to 24%.

When it comes to diagnosis based on clinical signs, itching and secondary skin infections are also common indicators of environmental allergies. For this reason, it’s difficult to tell by behavior alone what your dog is allergic to. However, food allergies are significantly less common than environmental allergies, like those to dust or pollen.

“Environmental allergy is so much more common, [by] leaps and bounds,” said Dr. Kennis. “[I see] hundreds of patients with environmental allergies for every one that I see with true food allergy.”

When should I bring my dog to the veterinarian for a food allergy?

If your dog won’t stop scratching themselves, if you notice changes to their skin—such as redness worsening into raw spots or lesions—or if you observe other clinical signs like lack of energy and digestive upset, then it’s time for a trip to the vet.

The vet will likely start your visit by asking questions about your dog’s overall health. Considering the context in which clinical signs appear will be useful in making the right diagnosis. “History means everything to me,” Dr. Kennis said.

They’ll also examine your dog to determine the cause of their clinical signs. If there’s a secondary infection, they would examine cell samples from the infected wound under a microscope to see if bacteria or yeast overgrowth is the culprit, Dr. Kennis said. Depending on what they find, they’ll likely prescribe a topical therapy, such as a shampoo containing the disinfectant chlorhexidine, to treat the secondary infection. 

A light brown dog wearing a red collar licks their paw tenderly on a white formica platform.

How do I diagnose my dog’s food allergy?

The only accurate way to diagnose a dog’s specific food allergy is through an elimination diet. Though this can be a challenge, it is reliable.

During an elimination diet, you feed your dog something they’ve never eaten before. “If they’ve never eaten it, they cannot be allergic to it,” Dr. Kennis said. The body develops an immune response to proteins that it has already identified as harmful—and it cannot have such a response to a protein it’s never encountered. A food that your dog has never eaten before is called a novel protein.

The test diet may also be a hydrolyzed protein, which are proteins that have been broken down into smaller components “because smaller proteins are less likely to be allergenic,” Dr. Kennis said. Hydrolyzed diets are also more strictly regulated, so cross-contamination isn’t a risk. These include hydrolyzed chicken, fish, beef, and soy.

An elimination test diet usually lasts eight weeks (though some last as long as 12), during which you feed your dog that novel protein or hydrolyzed diet and nothing else—no dog treats, no scraps, not even flavored flea, tick, or heartworm medications—because they could interfere with the test. Owners must also ensure that their dog doesn’t sniff out other food sources on their own, such as the cat’s food bowl or the garbage, and that no one (for example, young children) feeds them extras.

Dr. Kennis acknowledged how difficult it can be for dog owners to stick to the elimination test diet. “We associate giving treats and feeding our pets with love,” he said. “For some of our clients, feeding a diet that restricted is sometimes emotionally challenging for them.” For that reason, he doesn’t suggest the rigorous elimination diet unless he’s convinced a patient is likely to be food-allergic. But, if your vet recommends an elimination diet, it’s crucial to follow it so you can figure out what’s bothering your dog.

Once the elimination test diet ends, the vet may start a challenge diet, in which the dog eats their original diet once more to prove once and for all that a food allergy was the cause of all these clinical signs.

What should I feed my food-allergic dog?

As Dr. Kennis said, once your dog has a food allergy diagnosis, you can simply stop feeding them the offending allergen. But it can be trickier than expected to avoid this food depending on your dog’s diet.

Some ultra-processed foods blend more than one protein without explicitly naming each one in the list of ingredients. Cross-contamination is a risk, too. Finding a food that guarantees a single source of protein with zero cross contamination is one way to address this risk.

Is The Farmer’s Dog good for dogs with food allergies?

Yes—by making it easier to avoid known allergens, The Farmer’s Dog can help you navigate your dog’s allergies. What allergy-prone dogs eat can have an outsized effect on their overall well-being. And finding a food free from allergens or undesirable ingredients can be difficult when many pet foods have ingredient lists that are long, or worse, incomplete. 

Highly processed dog foods may contain trace amounts of ingredients that aren’t listed on the label, but can trigger a dog’s allergies. One study of commercial, over-the-counter highly processed dog food found that unlisted ingredients appeared in 13 out of 14 brands tested.

Food from The Farmer’s Dog can deliver peace of mind, both in terms of finding a food that works for a dog with allergies as well as knowing there will be no surprise flare-ups from mislabling. And, our strict safety controls are designed to prevent allergen carryover and cross-contamination. This means you know exactly what’s going in your dog’s bowl so you can avoid what they can’t eat.

Navigating treatment for your dog’s food allergies can feel like an ordeal, but your vet will be your top partner through the challenges. You and your pal will come out the other side with a better understanding of their health needs, and a brand new diet that works great for them.

A brown dog with white paws eats fresh food from a clear bowl on a green rug in a cheery kitchen.

Frequently asked questions about dog food allergies

What is the best food for a dog with allergies?

The best food for a dog with food allergies is one that contains none of the protein the dog is allergic to, and can guarantee zero cross-contamination. The Farmer’s Dog has strict safety controls designed to prevent allergen carryover and cross-contamination.

Are there food allergy tests for dogs?

Unfortunately, there are no skin and blood tests to accurately identify food allergies. While blood tests can provide some allergy results, the correlation is unreliable. The only reliable way to diagnose a food allergy is through an elimination test diet.

Can changing my dog’s food help with their allergies?

Yes, changing your dog’s food can help with their food allergies. In an elimination test diet, you can feed them a novel protein—a food they’ve never eaten before—a hydrolyzed diet, or a single-protein food with zero cross-contamination.

How long does it take for dog food allergies to clear up after a diet change?

It usually takes about eight weeks on an elimination diet for the signs of an allergic reaction to food to clear up.

Is grain-free dog food better for allergic dogs?

Grain is typically not an issue when it comes to treating food allergies, as animal and soy protein are more common allergens. Grain-free food would only benefit a dog who specifically has a grain allergy or sensitivity.

The post How to Help a Dog With Food Allergies appeared first on The Farmer’s Dog - Digest.


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