Help With Food Allergies In Dogs

Food allergies in dogs are among the most common canine allergies along with flea allergies and atopy in dogs (a seasonal allergy to pollens and dusts in the environment). Dog food allergies most typically cause skin, ear and foot inflammation and irritation. While many people might believe that gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are common symptoms of food allergies in dogs, they actually are not as frequent. If your dog is itchy all the time and you are using flea control, you need to consider food allergy in dogs as a cause, especially if the itch is a problem throughout the year.

Diagnosing Dog Food Allergies

It’s not easy to diagnose a dogs food allergies, because allergy testing with injectable allergies doesn’t always give accurate results. The only way to do it is with a food trial, also called the elimination diet, and this takes persistence and commitment from a dog’s owner. The diet must be fed exclusively for 8 to 12 weeks, before a food can be added or removed from the ‘safe’ list of ingredients, which is why it is so difficult to perform this type of trial.

If you are thinking that your dog’s itch can’t be a dog food allergy related because he has eaten the same kibble for many years, then think again. Food allergies and food intolerance in dogs can develop over many years of being exposed to the same ingredient, so your dog may indeed have this problem.

Changing Dog Foods

Another common comment by dog owners is that they have changed their dog’s food, but it hasn’t made any difference to his skin, therefore it is not a dog food allergy.

However, most people think that changing the dog food will perform miracles overnight, when in fact it can take 8 to 12 weeks to completely be rid of any dog food allergy symptoms.

Also, foods dogs are allergic to most often are proteins, such as beef, chicken, eggs and milk. Gluten allergies in dogs, from wheat and rice, are actually more rare than first thought – celiac disease in dogs is extremely rare. And these ingredients are found in most brands of dog food, so just changing brands isn’t likely to have much of an effect.

When dealing with dogs with food allergies, you really must thoroughly investigate the dog food ingredients list.

The Elimination Diet

To perform a food trial effectively, you need to find something that has never been a part of your dog’s diet. This way, he can’t possibly be sensitive to it. There are commercial hypoallergenic dog food available, or you may prefer to make up your own home made recipe for your pup with guidance from your vet.

Now comes the tricky part. This new food is the only thing your dog gets to eat for at least 8 weeks. This isn’t easy, especially if you have more than one pet. However, if their skin improves, and they are more comfortable, you know that something they are eating is causing the itching and that you are dealing with dog allergies to food. At this point, you can introduce the regular parts of his diet one ingredient at a time to figure out exactly what he is allergic to.

During the first week or two of the food trial you may want to treat the dog itching symptoms to keep them more comfortable since it will take several weeks before you notice a big difference in the allergy symptoms. Try bathing with a colloidal oatmeal shampoo for dogs, or use other natural dog itching remedies, as these are gentle on your dog’s body.

Research has indicated that fewer than one in five people follow through on a food trial for their dog to determine any canine food allergies. It’s worth doing: if you can identify what your dog is allergic to, and keep it out of his diet, you can manage dog itchy skin without resorting to medication. That’s worth it!

Sources: British Veterinary Association

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