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Food Allergies in Dogs
Written By Wag! Staff
Published: 08/19/2016Updated: 09/22/2024
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What are Food Allergies?
Whether you’ve a super cuddly Labrador Retriever or an energetic Border Collie, choosing the best dog food for your pet is a must. A product with the right nutritional content will keep your dog as happy and healthy as possible.
But what happens if they become hypersensitive to a certain food type or brand? Food allergies in dogs are surprisingly common, accounting for around ten percent of allergies in dogs.
Read on for the signs and symptoms of food allergies in dogs and discover what can cause a sudden immune response, even if your pet has been on the same diet for years.
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Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs
Food allergies in dogs can develop at any age, but the majority of dogs acquire food allergies before the age of three. Repeat exposure to allergens is needed before the immune system reacts. A puppy’s developing immune system can struggle to create the same allergic responses as older dogs, so signs are not always obvious in the younger dog.
When they do occur, symptoms of food allergies in dogs include:
When they do occur, symptoms of food allergies in dogs include:
- Hair loss and bald patches
- Chronic ear infections and inflammation
- Chronic gas
- Coughing
- Chronically inflamed feet
- Diarrhea
- Face rubbing
- Head shaking
- Hives
- Obsessive licking due to itchiness
- Paw biting
- Poor puppy or adolescent growth
- Skin infections
- Skin rashes
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
Types of food allergies in dogs
Food allergy — An allergy to food is an attempt by the body’s immune system to defend itself against a perceived threat. An allergic reaction doesn’t happen the first time a dog is exposed to the allergen but rather after repeated exposures.
Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but foods such as beef, dairy, chicken, and eggs tend to cause allergies in canines more often than others.
Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but foods such as beef, dairy, chicken, and eggs tend to cause allergies in canines more often than others.
Food intolerance — While a food allergy is the body’s immune system reacting to what it perceives as a threat, food intolerance has no IgE involvement and signs are more mild. An intolerance to a food type is more likely to cause a gastrointestinal response than allergies do.
Additional symptoms, such as a change in the consistency or color of the stools and gurgling sounds from the digestive system, are common with a food intolerance.
Additional symptoms, such as a change in the consistency or color of the stools and gurgling sounds from the digestive system, are common with a food intolerance.
Causes of Food Allergies in Dogs
Food allergies in dogs are unpleasant, leading pet owners to look up all kinds of alternative dining options. From finding the best plant-based dog food for pets who have a reaction to meat proteins such as chicken, beef and lamb to researching the best grain-free dog food that's free of wheat or gluten, there's no much we wouldn't do for our pets.
But, what's the cause of common food allergies in dogs other than 'it's because of food proteins'?
Put simply, the immune system of dogs sometimes mistakenly believes proteins to be 'harmful' and a defensive response is triggered. As 60-70 percent of a dog's immune system cells reside in the digestive system, food can cause a symptomatic response if it's identified as a foreign invader.
All the immune system is doing on a basic level is attempting to protect the animal. But unfortunately, this can be problematic for both pet and owner.
The process of digestion is designed to break down our foods into their smallest parts, which are known as amino acids. These amino acids are then absorbed by gut cells called enterocytes. When proteins aren't properly broken down during digestion, these enterocytes see them as intruders and attack. Over time, the response of these cells becomes more aggressive and symptoms intensify.
As well as proteins and complex carbohydrates, additives can also be responsible. That's why it's so important to not just grab any dog food and hope for the best. Learn how to read a dog food label and avoid potential triggers for your dog.
Put simply, the immune system of dogs sometimes mistakenly believes proteins to be 'harmful' and a defensive response is triggered. As 60-70 percent of a dog's immune system cells reside in the digestive system, food can cause a symptomatic response if it's identified as a foreign invader.
All the immune system is doing on a basic level is attempting to protect the animal. But unfortunately, this can be problematic for both pet and owner.
The process of digestion is designed to break down our foods into their smallest parts, which are known as amino acids. These amino acids are then absorbed by gut cells called enterocytes. When proteins aren't properly broken down during digestion, these enterocytes see them as intruders and attack. Over time, the response of these cells becomes more aggressive and symptoms intensify.
As well as proteins and complex carbohydrates, additives can also be responsible. That's why it's so important to not just grab any dog food and hope for the best. Learn how to read a dog food label and avoid potential triggers for your dog.
Diagnosis of Food Allergies in Dogs
When a dog is itchy or has skin disease,, a vet should evaluate the skin, to look for problems such as mites, yeast infections, or signs of disease.
If these are not detected, a food allergy may be suspected. Food allergy dermatitis in dogs is relatively common but eliminating other conditions is wise to ensure nothing else is going on.
The Importance of an Elimination Diet
To confirm food allergies in dogs, an elimination diet is usually implemented. This involves changing the dog’s food to either a reduced ingredient commercial food, a hydrolysed diet or a diet of bland human food such as boiled protein and a simple carbohydrate like rice. Novel ingredients, which are proteins and carbohydrates that are not common in the dog’s current diet, are generally used for an elimination diet. All the ingredients in your dog’s current food should be avoided when determining the proper replacement of food. This includes treats and dental sticks.
In many cases, it might be the entire food family that your pet is reacting to, so switching from a chicken diet to a mammalian source such as rabbit may have a better result than switching to another avian species like duck.
Make sure when you’re researching other food-based products such as the best dental chews for dogs, you’re also abiding by the rules of an elimination diet so that you can really see what’s causing issues for your pet.
If symptoms of food allergies in dogs are indeed coming from a food source, a properly implemented elimination diet will cause them to cease. It can take 8 weeks to see the full effect. It is worth noting that if the dog has a secondary skin infection, they'll continue to be itchy until this has been effectively treated.
During this time, it’s essential to ensure your dog does not ingest anything other than the food used for the elimination diet. A single treat with the allergen can cause the allergy to resurface.
During this time, it’s essential to ensure your dog does not ingest anything other than the food used for the elimination diet. A single treat with the allergen can cause the allergy to resurface.
Sources to avoid include:
- Cow hooves
- Flavored medications (including heartworm preventives) or supplements
- Flavored plastic toys
- Flavored toothpastes
- Pigs’ ears
- Rawhides
- Treats
How Long Does an Elimination Diet Take?
Traditionally, an elimination diet will need to be fed for around 8-12 weeks to determine the cause of your dog's food allergy. However, a 2021 study showed that it may be possible to shorten the length of this diet trial period by administering prednisolone during the first 2-3 weeks of the trial.
During the study, 39 dogs received prednisolone for the first 2-3 weeks of an elimination diet. Medications were then discontinued for 2 weeks before the dogs were then fed their original diet.
If they relapsed, prednisolone was given for an additional week. Of the 21 dogs determined to have food allergies, 14 of them did not relapse after the medication was stopped, while six dogs had a single relapse and one dog relapsed twice.
So while it's still time-consuming to feed an elimination diet, it may be possible to speed up the process and reach an accurate diagnosis in a much shorter time frame.
Treatment of Food Allergies in Dogs
It can be disheartening to see your pet suffer. But the good news is, a food allergy in dogs can be monitored and treated. As the elimination diet can take several weeks to reveal the offending allergen, you might need to tackle the existing symptoms head on.
Corticosteroids may be recommended by your veterinarian to reduce swelling and itching, along with antibiotics and/or a medicated wash, to treat any secondary infections.
Once the allergen has been identified, the initial course of action is avoidance of the ingredient. Other supplements, such as Nordic Naturals Fish Oil for dogs and probiotics, may also be recommended after the elimination diet is completed to support the immune system and strengthen the skin barrier.
This will help your dog to handle any accidental exposure to allergens and to prevent the cultivation of new allergies. Of course, supplements should not include the allergen, or the symptoms of food allergies in dogs might return.
Once the allergen has been identified, the initial course of action is avoidance of the ingredient. Other supplements, such as Nordic Naturals Fish Oil for dogs and probiotics, may also be recommended after the elimination diet is completed to support the immune system and strengthen the skin barrier.
This will help your dog to handle any accidental exposure to allergens and to prevent the cultivation of new allergies. Of course, supplements should not include the allergen, or the symptoms of food allergies in dogs might return.
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Recovery of Food Allergies in Dogs
Once a dog’s immune system has responded badly to an allergen and created antibodies, that allergen will usually need to be avoided for life. But it’s not all negative news. With so many AAFCO recommended dog foods on the market, you can find a brand that meets your pet’s nutritional needs.
You can even research the best food for fussy eaters and identify a food type that does not contain particular allergens.
You can even research the best food for fussy eaters and identify a food type that does not contain particular allergens.
Unfortunately, if your canine has an allergic response to one type of food, they are more likely to develop an allergy to the ingredients in the replacement diet over time as well.
The approach to combat this situation varies within the veterinary profession, with some vets recommending that your pet remain on a single source of dog food for allergies. Others believe that a steady rotation of three to four novel protein sources is optimal. Many will recommend a hydrolysed diet, containing broken down proteins.
The approach to combat this situation varies within the veterinary profession, with some vets recommending that your pet remain on a single source of dog food for allergies. Others believe that a steady rotation of three to four novel protein sources is optimal. Many will recommend a hydrolysed diet, containing broken down proteins.
Food allergies in dogs can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog is at risk of food allergies, start searching for pet insurance today. Wag!’s pet insurance comparison tool lets you compare plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the best plan for your pet in minutes.
Food Allergies Average Cost
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Average Cost
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Top
Food Allergies Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
miniature poodle
Jezabel
8 Years
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Hives
Rash
Chewing
Myself and my dog moved from the US to the UK nearly 2 months ago and ever since we’ve been here she has been having health issues. Before she was shipped she was perfectly healthy and got her health certifications to fly internationally. The first thing I noticed was every time we went on walks she would chew on grass which I’ve never seen her do before. Then about two weeks ago she had bloody diarrhea in the middle of the night. I restricted food for one day and then put her on a boiled chicken, sweet potato, and rice diet for 2 days and her diarrhea improved. After that I put her back on her kibble but kept mixing it with rice/(cooked)sweet potato. I noticed that she had bumps all over and she was chewing obsessively and licking her paws and that her rib cage felt bonier even though she was eating extra calories. She has also been vomiting yellow bile on occasion. My instincts are telling me it may be an allergy to chicken because although she is on a premium dog food it has 3 different forms of chicken in the ingredients, and her treats have chicken too. The food she was on previously was salmon and sweet potato, and lamb and rice as a puppy so she’s never been exposed to it until now. Her vet didn’t seem to be concerned with the bloody diarrhea since it had stopped (which may only be from adding rice to her diet) and was more concerned with what was causing the skin issues so she gave her a topical parasite treatment (advantage) and a steroid injection to hopefully calm the chewing. She stopped chewing for one day but seems to be chewing more than ever and now has sores and thinning hair. She suggested waiting to see if she improved, and then continue with trial and error, but I’m wondering if I can just switch her back to a sweet potato and salmon food and cut out all chicken now in case it could be something as simple as a food allergy. I know she is exposed to a lot of different things environmentally that she could be reacting to but thought of feeding her something everyday that could be causing this reaction is very upsetting.
July 23, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
3 Recommendations
It seems unlikely that Jezabel developed a food allergy when she moved, but more likely that she might be having an environmental allergy problem to something in her new environment. There are many good allergy medications for dogs, including Apoquel and CADI injections, that you can discuss with your veterinarian to see if one of those medications may help her. In the meantime, feeding her a sweet potato and salmon diet should not hurt her.
July 23, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
Labrador Mix
TOMAS
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Hives
my dog is 8 years old and 2 months ago or 3 started with food allergy problems and I knew it because minutes later to eat, hives started to appear on his legs, face, everywhere, he started to liking, run as crazy. we change his food to hipoallergenic(nupec) for an entire month 1/2 and nothing change, we checked again fleas, deaworm, citology was made, probiotics.....etc and is kind of crazy he can´t eat meat, toast, crackers, dog food...... just veggies he is always with hives. obviosly he needs meds inyected and sometimes pills, his problem is severe
Food Allergies Average Cost
From 577 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$1,500
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