Grain Free Allergies in Dogs

Just as some people have an allergy to grains, so do some dogs. This leads some owners to believe a ‘grain-free’ food is the best thing they can feed to their pet. However, when some people switch over, their dog develops symptoms of allergies or digestive upset. Not many owners will link it to the food since they believe the new food is the best thing they can possibly give to their dog. In reality, some dogs need grains in their diets in order to develop properly and to be able to absorb all the nutrients in their food. If you are feeding your dog a grain free diet and he doesn’t seem well, consult with your veterinarian. As soon as you take your dog off the grain free diet, he should recover without a problem.

‘Grain-free’ is a type of food being produced for our dogs. While everyone wants the best for their dog and wants to give them the best diet out there, some dogs actually need grains in their diet in order to thrive. If you are considering changing your dog’s food, discuss it with your veterinarian first.

Symptoms of an allergy to grain free foods can vary from dog to dog. Symptoms may include

• Rashes
• Hot spots
• Loss of fur
• Skin inflammation
• Chronic ear infections
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea/loose stools

Types

There are all sorts of ‘grain-free’ dog foods out there available for purchase. In recent years, grain-free diets have gained popularity. While grain-free food may be a diet your dog needs, be sure to read the rest of the ingredient label. Not all grain-free foods are created equal. When selecting a food you must also consider the protein source. While the food is grain-free, other ingredients may cause allergies in your dog, such as beef or chicken, the two most common protein-source allergens in dogs.

Grain free dog food may be free of harmful grains, but are instead full of harmful starches. Starch holds the dog food together. The starches are complex carbohydrates that the body turns into sugar. And what likes sugar? Yeast. This is one of the major causes of the allergy symptoms and chronic yeasty ear infections. 

If your dog has allergies, it is his body’s way of protecting itself from something mistaken harm. While the item in question is actually harmless, the body doesn’t recognize it as such. The body finds it dangerous and mounts a protective response to the threat. Your dog’s body produces an immune response to the grain free diet which may develop quickly, or after a period of years. Many food-related allergies happen after the dog suffers from an infection involving the stomach or intestines.

When you first arrive at the veterinarian’s office, she will begin with a physical examination of your dog,  and will verify his  vital signs. The veterinarian will also discuss the symptoms your dog is experiencing, taking note of the history behind them. If your dog is vomiting at the clinic, the veterinarian will inspect the contents for any clues to the cause. If your dog is having diarrhea, the veterinarian will perform a fecal test to rule out any internal parasite or bacterial overgrowth. 

If your dog is experiencing infection or soreness of the ears, an ear cytology will be performed. The veterinarian takes a sample of the buildup in your dog’s ears and looks at it under the microscope. This will allow the veterinarian to identify what bacteria or yeast is growing in the ears, if any. If your dog has a skin condition, a skin scraping may be taken to rule out bacteria or external parasites. 

Blood work will be performed to give the veterinarian a broad look as to how the internal organs are functioning. A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel will provide the veterinarian with needed information for proper assessment. A packed cell volume (PCV) may also be performed to determine hydration status. If your veterinarian feels it is necessary, she may also perform a urinalysis for further evaluation of kidney function. 

When it comes to diagnosis of grain free allergies in dogs there are very few diagnostic tests you can run. A dietary trial is the most frequently used method. In a dietary trial, you have to feed your dog a novel diet, meaning you feed him a diet without the grain free aspect whatsoever. You have to feed your dog the novel diet for at least 90 days before you can get a reliable diagnostic. After the 90 days, if resolution of the allergic signs occurs, you then must reintroduce the grain free aspect to his diet. If a relapse in allergy symptoms occurs once the grain free aspect is reintroduced, then you know the source. 

Bicom testing (bioresonance) is another method of determining a food related allergy in your dog. Many holistic veterinarians use the Bicom testing with an extremely high success rate, but other veterinarians may not have experience with it. If you look up Bicom testing, some methods are potentially used to ‘retrain’ the body’s electromagnetic waves to relearn the allergen does not actually pose a threat and should therefore stop producing an allergic response. The veterinarian takes a blood sample from your dog and tests different food items and substances to see if it has a ‘good’, ‘neutral’ or ‘bad’ response.If it is determined that the grain free diet is not good for your dog, then you simply remove that food from his diet and the allergic symptoms should stop. One downside to Bicom testing is that it is unable to provide you with what exactly in the dog food that your dog is allergic to, just that an ingredient within it is not good for your dog.

Strict control of the diet is the best treatment of grain-free related allergies. It can be a long, discouraging process, but once you discover if this is the source of allergen and you are able to successfully remove it from his diet, you and your dog will both be better off. 

Medication to heal and soothe your pet’s skin will be prescribed. In some cases, the veterinarian will suggest bathing your pet with a prescribed shampoo to encourage the reparation of the skin.  Removal of the grain free diet is imperative; If the allergen remains in your dog’s food, it will continue to weaken his immune system over time. This leads to long term and recurring problems like ear infection, chronic diarrhea and secondary skin infection. Many top dog food brands offer wholesome grain dog food for allergies. 

Once the source of the allergen is removed from your dog’s diet, he should make a full recovery without a problem. Since you will be removing the item causing his immune system to over-react, it will be able to return to its full strength and protect him from actual threats, not false ones. Since your dog’s food provides him the nutrients for life, once he receives what he actually needs and not what makes him sick, he will be back to his healthy self with no more scratching or chronic infections. Just because a new diet is out on the market, it does not mean it is the best one for your dog. Talk with your veterinarian about your dog’s diet. Together, you will come up with the best source of nutrients for your dog.