Nut Allergies in Dogs

Canines who develop allergies to foods such as nuts can experience itchy and swollen skin that can be quite uncomfortable. They also tend to develop chronic conditions caused by the body’s reaction to the histamine, such as wheezing, ear infections, and gas. An allergy is a response of the immune system to a protein that it sees as a threat, in this case, some form of nuts in the diet of the dog. In order to reliably determine which allergen is affecting your pet, an elimination diet is usually utilized. This diagnostic method can be time-consuming, but is the most effective manner to deduce which ingredient is causing the reaction. Although food allergies often trigger anaphylactic shock in humans, it is somewhat rarer in canines.

A nut allergy is an over-reaction of your dog's immune system to an unwelcome protein that is present in tree nuts or peanuts present in their diet.

The redness and bumps characteristic of food allergies in canines are often found under the front legs, between the toes, or clustered around the face and groin. 

• Bald patches
• Chronic ear infections
• Chronic gas
• Chronically inflamed feet
• Coughing 
• Diarrhea
• Face rubbing
• Head shaking
• Hives
• Obsessive licking
• Paw biting
• Poor puppy or adolescent growth 
• Skin infections
• Skin rashes
• Vomiting
• Wheezing

Types

Nut allergies can refer either to tree nuts or to peanuts, which are actually in the legume family: 

Tree Nuts - Tree nuts would include nuts such as walnut, cashew, pistachio, and almond. Many nuts in this category can cause other life-threatening disorders and should be avoided. Walnuts, hickory nuts, and pecans can harbor a mold that contains tremorgenic mycotoxins which can cause dangerous seizures in relatively small amounts, macadamia nuts contain an unknown neurotoxin, and black walnuts contain the toxin juglone. 

Peanuts - Although their high fat content can cause pancreatitis if given too frequently, peanuts are a relatively safe occasional snack for dogs, usually offered in the form of peanut butter. It is important to check the ingredient label for sugar and sodium levels, as well as to ensure that the ingredient xylitol is absent as xylitol can cause a drop in blood sugars in dogs that is often fatal.

Food allergy - A food allergy is a response of the canine’s immune system to defend itself against an amino acid that it perceives to be a threat. Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but some foods, such as beef, dairy, chicken, and eggs tend to cause allergies in canines more often than others. An allergic reaction doesn’t happen the first time an individual is exposed to the allergen but rather after repeated exposures. 

Food intolerance -  Unlike an actual food allergy, a food intolerance does not involve the patient’s immune system. Intolerance to a food type is more likely to cause digestive symptoms than allergic responses do, and skin conditions may be less noticeable. Additional signs, such as gurgling sounds from the digestive system or changes in the consistency or color of the animals stools are common with a food intolerance. A food intolerance is often an indicator that an allergy is in the process of developing.

The symptoms of an allergic reaction will prompt your veterinarian to collect skin scrapings from any affected areas to evaluate the skin cells for nuisances like mites, yeast infections, or disease. When these are not found on the dermal cells, then a food allergy may be suspected. An elimination diet is usually implemented to confirm the initial diagnosis, which involves changing the dog's food to either a diet of unseasoned human food or reduced ingredient commercial food.  

Novel ingredients are traditionally employed during an elimination diet, meaning that proteins and carbohydrates that are not common in the dog’s current food will replace their current diet. All of the ingredients in the current food should be avoided when determining the proper replacement ingredients. If the symptoms are triggered by an allergic reaction, then a properly implemented elimination diet will eventually eradicate the symptoms. During this time, your primary concern is to ensure that your dog does not consume any elements other than the food used for the elimination diet. A single treat with the problem protein can cause the allergy to resurface. Once the symptoms have been abolished, additional ingredients will be slowly added back into the patient’s regimen until the allergen or allergens are defined.

Several weeks can pass before the elimination diet reveals the allergen to blame for the skin conditions, and during this time your pet may still experience lingering symptoms. Antihistamines may be recommended by your veterinarian to ease itching as well as corticosteroids to reduce swelling. Use of these treatments may also mask symptoms that would otherwise be obvious, making it harder to determine which particular ingredient in your dog’s diet is causing the reactions. For this reason, many veterinarians prefer to complete the elimination diet before applying medications designed to ease those symptoms. 

Secondary skin infections are a common occurrence when food allergies are present, and antibiotics may be prescribed to combat these developments. Once the allergen has been positively identified, the initial course of action is the total avoidance of the ingredient. This also means avoiding any toys or treats with the problem proteins as well such as nut-flavored chews and toys. Other supplements, such as Omega-3 oils and probiotics, are often suggested after the elimination diet is completed to further support the immune system. This will assist your canine’s body to handle any accidental exposure to allergens and to prevent the cultivation of new allergies.

Although anaphylactic shock is uncommon with canine food allergies, it is not unheard of and can be fatal in a short amount of time. Keep your dog calm and transport them to the nearest veterinarian if the following symptoms develop:

• Cold limbs
• Coma
• Difficulty breathing
• Elevated heart rate
• Excessive drooling
• Low blood pressure
• Pale gums
• Seizures
• Sudden diarrhea
• Sudden vomiting

If your canine family member has a more critical response to an allergen like nuts,  your veterinarian will probably write a prescription for an EpiPen, which you will be instructed to administer if your pet has a life-threatening response to an allergen in the future. Use of an EpiPen should always be followed by a trip to the emergency room, even if your dog appears to have fully recovered from the episode. Epinephrine is a short-acting drug, and the allergic reaction has been known to resume without proper medical treatment.