Chicken is a popular ingredient in many types of dog food. Delicious, packed full of protein and lean — so it’s relatively low in calories — this tender white meat is also a tasty treat when fed in small portions to our pets.

However, there’s a potential problem for many dogs. Many common food allergens are in proteins, and with chicken such a high source of protein, a chicken allergy in dogs is far from rare.

A chicken allergy in dogs, just like other food allergies — which can include other types of poultry, beef, wheat and dairy — can cause distressing skin conditions in dogs as well as chronic disorders such as indigestion or acid reflux, ear infections, and breathing difficulties. 

If you suspect your dog has a chicken allergy, you’ll no doubt have a few questions on your mind. Firstly, ‘is my dog allergic to chicken’? And, if your pet definitely is, you’re also probably thinking, ‘my dog is allergic to chicken, so what can I feed him?’

Let’s take a closer look at chicken and poultry allergies in dogs, and how to manage the issue if your pet has a problem.

If you suspect your dog is allergic to chicken, you’ll notice him or her displaying one or more common symptoms. Typical dog chicken allergy symptoms can occur with other types of food allergy, so be watchful of what your dog eats. If you’re not 100% certain that the allergy has been triggered because of chicken, keep a food diary to record what your dog has eaten, and how he or she reacts.

If there’s a consistently negative reaction after eating chicken, there’s a good chance that, yes, your dog has a chicken allergy. Allergies to food usually occur in adult dogs, over the age of three. There are exceptions, and a food allergy can have a detrimental effect on a young dog's growth if not addressed. Skin reactions are usually more concentrated around the face, groin, toes, and under the front legs.

With a dog, chicken allergy symptoms can include:

Chicken — This is the most common poultry ingredient in dog foods and is also the most likely to induce allergies in dogs.

Duck — Often used as an alternative poultry for those dogs with chicken or turkey sensitivities as it has a lower incidence of allergic reactions.

Turkey — Turkey is sometimes used as an inexpensive alternative to chicken. Although it is less allergenic than chicken, allergies are somewhat more widespread to turkey than to the more exotic choices.

On a rarer scale, dogs may consume other avian-based meals that include protein. Although much less frequent, dogs can develop an allergy to goose, pheasant, quail, squab and even ostrich.

What actually causes a chicken allergy in dogs? An allergy to food is a self-defense response by the immune system to an amino acid that it perceives as a threat.

An allergic reaction doesn’t happen the first time an individual is exposed to the allergen as the immune system has to encounter the protein more than once for enough enterocytes to recognize it as an invader.

If your pet is showing an intolerance to a particular food, it may indicate that an allergy is in the process of developing. Any individual ingredient can cause an allergic reaction, but certain foods, including chicken, dairy, beef, and egg products (which can be specific to egg yolks or egg whites, or both), tend to induce canine allergies more often than others.

Food intolerance isn’t the same as a food allergy; the reactions in food intolerance are not caused by histamine.

Additional symptoms, including changes in the consistency or color of the stools, gurgling sounds from the digestive system, and abdominal pain, are common with a food intolerance. Food intolerance, although different from an allergy, can lead to allergies as the intolerance may cause the food to be improperly broken down by the digestive system.

‘Is my dog allergic to chicken?’ If your pup has shown some negative reactions after eating chicken — likely displaying some of the common symptoms we listed above – there’s a high chance he or she could have a chicken allergy. But don’t self-diagnose; always seek the advice of a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and confirmation.

Your veterinarian will follow a process to reach a diagnosis. As the signs of a chicken allergy in dogs show up mostly on the skin, your veterinarian will perform a cutaneous cytology to diagnose the issue.

Cutaneous cytology is a procedure in which the affected skin cells are collected and then examined microscopically for signs of disease, yeast infections, or mites. Your veterinarian may suggest the most common diagnostic tool for confirming and later pinpointing food allergies, which is an elimination diet.

Although either poultry or egg allergies often exist separately, it may be wise to remove egg products during an elimination diet as well if an allergy to poultry is suspected, as the proteins can be similar.

Properly implemented, an elimination diet should cause the signs to disappear after several weeks, at which point additional ingredients will be included into the canine’s diet one at a time until the allergen is uncovered.

Ensuring that your dog does not consume anything other than the food used for the elimination diet is a primary concern during this diagnostic treatment. A single treat or leftover with the offending protein can cause the allergy to resurface. You should be aware that poultry proteins can be found in pet related items as diverse as:

During the several weeks that are often required before the elimination diet can reveal the allergen, your pet may continue to experience some symptoms. Corticosteroids and antihistamines can sometimes reduce swelling and control itching, however, many veterinarians prefer to complete the elimination diet before recommending symptomatic treatment.

This is because the use of these remedies can also make it harder to determine which component in your dog’s food is causing the allergic reactions by masking visible signs. Once the allergen has been determined, the initial course of action is the removal of the ingredient from the dog’s diet.

Supplements, such as Omega-3 oils and probiotics, are often recommended to support the immune system and to protect the skin itself. The additions of these supplements are intended to assist your dog’s body in handling any accidental exposure to allergens as well as to prevent the cultivation of new allergies.

Secondary skin infections are also common with skin allergies and antibiotics may be prescribed to clear these infections. Although allergies to foods are not strictly curable, signs generally disappear with removal of the offending ingredient from their diet. Relapses can occur from even small exposures to the allergen, so it is important that you continue to be vigilant for the component in ingredient lists.

Allergic responses to one type of food will often indicate a predisposition to developing an allergy to the components of the replacement diet as well over time.

Many types of proteins are suitable as a replacement to chicken and other types of poultry in the patient’s diet. Switching your dog to a regular type of food that doesn’t have chicken as an ingredient is an obvious and a good starting point. Wag! has selected some of the best dog food without chicken here.

If your dog has been diagnosed with a chicken allergy, alternative protein sources for your pet could include one or more of the following: