Rosemary Allergies in Dogs

Rosemary is an herb many people cook with for themselves and, with increasing popularity, their dog. When used in small amounts, it is extremely beneficial for your dog; when used in excess, it can cause your dog to experience negative side effects. An allergic reaction to rosemary can range from mild, like itchy skin, to severe, like seizures. While the diagnostic process may take longer than expected, once properly diagnosed, treatment of rosemary allergy is relatively easy. Once the culprit is removed from your dog’s food, he should recover without a problem.

Rosemary has many beneficial qualities to humans and dogs leading it to be an ingredient in many dog foods. However, it may not be suitable for all dogs. If you believe your dog is sensitive to rosemary, discuss it with your veterinarian.

Symptoms may include:

• Itchy skin
• Dry, flaky skin
• Hair loss
• Bumps/rash
• Chronic ear infections
• Obsessive licking/chewing of feet
• Inflamed, red paw pads
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Seizures 

Types

Rosemary is also known by the name of anthos. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family with the scientific name of Rosemarinus officinalis. Rosemary is used as a preservative in many dog foods thanks to its antimicrobial properties. It is also a natural antioxidant and a promoter of heart health.

Since rosemary has so many natural beneficial qualities, it can be found in numerous products. When used in small amounts, it is safe for most dogs. However, when it is used in excess, it can lead to negative side effects such as seizures. 

If your dog has allergies, it is his body’s life source trying to protect itself. While the item in question is actually harmless, the body doesn’t recognize it as such and mounts a protective response that isn’t needed. If your dog has an allergy to rosemary, his body will produce an unneeded immune response against the rosemary ingredient. This allergic response may develop quickly or may develop over a period of years. Many food-related allergies happen after the dog suffers from an infection involving the stomach or intestines or any imbalance of the natural flora.

When you first arrive at the veterinary clinic, the veterinarian will give your dog a thorough exam so she can note any and all symptoms your dog is experiencing. She will also take his vitals and a history from you to try and discover the cause of his symptoms. If your dog has watery eyes, the veterinarian may perform several diagnostic tests to find the cause. For example, she may perform fluorescein staining to check for a scratch or ulcer on the eye. If your dog’s skin is irritated and the veterinarian is unsure of the cause, she may take a skin scraping to rule out external parasites or bacterial overgrowth. 

Blood work will be performed to give the veterinarian an idea of how your dog’s internal organs are functioning. A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel will provide the veterinarian with needed information for proper assessment. The blood work results will show any elevations of white blood cells and whether it is associated with an allergic response or not. 

Bicom testing is one method of determining a rosemary allergy in your dog. Bicom testing is also known as bioresonance. Not all veterinarians offer this type of testing; you can discuss it with the clinical team to see if they feel it could be a good diagnostic tool for your pet’s situation. With Bicom testing, the veterinarian takes a blood sample from your dog and tests different food items and substances to seethe response to the allergen. If the response is ‘bad’, the item being tested causes your dog’s blood wavelength to become stressed. Stressed blood leads to a stressed body and therefore an allergic reaction. If the response is ‘good’, then the item puts out a wavelength that is compatible with your dog’s blood which means no adverse reactions should occur. If it is ‘neutral’, the item being tested does not put out a wavelength that alters that of your dog and therefore is also safe to give him. If it is not good for your dog, then you simply remove that food from his diet and the allergic symptoms should stop. 

A dietary trial is the most frequently used method to determine an allergy. In a dietary trial, you have to feed your dog a novel diet, meaning you feed him a diet without any rosemary whatsoever for at least 90 days. During this trial, you cannot give any type of treats or flavored medication containing rosemary as it can affect the results. After the 90 days, if resolution of the allergic signs occurs, you then must reintroduce rosemary to his diet. If a relapse in allergy symptoms occurs once the rosemary is reintroduced, then you know the source.

The veterinarian may prescribe a medication to help with the itching your dog may be suffering from. Taken short term, the medication will help your dog stop scratching long enough for the skin to heal as the rosemary is leaving his system. However, you do not want your dog to have to be on a medication long-term, it is only masking the symptom or itching, not curing it at the cause. If you do not remove the source of the itching, you will have to continue to give the prescription, and possibly continuously increase the dose as time goes on. 

The symptoms your dog is experiencing will determine his course of treatment. If your dog has itchy skin, the veterinarian may recommend a bath with mild shampoo to offer him some relief. If your dog has an ear infection, the veterinarian may prescribe an ear cleaner and medication.

Strict control of the diet is the best treatment of a rosemary related allergies. It can be a long, discouraging process, but once you discover the source of allergen and are able to successfully remove it from his diet, you and your dog will both be better off. If the allergen remains in your dog’s diet, it will continue to weaken his immune system over time. This leads to chronic issues or secondary infections developing which may lead to further complications with your pet’s health.

When you remove rosemary from your dog’s diet, his prognosis of a full recovery is good. When the allergen is no longer in your dog’s system, all his symptoms should stop and he should return to normal. Chronic infections and skin irritations will heal and not occur again as long as you keep rosemary out of his diet. His immune system will stop over-reacting and return to its former strength. This will help your dog fight off actual threats instead of false ones.

While the overall process can be discouraging, once your dog is diagnosed with a rosemary allergy it is an easy fix. Once it is out of his system, it means no more itchy skin and no more constant scratching to keep both of you up at night.