What Are The Best Food Options For A Dog With Food Allergies
In addition to novel foods, i.e. choosing new protein and carbohydrate sources for your dog in an elimination diet, you can also feed them a hydrolyzed diet. A hydrolyzed diet is one made with intact proteins that have been broken down into such small molecules that your dogs immune system cannot recognize them as allergens. Starch or rice also make great sources of carbohydrates for your dogs diet because they rarely cause allergic reactions. Prescription foods and those approved by your veterinarian are preferable to those available over-the-counter. If this all seems overwhelming, consult the experts at Hungry Bark, they can help you choose the best diet for your pup in no time and offer nutritional guidance from a Certified Pet Nutritionist
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Your Dog Never Stops Scratching
One of the most common symptoms of allergies in dogs that pet parents notice is itchy skin.
The severity of the itchiness can vary from quite mild, in which case the skin and haircoat look mostly normal, all the way to nonstop scratching.
In the more severe cases, hair may be missing, and the underlying skin can appear to be red, raw, and inflamed.
Classically, the epicenters of itch include:
Importantly, itchiness of the lower back, specifically near the base of the tail, is a hallmark sign of flea allergies.
Over time, these areas may become hyperpigmented, or dark in color. The skin may become quite odorous and can take on a notably different texture.
Common Causes Of Food Allergies In Dogs
Often in dogs with food sensitivities, proteins from animal or plant-based ingredients in the diet are the cause. Beef, corn, dairy, and wheat are some of the most problematic ingredients.
It may seem counterintuitive, but it can take a long time for symptoms of food allergies to become apparent. Often dog’s appear to ‘suddenly’ become allergic to a food that they have been eating for months.
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What Is Food Allergy
Most people know someone who is allergic to certain foods, such as strawberries or nuts.
“Food allergy is one of the five most common allergies or hypersensitivities known to affect dogs.”
Food allergy is one of the most common allergies or hypersensitivities known to affect dogs. In a pet with an allergy, the immune system overreacts and produces antibodies to substances that it would normally tolerate. In an allergic reaction to a food, antibodies are produced against some part of the food, usually a protein or complex carbohydrate. Since antibody production is required for an allergy to develop, food allergies usually manifest after prolonged exposure to one brand, type, or form of food.
Treatment Of Food Allergies In Dogs
It can take several weeks for the elimination diet to reveal the allergen and during this time your pet may still be experiencing some symptoms. Corticosteroids may be recommended by your veterinarian to reduce swelling as well as antihistamines to calm the itching. Use of these treatments may make it harder to determine which ingredient in your dogs diet is causing the reactions by masking allergic symptoms, so many veterinarians prefer to complete the elimination diet before applying these types of medications. Secondary skin infections are commonly seen with food allergies, and antibiotics may be prescribed to combat this problem.
Once the allergen has been identified, the initial course of action is avoidance of the ingredient. Other supplements, such as Omega-3 oils and probiotics, may be recommended as well after the elimination diet is completed to support the immune system. This will assist your canines body in handle any accidental exposure to allergens and to prevent the cultivation of new allergies.
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Make Ground Beef And Veggies
Brown and crumble 3 lbs of ground beef in a large skillet. Place in a large bowl with the drippings.
Chop, shred, or process all the veggies. My dog is a small dog and prefers the veggies finely shredded in a food processor. You can use a knife or a box grater works too.
In a large pot , briefly saute carrots, broccoli, and sweet potato until just soft for a few minutes on medium. Place into the large bowl. In a large bowl, add the cooked ground beef, warm rice, warm sauteed veggies, and fresh spinach. Mix well with a large spatula.
What To Do If You Suspect Your Dog Is Suffering From Food Allergies
First and foremost, make an appointment to take your dog to your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has a food allergy. Food allergies symptoms can mimic other diseases, so its vitally important that you have your dog checked out by a professional.
Treatment of food allergies in dogs may include medication, topical creams, dietary changes or a combination of any of these three remedies.
In rare cases, a life-threatening allergic reaction may occur and your dog may not be able to breathe. If this happens, call an emergency animal hospital right away.
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Dog Food Elimination Diet
The most reliable way to determine if your dog is allergic to a food item is to conduct an elimination diet. During an elimination diet, feed your dog a new protein and new carbohydrate for 8 weeks. This means the foods have to be something your dog has never eaten before, such as venison and potato, rabbit and pea, fish and potato. Another option is alligator and coconut.
During the 8 weeks of the elimination diet, you cannot give your dog any other foods. No table scraps, no treats, no supplements of any kind. Once youve completed the 8 week elimination diet, you will reintroduce the foods your dog was eating before. If your dog has a reaction or breakout, its a pretty good indication your dog was allergic to that food.
Symptoms Of Allergies In Dogs And How To Treat Them
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Allergies in dogs are difficult to diagnose and treat because there are many causes of allergies in dogs. Join PetMart to learn, understand the risks of allergies in dogs, take precautions and get the right treatment. This is not only a veterinarians job, it also requires the dog owners care and detection.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Wheat Allergies In Dogs
If your dog is happy and healthy on their diet and it contains wheat, theres no cause for concern. Many dogs can eat wheat without any problems, and it is a useful source of energy for their everyday lives.
That said, some dogs do develop gluten allergies. There are two key symptom groups to watch out for:
1. Itchy or flaky skin.
Dogs tend to get itchy paws, faces or ears. They can even have widespread dermatitis. This can prompt frantic chewing and sometimes red sores or infections which tend to appear in your dogs paws or ears. Watch out for:
- Repeated ear infections
- Bald spots or red sores caused by scratching
2. Gastrointestinal issues.
Food intolerance can produce vomiting or diarrhea. As wheat intolerance is usually a gradual build-up, its not likely to cause severe anaphylactic shock . Keep an eye out for:
- Mucus in stools
- Vomiting or excess gas
If your vet suspects an allergy, they will first eliminate more serious conditions depending on your dogs symptoms. After that, they may recommend that you give your dog a trial diet, removing the suspected allergen, to see whether there is an improvement. In the meantime, your vet may also prescribe an antihistamine or similar to relieve your dogs itching.
Red Brown Or Bronze Nail Beds
This is easiest to observe in dogs with white nails, such as white bully breeds, Dalmatians, Boxers, Bulldogs and Spaniels.
What It Looks Like: You may notice that the base of your dogs nails are red, even bloody-looking. This is the sign of an inflammatory immune response. Your dogs white nails should be white, with a pink quick. A red, brown, or red-brown nail bed base indicates that something is up. Nails may be sensitive and your dog appears to itch or lick them often.
What It Means: Food allergy.
But First! Rule Out Foot injury , thyroid disorders.
Try This
Because this is systemic, youll want to conduct a food-elimination diet to identify the trigger food. Keep the space between your dogs toes clean and by using a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel.
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/4 Food Allergy Versus Food Intolerance In Dogs
All the skin, ear, eye and gut conditions are a result of inflammation originating in their gut. Your dog is eating something that is not agreeing with him. The immune system that patrols the gut sees a protein it doesnt like and sends out the troops. Once all the baddies are rounded up they need to be ejected from the body. The bum is a common exit point but so is the skin , ears , eyes and mouth / nose . This is one of the reasons your dog is now exhibiting some of these symptoms. Its the body trying to empty the bin. Its trying to help. Drugs at this point merely tell the body to stop helping and leave that crap where it is.
Vitally, you and ideally your vet need to understand that your dog is experiencing a food sensitivity not a food allergy, per se. When you think allergy think of the man allergic to peanuts on his hands and knees gasping for breath after eating something once made in a factory that contained peanuts. Thankfully true allergy is rare, less than 1-3% of the human and dog population.
For more a more in-depth look at dog food allergy versus intolerance please go to Dog Allergies Part 2
Supplement For Skin Health
Front of the Pack was founded to bring your dog the very best. We decided that wed only use the best, clinically-proven ingredients, naturally sourced and flavored with dog-friendly broth. And while we started out with an all-rounder supplement , we soon branched out into supplements to tackle our dogs particular problems. And now of course, we offer a fantastic range of dog food thats also only made with the best ingredients.
For skin health, SOOTHE is our solution. It contains ingredients to support digestion such as Floradapt and postbiotics. It has Omega-3, which is well known for reducing inflammation and promoting glowing skin. Soothe is hypoallergenic, so you can sprinkle it over your dogs new food for a boost in nutrients and taste. Read our customer comments to find out how its helping lots of dogs to live their best, itch-free lives!
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Best Foods For Dogs With Allergies
Prescription Dog Food
If your dogs food allergy symptoms are severe, your vet may recommend that you feed your dog a prescription dog food. While this option can be pricey, novel protein and hydrolyzed diets available by prescription only are typically superior to those that can be purchased over the counter.
Grain-Free Dog Food
If your pet has a sensitivity to corn, wheat and other grains a grain-free dog food may be ideal. These foods have the added benefit of also being gluten-free.
Limited Ingredient Dog Foods
Limited ingredient dog foods address the presence of allergens by including just one protein source, , often combined with just a single carbohydrate source. When shopping for limited ingredient dog foods its important to check for a seal of approval from the Association of American Feed Control , as well as a complete and balanced claim from the manufacturer.
After your dog is diagnosed, your vet will work with you to find the best diet for your dog. Many food options are available to help alleviate your dogs food allergy symptoms.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pets condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
Do you suspect your dog might be suffering from a food allergy? Contact our Scottsdale vets to schedule an appointment. We can help you find a solution.
Patients
What To Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has A Food Sensitivity
The first step in providing the proper relief to dogs with food sensitivities is to consult with your veterinarian to accurately identify the problem. There are tests available to help in the detection of the causative agent. With this information, you and your veterinarian can begin to find a feeding plan for your dog with a diet that agrees with his body.
If your primary veterinarian is unable to resolve the issue, you may be referred to a veterinary dermatologist. Finding the right answer may not happen quickly, but it is worth the effort over the life of the dog.
Dr. Jerry Klein is the Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC and is an emergency and critical care veterinarian who has been a valued member of the Chicago veterinary community for more than 35 years. In addition to his work as a vet, Dr. Klein is a licensed judge for the AKC and has judged shows both nationally and internationally.
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Try To Find Out What They Are Allergic To
Once your dog is settled without symptoms on a special diet, your vet may recommend adding ingredients back into their food to try and find out what they are allergic to.
If your dog doesnt show any symptoms, this is a safe food. If your dogs symptoms come back after eating a certain food, its likely they are allergic to it. This will help you select a dog food that only contains safe foods.
Food trials and exclusion diets can be tricky and take a lot of time, the alternative is to keep feeding your dog a special veterinary diet for life.
Some dogs with a food allergy will also have allergies to things in the environment, this may cause allergic skin disease . In this case, they might improve a bit on a special diet but they may need some other treatments as well to help keep their skin symptoms controlled.
What Are The Symptoms Of Food Allergies In Dogs
The most common symptoms of food allergies in dogs include itchy skin and gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, excessive gas and diarrhea. Lethargy, hives, and skin and ear infections can also affect dogs with food allergies. There is no cure for dog food allergies. The only way to ease these symptoms is to completely avoid the allergen. It is difficult to figure out what your dog is allergic to on your own. Contact a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis, so your pup can get the help they need as soon as possible.
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Seasonal Allergies Vs Food Allergies In Dogs
A dogs immune system is programmed to help it stave off disease and infection. It does so by identifying harmful foreign bodies and then eliminating them via antibodies. In Laymans terms,
allergies are the result of a body having a hypersensitivity to an everyday substancewhether a type of a food or an environmental element such as pollen or mold.
We call these allergens.
Your dogs immune system identifies the allergen as a hostile germ. It then releases histamines and other chemical substances to try and eradicate the allergen, which lead to allergic reactions such as sneezing or rashes.
Its important to note that there is also some overlap in dogs that experience both conditions. Per Dr. Joseph Bartges, a veterinary nutritionist and professor of medicine and nutrition at the University of Tennessees College of Veterinary Medicine:
They do overlap, however, and approximately 30 percent of pets with food-responsive disease also have seasonal allergies or allergies to fleas, he said. Many of these pet allergies present themselves either with skin problems like itchiness, recurrent infections, ear infections or hair loss, and/or gastrointestinal signs like vomiting, diarrhea or decreased appetite.
Recognizing The Symptoms Of Food Allergies In Dogs
If a dog has a food allergy, then the itching will start after he has eaten something that he is allergic to. If a dog has a food allergy, that means he or she has a hypersensitive adverse immune reaction to something he or she ate.
The most common food allergens are chicken, beef, pork, and soy.
Food allergy is a nonseasonal problem, it happens year round. In comparison, flea allergy and atopy are more seasonal problems.
Itchy dogs with food allergies are less responsive to steroid therapy, so if your dog has received a steroid shot and is still itching, then your dog might have a food allergy or another problem such as a skin infection, that doesnt respond to steroids.
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My Dog Isnt Itchy Does This Rule Out A Food Allergy
Food allergy can be tricky because some dogs arent itchy at all, but instead will get recurrent ear infections or skin infections. Other dogs will have such severe reactions that they can develop facial swelling or hives in response to eating something to which they are allergic.
Dogs with food allergies can manifest stomach problems in addition to skin problems. Dogs with a food allergy can develop loose or runny stool, nausea, excessive flatulence or burping, or in more severe cases, vomiting and diarrhea.
What’s The Right One For My Pet
Ultimately, your dog’s best diet option is going to be specific to his or her allergy and needs. Your veterinarian is going to be able to correctly diagnose if your dog’s symptoms are indeed a result of an allergy and make the best recommendations for your pet’s health, including prescription dog food if need be.
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