8 Signs Your Dog May Have A Food Allergy

Food Allergies in Dogs

Allergies in dogs are complicated to both identify and treat. As with any health condition concerning your dog, your first port of call should always be your veterinarian, as the successful management of your dog’s allergies will be dependent on the correct diagnosis.

Typically, once an infection or flea allergy (the most common causes of allergies in dogs) has been eliminated as the potential cause, a skin prick test will often be recommended by your vet as your dog may have ‘contact’ allergies to common allergens such as grass or pollen. If this is the case it is often possible to treat these allergies in your dog with a course of personalized immunotherapy. If this doesn’t produce any clear results, the next step is to see if there are any underlying dietary issues that are causing the problems. Contrary to popular belief, true food allergies in dogs are far less common than contact allergies. To read more about contact allergies in dogs you can read our post here.

8 Signs of Food Allergies in Dogs

If your dog has a food allergy or sensitivity that could benefit from a hypoallergenic dog food it will typically show up with the following symptoms:

If this is the case you should work with a veterinarian to diagnose and manage your dog’s allergy, in case it is more complex than simply a food allergy, however in many cases trialing a hypoallergenic dog food for a 4-8 week period can help confirm whether your dog’s allergy is likely to be food-related and can assist in reaching a correct diagnosis and treatment plan.

Causes of Food Allergies in Dogs

Any breed of dog can develop food allergies, but there may be an increased risk for Labrador Retrievers, West Highland White Terriers, and Cocker Spaniels. Some dogs have genuine food allergies that require veterinary supervision to manage, but many dogs can be successfully managed with a hypoallergenic diet or one which avoids their main triggers.

There can be a range of reasons your dog suffers from a food allergy and experiences digestive distress or allergic symptoms. It is likely you may need to try a few different foods or an elimination diet to successfully uncover the cause of your pup’s trigger foods. Some of the most common causes of food allergies in dogs include:

• Your dog is allergic to a protein source in the dog food – it has been shown in clinical trials that it takes two years on average for a dog to develop symptoms of a protein allergy, so it is entirely possible for a new food allergy in your dog to seemingly appear out of nowhere. The most common type of food allergies or causes of digestive upsets and sensitive stomachs in dogs is the source of protein in their food, and the most common reactions occur with beef (34%), dairy (17%) and chicken (15%). If you suspect this may the case, trying a hypoallergenic diet and/or a diet with lamb, pork, rabbit or fish as the single protein source is recommended for 2-3 months in order to establish the cause of the digestive upset, as these alternative protein sources are usually very well tolerated.

• Your dog is having difficulty digesting a carbohydrate source in his dog food – a sensitive stomach caused by a carbohydrate source is possible, although far less common than a protein, with wheat (15%), soy (6%) and corn (4%) being the most common sources of carbohydrate-based food allergies in dogs. A sensitive stomach caused by rice (2%) or barley (0.3%) is very unlikely, which is why rice is often a key ingredient in dog food formulas made for sensitive stomachs. Potatoes also make a very good carbohydrate source for pups with sensitive tummies and feature often in dog foods created for sensitive stomachs and food allergies.

• Your dog has an unhealthy microbiome – if your dog has had a course of antibiotics, has been exposed to a new environment (such as a new park or doggy daycare), has been unwell or under stress, he may have an unhealthy microbiome. Just like people, dogs can suffer from poor gut health, which can lead to digestive issues. You can test your dog’s microbiome using a home-kit, or consider adding a probiotic into his food.

What is the Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

Hypoallergenic dog foods are specifically formulated to eliminate the most common causes of food-based allergic reactions in dogs. This means they will contain a carbohydrate source that is easily digestible and at low risk of causing a reaction, such as rice, barley or potatoes.

We don’t advocate for grain-free diets without the recommendation of a veterinarian, and we also recommend you avoid any formula with peas or lentils listed as one of the main ingredients, as the preliminary report by the FDA has identified these types of foods as a potential cause of diet-related DCM.

It is very uncommon for a dog to have an allergy to grains other than wheat, so most dogs will do very well on dog food containing rice or potatoes as an alternative carbohydrate source. We do however recommend dog food which has meat as the main ingredient, and balanced RAW or ‘home-made’ dog foods get our tick of approval!

Hypoallergenic dog foods will usually have a hydrolyzed protein source, which means the protein contents of the foods are ‘predigested’ and split into tiny particles using water, which reduces the dog’s immune system from recognizing an allergic threat. Hydrolyzed protein formulas are often used for human babies suffering from lactose intolerance or other food allergies. There is also considerable data emerging that supports the use of hydrolyzed protein dog food in cases of canine irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Another feature of dog food made specifically for dogs with food allergies is the type of protein used. Typically, hypoallergenic dog food formulas will contain a single protein source, and it will be one of the better-tolerated proteins, such as pork, lamb, fish or rabbit.

Additionally, hypoallergenic formulas will often include a prebiotic and added Omega-3 Fatty Acids and antioxidants to support your dog’s entire immune system, which can become stressed while dealing with digestive distress.

It may be worth trying your dog on a probiotic whilst you investigate further, and an elimination diet could be the best way to establish if there is a single ingredient or protein source that your dog is reacting to.

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