Did you know about 18% of dogs in the United States suffer from a food allergy? As a pet parent, you proudly choose the healthiest dog food for your pet but you don’t know your dog could be allergic to some of the ingredients. Typically, dogs begin to show food allergy symptoms around age one. However, your dog can develop allergies to their food at any age. Surprisingly, they can develop an allergy to a food they have eaten their entire life.
What is a Food Allergy in Dogs
When a dog has food allergies their immune system is overacting to something it sees as dangerous. The immune system jumps into action by producing antibodies to attempt to flush the allergen out of the system.
Food Allergy Symptoms in Dogs
According to VCA Animal Hospitals (source) symptoms of food allergies include the following:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Itchy skin
- Lack of energy
- Weight loss
- Aggression
- Hyperactivity
If you notice your dog is experiencing food allergy symptoms, contact a veterinarian immediately for further assistance. Remember a food allergy that goes untreated in dogs can lead to weight loss and serious illness.
5 Trigger Foods
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly which ingredient is causing your dog’s allergies. Typically, an allergic reaction to food in dogs is caused by a complex carbohydrate or a protein. An allergy develops when antibody production is present, which means your dog can develop a food allergy to something they ate for a long period of time including one brand, form, or type of food.
Here are 5 common trigger foods to watch out for:
- Gluten – Many dogs develop an allergy to Gluten from wheat which is a common ingredient in dry kibble dog food and various treats.
- Chicken – Most dogs love the taste of chicken and this ingredient is found in plenty of dog food brands ranging from organic to popular commercial brands.
- Soy – When you read the ingredient list on dog food labels you will be surprised to see that most brands contain soy.
- Lamb – Does your dog go wild for the taste of lamb? Many dogs love lamb but some develop a food allergy to this tasty ingredient.
- Beef – Delicious beef is a popular ingredient in fresh, dry kibble and canned wet dog food. In addition, this ingredient is popular in the raw diet for dogs.
While the five ingredients mentioned above are the most common, any food ingredient can be responsible for allergies in dogs.
The Elimination Diet
As mentioned earlier, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact ingredient that is causing your dog’s food allergy. One of the best ways to determine the cause of the allergy is to conduct an elimination trial. This trial involved feeding your dog a hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks.
It’s essential that the hypoallergenic diet does not contain any ingredients your dog has eaten before. You also need to remove treats, flavored vitamins, heartworm preventatives, and supplements during the 12 weeks.
If your dog has health conditions or issues that require them to take medications, discuss this matter further with a veterinarian before removing anything from your dog’s diet.
Another way to find out if your dog is allergic to specific foods is with a blood test conducted at a veterinarian's office. The blood test is called the serum IgE test that helps vets diagnose conditions.
How are food allergies in dogs treated?
As soon as the specific ingredient or food source is identified as the trigger for your dog’s food allergy, this item needs to be completely removed from their diet. Some dogs are allergic to more than one substance and may require home-cooked meals. The veterinarian will advise a diet that will provide all the nutrients, vitamins, and protein your dog needs for a healthy diet.
Now that you know the five foods to avoid if your pet has food allergies, it’s time to remove them from their diet. Discussing a blood test or conducting the elimination diet is the first step to pinpointing your dog’s allergies. Get started today!