What’s the best food for dogs with allergies?
The best food for dogs with allergies is one that doesn’t contain ingredients or food that you know your dog is allergic to. Even a small amount of that allergen can cause your dog to react. Chicken and beef are among some of the most common food allergies in dogs, so looking for food that doesn’t contain this protein could help your dog if they are allergic to either/both of these.
Some dogs have shown an allergy or intolerance to grain. If this applies to your dog, choosing grain-free dog food is the best option. Grain is often added to processed dog food, so choosing an alternative food type, like raw, could help support your dog’s allergy or intolerance.
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Get Your Personalised PlanMost common allergies in dogs
Chicken and beef are among the most common food allergies in dogs. These proteins are frequently used in dog food, and when a dog is fed the same ingredient/food for a long time, overexposure can cause an allergy to that ingredient/food [2].
Also, the following foods are also potential allergens:
- Grains: Dogs aren’t biologically built to fully digest grains, and over time can lead to Leaky Gut. Leaky Gut is where food molecules leaks into the bloodstream and potentially causes a reaction
- Dairy: The protein casein that’s found in milk and dried milk products can cause an allergic reaction in some dogs. Casein also contains lactose, which some dogs can be intolerant to [3]
- Corn: A substitute for grain, corn is frequently added to processed dog food, which can lead to dogs becoming over-exposed to it. Corn is in high sugars, which can lead to Leaky Gut, allowing food molecules to pass into the bloodstream
In reality, dogs can be allergic to anything, so if you feed them something new and they start to show a reaction, they could be allergic to something in it. Intolerances can develop gradually, over time, so it is possible that your dog could start reacting to something that they’ve previously had no issues with.
How do you know if your dog is allergic to their food?
An allergic reaction in dogs can develop in minutes or hours after eating the food they are allergic to [1]. The most common signs of an allergic reaction in dogs are:
- Skin itchiness
- Constant licking
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Itchy ears
- Recurring ear infections
- Hives
- Swelling of the face, lips, eyes, eyelids, ears, and earflaps
- Red, inflamed skin
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Sneezing
- Hives [1]
- In most severe cases, anaphylaxis
Can allergies clear up in dogs?
A true food allergy occurs when a dog’s immune system mistakenly sees something in the food as a threat and launches antibodies to attack the allergen. An allergy is different from an intolerance, which doesn’t involve the immune system but is thought to be due to issues digesting an ingredient/food. While the words intolerance and allergy are often used interchangeably, intolerances are more common in dogs than true allergies.
A true allergy can never be cleared up, and avoiding food/ingredients your dog is allergic to is the only way to stop them reacting.
Why is raw food good for dogs with allergies?
Raw dog food can be an excellent option if your furry friend has a food allergy because it’s:
- Fresh: The ingredients in our food aren’t processed and instead are frozen at source, meaning all the nutrients are retained, and there is no need to use artificial nutrients, which some dogs may be allergic to
- Natural: The ingredients in our food are 100% natural, so you know exactly what you are feeding your dog. With some dog foods, it can be difficult to understand what is listed on the ingredients list, so you may, without realising it, feed your dog something they are allergic to
- Grain-free: Grains like barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgar, and oats can’t be fully digested by dogs because they don’t produce enough amylase, an enzyme needed to digest grains
- Single protein food on offer: We offer a range of single protein meals that don’t contain added veg, fruit, or healthy fats; while these ingredients have nutritional benefits, they may not be right for your dog
Interestingly, a study at The University of Helsinki concluded that if a puppy’s diet consisted of at least 20% raw or less than 80% dry food, there was a significantly decreased prevalence of allergy or atopy related skin problems in adult dogs [4].
None of our raw dog food meals include grains, carbohydrates, and specific diary products.
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Discover Our Raw Dog FoodReferences
- Types of dog allergies and how to treat them, American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-allergies-symptoms-treatment/
- Food allergies in dogs, VCA Animal Hospitals: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/food-allergies-in-dogs#:~:text=Since%20antibody%20production%20is%20required,type%2C%20or%20form%20of%20food.
- Can dogs eat Casein?, Can dogs eat it: https://www.candogseatit.com/egg-dairy/casein
- Science daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211118203742.htm
FAQs
Is Bella & Duke raw dog food hypoallergenic?
Our food is designed to be as hypoallergenic as possible, so it does not include grains and is as low-carb as possible. We also offer single-protein meals for dogs that are allergic to/intolerant to certain proteins. You can find out more from our nutritional philosophy.
What foods to avoid for dogs with allergies?
Most importantly avoid foods that you know/suspect your dog is allergic to. It is also worth avoiding highly processed foods as these often contain ‘filler’ ingredients, like barley, rice, oats, etc, which dog’s can be allergic to.
What is the most common dog allergy?
Chicken and beef are the most common foods that dogs are allergic to. They are also the most used proteins in dog food. Feeding a dog the same thing for a long time has the potential for that dog to develop an allergy or intolerance to one or more of the ingredients present in the food.
How long does it take for dog food allergies to clear up?
Food allergies can develop at any age, and the only way to avoid your dog reacting is to remove the food/ingredient they are allergic from their diet.
Can dog allergies go away for good?
True food allergies may never go away. If your dog’s reactions are caused by an intolerance, it can take between 8-12 weeks for signs to fully subside after removing the food or ingredient from your dog’s diet.
What can you give your dog for food allergies?
If your dog has a food allergy, look for food that is free of your dog’s known allergen. Pay close attention to the ingredients list, as this allergen may be added in another way, e.g., as offal or bone.
Giving foods that contain natural probiotics or supplementing your dog’s diet with natural probiotics can help support gut health and support dogs with autoimmune symptoms like itchy skin and eczema.
If you’re not sure what you can feed your puppy or dog, check out our range of guides covering what dogs can eat.
Can you test your dog for allergies?
Tests are available for dog allergies. However, home tests can give inaccurate results. A vet can carry out tests to check for allergies. It’s important that tests are carried out after the symptoms have fully subsided, as it’s possible to receive ‘false positive’ results due to the presence of antibodies.
Food elimination is the most accurate way to determine what your dog is allergic to. This process involves stripping back everything your dog eats to one protein and feeding them this for a period of 8-12 weeks. If your dog shows no reactive signs in this period, you can add another food type into their diet and feed them this for a week.
For example:
You decide to feed your dog a single protein meal of raw chicken for 8-12 weeks. They show no signs of an allergic reaction, so you mix the raw chicken with raw beef and feed them this for 1 week, monitoring for signs of an allergic reaction. If no signs show, you introduce another food type and feed this for a week.
A food elimination test is a lengthy process, and it is best done under the guidance of a vet, preferably one who is experienced in raw feeding.
What is the best food for dogs with skin allergies?
Again, the best food for a dog with a skin allergy is free from ingredients that bring on an allergic reaction. So, if you know your dog is allergic to chicken, don’t feed them food with it in. A single protein raw diet can be given for a period of time as part of a food elimination test.
