Dog Allergy Basics: Dog Food Allergies
June 23rd, 2010
Once upon a time, I felt terrible about my eldest dog needing surgery on both his knees at age 3. He just had another knee surgery earlier this month, after nearly 7 years relatively pain-free. That’s my orthopedic sob story.
Yet, I once spent a weekend in Palm Springs, California, with the top veterinary dermatologists and veterinary allergists from the around world. The things they shared about their work snapped me right out of it because I learned:
- How hard dog allergies are to diagnose
- How hard certain dog allergies can be to treat
- What role LIFE-LONG management plays in canine comfort
Suddenly, those surgeries, even with recovery periods stretching many months, didn’t seem so bad.
So, let me say this … If your pet suffers from any kind of allergy, you have my unequivocal sympathy. Really.
The Proteins Do It
It’s the proteins, kids. The proteins that usually lead to dog food sensitivity or dog food allergies in our canine pals. This includes proteins that come from plant sources and even things we think of as carbohydrates.
In very simple terms, it takes a BIG molecule to trigger a dog’s immune system to overreact. That’s all an allergy is really. It’s a normally helpful body system that goes overboard.
And, proteins are big enough to get the Let’s-Make-the-Immune-System-Freakout job done.
Most Common Allergy-Causing Proteins
- Beef
- Dairy products, like milk
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Corn
- Wheat
- Soybean
Dog Food Allergy Symptoms
Remember, since these allergens get absorbed in digestion, symptoms include:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Itchy paws, skin, ears
Some in the dog training world also believe that dog food allergies or sensitivities can lead to fear and aggression issues in certain dogs.
Food Elimination Trials
If veterinarians suspect a food allergy, they’ll likely recommend food elimination trials or a bigger food switch — lasting at least 8 weeks — that cuts out all of the most common dog food allergens.
Everyone in the family or in your dog circle needs to be on board with this. No sneaking Fido forbidden snacks. No cheating.
Often this means using a food with a “novel” protein. In other words, a protein your dog has never been exposed to before. Things like rabbit, duck, and kangaroo are used as novel proteins.
Lamb actually was once used as a novel protein until it made it’s way into mainstream dog foods.
You can make novel protein food at home, or you can buy it from places like K9Cuisine.com (this blog’s sponsor) or through veterinary channels.
There is another option, though. Veterinarians can prescribe diets that use “hydrolysate” proteins, which are essentially common sources of protein (like chicken), but the protein has been broken up into such tiny pieces that the dog’s body no longer sees it as an allergen.
Proving Feeding Trial Results
If a dog does NOT improve on the new strict diet, then doctors rule out food allergies.
If a dog does improve, then veterinarians will usually recommend “challenging” the patient with the previously fed diet to see if symptoms return.
Adding Foods Back In
Because it’s usually more than one protein causing the issue, it can be hard to figure out which ones might be OK.
BUT, once a dog is doing well on a new diet, you can carefully reintroduce certain kinds of food or treats in two- or three-week intervals to see how well the dog tolerates them.
You may find that your dog isn’t as stuck in food and treat choices as I’m sure it first feels when the dog food allergy diagnosis is first made.
What Worked For You?
Have you been through this dog food allergy process? What foods or treats ended up working well for your dog? We’d love to know.
Shout Out Any Cautions Too!
For example, Karen from the OPDogBlog posted a comment to Dog Allergy Basics: 3 Common Triggers that explained how a dog food formula change threw her dog for a loop that’s taken months to unravel. Her advice? Check every label, every time.
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Tags: allergy symptoms, animal protein, dog, dog allergies, dog food, dog food allergies, Dog Food Dish, food sensitivity, hydrolysate, K9Cuisine.com, novel protein, plant protein
Posted in Dog Allergies, Dog Health, K9 Health, K9 Nutrition | 2 Comments »
2 Responses to “Dog Allergy Basics: Dog Food Allergies”
A professional writer based in Colorado, Roxanne Hawn doesn't just love dogs. She deep-down requires them in life. Something inside her genes, perhaps? That's why it's such a joy to write about all things canine. Roxanne began writing about pets in 1995, when she worked for the American Animal Hospital Association and later for the American Humane Association. During this period in her career, Roxanne served on the board of directors for the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (a coalition of animal welfare groups). Roxanne also volunteered for many years at an animal shelter, where she witnessed firsthand what happens when the human-animal bond breaks or never forms.
It makes sense that allergies could cause a dog to have aggression issues. I know when I’m not feeling well, I’m a bit testy too. It’s just too bad they can’t talk to us.
I agree. Even a low-grade irritant that you have day after day could really made a person (or dog) crabby.