Is chicken OK for dogs with allergies

Chicken allergy in dogs: Vet reveals everything you need to know

While still fairly uncommon, a chicken allergy in dogs can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including skin rashes and stomach upsets. If your pup is unlucky enough to be among the small percentage of pups with a digestive system that can't tolerate poultry, you're likely wondering what can be done about it.

However, before you go swapping your canine companion over to the best dog food for allergies, it's important to get a proper diagnosis from a vet.

That's because changing dog food needs to be done slowly and carefully to avoid upsetting the balance of bacteria in your dog's intestines. Once you know for sure that a chicken allergy is causing your pup's health complaints you can work with your vet to formulate a plan.

Below, Dr. Catherine Barnette explains the main symptoms of a chicken allergy and shares her favorite prescription foods for dogs who can't eat chicken. Plus, Dr. Hannah Godfrey outlines exactly how your vet will go about testing your fur friend for a chicken allergy so you know what to expect.

Dr. Catherine Barnette

Dr. Barnette graduated from the University of Florida in 2006 where she received both her B.S. in Zoology and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). She has 15 years of clinical experience as a small animal veterinarian, treating dogs, cats, and occasional exotic patients. When shes not writing content as a freelance veterinary writer, Dr. Barnette lives in southwest Florida with her husband and daughter (plus two cats, a dog, and a rescued dove!) and enjoys kayaking, biking, and hiking.

Dr Hannah Godfrey studied Veterinary Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College London. After graduating in 2011, Dr Godfrey went on to become a veterinary surgeon, conducting surgery consultations on a range of animals at a small independent practice in Cardiff, South Wales, UK. Dr Godfrey has a strong interest in soft tissue surgery. When shes not helping animals back on their feet, Dr Godfrey writes a number of veterinary and animal-focussed articles.

What causes allergies in dogs?

"Allergies in dogs occur when their immune system overreacts to a substance, recognizing it as a threat when it is actually harmless," explains Godfrey. "The cells within the immune system will remember this substance and will continue to react if exposed to it in the future. Dogs can be allergic to almost any substance, but pollen, food allergies, and parasites are reasonably common."

Can dogs be allergic to chicken?

"Dogs can be allergic to chicken," Godfrey says. "Chicken is one of the most common food allergies in dogs, alongside beef and dairy products. However, to be allergic to chicken, their immune system must be familiar with the protein, so a dog must have eaten it at least once before."

Symptoms of chicken allergy in dogs

If you've been asking the question 'why is my dog itching, scratching, and biting himself constantly?', a food allergy may well be to blame.

Food allergies are often clinically indistinguishable from other types of canine allergies. There are four common allergies in dogs: dust mite allergy, environmental allergies (tree, weed, and grass pollen), flea allergy, and food allergy.

While there may be slight differences in the signs between these different types of allergies (for example, you may see visible fleas in a dog with flea allergies or you may notice seasonal signs in a dog with pollen allergies), it is nearly impossible to distinguish the cause of your dogs allergies based on appearance alone.

In dogs, nearly all allergies manifest as irritation of the skin and ears (check out our guide to skin allergies in dogs for more on how a food allergy can affect the skin and coat). Common signs of dog allergies include:

• Generalized redness of the skin
• Itching
• Chewing at the paws
• Hair loss (generalized or patchy)
• Frequent hot spots or skin infections
• Scratching at the ears
• Recurrent ear infections
• Less commonly, food allergies may trigger gastrointestinal signs, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

If your vet suspects your dog has allergies, they will recommend an appropriate diagnostic workup to determine the cause of your pets allergies. This workup may include the consistent use of the best flea treatment for dogs (to rule out flea allergies), intradermal or blood allergy testing (to rule out environmental allergies), and a food trial (to look for evidence of food allergies).

In a food trial, you will be asked to feed your dog a hypoallergenic prescription diet for a period of 2-3 months. During that time, you will need to avoid all treats and table food, to ensure that your dog is not being exposed to any potential food allergens. If your dogs signs resolve during the food trial, you and your veterinarian can safely assume that your dogs allergies are caused by something in your dogs diet.

Next, you will begin gradually reintroducing different food items, in an effort to determine which ingredients trigger an allergic response in your dog. If you feed chicken, for example, and your dog begins itching within 24 hours, you can safely assume that your dog is allergic to chicken.

Why are so many dogs allergic to chicken?

A chicken allergy is one of the three common food allergies in pets. Beef and dairy are the most common food allergy triggers in dogs, with chicken coming in at number three on that list.

Dogs can develop an allergy to any protein that they have eaten. Historically, most dog foods were made with beef as the primary protein source. Therefore, most canine food allergies were associated with beef, because thats the protein that the immune system had seen the most often.

In recent years, however, an increasing number of chicken-based diets have been created, often marketed as sensitive skin or sensitive stomach foods. Therefore, veterinarians are seeing an increase in the number of dogs with chicken allergies. If kangaroo meat were to suddenly become a common ingredient in dog food, we would likely see an increasing number of dogs with kangaroo allergies. Dogs can develop a food allergy to any protein they have been fed.

If a dog is allergic to chicken, are they allergic to turkey?

Chicken and turkey are both poultry. There are enough similarities between these birds that some dogs with chicken allergies will also react to turkey. In fact, some dogs with chicken allergies will even react to duck.

However, this isnt always the case. Some chicken-allergic dogs can eat turkey or duck with no problems. Therefore, you may need to experiment with a bit of trial-and-error in order to determine whether your dog can tolerate a turkey-based diet.

If you want to be on the safe side and minimize the risk of an allergic reaction, it is probably best to avoid feeding turkey to a dog that is allergic to chicken.

Diagnosing a chicken allergy

"Blood and skin prick tests can help diagnose a chicken allergy in your dog, but these tests can be costly and take some time," Godfrey explains. "They may also show inconclusive results, which can be frustrating. Eliminating chicken from your dog's diet completely for eight weeks (known as an elimination diet) can allow you to see whether your dog's symptoms improve, but this will only work if you check the ingredients on all of their food and treats."

Best food for dogs with chicken allergies

If your dog has chicken allergies, you will need to find a nutritious, balanced dog food that does not include chicken meat, chicken meal, or chicken by-products. You may opt to feed a prescription diet (under the guidance of your veterinarian) or search for an over-the-counter diet.

The most highly-restricted diets will be prescription diets as opposed to the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food that you can buy off the shelf. These include products like Hill's Prescription Diet d/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Potato & Venison Formula Dry Dog Food or Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein HP Dry Dog Food. Prescription allergy diets are manufactured on dedicated manufacturing lines, reducing the risk of cross-contamination, and careful attention to ingredients. Your veterinarian can help you select the most appropriate prescription diet for your pet.

You can also attempt to use an over-the-counter diet that does not contain any chicken, such as Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food. Over-the-counter diets are often less expensive than prescription diets, which may make this an appealing option for some dog owners. Be aware, however, that these diets may be made on the same manufacturing lines that are used to create chicken-based diets. (This is why they are often less expensive.) Depending on the severity of your dogs chicken allergies, even a small amount of cross-contamination may be enough to trigger an allergic reaction.

How common are food allergies in dogs?

"Its much more common for dogs to experience allergy symptoms due to environmental allergens like pollen from trees and plants, or parasites like fleas and mites than food allergens," Godfrey says. "While its not easy to control the symptoms caused by any allergy, it's easier to keep your dog away from food allergens than pollen and other environmental allergens."

A chicken allergy in dogs can be a frustrating condition, but there are ways to manage it successfully. Work with your veterinarian to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of your dogs skin issues, then come up with an appropriate plan to minimize your dogs exposure to foods that trigger an allergic response. With long-term efforts and maintenance, you can minimize the frequency of flare-ups and successfully reduce your dogs signs of allergic dermatitis.

For more on what foods are safe for your canine companion to consume, check out our guide to what human food can dogs eat where a vet explains which foods you can share with your pooch.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken?

Considering how many dog foods contain chicken as an ingredient, its a safe bet that you can feed your dog chicken. In fact, its a good source of protein, and cooked chicken can even be substituted for or added to his regular meal.

Most sources recommend against raw chicken, due to the risk of salmonella or bacterial infections, although the movement toward raw food, including raw chicken and raw chicken bones, is growing. But if youre not sure about raw food diets, any unseasoned roasted, poached, grilled, or baked chicken can be served on its own, mixed with your dogs regular meal, or served as a treat. You can even mix it with a healthy grain, and a vegetable such as string beans or other vegetables safe for dogs, for a special homemade dinner.

There are two things to be aware of before serving your dog chicken.

• Some dogs are allergic to chicken, and it ranks among the top 10 allergy-inducing ingredients. The most common allergens are beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish.
• Be sure to take cooked chicken off the bone. Cooked chicken bones splinter easily, which can cause choking or a gastrointestinal tract puncture

If youve determined that your dog happily and healthily eats chicken, go ahead and let them enjoy it. And, just for fun, try these homemade, vet-approved chicken recipes for dogs: a yummy mini omelette or frozen chicken treat.

Learn more about human foods your dog can and cant eat.

Chicken Allergies In Dogs: The Ultimate Guide

Similar to humans, dogs can be allergic to certain foods. Besides beef and dairy, chicken allergies in dogs are the next most common food allergy seen at most veterinary clinics, so yes dogs can be allergic to chicken.

Canine food allergies are caused because your dogs immune system does not recognize antigens. It is an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to proteins in the diet.

However, what most pet owners believe to be food allergies is actually food intolerances or food sensitivity and this usually shows up as skin and/or stomach issues.

Chicken is used in a lot of dog foods because it is highly palatable, an excellent source of protein, and relatively inexpensive but because it is used so much in dog foods veterinarians tend to see an elevated rate of food sensitivities. (Source)

Many pet owners find themselves scratching their heads when they learn that chicken can cause allergies in dogs.

Is chicken okay for dogs to eat?

Yes, chicken is a great choice of protein to feed your dog as an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Not all dogs have a food sensitivity to chicken, in fact, most dont.

How do I know my dog is allergic to chicken?

Common Signs of chicken sensitivity or an allergic reaction to chicken in dogs can include:

How are chicken allergies detected in dogs

1. Food trials

The best and gold standard method for detecting chicken allergies in dogs is by doing a food trial. This is done by slowly introducing your dog to a food with a novel protein that he or she has never eaten. Then after a period of time reintroducing an old protein to determine if chicken is the culprit.

However, due to the time required (about 2-3 months) and strict feeding regimen during an elimination diet, most dog owners opt to forgo doing a complete food trial and stop at the elimination diet. If you are interested in doing a food trial read our article here for a step-by-step guide.

2. Elimination Diet

An elimination diet is when an owner gets rid of or eliminates every protein that the dog has had previously and a novel protein is introduced. Your vet may proceed with doing a food trial depending on the results of the elimination diet.

3. Allergy test

There are several allergy tests on the market and your vet can give your dog an allergy test as well. Unfortunately, research shows that many of the tests that are readily available are not extremely reliable. Although patch testing and serum antibody tests can still be slightly helpful when determining which ingredients to choose for an elimination diet. (Source)

How do I treat my dog for a chicken allergy?

If your dog is diagnosed with allergies to chicken, the best route of treatment is to avoid it at all costs and feed your dog a chicken-free diet. This means no chicken from the table and if you have guests over make sure they know not to feed your dog.

Some things to keep in mind when eliminating chicken from your dogs diet:

-There are many treats and medicines that have chicken added in that you would not consider so ensure you read all packaging before feeding your dog anything. Chicken may be in:

• Some supplements include chicken flavoring
• Many treats are made with chicken
• Some chews may include chicken like rawhides
• There are chicken-flavored toothpaste for dogs as well

-Keep in mind that even though you have eliminated chicken from the diet, your dog can eventually become allergic to the novel protein and you may have to do the process of determining what is causing the allergy again if you feed a diet that includes more than one protein.

-In addition, some over-the-counter dog foods have been shown to mislabel their lists of ingredients and oftentimes include trace amounts of other types of protein than those listed on the packaging. This study determined that over-the-counter diets are not recommended for the diagnosis and treatment of food hypersensitivity.

What are some good foods for dogs allergic to chicken?

Hydrolyzed Prescription Diets

There are several hydrolyzed diets available for pet owners and these diets work because the protein is broken down into much smaller pieces and is not recognized by the body as a threat.

Hydrolyzed diets are broken down proteins from chicken, beef, and other proteins like fish or even chicken feathers. You read right, there are some foods like the Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Anallergenc diet where the main protein is hydrolyzed poultry feathers. In a study done on dogs that were allergic to chickens, it was noted that feeding a diet of hydrolyzed poultry feathers did not induce pruritus flares. (Source).

Insects & Fish

If youre horrified by the thought of feeding your dog chicken feathers you may not be too keen on feeding them crickets either but that is just what some owners have had success with. Jiminys Cricket Crave Dry Dog Food is one that owners that have dogs with chicken allergies like. Another option is a complete fish meal.

Novel Protein Limited Ingredient Diets (LIDs)

Feeding your dog a limited ingredient diet with a new protein is optimal since they wont have had a history with that protein and the LID does not have a lot of fluff or extras that can sometimes also cause issues. These diets usually only have one protein so if they become allergic to it you will know right away what the cause was.

Feeding your dog a chicken-free diet with a novel or new protein like kangaroo or bison may prove to be the best option for your pup. Zignature has some great options for novel protein diets.

Homemade Diets

There are many owners that have had success with giving their dog a homemade diet. For some great ideas on what to cook for your dog with chicken allergies check out our list of homemade recipes.

Treats

Here are some great treat options for dogs with chicken allergies:

FAQs about chicken allergies in dogs

1. What percentage of dogs are allergic to chicken?

While a definitive number is not known it is said that food allergies account for only 10% of all dog allergies with the most common being seasonal and environmental. In one study of over 200 dogs, it was noted that 15% of the dogs had chicken allergies.

2. Can a dog be allergic to chicken and not turkey?

Turkey is used as a replacement for chicken, many times a dog that is allergic to chicken is not allergic to turkey but each dog is different so keep an eye out for signs of a reaction when feeding complete turkey.

3. Can a dog with chicken allergies eat chicken meal?

If your dog is allergic to chicken you should refrain from feeding them chicken meal is basically powdered chicken parts and by-products.

4. Can a dog with chicken allergies eat eggs?

You would think a dog that was allergic to chicken would also be allergic to eggs, but this isnt always the case. Just like with turkey, some dogs are allergic to eggs and some arent.

5. If a dog is allergic to chicken can they eat duck?

Duck is many times used as an alternative to chicken in meals but it has a lower incidence of allergic reactions than turkey

6. Can a dog be allergic to raw chicken?

If your dog is allergic to chicken they will also react to raw chicken as well

7. My dogs food has chicken fat in it, is that safe?

Dogs can eat chicken fat or foods with chicken fat in them even if they are allergic or sensitive to chicken because it doesnt contain any protein.

8. Do dogs in the wild have food allergies?

While it is rare it has been noted that some wild dogs do have food allergies. However, this is far from the norm and it is thought that domesticated dogs have food allergies due to their environments.

9. Can dogs be allergic to chicken liver?

If your dog is shown to be allergic to chicken, they should not eat chicken liver. This study showed that 40% of dogs that ate a diet of hydrolyzed chicken liver still had allergic flares.

10. What are some other common food allergens in dogs?

Beef is second in line for canine allergies however dogs can develop allergies to any protein. So, it is important to keep an eye on your dog for signs of allergies even if you have started them on a new food.

11. Where can I find an allergy test for my dog?

Allergy testing can be done at your veterinarians office and there are over-the-counter tests as well although some are better than others.

References

About the author: Dr. Jackson has over 15 years of clinical experience as a small animal veterinarian and has worked as an educator for 7 years. She enjoys spending time with her dogs Chi-Chi and Cha-Cha who were the catalyst for the creation of The Pets Digest blog. Read More