What can I give my dog for allergic reaction to food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

How to Tell if Your Dog Has Food Allergies

Food allergies in dogs can be tricky to identify. The symptoms arent what many pet parents expect, and there are a lot of myths out there about food allergies in dogs. True food allergies are not that common in dogs, for one.

Heres how you can figure out if your dog has food allergies and what you can do about them.

Reasons to Suspect Dog Food Allergies

When people think about pet food allergies, they often jump to gastrointestinal issues. However, food allergies in dogs may or may not come with an upset stomach.

The most common symptoms of food allergies in dogs actually show up as reactions in their skin.

Skin and Ear Problems in Dogs With Food Allergies

Skin problems are common in dogs with food allergies. At first glance, this seems kind of odd, but it makes more sense when you think about how people react to food allergies.

Dogs with unchecked food allergies may also have trouble with their ears.

Some of the most common health issues associated with legitimate dog food allergies are:

Similar symptoms may be caused by environmental allergies to triggers like pollen, mold, and house mites, but these, at least to start with, are often seasonal.

For this reason, its important to track whether your dogs symptoms ebb and flow with the changing of the seasons.

When Do Dog Food Allergies Develop?

Its important to remember that food allergies can develop at any time. A food your dog has consumed for years with no troubles may suddenly cause an allergic reaction, or symptoms may develop soon after you change your dogs diet.

How Are Dog Food Allergies Diagnosed?

Diagnosing food allergies in dogs isnt always a straightforward process. Its not like theres a simple test that can instantly tell what your dog is allergic to or, if indeed, he has food allergies at all.

You have to start at the beginning, with the help of your veterinarian, to know for sure whether your dogs skin or ear issues are caused by food allergies.

Rule Out Other Health Issues

Your veterinarian will take a full history on your pet and do a general exam.

Next, they will likely run tests to rule out conditions with similar symptoms like mange, ringworm, yeast infections, bacterial infections, flea infestations, and environmental allergies.

Ruling out those conditions comes first because true food allergies are relatively uncommon.

If there is no other apparent cause for your dogs symptoms, your veterinarian may begin to suspect that food allergies are behind your dogs itchy skin or ear infections.

Even if your vet finds a reason for your dogs skin problems, they may still suspect that an adverse food reaction is at least partially responsible since, for example, yeast infections can develop as a result of food allergies.

Once a diagnosis of food allergies seems to be a reasonable possibility, your vet will recommend a food trial.

Starting a Food Trial

Starting your dog on a food trial means your pet will eat a prescription diet and absolutely nothing else for a couple of months to see if symptoms resolve.

If they do, some veterinarians will suggest going back to the dogs old diet to see if symptoms return to ensure that the dog is truly allergic to one or more ingredients in their regular diet.

Evaluating a Food Trial: Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerance

Seeing results from the food trial are not a guarantee that your pet has food allergies. In some cases, you may find out that your dog has a food intolerance.

Food Allergies

Food allergies occur when the immune system responds inappropriately to something (usually a protein) found in the diet.

Instead of treating this perfectly innocuous substance as it should, the immune system treats it as a threatan invader of sorts.

Food Intolerance

A food intolerance is different from an allergy in that the symptoms are not caused by an immune reaction.

In dogs, food intolerances typically cause tummy troubles; they may vomit or have diarrhea, be seriously gassy, or have a poor appetite.

Treating Food Allergies in Dogs

The only effective way to treat a food allergy in dogs is to change their diet.

While grain-free foods are often touted as good for food allergies, science tells us that protein sources are more likely to be the culprit. According to a study published in 2016, the top three most common causes of food allergies in dogs are beef, dairy, and chicken.

Diets for Dog Food Allergies

Here are a couple of different approaches to treating food allergies in dogs.

Novel Proteins

This approach involves feeding proteins that your dog has likely never been exposed to in an effort to avoid an allergic reaction. Rabbit, venison, and other novel ingredients are used in place of more common protein sources. Allergy-friendly foods must be completely free of your dogs triggers.

Hydrolyzed Proteins

Rather than changing which proteins are used, hydrolyzed protein prescription diets break proteins down so that the immune system no longer recognizes them as a threat.

Treating Itchy Skin and Ear Issues Caused by Food Allergies

The only way to treat a food allergy is to remove the offending food from the dogs diet, but there are options for temporarily treating the symptoms caused by food allergies.

Oral and topical medications are sometimes prescribed to help minimize itching. Any secondary problems, like skin or ear infections, will also have to be addressed.

If youre concerned about any symptoms your dog is experiencing, or youre simply wondering whether the food youre offering is the best choice for your pet, speak with your veterinarian.

By: Jennifer Coates, DVM

Featured Image: iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages

Food Allergies in Dogs: What to Know

Your dog is scratching and licking, keeping you awake, ruining their show coat, and giving themself a handy excuse for breaking that stay. Its driving you crazyimagine how they must feel.

While your first instinct may be to assume that your dog is suffering from a food allergy, true food allergies arent as common as you might think. Confusing food allergies with food sensitivities is a common mistake, not only among dog owners but also among veterinarians.

Food Allergies vs. Sensitivities

True food allergies are much less frequent than food sensitivities and reflect a more immediate immunological response. A classic example of a food allergy is anaphylactic shock, which could occur after ingesting peanuts or being stung by bees. As soon as the person or animal comes in contact with the allergen, their airway closes and they cant breathe. This response is rapid, as the antigen triggers an immediate and sometimes life-threatening reaction due to hypotension and shock.

A less severe but still serious form of allergic reaction is accompanied by the development of dermatologic signs, such as hives, facial swelling, or itchiness. These can be accompanied by gastrointestinal signs, such as acute vomiting or diarrhea. These signs occur fairly rapidly but less than in the anaphylactic reaction.

Food sensitivity, on the other hand, is usually a chronic condition and often doesnt involve an immunological response. Its usually a cumulative response to an offending agent. Although theyre generally not life-threatening, food sensitivities can affect many different aspects of the dogs physical wellbeing. Common signs of food sensitivity include diarrhea with or without vomiting, poor skin or itchy coat, and chronic ear or foot infections.

Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs

We most often associate allergies with sneezing and respiratory problems in people, but in dogs, allergies are most often associated with the skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. About 10% to 15% of dogs with food allergies will have both skin and GI signs, and about 20% to 30% of dogs with food allergies will also have itchy skin from other non-food allergies.

GI signs are most often seen as loose stools, with an average of three a day, or vomiting and belching. A skin sign is usually itchiness, and it appears the same as itchiness due to other allergies.

According to one recent study, nearly 8% of dogs presented to a referral dermatology practice had food allergies. This represented about a third of all the dogs presented there with allergic skin disease.

Some people use the phrase ears and rears to refer to the characteristic location of itchiness. But its typically a bit more widespread than just those regions. In one study, dogs with food allergies suffered from itchy ears in 80% of the cases (and in fact, only the ear was affected in a quarter of all cases); itchy feet in 61%; itchy groin region in 53%; and itchy armpits, anterior foreleg, or eye regions in about 35% of cases.

Secondary ear and skin infections often arise from self-inflicted trauma from scratching and chewing. Along with removing the offending food, you must seek treatment for these infections in your dog.

Does My Dog Have Food Allergies?

Allergies can appear at any age, but most dogs eat an offending food for two years before symptoms appear. Some dogs can develop symptoms as early as two months of eating the offending food. Allergic reactions arent something that normally appear immediately after introducing a new food. But once symptoms appear, their onset is often sudden and serious.

Most dogs react to one or two allergens and about 20% react to more. Theres a greater chance that dogs react to animal products from the same species or from related species (cattle, sheep, and deer, for example).

Some breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Poodles, and Chinese Shar-Pei, may be at greater risk for food allergies, though they can appear in any breed.

Diet trials are inconvenient and tedious. But compared to your dogs discomfort, theyre a small price to pay to identify the culprit. Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergiesexcept to avoid the offending foods.

Common dog food allergies

How can you tell if your dog is allergic to food?

Food allergies cause a host of symptoms, like itching and gastrointestinal distress. A visit to the vet and a potential elimination diet can help pinpoint the culprit and determine if its a food allergen.

What is the most common food allergy in dogs?

Protein, specifically beef, appears to be the most common food allergy in dogs, followed by chicken and dairy.

What does a grain allergy look like in dogs?

A grain allergy will show up similarly to other food sensitivities. Adverse food reactions may include the following symptoms: itchy skin and paws, ear itching, and digestive upset. While a grain allergy is possible, most dogs can digest grains without any issues. Speak with your vet if you notice any changes in digestion and whether this is suitable for your dog.

What food is good for dogs with allergies?

Hypoallergenic dog foods and novel protein diets with simple ingredient formulas, omega-3 fatty acids, and skin health supplements are great options for dogs with allergies. Our vets love Royal Canins Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Adult DP Dry Dog Food because its packed with easy-to-digest proteins.

What ingredient in dog food causes itching?

The most common ingredients causing itching are proteins, including beef, dairy, and chicken.

Food allergies in dogs

If your dog reacts to certainfoods,itspossible that they might havea food allergyoranintolerance,buthow can you helptreatthem, what symptomsshould youwatch out for and when should you visit your vet?

Can dogs have food allergies?

Yes. Just like us, our dogs can develop a food allergy or food intolerance at any time of their life, even after years of eating the same food! Food allergies account for around 10 per cent of allergies in dogs.

What is a food allergy?

If your dog has a food allergy their immune system mistakenly sees a certain part of the food as a threat to the body. When the body is under attack from things like viruses or bacteria, antibodies are released to help identify the danger and neutralise it. When your dog develops a food allergy, its body reacts in a similar way to food allergens and the resulting immune response can impact the whole body.

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What is an intolerance?

An intolerance is different from an allergy in that it does not involve the immune system. The cause of an intolerance is not always known, but is usually linked to problems digesting the food, rather than an issue with the immune system. Clinical signs, caused by an intolerance, usually causes local issues around the stomach and gut, causing wind, stomach pain or bloating, although they can also have impacts on the whole body too.

What foods commonly cause an allergy or intolerance?

Any food ingredient could cause an allergic reaction or an intolerance. Food allergies, however, are almost always caused by a protein source most commonly chicken, beef or dairy.

Symptoms of a food allergy

Signs of a food allergy or intolerance can include:

Being sick
An upset stomach
Excessive wind
Losing weight
Itchy skin that can become red and irritated
Regularly getting skin or ear infections
Licking themselves a lot

Did you know that dogs dont have symptoms?

Technically, the definition of a symptom is a clinical effect thats been described by the patient. Since dogs cant describe how they're feeling they actually have clinical effects rather than symptoms. In some of our articles we use symptoms because its a well understood term and is commonly used by dog owners. It may not be the correct use of the word, but we aim to produce information thats accessible to all and can be easily found by owners.

Can a dog suddenly develop a food allergy?

Yes. Food intolerances can appear at any time in a dogs life, even if theyve frequently eaten that food before. Food allergies often begin between one and three years old, but this isnt always the case.

Which breeds are most affected?

Any dog can develop allergies, but some breeds may be more likely to develop them than others. Breeds most commonly affected include:

How are food allergies diagnosed?

If you think your dog might have a food allergy or an intolerance, then you should always

speak to your vet

before changing your dogs diet. Your vet may suggest putting your dog on a food elimination trial, which helps rule out other causes of their illness. This involves only feeding your dog a specially formulated diet, usually something called a fully hydrolysed diet, where all proteins in the food have been broken down to a level that is so small the body no longer recognises it and it is therefore very unlikely to cause a reaction. Your dog must only eat this food and nothing else for a minimum for 4-6 weeks. If they eat any other foods, including treats, human foods, or even dental sticks, then it might make it difficult for your vet to work out what the problem is. Your vet will recommend a suitable diet to feed your dog and may be able to advise how to make treats out of this special food.

What can I feed my dog?

Once your vet has confirmed that your dog has a food allergy or intolerance, they will be able to recommend an appropriate diet for your dog. Its important to talk through your diet options with your vet and choose a diet that helps keep your dog healthy and nourished.

When should I contact my vet?

If you think your dog may have an allergy or a food intolerance, then its important that you contact your vet for advice. There are several other health problems that could cause similar effects, so its important that you speak to your vet to determine what is wrong with your dog.

Think your dog may be affected?

If you're worried about your dog's health, always contact your vetimmediately!

We are not a veterinary organisation and so we can't give veterinary advice, but if you're worried about any of the issues raised in this article, please contact your local vet practice for further information