What is the most allergic food for dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

The Best Foods for Dogs With Allergies

Humans arent the only ones with allergiesour dogs can get them, too. Canine allergies can lead to numerous skin conditions that can be frustrating to manage. These allergies can be due to environmental causes or from the food our dogs eat.

Key Takeaways

Dogs can be allergic to foods like beef, chicken, lamb, wheat, soy, eggs, corn, and nuts.
Allergy tests for dogs are not reliable.
The only proven way to tell what your dog is allergic to is to change their protein source or perform an elimination diet trial.

The most common symptoms of dog food allergies include:

Redness of the skin of the inner ears
Itchiness of the ears (chronic scratching of the ears or shaking of the head)
Ear hematomas
Chronic thickening of the ears
Chronic ear infections
Redness and itchiness of the feet or in between toes (foot chewing)
Chronic pododermatitis
Patchy hair loss along the neck and trunk
Chronic skin infections (with bacteria or yeast) that never seem to clear up

Skin issues are the most common dog food allergy symptoms. These are mostly seen as an allergic reaction to the proteins absorbed in food.

The reaction leads to the release of immune cells, which can cause weakening of the bonds between the skin cells, resulting in a weakening of the skin barrier. This change in the skin barrier leads to redness and itchiness, and it makes the skin more susceptible to infection with normal bacteria and yeast.

The most affected areas are the ears, paws, around the eyes, and sometimes the trunk (torso) and limbs.

What Are Common Dog Food Allergens?

The most common proteins dogs are allergic to are beef, chicken, lamb, and wheat. Other less common causes of dog food allergies include soy, eggs, corn, and nuts.

Dogs cannot be tested for food allergies like people can, as the available testing is unreliable. The only proven way to tell what your dog is allergic to is to change their protein source or perform an elimination diet trial.

During an elimination diet trial, you eliminate all proteins your dog has been exposed to for two to three months. This gives the body enough time to completely eliminate the old protein sources and heal from the chronic allergy stimulation.

How To Help a Dog With Food Allergies

An elimination diet trial withhydrolyzed foodis the best way to treat and diagnose a dog food allergy. Its easiest to start with a prescription diet, such asHills z/dorRoyal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein. Theseveterinary dietshave proteins that are too small to be recognized by the immune system.

An elimination diet trial takes approximately two to three months to complete. This time is necessary for the old proteins to leave the dogs system. Additionally, the dog must be on the diet long enough to see a difference from the previous food.

The most common mistake pet parents make is not waiting long enough before calling it quits on the diet trial. Changing what your dog is eating for just a week or two will not give you complete results, so taking the proper amount of time to test food and treats is crucial.

Another common mistake: feed a dog anything other than the elimination diet. During a diet trial, pets cannot have any table scraps or treats (unless the elimination diet has a compatible treat option).

Changing what your dog is eating for just a week or two will not give you complete results, so taking the proper amount of time to test food and treats is crucial.

If the symptoms do not resolve after two or three months on the hydrolyzed elimination diet trial, your dog most likely has some type of environmental allergen. Or something else is causing the problem, such as an autoimmune condition.

If you get a good response from the trial, try to feed your dog a new protein source, such as venison, fish, or kangaroo. If they are going to react to these proteins, you should notice a mild reaction starting within two weeks. If their allergy symptoms return, stop the new protein source and go back to the hydrolyzed food.

Try adding one protein at a time every two to four weeks. If your dog reacts, stop and keep things steady for another two weeks before trying a different protein.

Contact your veterinarian before starting any diet trial to get a prescription for a hydrolyzed diet. Its also important to see your veterinarian to make sure your pet doesnt have any concurrent infections, which can be common because of the disturbed skin barrier caused by the allergic reaction. Infections can look the same as dog food allergy symptoms, so you must make sure to clear all infections during the food elimination trial.

During the trial, remember:

Make sure the prescription treats and food are all that you are feeding your pet. You cant feed human food or regular pet treats with a food trial, as it can introduce the allergens youre trying to eliminate.
Alwaysintroduce a dog to a new diet slowlyto avoid stomach upset or diarrhea.

The Best Dog Food for Allergies

Hydrolyzed Dog Foods

Hydrolyzed foods are the best dog food for allergies because the proteins are broken down into pieces that are so small the body cant recognize them. Some of these foods include:

Novel Protein Foods

Novel protein diets include proteins that your dog has not been introduced to before, such as duck, fish, venison, and kangaroo. Some examples of novel protein diets are:

Foods for Puppies With Allergies

While its rare for puppies to have food allergies, there are some documented cases in pups as young as 6 months old. If you think your puppy may have a food allergy, lamb and rice formulas, such asPurina Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula, would be a good place to start for a novel protein.

If allergies are severe and your vet recommends a hydrolyzed diet, Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein does come in a puppy formulation.

WRITTEN BY

Robyn Gallucci, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Gallucci started her career in veterinary medicine as a kennel assistant in high school and began training as a technician in college....

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

Treatment

If the food trial confirms that your dog has a food allergy, your vet might recommend feeding your dog their new diet for life, as long as its a complete food that contains all the necessary nutrients. Your dog shouldnt have any other food or treats at all. Keep all human food and other pet food safely out of reach.

Once your dog is settled without symptoms on their special diet, you can try adding ingredients back into their food (one at a time) to try and find out what they are allergic to. If your dog doesnt show any symptoms, this is a safe food. Alternatively, if your dogs symptoms come back after eating a certain food, its likely they are allergic to it. This will help you select a dog food that only contains safe foods. If you want to do this you should follow your vets advice.

Some dogs with a food allergy will also have allergies to things in the environment, this may cause atopic dermatitis (allergic skin disease). In this case, they might improve a bit on a special diet but they may need other treatments as well to help keep their skin symptoms controlled.

Food Allergies in Dogs

What Are Food Allergies in Dogs?

Food allergies are an immune response to ingredients in a dog's dietan ingredient they are allergic to. This immune response usually becomes apparent over a prolonged amount of time rather than immediately after they try a food for the first time. Most dogs with true food allergies are actually allergic to a specific protein rather than a grain, as many assume. However, dogs can also be allergic to any ingredient in the diet itself.

When a dog with food allergies encounters a specific food they are allergic to, their immune system sees that protein as a foreign substance and mounts an immune system attack. This commonly causes itching, redness, and swelling. Food allergies are less common than environmental allergies, such as seasonal allergies and flea/tick allergies. In fact, only 0.2% of dogs are actually affected by food allergies.

Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs

Causes of Food Allergies in Dogs

Food allergies are caused by an overenthusiastic immune system reaction to specific protein. The immune system mistakenly treats the protein like a foreign substance and kicks into gear. This leads to inflammation, which causes physical changes in the dog's body, such as redness, swelling, itching, and increased tear or other fluid production, while the immune system tries to get rid of the foreign substance. This fluid production can be in the gastrointestinal tract as well, leading to diarrhea and/or vomiting.

There is a genetic component to all allergies. However, the exact mechanism of why allergies develop in some dogs and not in others is not fully understood.

Dogs can have allergies from an early age or they can develop them several years into life. While allergies can occur in any breed of dog at any age, some are more likely to have food allergies. Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Miniature Schnauzers, and Shar-Pei are more prone to develop food allergies.

There are several ingredients that are often linked to food allergies in dogs. The most common allergy is to a specific protein, but many dogs are allergic to more than one food ingredient. The following have been commonly linked to food allergies in dogs:

Chicken
Beef
Dairy
Wheat
Soy
Eggs

How Veterinarians Diagnose Food Allergies in Dogs

Dogs are most often diagnosed with food allergies based on a physical exam, clinical signs, and their response to a food trial.

Your dogs veterinarian may recommend that you complete a food trial with your pet. Food trials last eight to 12 weeks and must be followed exactly as prescribed. Be sure not to give any treats or other diets that may disrupt the results of the trial. Talk to your veterinarian about which heartworm and flea/tick prevention products are best during this time, as many have added beef or chicken protein for flavor. There are various ways that a food trial can be approached:

A prescription hydrolyzed protein diet. These diets have broken their proteins down to small particles so that they are unable to bind to the receptor and initiate the immune response.
An elimination diet. These diets have a single source protein/carbohydrate, and are either formulated by a veterinary nutritionist or are home-cooked diets made under the direction of a veterinarian.

Most elimination diets are not suitable for long-term feeding, and instead are used only to diagnose food allergies. If your dogs skin/ear issues resolve, then you know that your dog has a food allergy and can move forward in finding a diet that they will thrive on long-term.

Novel new, protein/carbohydrate source diets. This is food that has unusual protein or carbohydrate sources and limited ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction.
Skin support diets. These are fortified with bioactives and phytonutrients to minimize the immune system's response.

Food trials or elimination diets are the best way to diagnose food allergies. There are diagnostic tests on the market, but many questions remain regarding their accuracy.

Treatment of Food Allergies in Dogs

Most food allergies are treated with a change in diet. It is very common for dogs with food allergies to also have environmental allergies. They may be prescribed allergy medications like Apoquel, Cytopoint, antihistamines, or steroids, in addition to a special diet.

Several supplements may be beneficial to dogs with allergies as well. These include omega fatty acids to boost the natural barrier function of the skin, and products including:

Best Food Diet for Dogs with Food Allergies

Many diets on the market can help to manage your dogs allergies. Allergies are specific to the individual dog, so there is no one best diet. The best diet is the food that contains ingredients that your dog is not allergic to and is balanced and formulated for optimal health. The following list includes several diets that many allergy dogs have found relief with, including:

Recovery and Management of Food Allergies in Dogs

Food allergies cannot be cured, but they can be well-managed long term with appropriate diet therapy and avoidance of allergic ingredients. If your dog has a food allergy, be sure to watch dog food labels closely, especially with treats, so you dont accidentally give them anything considered allergenic. Prescription treats EW on the market, and some pet parents find it helpful to use raw baby carrots or green beans for treats in a pinch.

If your dog has food allergies and is undergoing a diet trial, expect it to last eight to 12 weeks before you can see an improvement. Reduction in licking and chewing may be seen in the first four weeks, but other dogs may take up to 12 weeks before you see any improvement.