What proteins are dogs most allergic to

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....

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.

The Best Protein Source for Allergy-Prone Dogs

Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to allergies than others. They can develop a whole host of uncomfortable symptoms and it can be difficult to find a food that provides all the appropriate nutrition, without the offending protein source and most importantly, a food Fido will eat. Thus, having knowledge of the most common allergens as opposed to those less likely to cause problems, is important.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions to food manifest in a variety of ways. Symptoms can include itchy, dry skin and excessive scratching or licking that lead to "hot spots" -- self inflicted trauma -- and possibly skin and ear infections. Internally, vomiting and diarrhea can result, possibility causing dehydration. Food allergies can be present at a young age or may develop over time as an immune response.

Allergy-Causing Foods

When it comes to protein sources, the most common allergens include beef, dairy products, wheat proteins, chicken, egg and soy products. This seems like an extensive list of common ingredients, but pet parents should not be discouraged, as there are many other protein sources and hypoallergenic diets available once the offending allergen or allergens have been determined.

Least Common Allergens

Less common commercial protein sources such as lamb, venison, rabbit and fish are often found in hypoallergenic and low-allergen diets. Dogs with allergies to the more common chicken and beef may do well with these alternative protein sources. However, it should be noted that allergies toward any food can develop, so it is important to monitor for symptoms even when using novel proteins.

The Elimination Trial

To help determine what your pup is allergic to, a veterinarian will use an 12-week elimination trial, replacing the current food with a strict hypoallergenic diet that excludes any treats or table scraps. At the end of this 12-week period, the vet will reintroduce the previous food for a brief period to determine what protein source is causing the allergy. At this point, your vet will help determine an appropriate low-allergen maintenance diet.

A guide to the best protein sources for dogs

Can dogs eat a vegetarian diet?

Though dogs are naturally omnivores, they can thrive on a vegetarian diet of balanced nutrients. Without the proper supplements, however, its possible that a dog on a vegetarian diet can experience protein or vitamin deficiency.

What is the best protein for overweight dogs?

Not all dog foods and protein sources are created with bioavailability in mind, so its important to consult your vet before making major dietary changes to Fidos nutrition plan, especially when it comes to weight loss. That being said, vets may recommend fresh, lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs coupled with high fiber foods such as fresh brussels sprouts and broccoli.

What is the best protein for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

This actually depends on your dog as certain proteins may increase stomach sensitivity in your dogs. For example, your vet may recommend switching from a chicken-based diet to a diet with more beef or fish if your dog has a sensitive stomach. In general, youll want to look out for high-quality ingredients when shopping around for dog food.

Is meat better than meat-meal?

Actually, ingredients that list chicken meal refer to chicken with the water and fat removed, meaning it can actually contain a higher percentage of protein⁴ compared to just chicken as an ingredient. When you see chicken listed as an ingredient, it refers to unprocessed chicken with water.

Whats the healthiest meat for dogs?

To determine whats healthiest, you need to understand how the meats have been processed, whether your dog has an allergy to a certain meat, and whether your pup enjoys the food to ensure they will even retain the nutrients! Protein sources like chicken, turkey and lean ground beef are all great options for animal-based protein diets.

Is chicken or salmon better for dogs?

Chicken and salmon both retain high biological value for dogs, but the quality of protein depends on how the meats have been processed and whether or not your dog has an allergy to a certain meat.

Whats the most easily digestible protein for dogs?

Whole eggs have high biological values and are a great source of protein for Fido, but there are many recommended options, including chicken, turkey, salmon, and lean ground beef.

How much protein should dog food have?

The minimum requirement of crude protein³ for adult dogs is 8%, but the average diet for an adult dog typically contains 25-30% crude protein on the food label. Exactly how much protein your dog needs varies depending on your dogs breed, weight, health conditions, and activity level.

What fish is best for dogs?

Salmon and tilapia are highly recommended by vets! When trying out Fidos tolerance to any particular fish, start with a small amount.

Are any meats bad for dogs?

Not generally, though pork is a fattier cut of meat and can increase risk of developing pancreatitis, so youll want to keep consumption to a minimum. If your dog is sensitive or allergic to a certain meat, youll also want to avoid this as a protein source and consult your vet for an alternate source.