Recognising A Food Allergy
You can only reliably establish whether your dog has a food allergy with the help of a vet and an exclusion diet. It is important to watch for symptoms that point to an allergy in your dog. Whereas itching caused by a food allergy causes problems all year round, symptoms caused by grass and pollen allergies die down after the summer months. The most frequent symptoms of a food allergy are not diarrhoea and vomiting, but itching! Skin irritations can occur in various areas including the face, ears, paws, stomach, inner thighs and armpits. However, remember that: These symptoms can also relate to other illnesses, which is why a visit to the vet is urgently recommended.
What Can You Usually Find In The Best Dog Food With Limited Ingredients
Limited ingredient diets are popular for dogs with allergies because of their unique protein alternatives. While you dont often see things like duck dog food or rabbit dog food all over the shelves in your local pet store, unique proteins like these are very popular in limited ingredient diets. This is because these proteins, or novel proteins, are ingredients your dog hasnt been exposed to before. Therefore, your dog likely hasnt been able to develop an allergy to it unlike more common proteins like chicken and beef. Lamb dog food like our Venture Roasted Lamb & Butternut Squash recipe is another popular protein choice for limited ingredient diets because its known to be better for sensitive stomachs.
While looking a limited ingredient diet dog food youll also typically find many grain-free dog foods. Some dogs are actually allergic to grains, so many limited ingredient recipes are grain-free to help those dogs find relief as well.
Supporting Your Dog If They’re Suffering From A Food Allergy
If you believe your dog is suffering from a food allergy, always speak to your veterinarian before taking any action.
Your veterinarian will first identify whether it is a food allergy through an elimination diet trial. Once your veterinarian has completed their diagnosis they will be able to advise suitable management options for your dog’s food allergies.
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Cost Of Homemade Vs Store
$20 of ingredients made 40 individual 1 cup homemade servings or about $.50/serving. Store-bought dry food is about $.41 per serving. So yes, homemade is more expensive but has fresh nutrition and ingredients I believe are good for your dog, after all, dogs ate human leftovers and scraps way before dog food was manufactured!
This serving size is for my 11-pound dog, she is small. So you would need to calculate the number of daily calories your dog needs.
PRO TIP: This recipe for homemade dog food calculates the calories for you in 1 cup servings.
Diagnosis Of Dry Dog Food Allergies In Dogs
If your dog is suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, make an appointment with your veterinarian. To begin, your veterinarian will ask a variety of questions pertaining to his environment, his eating habits, when the symptoms first began, and how long they have lasted.
Your veterinarian will then perform a variety of tests to rule out any other conditions. He may choose to do bloodwork, a biochemistry profile, and urinalysis to start with, and any other tests that he feels are necessary for him to come to a diagnosis. He will also take a closer look at the skin if it is irritated, and will examine your pets abdominal area if he is suffering from gastrointestinal distress.
Once your veterinarian has determined that your dog is not suffering from a condition other than possible allergies, he will ask you questions about his diet and will want to know the ingredients in his dog food. Taking the dog food container or bag into the veterinarians office with you will help him acquire more information about what is a possible allergen.
Food allergies can be challenging to diagnose, but before your veterinarian chooses to do any skin testing, he may want to try an elimination diet to see if the specific allergen can be discovered. This elimination diet usually lasts approximately 21 days, but it can be very much worth the wait for your dogs future health and happiness.
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Our Backstory: Common Food Allergies For Dogs
After Rascal turned a year old or so, he started developing really strange eating habits. He wasnt finishing his food, had loud intense stomachaches and frequently threw up. We went through a number of blood tests. He had been diagnosed with things like pancreatitis, anxiety and one vet even thought he had parvo. We were stressed and at a loss at how to move forward. That is until we did an allergy test.
We uncovered that Rascal was allergic to a dozen different food items, one being beef, the main ingredient in his traditional dry dog food. Our vet introduced us to an all-natural human-grade dog food company called Just Food for Dogs. The company sells premade food and teaches people how to make a homemade dog food recipe at home. Once we started this all-natural diet, the stomach aches subsided and he was the happiest we had ever seen him.
Buyers Guide: Choosing The Best Dog Foods For Allergies
The one thing to know about buying dog food for certain food allergies is that they almost always come labeled two different ways: Limited ingredient diet or Hypoallergenic. If youre unsure about the type to choose, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian and ask for a recommendation. In most cases, LID foods contain fewer ingredients and are less likely to trigger a reaction in your dog. These are also a lot easier to buy, as some hypoallergenic foods might require you to get a prescription.
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Ollie Subscription Dog Food
Ollie is a great option for pet parents looking for fresh dog food with limited ingredients. Their recipes feature single animal proteins and are free of common allergens such as corn, soy, or wheat. The foods are formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. And all ingredients are clearly listed on their site, revealing a balance of vitamins, minerals, and fibers for digestion. You can even let them know about your dogs allergies in their onboarding quiz before trying out a recipe.
Ollie Subscription Dog Food
With recipes formulated by veterinary nutritionists, Ollie dog food is a good option for pet parents considering hypoallergenic diets, as well as fresh dog food delivery.
Best For Senior Dogs: Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Natural Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Potato
Courtesy of Amazon
Key Ingredients: Deboned turkey, oatmeal, brown rice, potatoes, peas| Flavors: Turkey and potato | Packaging Size: 4 or 24 pound bag
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Peas and pumpkin promote healthy digestion
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More expensive
We all want our pets to have a long, healthy life and a big part of that is changing their diet to match their needs as they get older. The older a dog gets, the important healthy digestion becomes, and this blend of Blue Buffalo turkey and potato is designed to do just that. Using turkey as the primary ingredient gives your senior doggy the protein boost that they need while avoiding the ingredients like chicken and beef that are common sources of allergies. This recipe also contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that help overall skin and coat health.
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Final Thoughts: Whats The Leading Dog Food For Skin Allergies Of 2022
If your dog has an allergy, changing its food is a good first step to better health. Go for a human-grade formula, like the Ollies Lamb Recipe. It screams homemade food as its minimally processed to preserve its nutritional value. The recipe contains lamb and butternut squash, as well as nutrient-dense cranberries and kale. Also, its cooked at low temperatures and free from fillers or artificial flavors.
Dont hesitate to check with your vet if the unpleasant symptoms arent an underlying cause of a more serious health problem. And if you must become an expert in dog nutrition or allergies to help your pet, make sure to check our other useful guides on these topics.
What Foods Make Dogs Itchy
There are many culprits behind the itchy skin and irritated ears that plague dogs. One of the most common offenders is food sensitivities, which can develop as a result of something as simple as an animal protein-based dog food ingredient such as chicken or beef.
Other potentially problematic ingredients include those found in artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT and synthetic colors like Red Dye No 2 .
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Signs You May Need To Consider Dog Or Puppy Food For Allergies
According to PetMD, dog upset stomach symptoms can be any of the following:
- Looking uncomfortable and stretching more often
- Gulping to combat reflux
- Licking their lips, the air, or objects
All of these symptoms along with others like dog bloated stomach, dog upset stomach, diarrhea, or if your dog is lethargic and not eating are all signs you may need to take another look at whats in your dogs bowl. While this could be a sign of a dog food intolerance or allergy, it could also be a sign of other health issues which is why it is so important to work with your vet when making any kind of medical diagnosis when your dog is sickallergies or sensitivities included.
What Are Dry Dog Food Allergies
There are many types of dry dog food on the market today, and these foods contain the typical ingredients of rice, barley, soy, corn, and wheat. They also contain meat by-products, chicken, liver, beef, and lamb. These ingredients are distributed in different ways within different dog foods. Dry dog food also contains a specific amount of vitamins and minerals, fats, and carbohydrates.
When deciding on the dry dog food that is best for your pet, it is very important to read the labels and be proactive in your dogs nutrition. Your veterinarian can also help with this decision. Although there are many quality dry dog foods on the market today, dogs may show allergic symptoms to one or more of the ingredients.
Dry dog food allergies occur over time rather than immediately. In the beginning, it may be hard to decipher an allergy from an upset stomach or skin reaction due to another agent. However, dry dog food allergies are common in many different breeds and are very treatable. If you are currently feeding your dog a specific type of dry dog food and he develops the following symptoms, he may have a food allergy. The only way to discover this is to make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Dry dog food allergies in dogs are a result of the hypersensitive immune system of the dog to a particular ingredient within the dry dog food. Dry dog food allergies may not occur immediately they usually develop over time after being fed the same ingredients on a regular basis.
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Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Dry Dog Food
The Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food is a delicious option for allergen free dog food. It is made with organic, free-range chicken, along with a superfood blend. It is free of any chemical pesticides, preservatives, hormones, or synthetic fertilizers.
- First ingredient listed is free-range, organic chicken.
- Cooked in an Organically Certified USA Kitchen.
- Encourages reduction of allergies, itchy skin, and digestion issues.
Types Of Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Hypoallergenic dog food could be misleading since an ingredient that triggers food allergies in dogs varies from one dog to another.
For example, for a dog that’s allergic to chicken, any food that does not contain this common allergen can be considered hypoallergenic dog food.
But that’s not the case for dogs that are allergic to various ingredients other than chicken, like rice or beef, pork, and others.
A vet typically recommends this type of dog food once your dog’s food allergies are determined. Though hypoallergenic dog foods are often regarded as prescription dog foods, some are readily available over-the-counter and online.
Here are the common types of hypoallergenic food for dogs: Limited Ingredient Diet, Hydrolyzed Dog Food, and Grain-Free Diet.
Limited Ingredient Diet
Limited ingredient dog food, otherwise known as limited ingredient diets , refers to dog foods with fewer ingredients. This diet helps eliminate and identify food ingredients that trigger dog food allergies.
Generally, limited ingredient diets include a novel protein and a different carbohydrate source.
A novel protein is a new protein that is not usually present in common dog foods. Examples of sources include kangaroo, venison, duck, venison, turkey, and ostrich.
Usual novel carbohydrate sources for limited ingredients diet are brown rice, sweet potatoes, and oatmeal.
Hydrolyzed Formula
Grain-Free Formula
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Canidae Pure Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
Canidae Pure is the optimal dry dog food for allergies with limited ingredients. Salmon is the main star of the recipe, accompanied by probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins. Its grain-free and comes in Climate Pledge-friendly packaging.
Canidae Pure has a simple recipe with whole foods and real meat. Its grain-free and has limited ingredients, like salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, sweet potatoes, and peas.
The added glucosamine, chondroitin, fatty acids, and antioxidants contribute to healthy joints, skin, coats, and immunity. With so many benefits, it may be the finest grain-free dog food for skin allergies. The recipe is made in Canidaes Texas facilities in 4 lb, 12 lb, and 24 lb Climate Pledge-friendly bags.
Product Specifics:
Food Allergy Symptoms & Diagnosis
Before you start with a hypoallergenic diet for dogs, search for the symptoms. The main ones include:
- Frequent sneezing
- Runny eyes
- Frequent licking
You need to be patient with food allergies. The first step for an accurate diagnosis is a food exclusion trial. It means giving your dog new sources of single protein and carbohydrates over 12 weeks. Your veterinarian should determine the proper elimination approach for your pooch.
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Things You Should Think About Before Buying The Food For Allergy Sensitive Dog
Buying new products is an exciting experience, but it can also be risky. What are the things that I should think about before purchasing the food for allergy sensitive dog?
This post will go over three key factors to consider when making your purchase decision:
- How much do you like or need this specific item?
- Does the price of this item compare favourably with similar products?
- What are other customers saying about it?
What Is Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Hypoallergenic dog food is dog food thats made with a simple set of ingredients and a novel protein not typically found in most commercial dog foods. The ingredient list will usually be short and composed of foods pups are less likely to have encounteredwith vegetables like potatoes and meats like duck, venison, or even kangaroo.
Food made from a short list of uncommon ingredients helps pet parents avoid their pups usual triggers. It can be enormously helpful, but you probably wont have much luck pulling just any bag of hypoallergenic food off the shelf. In order to know which hypoallergenic dog food to buy, you first have to have a good understanding about what your pet is allergic toor at least where youd like to start testing.
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Protein For Dogs With Allergies: Signs Your Dog Is Having Too Much Protein
When it comes to your dog, protein is something that we typically think of wanting to have a lot of in their diet. However, too much of a good thing can also have consequences. According to PetMD:
Protein is a calorie dense nutrient and many of the high protein diets are extremely high in calories and can quickly lead to weight gain. With over 50% of dogs in the U.S. considered overweight or obese, dog owners need to be aware of where those extra calories are hiding. If a dog has kidney or liver issues consuming too much protein can increase the workload on these organs and upset the balance of nutrients leading to exacerbation of disease.
That being said, they go on to say that you should look for a food formulated for your dogs lifestylesome dogs should have more protein in their diet! This is yet another reason why you should take your dog to the vet often, as your vet will be able to recommend a diet that works for your dogs size, breed, and energy level.
How To Tell If Your Dog Has Food Sensitivity
If you suspect your dog has a food intolerance, you could try an elimination diet. But its a long process. By the time you eliminate every food on your dogs menu for 12 weeks each, it could take years to identify which foods he might be sensitive to.
But recently, tests have been developed to determine if your dog has food intolerance or sensitivity. Saliva tests can measure the IgA and IgM antibodies in your dog or cat. Any foods that come back with elevated antibody levels indicate a food sensitivity so you should remove that food from your dogs diet.
If you keep feeding that food, the inflammation and the allergy, joint or other health issues it causes, will remain.
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Spot The Signs Of Your Dogs Allergies
Dry itchy skin is just one of the many symptoms that may indicate your dog is experiencing a bigger problem brought on by environmental allergies. In rare cases, these may also be signs of food allergies in dogs. When your dog experiences abnormal reactions such as these in response to a certain allergen, they may feel discomfort that causes them to scratch. Unfortunately, this often only further agitates the skin, increasing their discomfort.
Here are a few signs to look out for if you are wondering if your dog might be experiencing allergies:
- Red patches, spots or pimples
- Flaky or scaly patches
- Digestive issues
- Watery eyes and runny nose
Understanding how to help dogs with dry skin and other derm issues can feel frustrating, and treatment can vary on a case-by-case basis depending on your dogs diagnosis. But in general, a combination of therapeutic nutrition that can help alleviate their signs and provide long-term care, plus veterinarian prescribed medication, can help prevent future flare-ups of skin allergies.