Canine Food Allergies
Print Ready PDF
Pamphlet prepared for the VMC by
Lauren Simpson, Class of 2009
What is a Food Allergy?
A food allergy is a negative response by the immune system, usually to
a protein in the diet. It is distinct from other adverse responses to
food, such as:
- food intolerance
- drug reactions
- toxic reactions
It is important to remember that food allergies are NOT usually
associated with a sudden diet change. It is much more likely that your
dog will have been on their food for an extended period of time before
the development of a true food allergy.
What foods are dogs allergic to?
Proteins in beef, dairy products, wheat, chicken, egg, and soy products
are often linked to food allergies in dogs. Corn is rarely a cause of
food allergy, but has been a popular ingredient in dog foods for many
years.
What are the most commonly affected breeds?
- Soft-coated Wheaton Terrier
- Dalmatian
- Collie
- West Highland White Terrier
- Chinese Shar-Pei
- Bichon Frise
- Lhasa Apso
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Cocker/Springer Spaniels
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
What will my dog look like with food allergies?
- Scratching or licking that happens at anytime of the year.
- Saliva staining on limbs.
- Hair loss on the belly, back or tail.
- Chronic ear infections.
- Diarrhea or vomiting.
Dogs with food allergies may also have skin diseases resulting from
flea allergies, mold allergies, or parasites. And these diseases will
need to be diagnosed and treated before your dog can recover from his
food allergy.
How are food allergies diagnosed?
A restricted dietary trial must be performed to accurately diagnose a
food allergy in your dog. This is called an “elimination trial” and
includes either a homemade protein and carbohydrate diet or a
commercially prepared product. Offering treats, human foods, flavored
medications and flavored toys must be discontinued during the 12 week
diet elimination trial. Commercially available products for dogs
include:
- Exclude
- Hill’s Prescription z/d ultra
- Nestlé Purina’s HA Diet
- Royal Canin Hypoallergenic HP19
- Homemade diet recipes can be purchased from a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist at www.petdiets.com
What is a Diet Elimination Trial?
To properly diagnose a true food allergy, your veterinarian will
recommend a 12 week elimination diet trial. You can choose to feed a
home-cooked diet or a commercially prepared therapeutic product. This
dietary choice will depend on your preferences, availability of
ingredients, and cost to prepare/feed meals.
The veterinarian will instruct you to gradually switch from your dog’s
current food to the chosen elimination diet over a 4 day period. Only
the chosen diet and water is to be fed to your dog during the 12-week
diet trial. No treats, supplements, flavored medications or flavored
toys should be offered during this time.
Your veterinarian will also instruct you to keep a diary or journal
during the trial. It will be important to record your dog’s appetite,
exercise activity, bowel movements, urinations, itching, scratching,
and licking. This diary will help your veterinarian evaluate your dog’s
progress over time.
If your dog is no longer showing any clinical signs of food allergies
at the end of 12 weeks, your veterinarian will recommend introducing
the food your dog was on prior to the start of the trial. This is done
in order to identify the specific protein sources causing your dog’s
allergy. The original food will only be fed for a short time. Your
veterinarian will work with you to find the best ‘maintenance’ diet to
feed your dog long term.
Some commercial maintenance diets include:
- Hill’s Prescription d/d diet
- Iams Skin and Coat Response KO
- Iams Skin and Coat Response FP diet
- Nestle Purina’s Limited Antigen diet
- Royal Canin Diets
Can my dog’s allergies ever return?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes. Dogs that are found
to be food-allergic can often develop a new allergy to additional
protein sources. This includes the novel proteins found in any
‘maintenance diet’. Regular check-ups at your veterinarian’s clinic are
recommended to keep your dog as healthy as possible.
Additional Resources
Manual of Veterinary Dietetics, Buffington, Holloway Abood. Elsevier,
St. Louis, Mo. 2004
Dematology Service, MSU
