If you’re lucky enough to be allergy-free, you probably know at least a few people who can’t stop sneezing when there’s pollen in the air or have to avoid certain ingredients in their food. Allergies are a fact of life, and while dealing with them can be inconvenient, a little preparation goes a long way in protecting your immune system from potential irritants.

However, what you might not know is that dogs can have allergies too. In fact, dogs can be allergic to many of the same things as humans, including dust, pollen, and foods. The most common dog allergies are in fact food allergies, but they’re not always easy to diagnose. 

If you’re concerned about your pup’s health or suspect they’re allergic to something in their food, don’t panic. There are many ways to investigate and treat any issues your dog might have.

You might have to change your dog’s environment or diet, but we’ll walk you through every step necessary to keep your dog safe and healthy. 

At the end of the day, we all have different needs. By looking out for your dog’s food sensitivities, you’re doing the best job as a pup parent and ensuring that food allergies don’t bring down their quality of life. They’ll certainly appreciate it when they enjoy a tasty, nutritious meal without any unpleasant side effects after dinnertime. 

Let’s dive in with a quick refresher on allergies and how they might affect your dog.

What Are Allergies?

Allergies are fairly common, but we'll start with the basics if you’re still wondering what causes them. In essence, allergic reactions result from an overreaction from the body’s immune system.

The immune system normally protects you from threats like viruses, bacteria, and diseases. It produces antibodies to fight off these invaders and keep you healthy. Allergic reactions occur when your body’s immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance as a threat. 

For example, your dog’s immune system might create antibodies in response to chicken proteins. When your dog eats chicken, they’ll experience an intense reaction as their body tries to destroy the proteins, thinking they are a threat (even though they are not). 

When Should I Test My Dog for Allergies?

If you’re unsure whether your dog has allergies, here are some signs and symptoms. None of these signs guarantee the presence of a food allergy, but they can all be potential responses to a strong immune reaction that signal it’s worth investigating a potential allergy further.

Coughing and Sneezing

If your dog is coughing or sneezing a lot, you should take note. An occasional sneeze is fine, especially when they’re playing, but if they start experiencing these issues regularly, they might be having an allergic reaction.

Tummy Problems

Food allergies can create issues with your dog’s digestion. Keep an eye out if they experience problems such as vomiting or diarrhea regularly. Weight loss is another possible symptom of an untreated food allergy.

Itchy Skin

If your dog has red, irritated skin or spends a lot of time scratching themselves, a food allergy might be the cause. Other symptoms include obsessive licking of their feet, skin lesions, and patches of bare fur. Excessive licking of the feet can indicate a protein allergy, like to chicken or beef.

It’s also possible your dog might be experiencing skin issues that aren’t related to allergies. In that case, you might consider feeding them a meal designed to support canine skin health, such as our Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe. Ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids can support digestion, healthy skin, and a shiny coat.

Ear Problems

Ear infections can be another sign of allergies in dogs. If your pup has persistent ear issues, you should take them to the vet for further examination and a wellness check. 

What Is My Dog Allergic To?

There are a lot of potential causes of dog allergies. One way to narrow them down is by paying attention to when and where your dog’s symptoms develop. If they’re always itching and licking their feet after mealtime, you can probably assume their food may be contributing to the issue. 

Consulting your vet or a veterinary dermatologist is a good first step. With that in mind, here are some of the most common types of dog allergies to give you some guidance until your appointment.

Seasonal

Seasonal allergies can be a pain. Luckily, environmental allergies are pretty easy to spot. If your dog’s nose starts running every spring, there’s a decent chance that pollen has something to do with it.

The best way to diagnose seasonal allergies is to keep track of when your dog’s symptoms increase and decrease. If they experience cyclical issues yearly, the culprit might be pollen, fresh grass, or other annual irritants.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

In the United States, allergic reactions to flea bites are the most common dermatological issue affecting dogs. These frequently happen in warm weather when fleas are more prevalent.

This dermatitis occurs when a flea bites your dog and flea saliva gets into the wound. Your dog might have a strong immune response to flea saliva and experience itching, pain, and other skin problems.

Food

Food allergies are another prevalent allergy affecting dogs. Unfortunately, food allergies can occur after months or years of eating the same pet food without issues. Your dog’s immune system may suddenly produce antibodies in reaction to a food ingredient they’ve never had a problem with before.

While any specific food can cause a food allergy, proteins are often the culprit. These proteins can come from various sources, including meat, dairy, and wheat gluten.

On the bright side, dealing with a food allergy isn’t too difficult once you know the problem. With the huge variety of dog foods available today, tweaking your pet’s diet is a breeze. 

At Optimeal®, we offer a range of protein sources for your pup, from chicken and salmon to our complete and balanced Liver & Turkey Recipe. We offer as many choices as possible to ensure every dog can find something to love. 

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has a Food Allergy?

If you’re concerned your dog might have a food allergy but you’re not sure how to find out, don’t worry — we’ve got the answers. There’s more than one way to test your dog for allergies. We’ll cover the most common and reliable methods below. 

Ask Your Vet

Before you start allergy testing, you should always consult your veterinarian. They’ll be able to give you tailor-made advice for your pup and test for other potential health problems based on your dog’s clinical signs. 

After ruling out common illnesses and diseases, you’ll be ready to determine what kind of food allergy your dog has.

Blood Testing

Blood testing is a simple procedure that your vet can use to find potential allergies. They’ll take a small blood sample from your dog and test it against various allergens. If they discover an immune response, you’ll know the cause of your dog’s allergies.

One downside to blood testing is that the test results aren’t quite as reliable and effective as some other methods. You might get inconclusive results, especially if your dog has an uncommon allergy.

Food Trial

The food trial is a preferred method of diagnosing food allergies in dogs. To start a food trial, you’ll need to switch your dog to a new hypoallergenic diet. Their new food should contain different ingredients from their old food, including a novel source of protein.

Your dog will stick to their new diet for eight to 12 weeks. They shouldn’t eat anything but their new food, which means no treats, supplements, or extra vitamins.

Your vet can guide you on how to start a food trial for your dog. At the end of the trial period, they’ll evaluate your dog’s symptoms and see if they’ve resolved.

If your dog is symptom-free, your vet might suggest trying a food challenge, where you return to your dog’s old diet. If their allergy symptoms, such as gastrointestinal distress, suddenly return, your dog will typically be diagnosed with a food allergy.

Food Allergy or Food Intolerance?

In some cases, an elimination diet trial won’t answer all your questions. For example, your dog may have a food intolerance, not a food allergy, to common food ingredients.

The difference is how your dog responds to the offending ingredient. If your dog has a food allergy, their immune system will create antibodies to fight off proteins or other harmless, nutritious substances. The antibodies can cause issues such as itchy skin or ear infections.

However, food intolerance is usually tied to your dog’s stomach. If your dog experiences gas, vomiting, or a loss of appetite, they may be experiencing food intolerance and not an allergic reaction.

If you’re trying to figure out which one is affecting your dog, we recommend asking your vet for further guidance.

How Can I Treat My Dog’s Food Allergy?

Switching up your dog's food is the most effective way to treat a food allergy. If their hypoallergenic diet managed to eliminate their allergic reactions, you might just stick with that. However, if you’d like some more options, there are two common approaches to dog food allergies that can keep your furry friend happy and well. 

Remember that you’ll need to pick your new dog food carefully. Even though some ingredients might be safe for your dog, there’s always a risk of cross-contamination from other dog food made with the same equipment.

Hydrolyzed Protein Diet

A hydrolyzed protein diet is made using a specific kind of processing where protein molecules are broken down until they’re too small to trigger an immune response.

Hydrolyzed dog foods are safe for most dogs with food allergies, even if they contain ingredients that would otherwise trigger your dog’s immune system.

Novel Protein Diet 

A novel protein diet contains ingredients your dog hasn’t been exposed to. By introducing new food, you’ll be giving their immune system a break and providing them with all the nutrients they need.

The best way to pick a novel protein diet is to choose a more unusual type of meat, such as venison, duck, or rabbit. 

Dog food allergies aren’t always easy to handle, but your dog will certainly appreciate the hard work you put into keeping them healthy.

By the end of the sensitivity test, you should know what food your dog needs to support their wellness and happiness. While you might need to change your dog’s diet, plenty of resources and limited-ingredient dog foods are available to help keep your pup in tip-top shape, symptom-free.

Your dog relies on you to support their health. In return, they’ll stay by your side, tail wagging, for many years to come — and that’s worth all the effort in the world

Sources:

What Is Dog Allergy Testing? | Hypoallergenic Dog

How to Tell if Your Dog Has Food Allergies | PetMD

Food Allergies in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospital