A food allergy in dogs
Allergies in dogs are unfortunately common; 15% of dogs suffer from a food allergy and/or other allergies. Just like humans, dogs can have an allergic reaction to a specific ingredient. However, the diagnosis is often difficult to make. Especially because a hypersensitivity reaction to a certain ingredient can develop suddenly. Even if a dog has been eating a particular food for years, the animal can develop an allergy to one of the ingredients in the food.
What exactly is a food allergy in dogs ?
A food allergy in dogs is an excessive reaction of the immune system to certain components in the food: the so-called allergens. Animals that are sensitive to these allergens develop skin and/or coat problems or gastrointestinal issues. To diagnose a food allergy in dogs, the dog must have had prolonged or repeated contact with the allergen, causing the allergic reaction. Food allergies can occur in dogs of all ages. However, a food allergy is more common when a dog is two years or older.
Symptoms of a food allergy in dogs
Itching is the most common symptom of a food allergy in dogs. The dog often itches on the paws, groin, armpits, and ears. In addition, your four-legged friend may also experience the following symptoms:
- Dull or greasy coat
- Gastrointestinal issues such as flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Red skin/ rash
- Inflammation of the paw pads
- Scabs
- Weight loss
- Skin flaking
- Abdominal pain
- Bald spots (often around the eyes, muzzle, and chin)
- Lethargy
- Recurring ear infections
How is the diagnosis of a food allergy in dogs made?
Diagnosing a food allergy in dogs is difficult, and often both the veterinarian and the owner have a hard time identifying the exact cause. Itching and rash can, for example, also be caused by a flea allergy.
By means of an elimination diet, you can try to determine what your dog is allergic to. With an elimination diet, you feed your dog a hypoallergenic diet for 6 weeks; a hypoallergenic diet contains ingredients that your dog normally does not eat and to which dogs are rarely allergic. An elimination diet is challenging and requires discipline from the owner. For example, you may not give your dog treats alongside the food. If you do want to give treats, make sure the treats contain only the same proteins/meat as the food.
If your dog's symptoms decrease or disappear completely during the six weeks, you can be sure that you are dealing with a food allergy. For an elimination diet, you can choose hypoallergenic food from the vet or look for hypoallergenic food at the pet store. It is important to always check the composition carefully to ensure the food is truly hypoallergenic.
If you want to give your dog an elimination diet, our Riverwood Mono Protein is specially developed for adult dogs with a food allergy or intolerance. The wet food is particularly suitable as an elimination diet. These foods are made based on protein sources that are uncommon in pet food, reducing the chance that your dog will react to them. Want to try another hypoallergenic food? That’s possible! Did you know that all Riverwood dog foods are hypoallergenic?
What to do if the symptoms do not improve?
It may be that the symptoms do not or insufficiently improve during the elimination diet. This can have two causes. On the one hand, something other than the food may be causing the symptoms. Think, for example, of something in the environment such as fleas, mites, or pollen.
On the other hand, your dog may still be allergic to an ingredient in the elimination diet. In this case, you try a new elimination diet with a different protein source.
Furthermore, it is important to carefully check whether your dog had access to other food during the period it was on the elimination diet. This could include snacks, table scraps, or other foods that may contain allergens.
An allergy test
It is possible to have an allergy test done by the veterinarian. This sounds like a good solution to immediately determine what your dog is allergic to. The downside of an allergy test is its reliability; allergy tests are very unreliable in dogs.
