How common are dog food allergies? When it comes to dog allergies, food allergies come in third behind fleas and inhalants. Unlike flea allergies, food allergy symptoms will occur anywhere on their entire body.

When we got our puppy at eight weeks old, he was very healthy. We got the food that the breeder recommended and he ate it until he was 11 months old. At that time, we decided to switch him over to an adult dog food and it made sense to stay with the same brand.

The first symptom we noticed with his dog food allergy was the fact that he had areas on his chest he was chewing and scratching frequently. These were, at the time, only mildly inflamed but seemed to cause him some discomfort. Not much later, we began to notice dog hair loss around his eyes. And shortly after that, he started losing the hair on his muzzle as well.

In the beginning, a dog food allergy may manifest itself with increased itchiness causing scratching, licking, and chewing around the inflamed areas. If left untreated, the conditions could get worse and lead to ear infections or even hot spots.

Our Golden Retriever was allergic to grains. Before we switched her to a grain free food, she would get recurring ear infections. Part of this had to do with the fact that Golden Retrievers are genetically predisposed to this condition. Once we switched her to a grain free food, a lot of those issues one away.

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It’s important to note that a dog can even get an allergy to a food that he or she has been eating for years. In this case, it becomes even more important to consult a veterinarian to make sure that the allergy is properly diagnosed.

The vet may recommend a novel food trial. This is a test where the dog is given a food containing ingredients he / she have never eaten before. This test would normally last around six weeks and if the symptoms go away, it shows that the dog was probably having an allergic reaction to something in its food.

While dog food allergies are not as common as flea or inhalant allergies, they still occur to a large number of dogs. If your dog is showing allergy symptoms, please get them to a vet for a proper diagnosis.

To learn more about a dog food we tried, see our Chicken Soup Dog Food article.

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Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, and ocean fish meal, are the first four ingredients you see on the back of a bag of Chicken Soup Dog Food (Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul). This is good start for a food that has gotten several great reviews.

Oatmeal, millet, rice, and barley are the grains in the food. (This is unfortunate for those of us with grain allergic dogs.) These are a good source of quality carbohydrates and even extra protein. Potatoes help round it out, as an additional source protein and carbohydrates. It also has flaxseed, a good source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids.

I found many positive reviews for Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul. Many agree that the manufacturer has their priorities in order by putting the meat first and reducing the amount of fillers like wheat, soy, and corn. Some people also said the food is very reasonably priced.

When our Labrador Retriever was eating the Chicken Soup puppy food, we got great results. When he was 11 months old, we switched him to the adult dog food. Within a few weeks, he started having problems with losing hair around his eyes and muzzle. After taking him to the vet, they recommended we try an antihistamine to see if the allergy effects went way.

The good news is that the allergy effects dissipated in a few days after giving him the antihistamine. Unfortunately, once we stopped, the symptoms came back. A friend of ours knew a lady who owned a specialty pet store and she recommended we talk to her as she was very knowledgeable regarding dog food allergies.

When we went to her store, the lady started by asking what we were feeding him. She said that she had heard some really good things about Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul and even sold it, but that he might be allergic to some of the ingredients. She recommended we try a grain free food made specifically for dogs with allergies. We bought a bag that day and got him started on it.

It takes around six weeks after you start a dog on a new food to notice any real change. It’s very important to try a food with little to no ingredients that they’ve ever had before. That way you can rule out any of the ingredients in their current food. Another vital factor is to make sure the dog does not eat anything other than this one food during the time of the trial.

I’m happy to report that after six weeks, Shadow’s allergies are doing much better. The hair around his eyes has grown back as well as around his muzzle. It turns out he was allergic to the grains in Chicken Soup Dog Food and switching him to a grain free food helped his dog food allergy a bunch.

I really think Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul is a high quality food. As long as your dog does not have a grain allergy, it’s an excellent choice.

We recently purchased a new type of lamb dog treat for Shadow and Abby. It was Nutro Natural Choice Treats Lamb and Rice Recipe.

Will Abby, the Finicky Eater, Enjoy Them?

There were a few times with our lab puppy, when I thought I was going to lose a finger due to his eagerness, but then again, he’ll eat almost anything! Abigail on the other hand is a much picky eater. At first I was not sure how she would react. She sniffed the treat and then decided it was acceptable and ate one,  I guess she approved.

When it comes to looks, these sticks remind me a lot of a “Slim Jim”.  (I’m not supposed to eat them anymore, but that’s another story.) They even have a similar texture and look. The fact that they can quickly and easily be broken into multiple pieces  with your fingers is a definite plus. They can be broken into small 1 inch sections, which can then be used for training purposes.

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Are the Nutro Lamb Dog Treats Likely to Cause Dog Food Allergies?

Please understand that when I review lamb dog treats or food on this site, I am primarily concerned with whether the treats contain ingredients that might cause dog food allergies. Dog allergies has become a focus of If Dogs Could Read, and after battling with food allergies with both of our dogs; I want to make sure they don’t have problems again.

Initially, the ingredients looked okay. Lamb, lamb liver were the top two ingredients. While I have read about some dogs developing allergies to lamb, our dogs do not seem to have a problem with it. However, when I went further down the list, I found  soy grits, wheat flour, and wheat gluten, which were a concern for us. Our dogs have allergic reactions when exposed to grains.

We did use the small package of the lamb dog treats and the dogs seemed to enjoy them. However, from a dog food allergy point of view, we will not be purchasing this product again.

To learn more about a dog food we tried, see our Chicken Soup Dog Food article.
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What are Hot Spots?

Dog hot spots are a type of skin infection that occurs in dogs. It is typically a circular area that can be painful, itchy, and even smelly.

Can a Dog Food Allergy Cause Hot Spots?

Last year Abigail, our Golden Retriever, had surgery on her ear and had to wear the dreaded cone for 2 weeks. On her last trip to the vet, they removed the cone and Abby was one happy pup! She pranced around the lobby of the vet’s office, excited to have that dreaded collar removed.

My wife dropped Abigail off at the house, and went out to run some errands. When she returned, Abigail had a huge dog hot spot across her right flank. This happened over 2 hours! Over the course of 2 hours, she chewed most of the hair from that area and left a big mess. Thankfully, our vet had one more appointment that afternoon and was able to see her.

The vet cut the hair away from the area and cleaned it. To add insult to injury, he put the cone back on the poor girl. Boy, was she ever sad, you could see it in her eyes.

The vet told us that the hot spot was probably caused by dog allergies, so we started investigating the cause. After some research, we started to wonder if her food was the culprit. Shadow, our other dog, was eating the same food, and was having dog allergy symptoms as well (although his were different). After further inspection, we found that there were a number of ingredients in the dogs’ food that are common allergens. These included corn, soy, wheat, fillers, and by-products. As a friend of mine said the other day, “How many dogs do you see grazing on corn? If they don’t eat it in the wild, then why are we feeding it to them?”

I think he makes a lot of sense.  In an effort to become more profitable, some companies have started including a wide range of filler ingredients in dog food and some of them are just plain disgusting. For instance, peanut shells, cereal byproducts, cottonseed hulls, straw, corn, weeds, feathers, and even chicken beaks to name a few. In order to cut costs, companies are using fillers that have no taste, but are substantially cheaper than quality animal proteins.

So, getting back to the original question of can dog food allergies cause hot spots:  I have seen it with my own eyes.  Fortunately, after doing some research, we were able to change Abigail and Shadow’s food and within about 2 weeks, a lot of the dog allergy problems went away. For our pups, the key was moving to a food without the corn meal and by-products that they were allergic to. Please note, the change is not quick. It can take around two weeks for you to see improvement.

What about a dog food for allergies?

For an adult dog (we stopped feeding our dogs “puppy” food at 1 year), it is recommended that the level of fat be between 15 and 19 percent and the level of protein be between 22 to 25 percent.  Some dogs have different requirements depending on the breed and activity level.  If you have questions, it is a good idea to go over nutritional needs with your vet.

The type of protein is important as well. For the grain free food we selected, the protein choices were venison, bison, duck, fish, or lamb, but there are others. Make sure the first five items on the ingredients list are not any type of grain (corn meal, etc.), they should be a form of protein.

Summary

Picking the right food for your pet is an important task.  Some veterinarians are knowledgeable about your pet’s nutritional needs.  If you believe that your dog has a dog food allergy, it is always a good idea to have a vet check him/her out. While there, you can see what they recommend for a dog food allergy.  If you do switch your pet’s food, make sure you do it gradually, mixing the foods over several days. Even with a quality food, switching them too fast can cause an upset stomach.

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* This article contains affiliate links. Shadow’s gotta eat too. : )

Imagine spending years with itchy skin and bloodshot eyes without any way of making it go away. It bothers you during the day when you try to have fun and is relentless at night when you try to sleep. You try to show your master that you’re miserable, but they don’t understand and simply want to play.

When Shadow was almost a year old,  we woke up to find him with a swollen eye and red, inflamed skin over different areas of his body. Shadow was rubbing his face on just about anything he could find and scratching at several places to make the itching go away. After a trip to the vet, we found out that Shadow has allergies. Some puppies start demonstrating dog allergy symptoms when they get to be around a year old.

Most of us (humans) take for granted that we can take medicines to make our allergies go away, at least temporarily. However, our canine friends are not so lucky. It is easy to miss dog allergy symptoms and your dog can’t tell you he feels terrible.

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This world is full of potential allergens for dogs. They can be anywhere, causing your dog to suffer for months if not years. These allergens can be environmental like plants, grasses, molds, or dust. They can also be in foods, caused by fleas, or even in the plastic and rubber in your dog’s toys.

The result of these allergens can make your dog miserable! The dog allergies symptoms can be red, irritated hot spots where the dog may scratch almost constantly, to hair loss, skin lesions,  infections, anal itching and vomiting.

Allergies In Dogs

When starting to search for these allergens, the symptoms can help point you in the right direction.

Fleas on dogs are a great place to start as they cause swelling and redness near the area where the dog was bitten. The swelling can sometimes last more for than a week. To help you find these spots, look for the  fleas and/or flea dirt.  Fleas are a common allergen and dog flea treatment can be discussed with your veterinarian.

Inhalant allergens, like grasses, molds, and dust can cause itching in the face, flank, groin, and arm folds. Where appropriate, these allergens should be removed from your dog’s surroundings.

Other allergens could be in your dog’s food. Dog food allergies can cause diarrhea, anal itching, and occasionally vomiting. Has your dog’s food changed recently? If this is the case, you may want to try a dog food for allergies.

Plants can also be the culprit. CyberCanine has a list of plants that are toxic to animals.  You should make sure that none of these are in your dog’s living or play areas.

Dog Allergies Treatment

When searching for remedies for dog allergies, here are a few good places to start. One way to provide temporary relief of dog allergy symptoms is to use a dog allergy shampoo. Topical sprays can also be used after the bath for continued relief. I would also recommend washing your dog’s bedding with a scent free soap.

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplement can improve the quality of your dog’s skin and coat and may reduce dog allergy symptoms as well. A friend of mine has used fatty acid supplements with his Dobermans for years and commented on how many people were amazed at how his dog’s coats were so beautiful.

My veterinarian recommended we use an antihistamine with Shadow. This provided some relief. Please make sure you speak with your vet to get the appropriate dosage for the size of your dog.

If none of the items above help, you may want to ask your veterinarian about intradermal testing to determine exactly which allergens your dog is allergic to.

With diligent effort, you can help your dog live a happier, itch-free life.

To learn more about a dog food we tried, see our Chicken Soup Dog Food article.

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I woke up last Saturday to find Shadow, our 11 month old Chocolate Labrador Retriever, with a swollen eye. At first I thought that he and Gunner (the German Shepherd puppy we’ve been fostering) had been playing a little too rough and Shadow gotten a black eye (or maybe in his case a brown eye  : ). After looking a little closer, we decided it was time for a visit to the vet.

Shadow has allergies

It turns out that allergies are common in a lot of dog breeds and symptoms start appearing  around the time the puppy turns one year old. The symptoms are typically different from humans, and are sometimes are easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for. (I’ll admit that I missed them before our trip to the vet.)

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When allergies start, you may see the following symptoms:

• Dry skin (possibly with red, irritate hot spots)

• Itchy face (especially around the eyes) with the dog rubbing his/her face against almost any surface (Shadow likes to rub his head against my leg.) (Please see the picture above for an example (this is not Shadow).)

• Scratching different parts of the body.

• Canine hair loss (usually as a result of the scratching)

• Sneezing

• Eye discharge

In some extreme cases, vets also see dogs with skin lesions (which can lead to infections), bad odor around the areas where they are scratching, diarrhea, vomiting, and ear infections.

What causes canine allergies?

Dogs can be allergic to many different things. Seasonal allergies, typically caused by trees, grass, pollen, or mold. Food allergies, have there been any changes in the puppy’s diet recently? Or, an environmental allergies, for example fabric, rubber, or plastic in toys or maybe even dust or fleas.

For my next article on canine allergies, My Dog Is Allergic, Now What?, I will go into detail on how to troubleshoot different allergens and methods of treatment.  I will also fill you in on how the progress is going with Shadow.

Please feel free to post comments on products you’ve had success with in this area. I would like to provide Shadow some relief as soon as possible. Currently, the vet has us giving him antihistamines twice daily, but I would like to find a better, long term dog allergies treatment.

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