Food Allergy in Dogs: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Allergies are a common cause of itchy skin in dogs + can be broken down into 3 main categories: flea, environmental (atopy), and food allergies, with food allergy in dogs causing about 10% of itchy dog allergies.

While grains are commonly blamed and grain-free hypoallergenic diets often trialed by owners keen on finding a solution to their dog's itchiness, reaching a diagnosis and successful treatment of dog food allergies can be a little more complicated or involved.

Related videos:

Do you know the Secret to a healthy pet?

Social:

Disclaimers:
- all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledged. Links in description are typically affiliate links that let you help support the channel at no extra cost.
- We are a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
- The information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute specific vet advice for any individual cat, dog or other animals of any species.

[muayboran]

My dog was losing hair and found out that it was allergic to chicken. I now buy my dogs vegetarian food and mixing it with minced pork or beef and it immediately got better. Always read the labels of food packets, don’t just trust the front otherwise do as I did

[davidmckinney]

Thank you Dr Alex for taking the time to make your videos.im your biggest fan from across the pond.lol...i hope you have a wonderful day my friend from me and Arnold and bigfoot we all three are very thankful for you helping us with your videos. Take care we all love you buddy 👍 you are like family to us..

[James-hrl]

My Dogs are fed raw...both meat and bones. The positives that I have seen since switching over four years ago have been outstanding. My friend feeds her Dogs kibble and they are both thriving too. All Dogs are different. If your Dog seems to be doing well on what you are feeding why worry.

[s.h.]

Could it be that GMO’s in chicken beef and cheese in the dog food are the problem

[runawayfaeIX]

Kangaroo or crocodile would be quite a surprise here in the US! 😄 Thank you for all of this fantastic information!

[main]

I used to use Science Diet hydrolyzed. Years later went back to it when finances improved. He had diarrhea for two months. Figured he was getting used to it. So bought another bag. Same thing. I figured they changed the formula. I read the back package. It did say they changed it and may cause problems with some dogs.

[janelle]

Vets don’t know everything sometimes it’s up to the owners to know their pet and figure it out, the vets don’t know your pet. If it’s an emergency then yes the vet would be helpful. I would try every remedy/method before rushing to the vet.

[Tskblanket]

Please please help. My puppy at 13 weeks started getting bumps inside his inner legs close to his private parts. I thought it was any bits or fleas. Then it spread to his face. I left him at my sister house for a week now it's under his front arms, under his face, his lip, around his eyes. 😭 I'm desperately trying to help him. I don't want to loose him

[callanvolkmer]

I have a 7mo Boston terrier. He has had red eye conjunctiva with prominent third eyelids bilaterally since he was around 14 weeks old. They don’t seem to bother him. No scratching and no obvious skin issues apart from his eye stains worsening over time. Do you think that sounds more like environmental or food allergies? Thanks!
Ps our vet said he would most likely grow out of it but nothing really has happened or helped. Benadryl doesn’t help. I don’t feed him any table food. All he eats is Royal Canin puppy food and daily he gets a lick mat with half a table spoon of coconut oil. I even stopped giving him his favorite treat, vital essentials duck nibs, in case that was causing it.

[lea_]

When you say their itchiness starts again pretty quickly after introducing a new ingredient, how quickly do you mean? I have been challenging my dog’s hypoallergenic diet with 1 tbsp of rice daily over the past few days and I’m not sure if he is itching more than usual. How many days should I keep testing rice and after how many days will I know if it is a safe ingredient for him?

[crissvijay]

I give my dog home food, i give her boiled chicken 4 times per day, she is 5 months old golden retriever, she has skin allergy i need some tips, help me with it.

[soum]

Hello dr Alex my dog keeps getting absence on his check and I think it might be something he is eating but can it be something he is allergic and can I affect him in any way other then inflammation on the check?

[missseashell]

I changed dog food after a 40lb bag she has bald spots now not sure if she's scratching. I dont see her over excessively scratch. She went from a bison based dog food to chicken based.

[ryuudadragon]

Please can someone help I’m scared, I just came into a situation where my dog (golden retriever 3 yo male) ate egg whites. He’s severely 100% allergic and I’m stressing if he’s gonna live. Any response helps, thanks.

[andreamorales]

I have a French bulldog and he’s always itching his face and has a runny nose all the time. Could he be allergic to his food? I started giving him vitamins for allergies and he still has been itching and shedding.

[Peacefrogg]

When you say wheat is only a source of carbs and not proteines, you don’t know what wheat is. It may not have the huge amounts pf proteines meats have, but when it comes to allergies, it’s usually the proteines in wheat that cause problems. Carbs are just energy.

[janelle]

This helps do a degree, but my dog is allergic to certain proteins but also is allergic to flaxseed, pumpkin, dairy, certain oils, grains, and some environmental allergies. I’ve done a allergy test and I’ve eliminated everything on the test and my dog is fine just trying to manage seasonal allergy, and nothing is wrong with exotic proteins especially with rotating proteins with dogs for certain diets. So this can be true what you say but every dog is different. And grains do cause allergies not just protein or dairy. Anything is possible.

[Littlemoo]

What to do when the dog is allergic to Royal canin anallergenic. And Parina H A. i’m at a loss. Any help would be appreciated :)

[DD-eenv]

Well, if beef, chicken, proteins and carbs are allergens, then what on earth do we feed our dogs?

[wandajeanettemorgan]

lamb,
Lamb eggs corn Rabbit east carrots