best raw food for dogs with allergies

The Best Foods for Dogs With Allergies

Humans arent the only ones with allergiesour dogs can get them, too. Canine allergies can lead to numerous skin conditions that can be frustrating to manage. These allergies can be due to environmental causes or from the food our dogs eat.

Key Takeaways

• Dogs can be allergic to foods like beef, chicken, lamb, wheat, soy, eggs, corn, and nuts.
• Allergy tests for dogs are not reliable.
• The only proven way to tell what your dog is allergic to is to change their protein source or perform an elimination diet trial.

The most common symptoms of dog food allergies include:

• Redness of the skin of the inner ears

• Itchiness of the ears (chronic scratching of the ears or shaking of the head)

• Ear hematomas

• Chronic thickening of the ears

• Chronic ear infections

• Redness and itchiness of the feet or in between toes (foot chewing)

• Chronic pododermatitis

• Patchy hair loss along the neck and trunk

• Chronic skin infections (with bacteria or yeast) that never seem to clear up

Skin issues are the most common dog food allergy symptoms. These are mostly seen as an allergic reaction to the proteins absorbed in food.

The reaction leads to the release of immune cells, which can cause weakening of the bonds between the skin cells, resulting in a weakening of the skin barrier. This change in the skin barrier leads to redness and itchiness, and it makes the skin more susceptible to infection with normal bacteria and yeast.

The most affected areas are the ears, paws, around the eyes, and sometimes the trunk (torso) and limbs.

What Are Common Dog Food Allergens?

The most common proteins dogs are allergic to are beef, chicken, lamb, and wheat. Other less common causes of dog food allergies include soy, eggs, corn, and nuts.

Dogs cannot be tested for food allergies like people can, as the available testing is unreliable. The only proven way to tell what your dog is allergic to is to change their protein source or perform an elimination diet trial.

During an elimination diet trial, you eliminate all proteins your dog has been exposed to for two to three months. This gives the body enough time to completely eliminate the old protein sources and heal from the chronic allergy stimulation.

How To Help a Dog With Food Allergies

An elimination diet trial withhydrolyzed foodis the best way to treat and diagnose a dog food allergy. Its easiest to start with a prescription diet, such asHills z/dorRoyal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein. Theseveterinary dietshave proteins that are too small to be recognized by the immune system.

An elimination diet trial takes approximately two to three months to complete. This time is necessary for the old proteins to leave the dogs system. Additionally, the dog must be on the diet long enough to see a difference from the previous food.

The most common mistake pet parents make is not waiting long enough before calling it quits on the diet trial. Changing what your dog is eating for just a week or two will not give you complete results, so taking the proper amount of time to test food and treats is crucial.

Another common mistake: feed a dog anything other than the elimination diet. During a diet trial, pets cannot have any table scraps or treats (unless the elimination diet has a compatible treat option).

Changing what your dog is eating for just a week or two will not give you complete results, so taking the proper amount of time to test food and treats is crucial.

If the symptoms do not resolve after two or three months on the hydrolyzed elimination diet trial, your dog most likely has some type of environmental allergen. Or something else is causing the problem, such as an autoimmune condition.

If you get a good response from the trial, try to feed your dog a new protein source, such as venison, fish, or kangaroo. If they are going to react to these proteins, you should notice a mild reaction starting within two weeks. If their allergy symptoms return, stop the new protein source and go back to the hydrolyzed food.

Try adding one protein at a time every two to four weeks. If your dog reacts, stop and keep things steady for another two weeks before trying a different protein.

Contact your veterinarian before starting any diet trial to get a prescription for a hydrolyzed diet. Its also important to see your veterinarian to make sure your pet doesnt have any concurrent infections, which can be common because of the disturbed skin barrier caused by the allergic reaction. Infections can look the same as dog food allergy symptoms, so you must make sure to clear all infections during the food elimination trial.

During the trial, remember:

• Make sure the prescription treats and food are all that you are feeding your pet. You cant feed human food or regular pet treats with a food trial, as it can introduce the allergens youre trying to eliminate.

• Alwaysintroduce a dog to a new diet slowlyto avoid stomach upset or diarrhea.

The Best Dog Food for Allergies

Hydrolyzed Dog Foods

Hydrolyzed foods are the best dog food for allergies because the proteins are broken down into pieces that are so small the body cant recognize them. Some of these foods include:

Novel Protein Foods

Novel protein diets include proteins that your dog has not been introduced to before, such as duck, fish, venison, and kangaroo. Some examples of novel protein diets are:

Foods for Puppies With Allergies

While its rare for puppies to have food allergies, there are some documented cases in pups as young as 6 months old. If you think your puppy may have a food allergy, lamb and rice formulas, such asPurina Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula, would be a good place to start for a novel protein.

If allergies are severe and your vet recommends a hydrolyzed diet, Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein does come in a puppy formulation.

WRITTEN BY

Robyn Gallucci, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Gallucci started her career in veterinary medicine as a kennel assistant in high school and began training as a technician in college....

Raw Dog Food Recipes for Skin Allergies (4 Easy Recipes To Try At Home)

Key Takeaways

• Skin allergies in dogs can be caused be various allergens. Check with your vet first if raw dog food helps your dogs specific condition.
• A raw diet boosts dogs digestion and immune systemboth important in fighting off allergic reactions.
• Oily fish, turkey, rabbit, and beef are some of the best proteins you can add to any raw dog food recipes for skin allergies.

A raw diet is one of the best ways to give your dogs immune and digestion system the support it needs to develop and grow strong. It improves the dogs overall health and relieves allergic symptoms by providing anti-inflammatory benefits. When dogs are on a poor diet, it sometimes manifests through skin rashes or a lackluster coat. The stronger the immune system, the better your dogs skin and coat look. As a balanced diet, it also improves their chances of fighting off common dog food allergies without going to the vet. So you need to give them the appropriate diet to gain these benefits. Below we are sharing a few raw dog food recipes for skin allergies.

If you still have doubts about making homemade dog food, however, the best dog food delivery service platforms today offer high-quality and biologically appropriate raw diets for petsbrought straight to you home. We Feed Raw is one of the most sought-after pet food subscription brand due to its excellence in the raw feeding game. My dog develops skin allergies from certain ingredients in kibble which is why I turned to fresh dog food options. But if you do have the time to prepare a raw diet, read my guide below.

Skin Allergies in Dogs

Dog owners should realize that other than food allergy, your dogs skin condition may also be affected by external factors such as flea bites, dirty beddings, pollens, dust, mold, etc. These are either inhaled or has come in contact with your dog. It is important to understand first what type of skin allergy your pup is having and find out what causes it so you can adjust from there.

If you are sure the allergy is caused by food sensitivity, seek further advise from your vet. Before following any of these homemade dog food recipe ideas or making any change to your dogs diet, it is crucial to find out first which foods your pooch is allergic to so you can avoid them. A trip to the vet or an elimination diet should help you. Take note of your dogs weight, age, breed, and energy levels as feeding guide.

Raw Fish and Veggies

Fish is rich in omega-three fatty acids, which veterinarians claim decreases the level of inflammation [1]. It is also a great alternative for dogs that have an allergic reaction to chicken or beef. Making your own dog food using this recipe is very easy.

Ingredients

• Five pounds non farmed oily fish fillet such as mackerel
• Eight ounces of kale
• Five ounces of broccoli
• Four ounces of dandelion greens
• Twelve ounces of blueberries or mixed berries
• Six tablespoons of seaweed calcium

Preparation

Grind or chop the fish meat into small cubes. Puree thebroccoli, kale, greens, and bone meal in a food processor. Mix the fillet and veggie plus berry mix thoroughly and place the mixture into small containers. These are to be placed in the freezer for storage before serving to the dog. The food should also be frozen according to one to three-day portions.

Boneless Turkey and Eggs

Turkey is a good option for dogs because it is lean and easy to digest. That makes it a good candidate for dogs that have allergies. It also has some aspects like riboflavin which improves the metabolism process. The recipes ingredients have also been carefully chosen to ensure they meet theAAFCO minimum nutrition requirementsfor dogs.

Ingredients

• Five pounds of lean turkey meat
• Two pounds of chicken heart
• Six pasture-raised eggs without the shells
• Eight ounces of kale
• Eight ounces of dandelion greens
• Eight ounces of broccoli
• Twelve ounces of blueberries
• Six tablespoons of ground pumpkin seed (for healthy fats)

Preparation

Grind the chicken heart and the turkey meat. If it is not possible to obtain a grinder, you can chop the meat into small cubes. Make a puree from the eggs, broccoli, kale, greens, pumpkin seed, and berries. Mix the puree with the cut or ground turkey and stir to ensure good dispersal. Divide the mixture into small containers and place them in the freezer for storage. The food should be frozen in one to three-day portions.

Rabbit and Veggies

Rabbit is one of the best options for dogs that have allergies. It can also be used as an elimination approach to see which meat the dog is sensitive to. In adog elimination diet, the proteins the dog tends to eat are removed, and you feed it a single option. If this is the case, though, it should not be given alongside poultry or beef because the results would not be reliable.

Ingredients

• Four pounds of rabbit, or two rabbits carcasses
• Eight ounces of broccoli
• Half an ounce of chopped spinach
• Six ounces of blueberries

Preparation

Cut the rabbit into small pieces. It can be fed as muscle meat whole or ground with organs such as the liver and the heart. Puree the broccoli, berries, and spinach in a food processor. Mix the rabbit meat with the vegetable puree and put the remaining mixture into small containers, which are then to be placed in a freezer. The homemade food is to be frozen in one to three-day portions.

Homemade Beef and Lentils

Ground beef and lentils are nutrient-rich and non-toxic homemade dog foods. They also come available withgreat nutrients and fiber. It is also very digestible and great for your dogs skin, so you do not have to worry about unpleasant gassiness.

Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Sweet potatoes or brown rice
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Eggs
• Sunflower oil
• Salmon oil

Preparation

This time you will not have to worry about cutting the meat up as you need to mince beef to get the best results. Blend the eggs, carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes in one setting, along with the sunflower oil. Then mix the egg and vegetable puree with the beef. Separate your dogs food into small containers and put these in the freezer for storage.

Looking for breed-specific raw recipes? Check these out:

FAQs

Are dog food allergies really a thing?

Dogs most common food allergens are protein based from chicken, beef, or wheat gluten. Every time a dog that is allergic eats these foods, the antibodies cause a reaction with the antigens leading to allergic symptoms. These may present as itchy skin, coughing, or runny discharge from the eyes and nose. Hence the need for raw dog food recipes for skin allergies.

How to make raw dog food?

The best way to make homemade dog food recipes is to find a base animal protein your pet is not allergic to. The meat is cut up or ground to make it easily chewable and then mixed with a puree of vegetables. The vegetables may include kale, berries, and dandelion greens. These are mixed with the meat and stored in containers for later serving.

What is raw dog food?

Raw dog food can be homemade or freeze-dried. A raw diet includes muscle, organ, ground bone, and fresh vegetables. It depends on the recipe you would like to use as the meal plan for your dog.

Is a raw diet good for dogs?

According to the American veterinary medical association, they oppose the unregulated feeding of raw food. However, several fresh dog food platforms are verified by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.