What’s the Best Dog Food for Allergies?

A Guide to Dog Foods for Allergies and Intolerances

As a dedicated pet owner, ensuring your dog’s health and happiness is paramount. If your furry friend suffers from food allergies or intolerances, selecting the right diet can be challenging but crucial. This guide will help you navigate the best dog foods for allergies and intolerances, and explain how to conduct an elimination diet to identify the root of your dog's discomfort.

Understanding Dog Food Allergies and Intolerances

Food allergies in dogs are immune responses triggered by specific proteins. True food allergies in dogs are extremely rare. Food intolerances, on the other hand, do not involve the immune system but can cause gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea and vomiting, often due to lactose or gluten. If you’re dog is extremely itchy but with no signs of gastrointestinal upset they may have environmental allergies

Symptoms of Food Allergies and Intolerances

Identifying the symptoms is the first step in managing your dog’s diet. Look for:

• Swelling: Extreme swelling of the face is a sign of a true allergy

• Hives: Hives appearing within a few hours of eating a specific food

• Digestive problems: Vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive gas.

• Behavioral changes: Lethargy or irritability.

If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, consult your veterinarian to rule out other potential causes before assuming a food allergy or intolerance. Many owner’s are quick to label a problem as a problem with food when in fact it may be environmental AND/OR an underlying health condition.

The Role of an Elimination Diet

An elimination diet is the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies. It involves removing all potential allergens from your dog’s diet and then systematically reintroducing them to identify the culprit. Saliva tests, blood samples and hair samples are all extremely ineffective at diagnosing food allergens or intolerances. (check out our blog on intolerance tests)

Steps to Conduct an Elimination Diet:

1. Consult Your Veterinarian or a canine nutritionist: Before starting, get guidance from your vet or nutritionist to ensure the diet is balanced and suitable for your dog.

2. Choose a Novel Protein and Carbohydrate: Select ingredients your dog hasn’t been exposed to before. Common novel proteins include duck, venison, goat or horse, paired with a carbohydrates like psyllium husk

3. Transition Slowly: Gradually transition your dog to the new diet over 7-10 days (maybe more) to avoid digestive upset.

4. Maintain the Diet: Feed exclusively the elimination diet for 2-4 weeks. Avoid treats, flavored medications, and other food sources.

5. Monitor and Record: Keep a journal of your dog’s symptoms and any changes in their condition.

6. Reintroduce Ingredients: After the elimination period, reintroduce one ingredient at a time, every 1-2 weeks, and observe for reactions.

Best Dog Foods for Allergies and Intolerances

When choosing commercial dog foods, look for limited ingredient diets (LID), hypoallergenic formulas, or prescription diets. Here are some top recommendations:

1. Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d:

   Key Features: Hydrolyzed protein from a novel source, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids for skin health.

   Best For: Dogs with severe allergies and skin conditions.

   Downsides: Might not be very palatable

2. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP:

   • Key Features: Hydrolyzed soy protein, precise blend of fibers for digestive health.

   • Best For: Dogs with both skin and digestive issues.

   • Downsides: Palatability might be an issue

3. Riverwood Mono Protein:

   • Key Features: Single animal protein source with novel proteins available, no grains, potatoes, or Carbohydrate source

   • Best For: Dogs with mild to moderate food sensitivities.

   • Downsides: Expensive and harder to source

4. Happy Dog:

   • Key Features: Extensive novel proteins such as kangaroo and ostrich

   • Best For: Dogs with sensitivities to common proteins and grains.

   • Downsides: Expensive for larger dogs

5. Single Protein 80:10:10 raw

   • Key Features: Single Protein foods

   • Best For: Dogs needing a straightforward, minimally processed diet.

   • Downsides: Not a balanced diet and will need balancing out after 2-3 weeks

Tips for Managing Food Allergies and Intolerances

• Regular Check-ups: Regular veterinary visits ensure your dog’s diet remains balanced and effective.

• Read Labels Carefully: Always check ingredient lists for potential allergens even on supplements and treats

• Avoid Cross-Contamination: Ensure food bowls, utensils, and preparation areas are clean and free from allergen residues. If you have a multi dog household consider feeding all dogs the same

• Introduce New Foods Gradually: Any new food should be introduced slowly to monitor for adverse reactions.

Conclusion

Managing food allergies and intolerances in dogs requires diligence, patience, and sometimes a bit of trial and error. By selecting high-quality, hypoallergenic dog foods and conducting a thorough elimination diet, you can help your dog lead a healthier, more comfortable life. Always work closely with your veterinarian to ensure the best outcomes for your beloved pet.

By following this guide, you'll be well-equipped to address your dog's dietary needs and improve their overall well-being. Happy feeding! If you need more help conducting an elimination diet join The Canine Code to download the elimination guide today.