my dog has food allergies what can i feed him

My Dog Is Allergic To Chicken: What Can I Feed Him?

Food allergies can be quite an issue when choosing foods for your pets.

You not only have to think of the best alternatives that dont have the food they are allergic to but you also have to think of how to supplement the nutrients they are missing.

If your dog is allergic to chicken, for instance, you will have to look harder for alternative foods because most dog foods have chicken in them.

However, there are still some awesome chicken-free protein options for your dog.

Before we delve deeper into these options, lets understand why your dog may develop chicken allergy in the first place

Chicken Allergy in Dogs

So, what causes chicken allergy in dogs?

Well, like other forms of allergies, a dog will develop an allergy to a protein source (like chicken) when his immune system becomes overly sensitive to the ingredients in the protein source.

In the case of chicken, your pups system will begin to identify chicken proteins as dangerous, and will trigger an allergic response every time your pup eats chicken or foods containing chicken.

This implies that every time your dog eats chicken or foods containing chicken, his body wont break the chicken proteins completely considering that his immune system will be categorizing it as a dangerous substance.

As a result, your pups immune system will respond by sending enterocytes to fight or eliminate the proteins.

One important thing to note about protein allergies in dogs is the fact that it is something that builds over time.

Your dog has to encounter the bad protein source enough times for his body to recognize it as an unwelcome substance.

This explains why your dog may not manifest any signs of chicken allergy the first time he consumes chicken.

But once his sensitivity to chicken develops, things can get out of hand, especially if you continue feeding him chicken.

For instance, his immune system may respond more vigorously over time, agonizing allergy symptoms.

Learn more about protein allergy in dogs here: Protein Allergy in Dogs: What Every New Dog Parent Must Know

What to Feed

One of the best ways of dealing with protein allergy in dogs once it has been identified is to eliminate the suspected ingredient from a dogs diet.

This translates to feeding your dog chicken-free foods or a special diet recommended by your vet.

If you opt for the first option, here are some good options of dog foods that have no chicken.

Disclaimer: Strive to always discuss your pups new diet with your vet or canine nutritionist to be certain that whatever you feed your dog meets all his nutritional needs.

1. Beef

Dogs are carnivores and will therefore be OK on a meat diet.

However, there are other essential nutrients like vitamins and carbs, so make sure to add those to your diet as well.

Your dog will enjoy cooked meat but you can also serve them some raw beef but only in moderation.

You should be very careful with raw beef however because it can lead to food poisoning.

As a rule of thumb, make sure the meat is fresh and has no seasonings.

2. Fish

Fish is one of the greatest sources of proteins for humans and the same applies to dogs.

Fish has Omega-3 and lots of other useful amino acids that are needed in a dogs body.

For instance, the Omega-3 fatty acids are known to keep arthritis at bay, prevent kidney disease and heart disorders among many other health benefits.

Both cooked and canned fish are ok but you may want to avoid raw fish.

Also, too much fish may cause more harm than good, so use it in moderation.

If your dog consumes too much fish, the fish protein could kill vitamins and thereby cause a vitamin deficiency.

3. Whole grains

Contrary to common belief, grains are not just fillers they also provide minerals, vitamins, fiber, digestible protein, and essential fatty acids.

It is also generally believed that dogs should be fed on grain-free diets because they are carnivores and therefore ill-equipped to handle whole grains.

But there isnt any scientific proof that grains are harmful to dogs. Examples of grains that are good for dogs include oats, corn, and polenta.

You can also try brown rice, wheat berries, and barley.

The secret to preparing grains for your dog is to mash them up before serving.

Also, ensure the grains are well-cooked because your dog may not fully digest raw or partially cooked grains.

4. Eggs

Eggs are another awesome protein alternative to dogs that are allergic to chicken.

Most breeders add eggs to their dogs diet to give them healthy claws, shiny coats, and lots of other health benefits.

Most off-shelf dog foods also have eggs in them as a way of increasing the protein percentage in their treats.

Eggs are not just a rich protein source but they also have taurine, vitamin A, D, E, and B-12, iron, thiamine, zinc, biotin, selenium, and riboflavin.

All these nutrients play a significant role in the health and well-being of your dog.

However, just like beef and fish, make sure to only feed your dog with cooked eggs because raw ones can cause health issues.

5. Veggies

Canines dont taste sweet flavors and that explains why most dont like fruits and vegetables.

However, veggies are rich in potassium, magnesium, vitamins, and fiber, so you may want to include them in your dogs diet.

The veggies can be a low-calorie alternative to dog treats that have chicken.

However, remember to feed your dog with another food that has protein for the main meal.

Vegetables that you can try feeding your dog include broccoli, cucumber, asparagus, or cantaloupe.

You can even try giving your puppy a veggie burger but make sure the patty doesnt contain any onions and garlic.

6. Venison

Venison is an awesome protein source and it has more protein per gram than beef.

It also has very small amounts of phosphorous and oxalic acid and that makes it an ideal food for dogs.

Venison for dogs should be lean and not cooked with any spices.

However, do not overdo it because deer meat is red meat which means it shouldnt account for more than 20% of your dogs diet.

Also, dont serve it raw you can cook it till it is rare or rare medium and then serve.

You also want to remove any bones from the meat as the bones can be a choking hazard.

7. Cheese

Cheese is not a meal but an awesome snack that can replace any chicken treat.

Cheese is often a clever way of hiding medication from the dog.

It is important to serve the cheese in moderation though e.g. the size of dice at a time.

Because cheese is a dairy product, you may want to avoid giving it to your dog if they are lactose intolerant.

Feeding cheese to dogs that are allergic to dairy products can result in diarrhea, gas, itchy patches on the skin, vomiting, and hair loss.

8. Duck

Wild dogs which have to rely on hunting to survive have made duck an important part of their diet.

While domesticated dogs might not necessarily hunt for duck, you can still make duck meat a part of their regular diet.

Duck is actually a great alternative for dogs with chicken allergies.

In addition to protein, duck meat has copious amounts of zinc, Vitamin B, and Iron.

Just as is the case with any meat, prepare your duck as simply as possible and resist the urge to add herbs and spices.

9. Chicken-free feeds

Even though most off-shelf foods have chicken, there are lots of alternatives that are chicken-free.

Just go to the store and ask for the options you have for a dog that is allergic to chicken and you will have enough brands to choose from.

You can also buy them online on Amazon or on any other website that stocks pet foods.

Parting Thoughts

If your dog is vomiting or scratching his body due to chicken allergy, it is high time you eliminated chicken protein from his diet

However, as aforementioned, you may want to consult with your vet before you switch to any new food that you havent been feeding your furry friend.

This is especially so if you are thinking of feeding them with human food.

Also, as you think of chicken alternatives, remember that your dog still needs a balanced diet.

Even though protein is the largest nutritional requirement for canines, they still need minerals, vitamins, and fiber.

So, make sure you are feeding them a balanced diet to avoid any nutritional deficiency.

As an Amazon Associate, we may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you.Learn more. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

How to Tell if Your Dog Has Food Allergies

Food allergies in dogs can be tricky to identify. The symptoms arent what many pet parents expect, and there are a lot of myths out there about food allergies in dogs. True food allergies are not that common in dogs, for one.

Heres how you can figure out if your dog has food allergies and what you can do about them.

Reasons to Suspect Dog Food Allergies

When people think about pet food allergies, they often jump to gastrointestinal issues. However, food allergies in dogs may or may not come with an upset stomach.

The most common symptoms of food allergies in dogs actually show up as reactions in their skin.

Skin and Ear Problems in Dogs With Food Allergies

Skin problems are common in dogs with food allergies. At first glance, this seems kind of odd, but it makes more sense when you think about how people react to food allergies.

Dogs with unchecked food allergies may also have trouble with their ears.

Some of the most common health issues associated with legitimate dog food allergies are:

Similar symptoms may be caused by environmental allergies to triggers like pollen, mold, and house mites, but these, at least to start with, are often seasonal.

For this reason, its important to track whether your dogs symptoms ebb and flow with the changing of the seasons.

When Do Dog Food Allergies Develop?

Its important to remember that food allergies can develop at any time. A food your dog has consumed for years with no troubles may suddenly cause an allergic reaction, or symptoms may develop soon after you change your dogs diet.

How Are Dog Food Allergies Diagnosed?

Diagnosing food allergies in dogs isnt always a straightforward process. Its not like theres a simple test that can instantly tell what your dog is allergic to or, if indeed, he has food allergies at all.

You have to start at the beginning, with the help of your veterinarian, to know for sure whether your dogs skin or ear issues are caused by food allergies.

Rule Out Other Health Issues

Your veterinarian will take a full history on your pet and do a general exam.

Next, they will likely run tests to rule out conditions with similar symptoms like mange, ringworm, yeast infections, bacterial infections, flea infestations, and environmental allergies.

Ruling out those conditions comes first because true food allergies are relatively uncommon.

If there is no other apparent cause for your dogs symptoms, your veterinarian may begin to suspect that food allergies are behind your dogs itchy skin or ear infections.

Even if your vet finds a reason for your dogs skin problems, they may still suspect that an adverse food reaction is at least partially responsible since, for example, yeast infections can develop as a result of food allergies.

Once a diagnosis of food allergies seems to be a reasonable possibility, your vet will recommend a food trial.

Starting a Food Trial

Starting your dog on a food trial means your pet will eat a prescription diet and absolutely nothing else for a couple of months to see if symptoms resolve.

If they do, some veterinarians will suggest going back to the dogs old diet to see if symptoms return to ensure that the dog is truly allergic to one or more ingredients in their regular diet.

Evaluating a Food Trial: Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerance

Seeing results from the food trial are not a guarantee that your pet has food allergies. In some cases, you may find out that your dog has a food intolerance.

Food Allergies

Food allergies occur when the immune system responds inappropriately to something (usually a protein) found in the diet.

Instead of treating this perfectly innocuous substance as it should, the immune system treats it as a threatan invader of sorts.

Food Intolerance

A food intolerance is different from an allergy in that the symptoms are not caused by an immune reaction.

In dogs, food intolerances typically cause tummy troubles; they may vomit or have diarrhea, be seriously gassy, or have a poor appetite.

Treating Food Allergies in Dogs

The only effective way to treat a food allergy in dogs is to change their diet.

While grain-free foods are often touted as good for food allergies, science tells us that protein sources are more likely to be the culprit. According to a study published in 2016, the top three most common causes of food allergies in dogs are beef, dairy, and chicken.

Diets for Dog Food Allergies

Here are a couple of different approaches to treating food allergies in dogs.

Novel Proteins

This approach involves feeding proteins that your dog has likely never been exposed to in an effort to avoid an allergic reaction. Rabbit, venison, and other novel ingredients are used in place of more common protein sources. Allergy-friendly foods must be completely free of your dogs triggers.

Hydrolyzed Proteins

Rather than changing which proteins are used, hydrolyzed protein prescription diets break proteins down so that the immune system no longer recognizes them as a threat.

Treating Itchy Skin and Ear Issues Caused by Food Allergies

The only way to treat a food allergy is to remove the offending food from the dogs diet, but there are options for temporarily treating the symptoms caused by food allergies.

Oral and topical medications are sometimes prescribed to help minimize itching. Any secondary problems, like skin or ear infections, will also have to be addressed.

If youre concerned about any symptoms your dog is experiencing, or youre simply wondering whether the food youre offering is the best choice for your pet, speak with your veterinarian.

By: Jennifer Coates, DVM

Featured Image: iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages