Mary Allen
It is estimated that about ten percent of all dogs in Sweden are allergic to something. Härliga Hund asked some questions about food allergies for dogs to Elin Lindell, the veterinarian at FirstVet.
Why does a dog become allergic to dog food?
Unfortunately, it is not yet entirely certain why some dogs develop allergies to something in their food. It is known that allergies are largely hereditary, but it is also believed that environmental factors affect.
Is food allergy the most common allergy in dogs?
No, the most common type of allergy that affects dogs is atopy, which means that the dog is allergic to one or more substances found in the dog’s environment. For example, dogs can become allergic to dust mites, storage mites, mold, and pollen. It is estimated that about ten percent of dogs in Sweden are allergic to something, and this includes both allergies to something in the environment (atopy), allergy to something in the food, and other allergies.
How do you notice that the dog does not tolerate the food?
Common signs are that the dog itches, licks, and bites more on the body than usual. Common places where the dog itches are for example groin, armpits, ears, buttocks, paws, face. Recurrent ear infections, skin infections, and damp eczema can also be signs of allergies. Dogs with food allergies may also have problems with an upset or sensitive stomach.
Can dogs grow out of food allergies?
Unfortunately, dogs do not usually grow out of food allergies.
Are some races more spared or more affected by this?
Some breeds appear to be more affected, including Labradors, German Shepherds, some Spaniel breeds, and West Highland white terriers. But other breeds, as well as mixed breeds, can also be affected.
Have food allergies become more common in dogs, just as allergies in humans have increased?
There are too few surveys done, so you do not have much to compare with. So you do not know.
Can allergy be prevented in any way?
No, there is no safe way to prevent food allergies. What is recommended is about the same advice that is given to humans: to ensure that the dog receives good care and nursing, avoid tobacco smoke, ensure that the dog stays normal weight, feel free to let the dog spend a lot of time outdoors and provide good quality food. Possibly the risk of atopy (allergy to something in the environment) can decrease somewhat in the puppies if you give the female touch of homemade diet during lactation. More research will probably come eventually.
What is the elimination diet?
The elimination diet is a diet test that is included in the investigation of food allergies. The diet test is done to find out if the dog is allergic to something in the food and means that the dog eats a specially selected diet for a while (usually about 8-10 weeks) and then you give all the food and sweets that the dog previously ate again. . If the dog gets well during the time it ate the special diet and bad when it gets its old food again, you know that it reacts to something in the food. If there is no difference at all, the dog is probably not allergic to anything in the food.
Which food is suitable to give as an elimination diet depends on what the dog has eaten earlier in his life. You want to avoid giving something that the dog has eaten before, and instead, choose a new source of protein and a new source of carbohydrates. If the dog has eaten a lot of different things, you may instead need to choose food where all proteins are hydrolyzed (divided into such small parts that the body will not be able to react allergically to them). It is therefore not enough to change the food brand or type of food, you need to keep track of what the food contains and what the dog has eaten earlier in his life. It is also not enough to reduce the amount of protein in the food. I therefore strongly recommend that you choose and perform the elimination diet in consultation with a dermatologist.
Are there any ingredients in the feed that cause allergies more easily than others? Are lamb and salmon generally less allergenic than chicken, cereals, or soy?
No, unfortunately, it does not seem to be possible to prevent allergies by excluding certain types of protein from the diet. (In food allergy, the dog has usually developed an allergy to some protein in the food.) Food allergy is something that develops over time, ie the protein that the dog has become allergic to has been part of the dog’s diet for a long time before the dog becomes allergic. It, therefore, seems that the types of protein that are commonly found in dog food are also the proteins that dogs are most commonly allergic to. Examples of protein that it is common for food-allergic dogs to react to are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, and lamb.
Can a dog die of allergic shock, for example from nuts/soy in the same way as a human?
It seems to be extremely unusual for dogs to react allergically to, for example, nuts and soy in the same way as we humans.
Do you want to read more about feed? In the latest issue of the magazine Härliga Hund, it is a great food special. Here you can read more about: The right food for the puppy, the young dog, the adult dog, and the senior. Should you choose dry food, barf, or fresh food for your dog? And we also give advice and recipes if you want to cook the food yourself!