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Erin Mullen
Identify common dog food ingredients that can trigger allergies, including proteins, grains, and additives. Includes tips on elimination diets and safer feeding options.
Caring for our dogs includes feeding them a diet that supports their health and well-being. A proper diet is even more important if your dog is prone to allergies, since many pet food ingredients can contribute to the problem. This article outlines the top dog food ingredients that cause allergies.
The best way to determine if your dog is reacting to his food is to use an elimination diet. It’s important to work with a holistic or integrative vet when doing this.
1. Certain protein sources: According to veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier, a good place to start is the protein source in your dog’s food. Dogs may be allergic to beef, chicken and turkey, as well as other proteins commonly found in commercial dog foods.
“Chicken gets blamed a lot, but as with all allergies, I think it’s an individual thing,” Dr. Messonnier adds.
Give your dog “one or two novel proteins with no additional supplements or treats, for eight to 12 weeks minimum,” says Dr. Messonnier. Novel proteins can include bison, venison, rabbit or duck. By limiting the other foods your dog is eating, it’s easier to determine if the protein is causing the allergy.
2. Grains or carbs: A secondary source of allergens may be the grain or carbohydrate sources in your dog’s food.
“I’m not sure there’s a most common allergen, but wheat, corn and soy are typically involved,” says Dr. Messonnier. He recommends quinoa, oats, potatoes, etc. as alternate grain and carbohydrate sources.
Many premium dog foods incorporate these less allergenic ingredients into their recipes. This makes it easy to find a high-quality diet with an alternate carbohydrate or grain source.
3. Dairy products: Dog food ingredients that cause allergies can also include milk, cheese or eggs. Read ingredient lists carefully on both dog foods and treats, and avoid things like milk protein, whey, casein, dried egg, albumin, etc.
4. Artificial preservatives, colors and flavors: Synthetic preservatives such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin, often found in commercial pet foods, can contribute to allergies in dogs. Premium dog foods often use safer and more natural preservatives, such as vitamin E and rosemary.
Also keep an eye out for other additives like propylene glycol. Manufacturers use this chemical to keep food from drying out or going moldy. Another culprit is propyl gallate, used to prevent rancidity. Natural alternatives to these chemicals include vegetable glycerin, honey, rosemary and antioxidants.
High-quality premium pet food manufacturers seldom use artificial colors and flavors. Their natural whole-food ingredients render such additives unnecessary. Always buy the best quality dog food you can afford to reduce the risk of allergies from these and other artificial additives.
Feeding your dog a raw or homemade diet
Many people whose dogs have allergies opt to feed raw or homemade diets. When it comes to home-prepared food, however, Dr. Messonnier stresses the importance of ensuring these diets are properly balanced. “I prefer that people seek a veterinary nutritionist to guide them in formulating the best diet for their dogs’ specific needs,” he says.
Home-cooking can be a big job. It involves sourcing all the ingredients and ensuring you follow the recipe exactly. But a homemade diet may be great for dogs who are extra sensitive, or for dog parents who have tried just about everything else to no avail.
One of the benefits of a homemade diet is that it gives you ultimate control over the ingredients. You can easily exclude known allergens, something you can’t easily do with prepared foods. In some cases, home-cooked food can become the turning point to allergy-free living.
“In the end, I tell clients to feed the best diet they can afford and try to offer variety,” says Dr. Messonnier. “The better the diet, the better the health of the dog!”
Determining what food ingredients your dog might be allergic to takes time and patience. But the reward far exceeds the effort. By removing any offending ingredients, your dog can gain a new lease on life. He can now use his energy for playing, running and having fun instead of scratching and licking irritated skin!
Fruits and veggies: skin-friendly ingredients
According to Dr. Messonnier, the most skin-friendly food ingredients include “dark-colored veggies or fruits.” Many brands of high-quality dog food include blueberries, spinach, kale, and other dark-colored fruits and vegetables.
Shopping list
The following premium pet food companies offer high-quality non-allergenic diets for dogs:
Big Canyon — Ocean White Fish recipe, bigcanyonpet.com/products/adult-ocean-white-fish-recipe
Earthborn Holistic by Midwestern Pet Foods — grain-free, ancient grain, and limited ingredient recipes, earthbornholisticpetfood.com
We Feed Raw — recipes for dogs with allergies, wefeedraw.com
Zealandia — allergy friendly recipes and novel proteins, zealandiapets.com
Zignature — many novel protein/single protein recipes, zignature.com
A good place to start…is the protein source in your dog’s food.
“I’m not sure there’s a most common allergen, but wheat, corn and soy are typically involved.”
The post Top dog food ingredients that cause allergies appeared first on Animal Wellness Magazine.
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