Have a dog that suffers from chicken allergies? Dogs with food allergies have a lower risk of developing severe symptoms like skin rashes and diarrhea, but they still have a lower quality of life overall because of their condition.
How can you tell if your dog is allergic to chicken, a common ingredient in dog food, and whether or not your dog has allergies in general? Moreover, what can be done to fix the problem? Questions? We know the solution.
Does My Dog Have a Chicken Allergy?
It’s likely that whatever you’ve recently started feeding your dog is the source of his or her allergy symptoms. Step one would be to switch to a new brand of food.
Identify whether or not the chicken in your dog’s current food is a problem. If that’s the case, you might want to experiment with feeding your dog a different kind of protein, like beef, turkey, pork, lamb, or fish.
Turkey might surprise you as an unexpected inclusion. Unusually, only a small percentage of canines suffer from turkey allergies, and it’s even less common for a dog to be allergic to all forms of poultry.
The development of chicken allergy in your dog can be indicated by the following signs:
• Itchy red bumps on the face
• The emergence of a rash
Constantly gnawing on the paws
Hair thinning
Having your dog checked out by a vet is in order if he or she displays any of these signs.
Recently, Yumwoof assembled six of the most prominent researchers in the field of microbiome to form an Animal Microbiome Research Committee. All of us on the committee are experts in this field of study at various universities, and we’re currently looking into what causes food allergies.
What we do know is that your dog’s body can develop a sensitivity to the proteins in chicken over time.
Your dog’s immune system will go into overdrive to combat these proteins because its cells will mistakenly believe that they are dangerous invaders.
Symptoms of Chicken Allergy in Dogs
A dog’s skin or digestive system may show symptoms of a chicken allergy, or both.
Environmental and food allergies both commonly cause skin problems. The skin may become red or itchy (especially in the paws, abdomen, groin, face, and ears), or there may be a loss of fur or even hives. It’s not uncommon to get an ear infection or a skin infection.
Hot spots, or puncture wounds, can form when a dog licks or chews the same area of skin over and over again.
Diarrhea, vomiting, gas, and other tummy troubles are all possible digestive symptoms. Affected puppies may also have problems with their anal glands, causing them to scoot their posteriors across the floor.
Any allergy has the potential to cause an anaphylactic reaction (swelling of the face, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors, collapse, and even death).
Comparable to a human with a severe peanut allergy who needs medical treatment at the mere hint of peanut residue, this would be the case here.
Fortunately, canine cases of this kind of reaction to food are extremely rare. A trip to the vet is essential if you ever see any of these signs in your dog.
What Causes Allergies in Dogs?
An immune system overreaction leads to allergic reactions. If someone in the office is allergic to chicken, their immune system will react to the protein in chicken as though it were a virus or bacteria.
An inflammatory response is a byproduct of this immune system attack. These inflammatory effects manifest themselves in a dog’s skin or gastrointestinal system, as described above.
Due to their hereditary nature, allergies are notoriously challenging to avoid. All dogs are susceptible to developing allergies, but some breeds are more at risk than others. Bulldogs, Chinese Shar-Peis, Retrievers, Terriers, Shih Tzus, and Lhasa Apsos are among the more commonly affected dog types.
How Common Are Food Allergies in Dogs?
Environmental/seasonal allergies (pollen, etc.) and flea-bite allergies are the most common causes of allergies in dogs.
Even though some pets have severe reactions to certain foods, food allergies are not nearly as common as many pet owners think they are. Approximately 10% of canine allergic reactions are attributable to food, according to experts.
Beef, lamb, chicken, soy, egg, dairy, and wheat proteins are the most common allergens in canine diets.
It’s possible that a dog’s tummy troubles aren’t caused by a genuine food allergy. They may just have an intolerance or sensitivity to certain foods, which causes them to have digestive issues but not an immune system reaction.
Determine which ingredient(s) your dog is sensitive to and then find a dog food that works well with their body, whether your dog has a true food allergy or a food intolerance.
What to Do If My Dog Has a Chicken Allergy
If your dog exhibits signs of an allergy to chicken, you should immediately stop feeding it food containing chicken and replace it with food containing a different protein.
We suggest trying new proteins in the following order once you’re ready to branch out from traditional meats:
1. Beef
Second, Turkey
3. Pork
4. Lamb
5. Fish
You can browse our recipe website to find the Perfect Dog Food Mix recipes for each of these proteins. We think you’ll like this blend because it simplifies the process of finding out which meats your dog can safely eat by testing their reactions to a variety of them.
Perfect Kibble Beef is another option if you’re looking for a pre-made dog food without chicken that we prepare in-house.
Diagnosing Dog Chicken Allergy
The elimination process is a patient way to figure out whether or not your dog is allergic to chicken (or anything else). However, getting an answer quickly can help you choose the best treatment for your dog.
A trip to the vet is in order if you discover your dog is allergic to poultry. What usually happens next is described below.
- Your dog’s medical history will include questions about your dog’s symptoms, diet, and possible exposures that your veterinarian will ask you. There will also be a thorough physical examination.
- The symptoms your dog is exhibiting may have other causes, but those must be ruled out first. A light scrape of the skin or an ear swab are often the first steps in diagnosing infections caused by bacteria, yeast, and other microscopic parasites. Your veterinarian may also suggest additional diagnostics like blood tests if they suspect a more serious underlying medical issue (like a hormonal imbalance).
- An allergy workup may be advised if your dog’s symptoms persist.
- To diagnose food allergies, a food trial (or elimination diet) is often the first step. So, for the next three to four months, you’ll be on a very specific diet. Your veterinary care team will be happy to walk you through every step of the process, from choosing a healthy diet to deciding which treats are safe.
- A dog’s trial of a new food could lead to a permanent switch if it shows marked improvement. When introducing new things (like treats) to see if they cause reactions, your vet can explain how to do so gradually. Using this method, you can find out if your dog has any food sensitivities.
- If a dog’s condition does not improve after a trial diet, testing for environmental allergies should be performed. A blood sample is collected and sent off to a lab for analysis. The accuracy of blood tests for food allergies is questionable, but they can be very useful for pinpointing the environmental allergens to which a dog is hypersensitive.
Treatment for Chicken Allergy in Dogs
Allergies, alas, are incurable. However, a dog’s discomfort due to allergies can be controlled or reduced.
Once a puppy begins to exhibit symptoms, medication is usually required to break the inflammatory cycle and restore normal skin or gastrointestinal function.
Antibiotics for secondary skin infections, wound care, and drugs for diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset are examples of such treatments.
However, a dog’s diet should be carefully considered to ensure long-term protection against allergies.
Unlike environmental allergies, which can be difficult to treat, food allergies tend to be more manageable.
Pollen and other environmental triggers may be impossible to avoid, but your dog’s symptoms can be managed by avoiding the offending food or ingredient.
But it’s not uncommon for dogs to have more than one kind of allergy. If your dog is allergic to both chicken and pollen, for example, he or she may require a special diet for food allergies as well as long-term management for environmental allergies.
Some dogs with food allergies still have attacks on occasion, even when fed a carefully monitored diet, particularly if they manage to sneak a scrap of food off the table or find something interesting to chew on while out for a walk.
A dog that is allergic to one food may become allergic to another food in the future.
Even though feeding your dog a high-quality food will go a long way toward controlling food allergies, it’s important to remember that your pet may still require occasional treatment.
Most dogs with food allergies can have their symptoms greatly reduced and lead normal, happy lives with the right knowledge, monitoring, and management plan.
Do Probiotics Help Food Allergies?
In several National Institutes of Health studies, probiotics were found to be an effective natural treatment for food allergies.
In a canine model, probiotics were shown to reduce levels of IgE, an antibody produced in response to allergens, in a study published in 2012.
Symptoms of allergies did not reappear in clinical settings. Two months of supplementation with Lactobacillus probiotics significantly improved the condition of dogs with canine atopic dermatitis, according to a study published in 2015.
Another 2015 study found that canine atopic dermatitis improved in dogs that were given a different Lactobacillus probiotic.
Changing the protein source is the recommended starting point for treating chicken food allergies. Your dog’s food allergy may be cured by switching to a different protein, such as beef or turkey, but you should not feed your dog chicken again.
Still, if your dog is experiencing allergy symptoms, a probiotic like this might help.
FAQ’s
If my dog is allergic to chicken, can he or she eat eggs?
Your dog may be allergic to both chicken and eggs, but an allergy to the former does not necessarily indicate a sensitivity to the latter. Dogs that are allergic to both are, fortunately, a rarity.
How should I transition to a chicken-free food?
\ If you think your dog is allergic to chicken, you should make the switch to a chicken-free diet as quickly as possible, preferably within 7 days. Begin feeding your dog a mixture of the new and old food, 50/50 at first, and gradually increase the amount of the new food over the course of a week.
When do allergies develop in dogs?
Between the ages of six months and three years, dogs are most susceptible to developing allergies.
Considering that a puppy’s immune system is still maturing at six months of age, it is highly unlikely that early-onset symptoms are due to allergies.
However, dogs of any age, including those older than three years, are capable of developing allergies.
What are other foods that commonly trigger allergy symptoms?
Dogs are typically allergic to a certain type of protein in their diet, contrary to popular belief that grains are a major allergen for canines.
Chicken, beef, lamb, soy, egg, dairy, and wheat protein are the most common offenders. In fact, they can all serve as beneficial protein and nutrient sources in dog food, so there’s no reason to avoid them.
While these are the most commonly reported allergens in dog food and treats, any ingredient in a dog’s diet (including human food and table scraps) could potentially trigger an allergic reaction.
There is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog food, and the “best” dog food will depend on the specific needs of each dog.
If my dog is allergic to chicken, is he also allergic to poultry like turkey?
Depending on the dog’s immune system, the answer to this question could be different.
It’s best to conduct a food trial with an unrelated protein, such as venison instead of chicken or other poultry (or poultry products, such as eggs).
Consult your vet for advice on what kind of food is best for your dog.
What can I feed my dog if they’re allergic to chicken?
An ideal protein source for a taste test would be one that is vastly different from chicken, such as beef or a less common protein like rabbit or venison.
Many dog foods, even those that don’t list chicken as one of their first few ingredients, still contain chicken in the form of meat, organs, or broth.
When processed in the same facility as dog foods made with chicken, even those without chicken as an ingredient run the risk of contamination.
Many veterinarians advocate the use of a prescription allergy food for these reasons. These diets include proteins derived from unusual sources, such as rabbit or venison, or from proteins that have been “hydrolyzed,” making them less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
The facility will demonstrate excellent quality control by completely shutting down and disinfecting all equipment between batches of prescription allergy dog foods.
To get the most reliable results from a food trial for allergies, prescription diets are therefore often the best option as a first step.
Is it possible for a dog to suddenly develop a food allergy?
Although allergies can develop at any rate in a dog’s body, they often appear to appear suddenly because of the threshold at which they become noticeable (when symptoms appear and cause discomfort to a dog).
If your dog starts showing signs of allergy, it’s best to take him to the vet as soon as possible.
Should I avoid dog food made with chicken?
Avoiding common allergens won’t help your dog unless he has a history of food allergies.
Usually, a dog’s allergy develops gradually over time in response to something the dog is regularly exposed to, such as chicken, beef, rabbit, kangaroo, or another ingredient.
Meaning that there is no guarantee that switching a dog to a rabbit-based diet to avoid chicken allergy will work. A rabbit allergy, rather than a chicken allergy, would develop in the dog.
Avoiding diet changes and limiting the dog’s exposure to new foods is the best way to manage food allergies.
In the event that they develop a food allergy, you will have more ingredients from which to choose when conducting the food trial and for long-term feeding.
What diet do you recommend for a dog with chicken allergies?
We advise eating a diet that is low in processed foods and high in whole, natural foods. There shouldn’t be any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives in it. Available in two varieties, the products are:
Using Perfect Dog Food Mix, you can quickly and easily prepare homemade dog food with a wide range of proteins to see if your dog has any adverse reactions to any of them.
There are 14 natural ingredients in Perfect Kibble Beef, making it “soft and chewy.” The beef used in this kibble is fresh.
Conclusion: Try These Alternative Proteins
According to some estimates, up to 15% of canines suffer from chicken allergies. In the event that you suspect your dog is allergic to chicken, switching to a different protein source may help alleviate his or her symptoms. Beef, turkey, pork, lamb, and fish are the recommended first courses.
Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any concerns about how your dog’s chicken allergy may be affecting him.