Dogs can also have food intolerances, sensitivities, and allergies too – it’s not just us! With this in mind, dog owners often find themselves wondering what the real differences are between these common complaints?
Furthermore, how can we identify these complaints in man’s best friend? How should you adjust your dog’s diet accordingly?
Heidi Maskelyne is the CEO of ProDog Raw, a leading creator of raw dog food products. To help every pet owner better understand the realities of dogs’ intolerances and allergies, she’s now sharing her expertise. Meanwhile, The Holistic Vet and ProDog Raw’s Veterinary Consultant Dr. Nick Thompson delves into the definitions of each condition, answering all of your long-unanswered questions.
What is the difference between a food intolerance, sensitivity or allergy in dogs?
Dr Nick says: “Allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances in dogs are exactly the same as those in humans; they are, quite simply, a reaction to a particular ingredient – often described as an ‘adverse reaction to a food or food additive’. This reaction can come in three forms; firstly, food ‘allergies’, in a nutshell, are those immediate, unmissable reactions to a specific food. Peanuts, shellfish and strawberries stand out for humans in this instance, whilst in pets allergies are, mercifully, rare. True allergies are potentially fatal.
Secondly, food ‘sensitivities’ occur when food causes gurgling, loose stools, and bloating type-problems. The mechanism of food sensitivities includes a range of biochemical and immune reactions causing these uncomfortable, delayed ‘sensitivity’ responses.
Finally, a food ‘intolerance’ is simply an observation that there are issues digesting particular foods. This is usually a genetic defect whereby you may not carry a necessary digestive enzyme gene.
As with humans, a dog’s body responds to different types of foods in vastly different ways and, sometimes, this comes at a detriment to their health.”
Meanwhile, Heidi adds: “Some of the most common allergens for dogs are dairy, wheat, and soy; from what we react to and how our body responds, dogs and humans are surprisingly similar.”
How can you tell if your dog has a food intolerance or allergy?
Heidi continues: “Food allergies are very obvious; most are accompanied by an extreme and immediate reaction to a particular food. Sensitivities and intolerances, however, can be trickier to identify in your dog; like humans, these symptoms can be attributed to any number of causes.
It’s also important to note that as dogs can develop allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances at any point in their lives, the symptoms you need to look out for will vary. Many people associate food sensitivities and intolerances with digestive issues (GI issues) such as diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, and wind. In reality, however, symptoms can extend far beyond the digestive system. You can keep an eye out for common symptoms as a concerned dog owner, for example skin itching and lesions, joint pain or stiffness, digestive issues, wheezing or coughing, chronic ear infections, excessive paw licking, vomiting, and hair loss; all of which could signify an underlying food sensitivity or intolerance.
In any instance, if your dog is out of sorts and doesn’t seem like themselves, or if they are suddenly displaying symptoms they hadn’t previously, speak with a vet who has experience in holistic nutritional care to receive reliable support.”
How can you begin to identify the food culprit?
Identifying which food or food antigen is affecting your dog is no easy feat. This, says Heidi, is where an elimination diet becomes essential:
“An elimination diet helps you to identify precisely what’s causing your dog’s discomfort. If you’ve ruled out other common causes, including environmental toxins, seasonal allergens, parasites, and medications (e.g., flea and worm treatments), then this should be your next port of call.
Quite simply, an elimination diet is the process of removing specific food groups or proteins from your dog’s diet to determine whether or not they’re the cause of their symptoms. By eliminating said food(s), you can subsequently monitor your dog’s symptoms and see if they show any relief. If they do, this identifies causal ingredients.
Whilst this process might sound complex, the first step we would recommend makes elimination diets much easier to grasp. Essentially, if your dog isn’t already on a raw food diet, switch them on to one. This way, you’ll have already eliminated multiple food groups, such as grains, dairy, and soy. Then, eliminate one protein or meat-type at a time for 2-4 weeks, whilst monitoring your dog’s symptoms, to assess any improvements. Chicken and beef are known to be particularly problematic for sensitive dogs, so we would advise removing these from their diet initially.
Throughout this process, you’ll need to monitor any changes your dog displays. There is also no need to continue for 2-4 weeks if it becomes obvious that the food you’re trialling is your dog’s trigger, remove it from their diet altogether.”
What happens next?
“Once you’ve identified the foods hindering your dog’s health, you’ll have subsequently established exactly what they thrive on. Thankfully, there’s no reason to re-introduce a trigger food when there are so many other healthy options they can enjoy! From then on, you can simply fuel your dog with the proteins and treats that enrich and propel their health.”
If you’re not sure exactly which foods are best suited to your dog, speak with a canine nutritional expert or take a look at our handy ‘Can my dog eat?’ guide.
