4 Dog Food Allergy Myths

By Dr. Jennifer Coates, PetMD

Allergies are a common problem for dogs. Typical symptoms include itchiness resulting in excess scratching, biting, or licking, and sometimes chronic or recurrent skin/ear infections. While dogs most frequently suffer from allergies to environmental triggers (e.g., pollen, molds, and dust mites or flea bites), allergic reactions to food are possible, and are frequently a source of greater controversy.

Diagnosing canine food allergies is not easy. It typically requires a food trial during which a dog eats ABSOLUTELY NOTHING other than a food containing protein and carbohydrate sources to which he has never been exposed before. Another option is to only allow your dog to eat food that has been processed in such a way as to make it hypoallergenic. A food trial needs to continue for at least eight weeks before its success or failure can be evaluated. This is easier said than done!

I think the difficulty we have in definitively diagnosing food allergies in dogs is at least partially responsible for some of the myths that have developed around the condition. Let’s look at a few, along with the truths behind them.

Myth: Dogs are typically allergic to corn, wheat, soy, and other plant-based ingredients.

Truth: In a study of 278 cases of food allergies in dogs where the problem ingredient was clearly identified, beef was by far the biggest culprit (95 cases). Dairy was number two at 55 cases. Wheat came in third with 42 cases. Soy and corn were actually minimal offenders, coming in at 13 and 7 cases, respectively.

In fact, protein sources are more often to blame than grains. Beef, dairy, chicken, egg, lamb, soy, pork and fish were responsible for 231 of the food allergies, while wheat, corn and rice combined accounted for only 54. (Some dogs were allergic to more than one ingredient, which is why these numbers total more than 278.)

Myth: “I’ve changed my dog’s diet several times and he’s still itchy, so he can’t have a food allergy.”

Truth: Dogs are allergic to particular ingredients, not to brands or types of food. So if your dog is allergic to chicken, and each of the foods you have tried contains chicken, he will still be itchy. Look very closely at the ingredient list; it will usually contain multiple protein and carbohydrate sources. It is not unusual for a food that is labeled “lamb and rice,” for example, to contain chicken or other potential allergens as well.

It is difficult to guess correctly as to what your dog might be allergic to, which is why veterinarians typically reach for foods with novel ingredients like venison and potato (your dog’s dietary history is important for picking out the right one), or specially processed, hypoallergenic foods.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Alex J.

2:59PM PDT on Apr 13, 2013

People don't know how important healthy food are. I have 12 years old Golden Terrier and I always prepare him homemade food. Do you know dogs can live 27 years! Please don't give them commercial food. There are lots of healthy homemade food recipes here http://www.makeusknow.com/categories/animals&pets/what-can-dogs-eat-vs-what-should-dogs-eat.html , please prepare them healthy food.

April 13
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Diane L.

2:12AM PDT on Mar 26, 2013

Dale B., wild salmon is not recommended for dogs, and in fact, it can kill them as salmon carry a parasite that can be fatal to dogs. It's best to avoid feeding salmon to dogs EVER, but if you do, make sure it's cooked thoroughly.

Sam's Club gets their products from Purina, BTW.

March 26
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Dale B.

10:04AM PDT on Mar 25, 2013

There is an excellent website that rates dog foods. dogfoodadviser.com.

I have seven dogs and board several more. I buy Sam's Club's (Simply Right) version of lamb and rice food. They recently changed their ingredients and took corn out of it. For $33 for a 44# bag, it's the best deal I have found on a good quality food. I cook for my gang too, they eat everything from wild salmon to blueberries, but I use some dry food too. Sam's also sells a chicken formula which I do not recommend. I have had three dogs develop severe allergic reactions to it.

I've used the website peteducation.com for years for dog health issues. They list corn and wheat as two of the main causes, so it's hard to know who is right. I think the best advice is to buy a good quality food and don't change brands unless your dog develops issues with it.

March 25
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Kathy P.

9:35AM PDT on Aug 29, 2012

thanks. sounds like dog food allergies are super similar to food allergies in humans

August 29
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LMj S.

12:35PM PDT on Aug 7, 2012

Thank you.

August 7
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12:34PM PDT on Aug 7, 2012

12:23AM PDT on Aug 7, 2012

Laurent, many, if not most dogs do not tolerate corn, but it's such a common filler ingredient, most of the "normal" grocery store brands have it, also wheat. Rice is another common grain, but the higher quality foods use only brown rice.

Beef is the usual "meat" ingredient that seem to cause allergies, and lamb supposedly is the least likely. All one can do is try a dogfood (or catfood) with limited ingredients and switch when symptoms are not reduced, OR go to a huge expense to have the vet test and it can cost thousands to eliminate possibilities via testing.

Laurent E.

2:23PM PDT on Aug 6, 2012

My dog is one of the many allergic to beef. He also has problems with all potatoes, which made it hard to find a dog food that he could eat. We went through a lot with him, testing different foods and watching him suffer, it was awful. He has been on a limited diet of natural balance L.I.D. lamb meal & brown rice and nothing else, and happily has had no allergic symptoms for a year. I never knew dogs could have allergies, but boy do I know now!