Food Allergies in Dogs: When Sneaky Snacking Gets Harmful

You might’ve spent a small fortune on getting your dog the healthiest kibble or snacks. Which is where it gets doubly frustrating if your buddy’s suddenly itchy, dealing with skin trouble, or even losing their fur – all symptoms that could be a case of food allergies in dogs.

Turns out, dog food allergies might not just be triggered by what you’re feeding them, but also treats your buddy gets from well-meaning strangers or even scavenging food they find when off-leash. (Or sneakily from the sidewalk!) So here’s how you can better manage and protect your dog’s health and well-being. (While figuring out where else around town they might be getting fed.)

Find out how your dog spends their time.

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How do food allergies develop in dogs?

Much like in humans, food allergies in dogs may develop when their immune system:

• Mistakes a certain protein or ingredient as “dangerous”¹ 
• Triggers an allergic reaction…
• ….which could range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the severity.

Dogs can develop allergies to foods they’ve been eating their entire lives. It usually takes around 2-3 months for them to become allergic to a food, though it can take longer. On the bright side, food allergies are relatively rare in dogs. But you’re still better off staying informed and knowing what signs to look out for.

• Food allergies can develop at any age and any time.²
• There may be a genetic component to developing dog food allergies. Retrievers, Terriers, and Spaniels may have an increased risk of these.
• In fact, around a third of dogs with food allergies develop them before they reach 1 year of age.
• However, most are only diagnosed around 5 years!

⚠️ Which means, sadly, that many cases of food allergies in dogs may often go undiagnosed. So it might actually be way more common than we think.³ 

What foods can trigger allergies in dogs?

Here are the main culprits your dog might be allergic to:

Animal proteins	– Beef – Chicken – Eggs – Lamb – Pork – Fish
Dairy	– Milk – Butter – Yogurt – Cheese
Grains	– Wheat – Corn – Soy – Rice

Now you might be extra vigilant about what you’re feeding your dog. So if any of these ingredients come as a surprise, you might be wondering…

Where is my dog running into these allergens in the first place?

At this point, you might be wondering: who’s been feeding my dog butter? Or fish, or cheese, or for crying out loud…yogurt?!

Now if you’re the only person feeding your dog, make sure to check the labels and packaging before serving them anything. Turns out, the dog food (or treats) you’re giving them might just contain one or more of these very proteins or ingredients. (Which your buddy might have developed an allergic reaction to.)

If nothing looks suspicious here, check if your dog able to access any food you keep stored at home. Like, for example, from your kitchen counters or cabinets or pantries. You’ll find it helpful to keep your buddy well away from these spots, since a whole bunch of human foods can be toxic to dogs!

🐶 Finally, take a close look at your buddy’s outdoor habits. Unfortunately, even a well-intentioned snack that a friendly stranger hands to your dog could contain an allergen your dog’s body might not respond well to. (Like a wheat biscuit or a buttery treat.)

Common symptoms of food allergies in dogs

Now not all dogs might show the same symptoms – and not all these symptoms might even turn up right away. In fact, identifying the specific allergen that’s triggering these symptoms can be a long, frustrating process. But watch out for these signs if they occur around mealtimes:

• Itching excessively, especially around their feet, ears, groin, and face
• Experiencing skin problems, like rashes, redness (even around the feet), acne, and even scabbing
• Smelling weird, which might signal a yeast infection
• Shaking their heads constantly, which could signal an ear infection
• Experiencing diarrhea – or the opposite, straining to pass stools
• Losing their hair – and it isn’t related to any seasonal shedding
• Vomiting,
• Flatulent,
• Hyperactive,
• More lethargic than usual – or just more reluctant around walks or playtime
• More irritable, or even aggressive than normal

Now these symptoms aren’t necessarily only due to food allergies. Rather, they can overlap with other health conditions as well. What’s important is that these “obvious” symptoms might signal that your buddy’s system is already fighting an infection and trying to manage any pain and discomfort.

What to expect at your vet

Diagnosing food allergies in dogs can be a puzzle, since there might be a whole bunch of reasons causing your dog’s symptoms. Which is why your vet might begin by ruling out any other causes, including flea allergies, bug bites, mange – or other causes of skin infections, including skin cancer or even hypothyroidism.

Come prepared to answer questions including:

• When your dog’s symptoms began – and how long they’ve been persisting,
• Whether these symptoms worsen around meals,
• Whether your dog’s been diagnosed with allergies before (plus their medical history)
• What your dog is currently eating – including besides dog food. Meaning treats, table scraps, the whole deal.
• Whether you’ve changed your dog’s diet recently,
• Whether people besides you – like your neighbors or even strangers – give your dog treats or food
• If your dog has access to any areas they could find random food – or if they visited any new places, like a boarding facility, where they might’ve been fed something different than usual

How do elimination diets work?

Your vet might prescribe you an 8-12 week elimination diet to check whether a specific protein or ingredient is triggering your dog’s symptoms. This usually includes a limited-ingredient diet, which includes new proteins and foods your dog might not have eaten before. During these weeks, be extra careful to avoid feeding your dog any other food, treats, or table scraps. If your dog’s symptoms improve, they could’ve been triggered by a food allergy.

After that, your vet might recommend you slowly reintroduce any suspected allergens one by one – and monitor your buddy’s reaction. This can help them figure out what might be causing the allergies in the first place.

How you can manage your dog’s food allergies at home

If your vet diagnoses your dog with a food allergy, it’s important to take steps to prevent it. Here’s how you can manage it at home:

Stick to your vet-prescribed diet

Once you’ve figured out if your dog’s allergies are linked to beef or grain or dairy, make sure to steer clear of these ingredients completely. Since you’re in control of their meals, make sure to follow your vet’s instructions to the T to avoid a relapse.

• Check the packaging of any commercial dog food labels for grains like corn, pork, or wheat as part of their ingredient list. If you notice any offending ingredients, it’s better to avoid buying these.
• Avoid feeding your dog any flavored substances, including dental chews or toothpaste – but also any medicines, vitamins, or supplements that include artificial flavors. All of these can potentially trigger your dog’s symptoms, especially if they’re still on an elimination diet.
• Feed your dog in a separate area from any of your other pets, so you can avoid them accidentally “sharing” food or water bowls.

In some cases, your vet might recommend a specific prescription diet that contains proteins broken down into smaller parts. (Or “hydrolyzed.”) So it’s less likely your dog’s body will react negatively to them. They might also recommend special probiotics or supplements to help your buddy deal with any stomach trouble and immune function.

LIkewise, always discuss with your vet before you buy a can of what’s branded as “hypoallergenic” dog food. Each dog has different allergies, so it’s not possible for any diet to be 100% hypoallergenic – i.e., unlikely to trigger allergic reactions. Your vet can best advise you what foods to stick to as your buddy recovers.

Follow any medication instructions to the T

 Your vet might also prescribe you specific medication to deal with your dog’s other symptoms. Which might include:

• Anti-histamines, to help with the itching.
• Anti-inflammatory medication, to help with any gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Corticosteroids, which can help with skin infections, redness, and itching.
• Medicated shampoos to help soothe the skin.
• Antibiotics, in case of any other infection.

In all cases, make sure to follow the full course of medication – even if your dog seems to be getting better.

⚠️ Likewise, avoid giving your dog any medicine designed for humans – as these might contain ingredients toxic to dogs.

Monitor every morsel that goes into your dog’s mouth

If your dog is on a bit of a…well, “see food” diet (meaning they see food and they eat it) – now’s the time to be extra careful. Especially if your buddy’s prone to sneaking in some snacks from random places, which can expose them to allergens of all kinds. So watch out for food in uncontrolled environments, like:

• Any litter on the sidewalk on your daily walks together,
• Some extra treats from another, unwitting dog parent at the dog park,
• Your own backyard, where your buddy might have dug a hole to hide their snack stash,
• The trash, both indoors and outdoors,
• Or even while you have guests at home – especially relatives who are more generous with the treats than you are!

⚠️ Dogs are natural scavengers – and sadly, they might not be able to tell the difference between something that could trigger an allergic reaction and something that just smells and tastes “yummy.” And while others most likely don’t mean any harm if they do offer your buddy a biscuit or treat, it could possibly contain wheat or soy – which could trigger an allergy.

All of which can make it difficult to figure out exactly WHERE your buddy came across the allergens in the first place – which you want to avoid at all costs as they get better.

That’s why you’ll also find it helpful to…

Figure out where your dog’s spending most of their time

If your dog’s a 100% indoor dog, it might be the food they’re sneaking in from your kitchen – or house guests – that might be a possible culprit. But if your buddy spends any amount of time outdoors, it’s not a bad idea to keep track of exactly where. (So you’re that much better informed whether they’re hanging out in any “allergy-prone” zones.)

Which – besides food – could expose your buddy’s risk to allergens from:

• Your own backyard, where pollen from trees and flowers could trigger some major sniffling and sneezing.
• Your neighbors’ farmlands or gardens, where your dog could end up licking the harmful chemicals. These tend to be in fertilizer, pesticide, or other gardening items, like snail bait. Your well-meaning neighbor might also offer your buddy a treat they’re allergic to, including cheese, peanut butter, or even processed snacks!
• Any nearby parks or picnic areas, where your buddy might find some discarded leftovers or food scraps. Or they could rummage through a dumpster and run into something potentially toxic.
• Any woodland near your property, where runners or hikers might have left behind some trail mix – which, if it contains chocolate, could also be dangerous if your dog gets a taste of it.

So imagine being able to scout out any “allergy-prone” zones in your neighborhood – with just a glance at your phone?

💡 Aka, just check your dog’s Heat Map & Location History.

Which can help you figure out your dog’s favorite hiding, hunting, or hangout spots – and where they might be most likely to sniff out some forbidden “snacks.”

🐶 With this knowledge, you’re now better informed and better prepared to identify any potential sources of allergy-inducing foods in your neighborhood.

So you can:

• Avoid these spots altogether,
• Warn other pet parents,
• and take a more active role in your buddy’s health and wellbeing for the future.

Follow your dog anywhere

Get real-time location information, wherever they go. And find out when they try to make an escape, or just when they go somewhere they shouldn’t, with Virtual Fences.

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Wondering if your buddy has a food allergy – but not sure how to test it out? Here’s Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM, walking you through the process.

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.