Food Allergies in Pets

Allergies in pets are a common concern for many owners, and they can manifest in various ways. The most common types of allergies in dogs and cats include:

Food Allergies: Caused by an adverse reaction to specific proteins or other ingredients in a pet’s diet.
Environmental Allergies: Triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, or grass.
Flea Allergies: An allergic reaction to flea saliva, leading to intense itching and skin irritation.
Contact Allergies: Resulting from direct skin contact with certain substances, such as detergents, shampoos, or synthetic materials.

A food allergy is the most common type of allergy known to affect dogs and cats. But it may be difficult to distinguish a food allergy from other types of allergies, since food allergy symptoms overlap with those of other allergies. We recommend consulting a vet to rule out other types of allergies before trying to tackle a food allergy. Below, we explore the symptoms of food allergies, the most common allergens, and what steps to take if transitioning to a raw diet does not resolve them.

What are the signs of food allergies in dogs and cats?

Common signs of food allergies include:

Skin Issues: Persistent itching, redness, rashes, or hot spots.
Digestive Problems: Vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, or excessive gas.
Ear Infections: Recurring ear infections, especially with excessive wax buildup and smell.
Chronic Paw Licking and Chewing: Pets with food allergies often lick and chew their paws excessively due to irritation.
Poor Coat Condition: Dry, flaky skin and excessive shedding.

What are the most common foods dogs and cats are allergic to?

The most common food allergens in dogs and cats include:

Beef
Dairy
Chicken
Wheat and grains
Lamb
Fish
Shellfish
Soy

Note that these are only the most common problem foods. Some pets react to certain vegetables, fruits, or even supplements.

Transitioning to a raw diet for allergy management

Many pet owners turn to a biologically-appropriate raw diet to manage food allergies. By eliminating artificial additives, preservatives, and common allergens found in commercial pet food (such as grains, dairy and soy), a raw diet can, in and of itself, relieve pets of allergy triggers. But it could be that the problem is a food that is also part of the raw diet, which is why some pets continue to suffer from symptoms after transition.

What to do if a raw diet doesn’t eliminate allergies?

If your pet is showing signs of allergies after transitioning to a balanced raw diet, and you have ruled out other potential causes of the symptoms, then the appropriate course of action is what’s called an elimination diet. This involves feeding your pet nothing but a safe or novel protein for a period of 6 weeks and then gradually introducing new ingredients while closely monitoring your pet for reactions.

Selecting a Safe or Novel Protein

A “safe” protein is one that you know for sure your dog is not allergic to. A “novel” protein is one that your pet hasn’t eaten before. Below is a list of proteins (excluding beef, chicken, and lamb) that may be safe and novel for your pet:

Pork
Turkey
Rabbit
Duck
Horse
Venison

Once you’ve selected a protein, start by constructing a balanced diet for your pet. Make sure that your pet receives meat, bones, and organs of the novel protein in correct proportions.

Feeding Duration

Feed your pet a base diet consisting of a single novel protein for 6 weeks, without any other ingredients. This period serves as a “reset,” giving the body time to heal and stabilize. Since histamine levels can take up to six weeks to decrease, the primary goal during this phase is to lower histamine levels and alleviate symptoms.

It is best not to give any treats during this time, unless they are single-ingredient and made of the same protein as the base diet. The same applies to supplements, as they often contain binders or additional components that could interfere with the process.

If symptoms worsen on the novel protein, you might need to select a different protein.

Slowly Introducing Other Ingredients

If your pet has been eating the base diet for 6 weeks and their symptoms have improved, you can start slowly introducing new foods. Each new ingredient should be given one at a time for 2-4 weeks each to determine if the new food is safe. Start by giving small amounts of the new ingredient and gradually increase the amount if there is no reaction. This applies to any ingredient, be it protein, fruit, vegetable or supplement. If there is a reaction to an ingredient, eliminate that ingredient from the diet and find an alternative. Give an additional reset period after a reaction before moving onto a new food. The reset period varies between pets, and not everyone is going to need 6 weeks.

This way, you will identify which foods are safe for your pet and which are to be avoided.

Once you’ve identified safe foods, ensure that your pet's diet remains nutritionally complete by incorporating the appropriate variety of protein, organs, and bones. Because food allergies often lead to poor gut health and biodiversity, it is useful to try and introduce some fiber, probiotics, and essential amino acids into the allergic pet’s diet.