Most pet parents rush to the vets every now and then, worried about an abnormal skin allergy that their dog has suddenly developed. Most times, these allergies are related to food or the environment. Sometimes, the use of certain grooming products can also trigger skin allergies.
How are skin allergies in dogs related to food?
Just like how we can experience a lot of issues because of the foods we eat along with environmental damage, dogs can go through multiple bouts of skin allergies too. While humans have the option to analyze the condition, talk about it with doctors, and take preventive measures for the future, dogs are completely dependent on their pet parents.
This is why, if you have furry friends, you should always be cautious about the changes in your dog’s skin, so you can address the issue immediately. Note that human beings react to allergies differently than dogs. Allergic reactions in humans can range from a runny nose to swollen throat, cough, or skin rashes.
For dogs, however, most allergic reactions appear on the skin as an itch, a rash, or an infection. Hence abnormal changes in the skin or coat need to be quickly checked out.
There are a lot of triggers for skin allergies in dogs, and vets say that most of these can be prevented with the right type of food. Isn’t that interesting?
Avoiding potential skin allergens
When you choose dog food for skin allergies, you have to be extra careful about the ingredients used. Some ingredients are potential allergy triggers, and these need to be given with caution the first few times to check for reactions in the skin.
Here is a list of popular allergens in foods:
- Dairy
- Soy
- Egg
- Wheat
- Rabbit
- Pork
- Seafood
- Chicken
According to vets, feeding the same kind of meat to your dog regularly can actually trigger a negative/allergic reaction in the pet. Rotating different kinds of meats helps avoid this.
Choosing the best ingredients for skin allergies
Once the potential allergens are handled with caution, look for food ingredients that actually help your dogs maintain healthy skin and fight signs of allergic reactions.
- Non-meat additives
Remember that dogs, unlike cats, do not completely rely on meat for their energy source. They handle vegetables and fruits really well too. Veggies and fruits help your dog get its source of essential vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, and are definitely included in all branded dog food for skin allergies. - Meat
There are two types of meat dog foods come with—actual meat and meat byproducts. Actual meat contains more nutrition, including proteins and fat, and is generally considered more premium than products that are loaded with meat byproducts like hooves, entrails, intestinal contents, and sometimes even manure.
The idea of choosing foods rich in nutrients is important so that the dog develops better immunity against allergic reactions and skin diseases. With a better immune system, the chances of your dog developing skin allergies reduce, which is a definite advantage.
Types of skin allergies in dogs - Causes and symptoms
There are four broad categories of skin allergies noticed in dogs. These are:
- Flea-based skin allergies
- Food triggered skin allergies
- Environment caused skin allergies
- Contact skin allergies
Flea-based skin allergies
These allergies appear on the skin because of fleabites. Fleas are ectoparasites, which means they live on the surface of the skin of an animal, especially dogs. Fleas suck blood by piercing the skin and live off the dog’s blood.
Fleas may look small, but these are dangerous parasites to ignore in dogs, as they can result in skin infections and even anemia.
Causes
If your dog is in contact with another flea-infected animal, the fleas can move from one body to another. Female fleas lay their eggs in gardens and open spaces. If your dog has the habit of rolling around in the ground, chances are it picked up fleas from there too.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of a flea-based allergy is noticing your dog constantly biting and itching its skin. Itching often happens in areas like the head, ears, tail, and neck. Because of the constant sucking of blood, the skin infected can also get red and inflamed. If your dog is allergic to flea saliva (more common than you realize), the symptoms could be bald spots on the skin’s surface and excessive and compulsive biting and itching.
Food-triggered skin allergies
Another common type of skin allergy in pets is caused by the food you serve. Many pet parents pay little attention while picking up dog food. There are so many ingredients that can cause a skin allergy or flare-up the one in remission.
There are two ways food results in skin allergies in dogs:
- Food triggers a negative immune response in the body (true allergy)
- Bad food causes gastrointestinal problems that later reflect on the skin (food sensitivity)
When it comes to food sensitivity, your dog does not have an allergic reaction, but responds poorly to the type or quality of food served. Such sensitivities mostly cause gastrointestinal problems, which sometimes also result in chronic skin infections and an itchy coat. True allergic reactions result in worse skin conditions like an excessive itch, balding coat, and even hives.
Causes
Any new food that you try for your dog can result in an allergic response. Vets also mention that genetics is an important factor for making a dog allergic to a particular type of food. Taking the right effort to pick up the best dog food for skin allergies will make sure your pet does not go through the trauma of skin allergies.
Symptoms
There are so many symptoms of food-based skin allergies in dogs. Here are a few common ones:
- Swelling of eyes, ears, or the face
- Excessive itching resulting in biting of the skin
- Constant licking
- Skin inflammation and redness
- Loss of body hair
- Hives
Environment-caused skin allergies
This is another category of skin allergies that are triggered by the environment. These allergies are usually seasonal and are triggered during a specific time of the year.
Causes
Some of the common causes of skin allergies that are environmentally triggered are pollens, dust mites, mold, and mildew. The reason why a dog could be allergic to these triggers is difficult to point out. Genetics and the breed of the dog could be possible causes.
Symptoms
Like a food-based skin allergy, dogs can be seen constantly licking and biting the skin. Some dogs also keep scratching the ears and the axillae. Itching in the groin, toes, and eyes are also not uncommon.
Contact skin allergies
Though not very common, if your dog is exposed to harmful substances at home or around the house and the substances come in contact with the skin, this can result in allergic triggers.
Causes
Pesticides used in gardens and lawns, the material of carpets and upholstery at home, and bad quality bedding can all result in skin allergies.
Symptoms
Skin irritation and itching are some of the common symptoms of contact skin allergies. Sometimes, your dog can also experience rapid hair loss.
Best dog foods to manage skin allergies
Food acts like medicine when consumed the right way. This makes a lot of sense for both human beings and animals. Skin allergies can be quite difficult to handle for dogs, especially if they keep recurring. There are a few ways in which food can keep skin allergies at bay.
- The right food can control allergies from flaring up.
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods can prevent skin allergies and skin inflammation.
- Healthy food can improve the resistance power of your dog, resulting in lesser allergy episodes.
- Good dog food for skin allergies will make your pet stronger and happier and more adept at handling the condition.
Here are some of the top hand-picked dog foods for skin allergies that will ensure your pet is protected against all kinds of triggers.
BLUE Basics® Limited-Ingredient Diet by Blue Buffalo
If you are looking for adult dog food that contains no possible traces of food allergens, then the Basics Limited-Ingredient pack is the best. The turkey and potato variant of this brand is made with just a handful of amazing ingredients – turkey, potatoes, peas, and pumpkin. This dry food is also enriched with vitamins C and E and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. To help handle skin allergies in dogs, the brand does not add triggers like wheat, soy, chicken, beef, dairy, eggs, or artificial colors and flavors in their foods. Consuming this food helps your dog develop healthy skin and coat and also ensures easy and gentle digestion.
WELLNESS® Simple Limited Ingredient Diet
This is yet another limited ingredient diet that is formulated specifically for dogs prone to sensitivities and allergies. The salmon and potato formula from this brand contains good amounts of fiber, proteins, and fat. These foods are also a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The limited ingredients added ensure you can read the label for allergy triggers easily. Dogs are taken to the vet for five common reasons – ear infections, hot spots on the skin, skin allergies, diarrhea, and other stomach infections. This food helps combat all these. This one definitely belongs to the list of best dog food for skin allergies.
Brothers Complete Advanced Allergy Formula
This premium dog food is for adult dogs, and caters to the needs of sensitive and allergy-prone animals. About 90% of the proteins added in the pack are sourced from animals. The turkey meal and egg formula pack contains nourishing ingredients like tapioca, peas, pumpkin, carrots, and flaxseed. This dry food pack is also enriched with probiotics to ensure good gut health in dogs. The food is grain-free, potato-free, and GMO-free. It also helps promote better digestive health and reduces the occurrences of allergies.
CANIDAE® PURE™ Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
This brand’s salmon food contains just eight simple ingredients that are safe and allergy-free. The brand adds salmon, salmon meal, Menhaden fish meal, peas, sweet potatoes, canola oil, sun-cured alfalfa, and potatoes, to its food packs. As it lists all ingredients clearly, its products are considered among the best dog food for skin allergies. The foods are corn-free, wheat-free, and soy-free too. They are enriched with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to keep the skin and coat healthy, and antioxidants to improve the immune system of your loved pet.
California Natural Grain Free Limited Ingredient Food
This is the perfect food choice for dogs that are suffering from any kind of skin allergy or skin infection. The product comes with only four selected ingredients—lamb meal, peas, green lentils, and sunflower oil. All these ingredients are made without artificial colors and flavors that can trigger skin allergies in pets. This food helps solve all kinds of skin and coat issues your dog has, with time. It also gently eases the stomach and prevents indigestion and stomach upsets.
NUTRO™ Limited Ingredient Diet Natural Dog Food
This is a wet-food category that is completely grain-free and offers simple and allergy-free ingredients. This food pack contains fish, potatoes, and sunflower oil. The food is also enriched with different kinds of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, needed to improve the immunity of the dog. This brand of food also deals with food sensitivities well.
Any high-quality dog food for skin allergies is created after years of research and trials, and will keep your dog happy, sated, and allergy-free. Skin allergies can make your dog irritated, tired, and chronically decrease its lifespan. So, act on the potential causes of skin allergies in dogs by serving them wholesome food after consulting a vet.
