The top 6 Dietary Options, and other Considerations for Dogs
When it comes to allergies of our canine companions, today a dog with food allergies to beef and chicken unfortunately is no longer uncommon.
Such an odd thing, being allergic to protein, the very thing essential for so many biological processes in the body.
Identifying a food intolerance, especially when it involves ingredients, dogs need and usually tolerate well, can be a frustrating journey.
Possible symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, itch and inflammation, can be triggered by different health issues, not only allergies (for example Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
But once we know that the reason behind the symptoms is that we own a dog with Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken the next journey starts immediately: Finding out which alternative protein to feed the dog.
Novel Protein Sources
Proteins that your dog’s body has not encountered in the past.
A common approach to managing food allergies in dogs is to feed novel protein sources that their digestive systems and their bodies have not been exposed to before. Novel proteins are proteins that your dog’s immune system has not developed an allergic reaction to.
The top six of potential novel protein sources for a dog with Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken are:
- Venison
- Duck
- Turkey
- Rabbit
- Fish (such as salmon or trout)
- Lamb
Limited Ingredient Diets
Limited ingredient diets (LID) are specially formulated dog foods that contain a minimal number of ingredients to reduce the risk of one or several of those ingredients triggering allergic reactions. These diets typically feature a single protein source (e.g., lamb, duck) and a limited number of carbohydrates, fat and other ingredients. If you want to rely on a dry or canned food from the pet store, look for commercial LID dog foods labeled as “hypoallergenic” or “limited ingredient”. The less ingredients you are dealing with at a time the easier it becomes to identify ingredients your dog’s body can’t tolerate very well.
Here are some examples of limited ingredient dry foods:
I am currently feeding Open Farm New Zealand Venison Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
It is not exactly labeled and sold as a limited ingredient food. But it actually contains a limited amount of overall ingredients, and only the recommended ingredients with low allergenic potential. My dog with IBD and allergies loves the taste and tolerates it very well.
Every dog is different, which is why I always recommend to first try out a small bag and then size up, once the best option has been found.
Homemade Dog Diets
A homemade diet for your dog may seem like a lot of extra effort. But it could be worth it. Especially if you are still figuring out which proteins your dog tolerates best, a fresh and homemade diet may be a great best option to really control and limit the ingredients in your dog’s nutrition. And it is actually not that complicated to create homemade meals using hypoallergenic ingredients.
Since there are other important factors to be considered in a homemade diet for your dog with Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken you may want to discuss your plans with your veterinarian and ask for advice on how to make sure your dog still gets all the important vitamins and minerals. For example, if you feed a bone free homemade diet, there is a high chance that you may need to supplement Calcium, among others, in order to maintain the delicate Phosphorus-Calcium-balance in your dog’s body. There are supplements available for dogs, such as bone meal. But there is no standard dosage as this depends on how much phosphorus and calcium the actual ingredients in your dog’s diet deliver.
Advantages of homemade dog food for a dog with Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken
- Better control of ingredients
- Better option to limit ingredients
- You know what’s in it
- Ingredients can easily be replaced
- If prepared correctly puts less stress on the GI during digestion compared to dry food or other foods (containing lots of hard to digest ingredients)
All the ingredients of your homemade dog food should be fully cooked, ideally chopped, shredded or mashed, well mixed in order to provide a consistent composition and be fed at room temperature to make it as easy as possible for your dog’s digestive system to digest and metabolize the food.
Homemade diets may include
- Boiled or roasted novel protein sources (e.g., turkey, rabbit)
- Cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans
- Boiled eggs
- Healthy grains like brown rice or quinoa
- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements (e.g., fish oil) for skin and coat health
- Cottage cheese
Please note: The foods listed above usually have a lower potential of triggering allergies. However, any food ingredient can be a trigger. If conditions worsen after a food switch you may still have or may have introduced a new trigger, making it necessary to switch again.
If you use dry food, try to soften it before feeding and always feed the dog food at room temperature. This means less stress for the stomach to warm cold food and to moisten and soften it before digestion can begin. Usually, for a healthy dog, digesting hard and dry food is not an issue. But since food allergies tend to also trigger inflammation in the stomach and bowels, these small steps can make a huge difference for a dog with food allergies or other health related gastrointestinal issues on the way of improving digestion and alleviating symptoms such as vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.
Grain-Free Dog Diets
In general, grain allergies are said to be less common in dogs compared to protein allergies. However, some dogs with beef and chicken allergies may also have sensitivities to grains.
In this case again the most likely reason is that with food allergies, inflammation in the digestive system is also involved.
Certain grains, such as corn and wheat (also some legumes, such as soy) are suspected to have a higher potential of causing or aggravating inflammation in the bowels and joints.
Therefore, it makes sense to choose a grain free food for a dog with Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken to avoid further complications.
However, no matter if homemade, dry or canned food, when choosing grain-free diets it’s essential to make sure that alternative carbohydrate sources are available, such as sweet potatoes or peas for example.
Here are some grain free dry food options:
For Puppies
- One (1) 4.5 lb bag of ACANA Grain Free* Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
- High protein dog food recipe features free-run chicken and free-run turkey and eggs and is balanced to include 65%** high-quality animal ingredients and 35%*** wholesome fruits, vegetables and nutrients
- Grain free* dog food has a freeze dried coating for added flavor
- ACANA balances protein-rich animal ingredients with wholesome fruits, vegetables and nutrients with the protein and fat puppies need for development, while EPA & DHA from flounder and fish oil helps support your puppy’s developing brain
- Premium dog food made in the USA with quality ingredients from around the world
For very active dogs
- One (1) 5 lb bag of ACANA Grain Free* Grasslands Recipe Dry Dog Food
- High protein dog food recipe features 70 percent** high-quality animal ingredients and 30 percent*** wholesome vegetables, fruit and nutrients
- A freeze dried dog food coating adds rich flavor dogs crave
- Protein-rich animal ingredients balanced with wholesome fruit and vegetables for nutritious, high-fiber dog food
- This grain free** dry dog food is made in the USA with quality ingredients from around the world
For aging dogs
- One (1) 23.5 lb bag of ORIJEN Senior Original Dry Dog Food
- Nutrient-dense, grain free* dog food tailored to maintain healthy weight and joint function in senior dogs
- Grain free* dry dog food made with the most succulent and nutrient-rich parts of the prey, containing up to 85 percent** animal ingredients and ORIJEN WholePrey ingredients to mimic what your dog’s ancestors consumed in the wild
- The first five ingredients are fresh or raw chicken, turkey, salmon, whole herring and chicken liver to provide your dog with a strong source of protein, vitamins and minerals
- Made in the USA with quality ingredients from around the world; no soy, corn, tapioca or wheat ingredients are added in our kitchen
Allergy Testing and Elimination Diets
If you’re unsure which ingredients your dog is allergic to, your veterinarian may recommend allergy testing or an elimination diet trial. Allergy testing can help identify specific allergens, while an elimination diet involves feeding your dog a novel protein and carbohydrate source for a period of time and then reintroducing potential allergens one at a time to identify triggers. Your veterinarian can guide you through this process and recommend appropriate dietary options based on the results.
Using this method of exclusion (and reintroduction of single possible triggers) every diet should be given for a certain amount of time in order to notice progress because the adjustment can take weeks to months. Depending on the situation another food change may be advised faster. For example, if symptoms worsen drastically or new symptoms occur. Right after a food switch, even healthy dogs can react with constipation or diarrhea. But this should only last a few days.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination
When feeding a dog with Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken, it’s crucial to prevent cross-contamination with allergenic ingredients. Store and prepare your dog’s food separately from other foods and use dedicated utensils and bowls for their meals. Read ingredient labels carefully to avoid accidentally feeding your dog foods that contain beef or chicken derivatives. This is also important for treats.
Managing food allergies in dogs can be a hard task and a very long way to success. Finding a specialized veterinarian, you can ask questions and talk about diet plans may be of great help in this situation.
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