A Guide to Dog Chicken Allergies

Chicken is one of the most common dietary allergies in dogs. If you suspect your canine companion has an allergy to something, the first thing you should do is book a visit for a proper diagnosis.

However, sometimes the symptoms of an allergy are misconstrued. So, to help you better understand what’s going on with your pooch here is some key information on dog allergies.

What are the symptoms of a chicken allergy?

Some of the common signs of allergies are:

• Fur loss
• Bald Patches
• Red, swollen and itchy skin across the stomach, paws and ears
• Frequent ear or skin infections
• Paw biting and obsessive licking
• Excessive scratching
• Diarrhoea
• Gas and Bloating

It is worth keeping in mind that most allergies in dogs are environmental. So, check for potential triggers around the home and garden before assuming the problem is dietary. Read our Dog Hay Fever blog.

If your dog is exhibiting these symptoms, book a vet visit as soon as you can. Frequent vomiting and diarrhoea can become serious very quickly.

How do dogs develop a chicken allergy?

Any dog could develop a chicken allergy. This is mostly due to exposure to the protein in food. It is worth noting dogs can be exposed to chicken via their regular diet, but also through treats, flavoured toys, dog toothpaste and some medications like worming treatments.

Some dogs may also be genetically predisposed to developing a chicken allergy.

Sometimes allergies and intolerances are confused for each other. An allergy is an immune response, whereby the immune system attacks a certain protein found in food. Like human allergies, even a small amount of the trigger can elicit a huge reaction.

An intolerance will impact your dogs’ digestive system and their gut health. Dogs will struggle to properly break down certain foods and this results in loose stools, bloating, abdominal pain and gassiness. Without proper testing, it is very hard to distinguish between an allergy and an intolerance.

How will a vet diagnose a chicken allergy?

Unfortunately diagnosing an allergy isn’t a quick process. Normally vets will recommend an elimination diet (removing chicken from your dog’s lifestyle) for up to three months to see if this improves the symptoms.

During this time, you will have to be mindful of everything your dog eats. If your vet suspects the allergy might be a reaction to something else, they may take a skin scraping to test for mites. Dust mite allergies can be relatively common in our canine companions.

If the elimination diet doesn’t work, your vet might do a blood test to check for other issues and allergies.

What alternatives are there to chicken?

If your dog does have a genuine chicken allergy, there are many other suitable options out there. Insect protein is incredibly novel and makes a great nutritious alternative to common ingredients like chicken, beef and lamb.

Many owners with sensitive pets are turning to insect-based treats and foods to keep their dogs healthy and provide exceptional levels of amino acids, fatty acids and essential minerals.

Alternatively fish such as Salmon or Herring and even other poultry such as Duck or Turkey can be suitable for some allergic dogs.

Looking for some great chicken-free food and treats? Head to your local Pets Corner store.