Chicken Allergy in Dogs

Significance

Petnutrition.com states that an allergy is caused by an over response of the immune system to something in the body. Even if your dog has been eating chicken all his life, he is just as likely a candidate to develop an allergy to this food. Regardless of whether it is a high-priced, higher-quality food or not, chicken has the same ill effects to a dog that is allergic to chicken.

Dogs tend to develop vulnerability to certain foods over time, and later that food can progress into an allergy. Chicken is among the list of the most common foods that cause allergies in dogs. Chicken once was used with rice as an aid in digestive problems in dogs until it was discovered chicken one of the causes of distress and allergic reactions.

Some of the symptoms you will notice in a dog with a chicken allergy, according to the website Natural Dog Health, are excessive scratching, licking, hot spots, itchy skin, hair loss, ear infections and some stomach distress with diarrhea.

As stated by VetInfo.com and Peteducation.com, it is very difficult to diagnose food allergies. The best method to diagnose a food allergy such as chicken is through trial and error. The trial would consist of feeding your dog a new food, such as rabbit and rice, lamb and rice, or venison and potato. There are several commercial diets as well where the proteins and carbohydrates are broken down in smaller granular sizes to avoid an allergic response, called "limited antigen" or "hydrolyzed protein" diets. Speak with your veterinarian or your local pet store staff regarding these special diets. Use the new food for 12 weeks to monitor any allergic reactions, and do not give any treats; then, reintroduce the chicken to his diet. If symptoms return, it is confirmed that chicken is indeed the allergy food, and your dog will need to change his diet permanently.

Treating your dog's chicken allergy permanently can only be done by avoiding that food. In the meantime, give your dog some relief from the symptoms he has encountered while going through the test period. He might need to be treated with antihistamines or steroids temporarily to heal the itching problems and medications for the hot spots or ear infections, if those were some of his side effects. Your veterinarian can advise you best as to the proper healthy diet for your dog.