Chicken Allergies in Dogs
Sometimes it seems as though dogs can eat anything: their food, their owners' food and even garbage. But dogs can develop food allergies, just like people. Chicken allergies in a dog can make it a challenge to find the right food.
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Food Allergies
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Food allergies are less common in dogs than allergies to fleas or chemicals. Dogs can develop food allergies to grains, milk, soy or protein sources such as pork or chicken. A dog with a chicken allergy will need to be exposed to chicken at least once before the allergy will develop. Most dogs that develop a food allergy will be on the same diet for two years before allergy symptoms surface.
Symptoms
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The chief symptom of a chicken allergy is severe itching in the dog after it has eaten a chicken product. The itching usually takes place on the dog's ears, the underside of its body and on its feet and the back of its legs. These areas can be covered with a red, moist rash. The dog could also develop small red bumps or pustules on the skin in the affected areas, according to the "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook."
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Diagnosis
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To diagnose a chicken allergy, a veterinarian must put the dog on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks. This gives the dog's system time to clear of all potential allergens. After that, old foods can slowly be introduced to the diet to see which one triggers an allergic reaction. Just switching a dog from one commercial dog food to another brand will not work, because many brands contain the same ingredients.
Treatment
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Once a dog has been diagnosed with a chicken allergy, it will no longer be able to eat food containing chicken or chicken fat. So long as the dog is not exposed to chicken, its allergy symptoms will not return. Some hypoallergenic commercial dog foods are available that do not use chicken protein. According to the ASPCA, a dog with a severe allergy may require home-prepared meals for the rest of its life.
Considerations
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There is a difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance. With a food intolerance, the dog will experience diarrhea and vomiting after eating chicken products, but it will not have the itchy symptoms of a true allergic reaction. A veterinarian can help determine if a dog is allergic or has a food intolerance.
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References
- Photo Credit dog image by Oleg Salamaha from Fotolia.com
