Did you know that the most common allergy for pets is chicken?
We’ve all met someone that has a dog who can’t eat chicken. So how do you know if chicken is right for your dog?
Chicken tends to be a common food allergy or intolerance in dogs. Some dogs can have small amounts of chicken, but should avoid it as part of their main diet. Others have to steer clear completely. Some signs of your dog having a chicken allergy are: vomiting, diarrhea, itchiness, ear infections, foot infections, obsessive licking, and other skin issues.
If your dog is showing any of these signs, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian.
Symptoms of Poultry Allergies in Dogs
Allergies to food usually occur in adult dogs, over the age of three. There are exceptions, and a food allergy can have a detrimental effect on a young dogs growth if not addressed. Skin reactions are usually more concentrated around the face, groin, toes, and under the front legs.
Types
If your dog has developed an allergy to a particular poultry, other avian options may still be available. Several types of poultry can be included in your dog’s food. The three most common poultry sources are:
Chicken – This is the most common poultry ingredient in dog foods and is also the most likely to induce allergies in dogs.
Duck – Often used as an alternative poultry for those dogs with chicken or turkey sensitivities as it has a lower incidence of allergic reactions.
Turkey – Turkey is sometimes used as an inexpensive alternative to chicken. Although it is less allergenic than chicken, allergies are somewhat more widespread to turkey than to the more exotic choices.
Incidences to more exotic avian proteins are less frequent, but they do happen. These types of proteins could include any of the following:
How common are food allergies in dogs?
Environmental and seasonal allergies as well as flea-bite allergies are actually the most common causes of allergies in dogs. Food reactions such as dog allergy to chicken are a lot less common than many people believe them to be.
No doubt, food allergies certainly do occur but it only accounts for about 10% of allergies in dogs.
It may be your dog just has food sensitivity or intolerance when it has problems with its digestive symptoms and not necessarily a dog food allergy. Be it a true food allergy or intolerance, it is better to find out which ingredient should be eliminated. For example, if your dog is allergic to chicken, just remove chicken from its diet.
Food Allergy in Dogs: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Chicken isn’t just a favorite protein for humans, your furry companions love it as well! In fact, you can find many dog food products made with chicken or even cook up a little yourself if you want to treat your pup to a homemade meal. While many dogs love the taste of chicken, some can actually become sick, resulting in digestive issues and other unfavorable side effects.
While we know not all dogs can tolerate certain ingredients, is it possible that pets have a sensitivity to this tasty protein? So then it’s important to ask, can dogs be allergic to chicken as well?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes, dogs can be allergic to chicken. In fact, not only is chicken by far the most common poultry ingredient in dog foods, it also happens to be the most likely ingredient to induce allergies in canines. Common food allergies in dogs are not to be overlooked – they can cause many problems for pups both in the short and long-term.
Some of you may be thinking, “how could my dog be allergic to food? Especially something so commonly consumed by humans?” – after all, it’s a completely valid question. These types of food allergies are driven by a dog’s abnormally high defensive response to a protein.