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Skin allergies in dogs can cause various symptoms, like itching, redness and dry skin. They can be mild or chronic.
You should always go to your vet if your dog has skin allergies because you'll likely need to give your dog the right mix of treatment, preventative care and environmental changes. Diet plays a role in this.
Below, we discuss how diet plays a crucial role in skin allergies, tips for choosing the right dog food and other ways to manage skin allergies.
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Understanding skin allergies in dogs
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As mentioned, skin allergies in dogs can produce symptoms of varying severity. While it may sound mild, it can lead to troubling conditions like infection and chronic hair loss.
Our allergies guide discusses the condition more, but we'll sum things up below.
What causes skin allergies in dogs?
Diet and food triggers, like certain ingredients, proteins, grains and additives
Environmental factors, like pollen and dust mites
Fleas (namely flea saliva)
Genetics
Common signs of skin allergies in dogs
Dry, flaky patches
Excessive head shaking due to itchy ears
Excessive scratching or licking
Fur loss
Lesions like scabs and scratches
Red, inflamed skin
Rubbing
Why diet matters in treating skin allergies
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Skin allergies are the most common way dietary allergies are expressed. This is because once a dog eats an allergen, it's absorbed in the intestines, which triggers an immune response.
This immune response weakens the skin barrier, leading to common symptoms like itching and redness. Food can cause other allergy responses, but skin problems are the most likely.
Diet usually revolves around eliminating common food allergies, prioritising nutrients and making sure your dog has everything it needs.
Key things to look for in dog food for skin allergies
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Hypoallergenic dog food
You can buy hypoallergenic dog food to eliminate common allergens like wheat, soy or beef.
These are good options assuming they have the other nutrients your dog needs.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
You can also buy fortified dog food that has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids added to them.
Look for things like added fish oil, flaxseed and omega-rich ingredients to promote coat and skin health.
Probiotics and prebiotics
The gut directly influences skin health, so food with added probiotics, like plain yoghurt, or added prebiotics can help.
Tips for choosing the right dog food for your dog’s skin allergies
Before picking a dog food, make sure you discuss things with your vet first. Generally, you should know your way around pet nutrition but always follow expert advice.
Avoiding artificial additives and preservatives is a good idea. But we can't recommend the "best dry dog food for dogs with allergies" or anything like that because every dog is different.
A lot depends on your dog's genetics, allergies and tastes.
The role of elimination and limited-ingredient diets (LID)
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Sometimes, you won't know what's causing your dog's allergic reactions. That's where elimination diets come in. There are food allergy tests available for dogs but unfortunately they aren’t very reliable, so this is often the best option.
An elimination diet removes all suspected allergens from your dog's diet for two to three months whilst monitoring to see if symptoms improve. Then, you may slowly reintroduce them until you find the culprit.
You must commit fully to this, as the two-to-three-month window is how long a dog takes to completely remove proteins from its body. You won’t be able to feed your dog any other foods during this time. Once you know what's causing problems, skin allergies become easier to manage.
Sometimes, owners and dogs fare better with a ‘limited-ingredient diet' (LID). This is where you limit your dog's diet to one protein (usually an unusual one that isn't common in dog food) and a carbohydrate source.
This rids your dog's diet of several potentially triggering ingredients and serves a similar purpose to an elimination diet: it allows you to pinpoint what's causing problems and keeps the diet simple to avoid triggering allergies.
Pet nutrition is a deep topic, so always follow the guidance of your vet.
Other ways to manage skin allergies in dogs
Alternative ways to manage skin allergies in dogs include:
Supplementation, like omega-3 and vitamin E
Bathing with a suitable shampoo
Preparing for "trouble seasons", like autumn and summer, and considering allergen avoidance
How dog insurance helps (and why you need more than dog food for allergies)
Diet is just a small part of managing a dog's skin allergies. You'll need the right mix of treatment, preventative care and medication.
That's wheredog insurance helps. We can help get your dog the care they need to manage allergy symptoms with up to £15,000 vet fee cover, a host of ManyPets Perks and 24/7 video vet access with FirstVet.
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