Chicken Allergy in Dogs: Tips & Tricks
Chicken is one of the most common meats in dog food because it is a cheap alternative. You’ll find it in wet foods, dry food, and treats. Vets recommend giving your dog a bland diet of chicken and rice when they are sick.
However, chicken allergies in dogs is possible. Just like humans, dogs can develop food intolerances and sensitivities to poultry products such as chicken, turkey, and duck.
Symptoms of Chicken Allergies in Dogs
- Severe itching and scratching around their face, ears, or mouth
- Constant licking of the paws or other areas of the skin
- Dog attempting to scratch their butt by either scooting across the floor or licking their rear end
- Rashes and inflammation to the skin caused by itching
- Loss of hair or bleeding from the skin from itching
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues
Other symptoms may occur, but these are the main symptoms.
What Causes the Chicken Allergy in Dogs?
Dog food allergies develop at young ages due to genetics and other factors such as environment. Shortly after digestion, dog food allergies manifest. There is a lot of research going on to determine what make the immune system in dogs express allergies.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The first step after a food reaction is to transition your dog to their previous food. Then list out everything your dog ate over the last 24-48 hours. Try to determine what was different that your dog ate recently, and make sure to consult with your veterinarian.
Your vet is most likely going to prescribe a bland diet, and recommend to reintroduce chicken about 2 weeks after all symptoms have subsided. Alternatively, your vet may want to run the allergy test to determine what the allergy is more quickly. However, this option typically costs more than owners may want to spend. In the end, if chicken allergy symptoms occur again, you will know that your dog is allergic. You will want to completely eliminate all poultry items from their diet including turkey and duck.
Be careful when feeding your dog. With new dog owners, try out a few different foods to determine which is best and if your pet has a food allergy.