Food Allergies in Dogs: An Increasing Threat

It seems that not only human allergies are increasing for the past 30 years; even dog allergies are.
In the total population of allergic dogs in the US, about 10% of these have dog food allergies. This follows the first two most common cause of allergy in dogs: Flea bite and atopy. Atopy is an allergic reaction characterized by an ill reaction towards a substance found in the environment.


Actually, it would take a long time before an allergic reaction to a particular dog food manifests in your pet. He would have eaten it before without any effects at all! The reason for your doggy’s allergic reaction is his immune system over reacting to an offending substance in his food. Although a specific protein is identified to be the root cause of food allergy, other ingredients in his dog food may also be categorized as the culprits. Pet owners should not identify food allergies to that of food intolerance, such as lactose intolerance. Every dog has a possibility of developing an allergy in his lifetime, but this is more common in younger animals. Allergies may also depend on the breed of the dog. Symptoms to food allergy may vary from dog to dog. Here are the main indications that your dog has food allergy:

• too much scratching;
• licking;
• vomiting; and
• diarrhea

Pet owners often assume that scratching and licking is just a part of the dog learning new things. This is not always the case, however, as this are the signs that something is bothering your pooch. If his actions are bothering you, don’t lash it all out on him because it’s not really his fault that he is sick.

What To Do If Your Dog is Allergic

It can be very depressing to see your dog feel depressed about his allergy symptoms. The more your dog ages, the more these symptoms will manifest and worsen. There is no need to wait if this is the case. However, desensitizing is not always reliable in food-induced allergies. The only way for pet owners to alleviate their pooch’s pain is to identify what ingredient he is allergic to.
If you suspect that your dog definitely has allergies, it is better to visit the veterinarian immediately so your pet could be subjected to tests and observation. There are several dog allergy tests that he may have to take; this will confirm or reject the roots of allergy. Identifying the kinds of allergy will eventually help you in choosing appropriate dog food for your dog and learn more about elimination diet.

The elimination diet process can be a difficult task for the owner, so the help of the vet should be sought here. You can always keep your dog on a hypoallergenic food diet while keeping in mind that it should be well-balanced. The need to switch dog food for several times may arise; pet owners should keep in mind that their pet’s health is what’s at stake. You should always consider that your dog might not only be allergic to his food but also to several environmental allergens. Always refer to the list of symptoms above to be sure if your pooch is already having an allergy when testing a particular dog food.

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Should I go for "Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Dog Food "?

We are particular on Chicken Soup books to those who want to learn how to cook soups! But one day, I had been surprise when I came across a Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul dog food in the pet store. It’s the packaging that captured me, and of course I laughed it off thinking it was just another company wanting to get rich through the dog owner’s pockets. A few weeks later, the company happened to contact me – not knowing I had mocked their dog food in the store recently – and asked me if I would like some samples. I’m never one to pass up free samples so I happily accepted them not knowing that they would prove once again that you shouldn’t judge a book, or dog food bag, by its cover!


The package arrived with a few packets of Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul dry dog food and some canned dog food as well. Being the Lab Brats mommy and responsible dog owner that I am, I sat down and read the entire packaging – from ingredients onward. I was in shock when I found the following listed in the ingredients:

“Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, ocean fish meal, cracked pearled barley, whole grain brown rice, oatmeal, millet, white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potatoes, egg product, tomato pomace, duck, salmon, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor…”

What? This stuff was healthy?? No way!

Yes way!


People may not notice to see when glancing at the package is that there is a banner that states: “Holistic for Health”. Don’t let the packaging fool you – this is holistic dog food people! The entire packaging lists their slow cooked method, the balance of the major food groups, antioxidants, promotion of healthy skin and easily absorbed minerals. Upon further inspection of their dog food-feeding guide, you can tell that it is a higher quality food and not loaded with fillers because you don’t have to feed a lot to your dog. After my due diligence was complete, I let the Labradors try the dry dog food to see if he will like the new food. Although many Labrador Retrievers will eat anything, my Dakota is a very picky eater and couldn’t wait for me to get the bag open before giving her a few kibbles. Surprisingly, the Lab Brats love it for the taste and I love it for the quality and health benefits. Will I switch from my Holistic Select dog food to the Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul dog food? No – I would not switch at this time simply for the fact that my dogs have done so well on their current dog food that there is no need to switch. I should stay with the food that my dogs are on to. However, I now may have an alternative should my other dog food ever come under question. Of course, I would do more research before switching but the initial review looks promising!

Have you tried Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul dog food? What are your thoughts? Did the package deter you from wanting to try the product?

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