Are you wondering whether vegan dog food could help a dog with allergies? The short answer: the most common food allergens in dogs are animal proteins such as beef, dairy, and chicken, and these are not found in vegan dog food. This blog is specifically for owners of a dog with itching, sensitive skin, or an upset stomach, who are looking for clear information rather than half-promises. We go through the most important questions, backed by research, so that you can make a well-informed choice together with your vet.
Can vegan dog food help a dog with allergies?
Vegan dog food contains no animal proteins, and those are precisely the ingredients that most frequently cause allergic reactions in dogs. Research into food allergies in dogs shows that beef, dairy, chicken, and wheat are the most common culprits (Mueller et al., 2016), and you avoid these automatically when you switch to a vegan formulation. That is not to say that every dog with itching or skin complaints will benefit from a diet change: allergies can also be caused by environmental factors, such as pollen or house dust mites. Are you in doubt about the cause of your dog's complaints? Consult your vet, who can use an elimination diet to find out whether food plays a role. Curious about what research says about skin and coat in dogs on plant-based food? Read our article on fewer skin complaints in dogs on plant-based food.
What are the most common food allergens in dogs?
The most common food allergens in dogs are beef, dairy, chicken, and wheat. This is shown by a widely cited analysis of reported food allergies in 297 dogs: beef appeared in 34% of cases, dairy in 17%, chicken in 15%, wheat in 13%, and lamb in 5% (Mueller et al., 2016). Fish and other protein sources occurred much less frequently. It almost always concerns animal proteins. This explains why veterinarians, when suspecting a food allergy, often first advise eliminating beef and dairy. It is no guarantee that every dog will react to these, but it does provide a good starting point if you are looking for an alternative.
Is hypoallergenic dog food the same as allergy-free?
No, 'hypoallergenic' does not mean that dog food is guaranteed not to cause an allergic reaction. The term is not legally defined in pet food, so manufacturers can interpret it in their own way. At VerdaDog, it means that our kibble is free from the most common dog allergens, because we work entirely with plant-based ingredients and therefore do not use beef, chicken, dairy, or lamb. That is different from a medical guarantee that your dog will never react to it: every dog is different, and an individual dog can also be sensitive to a plant-based ingredient. Therefore, always check the ingredients list on the product page if a specific allergy has been diagnosed in your dog. Do you have any other questions about our kibble? View our frequently asked questions.
How do I recognize if my dog has a food allergy?
A food allergy in dogs usually manifests as persistent itching, red or inflamed skin, recurrent ear infections, or a combination with intestinal complaints such as irregular stools. These signals are not unique to food: environmental allergies and parasites also cause similar complaints. Veterinarians therefore diagnose a food allergy with an elimination diet, where your dog is given a strictly limited diet for several weeks and you then reintroduce ingredients step by step. Do you see persistent itching or skin complaints in your dog? Then contact your veterinarian before you change food yourself, so that you proceed in a targeted manner instead of trying things indefinitely.
How do I switch to vegan dog food if my dog is sensitive?
Build up the transition to vegan dog food gradually over 14 days, and in the case of a sensitive stomach, prefer the upper end of that period. Mix the new food in small, increasing amounts with the old food so that the gut flora can get used to it. We at VerdaDog have created a transition schedule for this purpose, which can be found on the product page of the kibble.
Would you like to test whether vegan dog food is suitable without buying a large bag immediately? Order the 150-gram trial bag via our dog kibble collection and see how your dog reacts to it.
Written by Team VerdaDog. This article is based on scientific research. We do not provide veterinary advice: if you have questions about your dog's health, consult your vet.
Sources
Mueller, R. S., Olivry, T., & Prélaud, P. (2016). Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Veterinary Research, 12(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0633-8
