When it comes to allergies in dogs, food allergies are in the top five. Despite being so common, it can be hard to get to the root cause of food allergies. If you know – or suspect – your dog needs to make a switch to chicken-free dog food, read on. We’ve put together a deep dive covering everything you need to know about chicken allergies in dogs, including the best grain-free and chicken-free dog food.

What are the symptoms of chicken allergy in dogs?

Food allergies can be difficult to get to the bottom of, partially due to the wide range of symptoms dogs can display. A dog with a food allergy usually develops itchy skin or digestive problems, but they can experience more subtle changes such as:

• Hyperactivity
• Weight loss
• Lack of energy
• Aggression

As you can see, food allergies can manifest themselves in a wide variety of ways. Dogs generally develop food allergies between six months and three years of age, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for these symptoms during this period.

Cause of Chicken Allergies in Dogs

Allergic reactions occur then the body’s immune system has an overreaction, triggered by a specific allergen. If your dog is allergic to chicken, that means that their immune system experiences this overreaction whenever it encounters poultry protein.

In other words, when dogs who are allergic to chicken consume anything that contains poultry protein, their body reacts the same way it would if it was fighting a viral or bacterial infection. The result of the body’s response to the protein often displays as either:

• Skin issues
• Digestive issues

It’s important to note that an allergic reaction usually doesn’t happen the first time that the immune system is exposed to the allergen. In order for the immune system to recognize the protein and determine that it is an issue, it needs to come into contact with it more than once.

This means that dogs who end up developing chicken allergies often start by showing more mild intolerance-like symptoms, which may indicate that a full-blown food allergy is in the process of developing.

Elimination diets: The ‘home remedy’ for chicken allergies in dogs

Since the symptoms of chicken allergies in dogs can be indicative of a number of issues, your vet will likely suggest an “elimination diet” to determine whether or not a food allergy is present. With an elimination diet, your pet will need to eat meals that don’t contain any ingredients they’ve eaten in the past.

Over the span of eight to 12 weeks, you will go through the five steps of the elimination diet:

• Find a recipe that includes novel ingredients: Your veterinarian will be able to help you find a recipe that contains ingredients that your pet likely has not consumed in the past. If your dog is a bit picky when it comes to trying new food, take a look at our tips for turning around a picky eater.
• Observe and record: After switching to this novel diet, take detailed notes of how your pet is doing, noting changes in their behavior or symptoms.
• Start reintroducing ingredients: After being on this novel diet for eight to 12 weeks, you’ll start to reintroduce ingredients from their old diet – this will give you a better idea of what triggers your dog’s allergy.
• Observe and record: Each time you reintroduce a new ingredient, monitor your dog’s reaction.
• Create an allergy-free diet: After you finish reintroducing the ingredients, you will have a good idea of which ingredients are safe and which cause reactions. Working with your vet, you will be able to create a diet that is free from any troublesome ingredients.

Elimination diets can be considered a ‘home remedy for chicken allergies in dogs because as soon as the trigger protein is removed from their diet, most symptoms quickly fade.

Why is Chicken Not Good for (Some) Dogs

After an elimination diet, what most pet parents find is that it’s the protein in their dog’s food that triggers their allergy. These can include:

• Dairy
• Beef
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Soy
• Wheat gluten

Within this list, chicken is one of the most common culprits of food allergies in dogs. Knowing this, it’s safe to say that chicken is not good for some dogs. In fact, several breeds are genetically more prone to developing allergies, including:

• Bulldogs
• Shar-Peis
• Retrievers
• Terriers
• Shih Tzus
• Lhasa Apsos

If you have one of these breeds, it may be best to avoid chicken completely due to the increased chance of developing allergies.

What’s important to keep in mind is that food allergies in dogs are similar to those in people, meaning that they can appear from birth or form later in life. Similarly, food allergies experienced during puppyhood may also be outgrown over time whereas for other dogs they last a lifetime.

What Do You Feed a Dog with a Chicken Allergy

While chicken is a common protein in dog food, many alternative proteins can be used in chicken-free dog foods. For example:

• Beef
• Bison
• Lamb
• Ocean Whitefish
• Salmon

If you want your dog to avoid animal proteins altogether, you can also opt for a completely plant-based diet. Plant-based dog food is a trend that has been steadily catching on in the industry as pet parents look for more ways to be sustainable and lower their carbon footprint.

In plant-based recipes, your dog will get the nutrients they need from high-protein plants and soy protein. Plant-based recipes often use eggs as well, so you’ll want to check and make sure that your pup’s chicken allergy doesn’t extend to chicken eggs as well.

How to Choose a Chicken-Free Dog Food

When choosing a chicken-free dog food, the first thing you’ll want to do is check the label. Ingredient labels help us make informed choices about the foods we buy and the best chicken-free dog food (and grain-free dog foods) will have their ingredients clearly listed on the side of their packaging. To learn how to break down these labels so you can better understand why great ingredients make for happy, healthy pets, take a look at this blog by Freshpet vet, Dr. Aziza.

Another thing to consider when choosing chicken-free dog food is the size of your dog. Large breeds, in particular, have specific dietary requirements due to their size.

• They have slower metabolisms than their smaller counterparts: They need about 20 calories per pound compared to 30 or 40 calories per pound for small breeds. This means their food should be packed with nutrients so they don’t have to overeat to get everything they need.
• They’re at higher risk for food-related problems such as obesity: This can result in joint or digestive issues if their weight is not managed properly.

Based on large breeds’ specific dietary requirements, we recommend one of our recipes tailored for larger breeds, such as:

• FRESHPET SELECT CHUNKY BEEF RECIPE: This fresh recipe features all-natural chunks of beef, vitamin-rich carrots as well as high-fiber brown rice, making it a hearty meal your dog can’t wait to eat. Fiber is a great nutrient for dogs who want to maintain a healthy weight, so this high-fiber recipe is an excellent choice for large breeds that are watching their weight.
• VITAL BALANCED NUTRITION TURKEY RECIPE: Made with 100% natural, antibiotic-free turkey, this recipe is packed with vitamin-rich peas and carrots, high-fiber brown rice, and Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. Together, this meal gives your dog everything they need for a shiny coat and healthy digestion, making it a top pick for large breeds who suffer from digestive issues.

What Ingredients to Avoid with Chicken-Free Dog Food

Based on the outcome of the elimination diet, your vet may recommend avoiding more ingredients than just chicken. Depending on the severity of the allergy, some dogs need to avoid poultry altogether, which means recipes that contain turkey, duck, or even eggs must be avoided.