Has your dog recently been experiencing severe itching, constantly scratching, licking their paws, and even showing bald spots and hair loss? Then your dog might have a food allergy or intolerance, especially if you've recently switched to a different type of food. In this blog, we'll delve deeper into the causes of food allergies and intolerances, the symptoms that can occur, and how you can treat them. Of course, these symptoms can also appear with other medical conditions. Therefore, it's always advisable to consult your vet first to determine the cause. More information about itching in dogs not related to a food allergy or intolerance can be found in our other blog!

Symptoms of food allergy/intolerance in dogs.

The most common symptom of a food allergy in dogs is itching. Where the itching occurs can vary from dog to dog; most commonly, itching occurs on the head, ears, neck, armpits, abdomen, groin, and between the toes and paw pads. Itching is, of course, very uncomfortable, and you will often see your dog scratching, with all the resulting consequences. Your dog's skin becomes very irritated, and even bald spots can develop. In addition to itching, your dog may also suffer from diarrhea or vomiting with a food allergy.

What causes the itching?

To explain why an allergic reaction to food causes itching, it is first important to understand how your dog's gut and skin work. Nutrition plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy gut flora, healthy skin, and a shiny coat.

Skin and Coat

The skin consists of various protective layers made up of skin cells, immune cells, and the microbiome. As the skin covers a large part of the body's surface, it is constantly exposed to potential allergens, toxins, and pathogens. The skin is a large metabolic organ and daily requires proteins and other nutrients to maintain its barrier function. The hairs in your dog's coat are 95% protein. Dogs and cats need about 25-30% of proteins from their food for normal hair growth and a healthy coat. Besides proteins, fatty acids like linoleic acid are essential nutrients. Dogs and cats cannot produce these themselves. Linoleic acid is a component of fats in the skin involved in forming the upper skin layer and ensuring the skin barrier is maintained. Vitamins A, B, and E also play a role in maintaining your dog's skin health.

The Gut

In the gut, your dog's food is digested, meaning the ingested food is broken down into small, absorbable molecules and transported through the intestinal wall to where they are needed throughout the body, including the skin. The origin of a food allergy or intolerance begins in the gut. Certain proteins from your dog's food provoke an allergic reaction or can be poorly digested. This leads to an imbalance in the gut, which can ultimately cause various complaints, including irritated and itchy skin. How exactly this itching and irritated skin are caused depends on whether your dog has a food allergy or intolerance. This will be explained in more detail below!

The difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance:

The terms food allergy and intolerance are often used interchangeably. However, there is a clear difference between a dog with a food allergy and a dog with a food intolerance. The difference lies in what happens in your dog's gut after consuming food to which they are sensitive. In a food allergy, an allergic reaction occurs to a specific protein in the food. The immune system is involved, treating the "innocent" protein as an invader and essentially attacking it. This immune system reaction releases chemical substances, including histamine. Histamine causes blood vessels to dilate, making the skin red. It also increases the permeability of blood vessels to moisture, which can lead to fluid accumulation or edema in the skin and cause itching. Often, even a small amount of the protein is enough to trigger an allergic reaction. In a food intolerance, there is a lack of certain enzymes in the gut to break down these proteins. As a result, the food cannot be fully digested and absorbed. This leads to a nutrient deficiency in your dog and an imbalance in the gut microbiome. Since the necessary nutrients only reach the skin to a limited extent, the skin's microbiome is also disrupted. This can lead to irritation and itching on your dog's skin. Unlike a food allergy, where even a small amount can cause discomfort, with a food intolerance, it is often the case that the protein in small amounts does not immediately have to cause discomfort.

Doderm Hydro Repair Gel

If you suspect your dog is suffering from a food allergy or intolerance, it is best to contact your vet to find out which protein in your dog's food is triggering a reaction. To support your dog's itchy and irritated skin, you can apply our Doderm Hydro RepairGel twice daily. This has been specially developed for canine skin and supports the skin with a weakened skin barrier. What makes our skin gel unique is that it contains filtered antibodies from cow colostrum, which naturally supports skin irritation. The Hydro RepairGel is 100% natural and contains no antibiotics or corticosteroids. Would you like to know more about how Doderm Hydro RepairGel can relieve your dog's itching? Read our page about how Doderm Hydro RepairGel works exactly. For further questions, we are happy to assist you. We are happy to advise you!