Rice Starch Allergies

About 10 percent of allergies in dogs are attributed to food, according to peteducation.com. Dogs generally react to an allergen by itching and scratching their skin, but other signs may be present, too. Although the most common food allergens in dogs are dairy products, proteins, corn and wheat, among others, rice and other starch allergies are rare in dogs.

  1. Signs and Symptoms

    • Dogs that are allergic to rice and other starches generally experience three or more bowel movements a day compared with dogs with no known allergies that have just 1.5 on average per day, states peteducation.com. Like other food allergies, consuming rice and starch may cause a dog to profusely itch his face, legs and ears, among other parts of his body. He may also have chronic ear infections, hair loss and skin irritations on his body. Reoccurring ear infections attributed to the presence of yeast in the ear canal and skin problems that don't respond to steroid treatment in younger dogs are telltale signs they have a food allergy.

    Rice and Starch Allergy Diagnosis

    • An allergy to rice and other starches is generally diagnosed with a food trial. A food trial involves replacing the dog's typical food with a protein and carbohydrate diet--or a diet consisting of foods not normally fed to the dog--for a period of 12 weeks. During this time, the dog consumes no medicines or treats and his behavior is monitored for signs of allergies. The process continues and the diet changes until the food triggering the reaction is determined. The dog generally shows signs of whether or not he's allergic to a particular type of food by Day 21 of the food trial. Although some food allergies may be diagnosed with a blood test, a food trial provides a more accurate confirmation of the allergen.

    Rice and Starch Free Diet

    • In certain cases, a dog might respond to steroids and antihistamines that block the allergic reaction in the dog when exposed to starch, so he can continue eating the same diet. However, the best remedy is to simply remove rice and starch from the dog's diet after it's confirmed he's allergic to starch products.

    Supplements

    • Since it's important a dog has a well-balanced diet, including vitamins and nutrients obtained from rice and potatoes, dog owners may want to provide their dog a diet supplement.

    Commercial Diets and Alternatives

    • Most commercial dog food brands--the kind available in the grocery store--contain rice, potatoes and other starches such as corn meal, which can aggravate your dog's allergies. It's therefore recommended to seek out a natural food brand available in most specialty pet stores. Another alternative is to feed your dog a homemade diet comprised of all protein, vegetables and fruits, selecting from dog-friendly foods you would eat, such as chicken, broccoli, carrots and apples.

    Warning

    • Dogs allergic to rice and other starches also could be allergic to wheat, soy and gluten, which are more common dog allergens. In addition, a dog's allergies change over time.

      Some dogs may become allergic to an increasing number of foods over time, while others simply "grow out of the allergy," and it goes away. It may be necessary to conduct food trials on the dog periodically over the dog's lifetime to detect these changes.