Grain Allergies in Dogs

Dogs are carnivores, so their main diet should be meat, but most dog food has some type of grain in it. Dogs often have allergies to grain, which can manifest as skin problems, ear infections and respiratory problems. The easiest way to determine whether your dog has a grain allergy is to remove all grains from its diet for at least eight weeks.

  1. Individual Grains

    • Wheat

      Wheat and corn, two of the most common grain allergens for dogs, are in many foods. White bread contains wheat flour, dog treats contain wheat flour and corn syrup, and dry dog food often contains a form or wheat (such as wheat germ) and corn listed in its first five ingredients. If you think your dog is having an allergic reaction to a certain grain, read all ingredient labels to make sure you are removing all possible allergens from its diet.

    Glutens and Brewer's Yeast

    • When looking at ingredient lists, look for glutens (wheat gluten, corn gluten) and brewer's yeast. Glutens and brewers yeast are the causes of more grain allergies in dogs than any other grain product.

    Immune System

    • When a dog has an allergy, its immune system is weakened, and immunizations can put additional stress on the dog. Hold off on immunizations for at least six months after your dog shows improvement from the allergy.

    Stressful Situations

    • Dog in sleeping crate

      During the time a dog is suffering from grain allergies, and during the immune system rebuilding time, stressful situations such as training sessions should be avoided. Once the immune system has a chance to recover, training sessions can be undertaken. If you notice your dog becoming stressed, give it a time out in its crate or other area it knows is safe to give it a chance to calm down.

    Bathing and Grooming

    • A dog suffering from symptoms of grain allergies needs to be on a bathing schedule. Normal dog shampoos dry out the skin, exacerbating the symptoms of the allergies by making the skin itchy. Use a veterinarian-recommended shampoo or an oatmeal-based one, which are formulated to be gentle on the skin. If a dog has severe skin lesions, bathe it twice a week with oatmeal shampoo for three to four weeks, then bathe once per week. Once the skin issue clears up, bathe once per month. If a dog is itching but does not have lesions, bathe once every two weeks until the itching clears up, then bathe once per month.