Chicken Allergy in German Shepherds: Everything You Need to Know

Chicken allergy in German Shepherds is becoming more common, and if you’re not aware of the signs and symptoms, it could be a real problem for your pup. Fortunately, with the right information and care, it is possible to manage and even prevent an allergic reaction.

Chicken allergy is one of the most common food allergies in German Shepherds and it is mainly caused by an overreaction of your dog’s immune system to protein. Symptoms may include irritation, fur loss, itchiness, and digestive disruption, among others.

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about chicken allergy in German Shepherds, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. We’ll also recommend some of the chicken-free dog food that you may consider.

How common is chicken allergy in German Shepherds?

The most common food allergens in dogs are proteins, especially those from dairy, beef, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, or wheat gluten. Even though food allergy in dogs is not as common as other allergies, chicken allergy is undoubtedly one of the most common food allergies in German Shepherds.

In general, there are four common allergies in dogs :

1. Dust mite allergy
2. Environmental allergies (tree, weed, and grass pollen)
3. Flea allergy
4. Food allergy

BMC Veterinary Research lists chicken meat as the second most popular food allergens in dogs, causing nearly 15% of dogs suffering from chicken allergies.

The prevalence of chicken allergy in dogs has been steadily increasing, especially among younger German Shepherds, because nearly all dog foods contain chicken or chicken byproducts. This means that more and more owners are likely to deal with this common food allergy for their dogs.

What causes chicken allergy in dogs?

While some dogs are born with allergies, others develop them as they grow. Chicken allergy in dogs is mainly caused by an overreaction of your dog’s immune system to the protein (chicken).

So, for instance, if the dog is allergic to chicken, it means that the dog’s immune system treats chicken as an allergen (threat). In some cases, the dog may be allergic to all poultry products such as turkey, duck, and guinea fowl.

The exact cause of allergies is unknown in many cases, though it is likely linked to genetics. Some experts also link environmental allergens and changes in the intestinal response to allergies.

Because allergies can be fatal, it’s important for many pet parents to be aware of the symptoms to avert potential risks.

When do chicken allergies start to develop in German Shepherds?

Food allergies in GSDs are more likely to develop between the ages of six months and three years. Ideally, after their immune system has fully developed. According to VCA animal hospital, most allergies occur between one and two years.

However, this is not to say there is a specific age or time when chicken allergy will develop. They can pop up at different stages of their lives. While the allergic response may develop when a German Shepherd is still a puppy, for others, it may not start until in their adulthood.

Though it is impossible to completely prevent food allergies in dogs, being attentive to your dog’s diet will go a long way in minimizing any canine allergies.

Keep in mind that dogs who are fed overly processed diets are more likely to develop allergies than dogs fed wholesome diets. These diets are free of some of those most common food allergens, and may even have additional ingredients to improve skin health.

How to tell if a German Shepherd is allergic to chicken?

First, remember that food allergy is very different from food intolerance in dogs.

A dog who is allergic to chicken may experience symptoms such as itchy skin, excessive scratching, skin rashes, swelling, digestive issues, and excessive drooling.

Food allergy vs food intolerance

Sometimes, pups don’t have a true food allergy despite having digestive symptoms. They may just have afood sensitivity or intolerance, meaning they have trouble digesting one or more ingredients but the immune system is not involved.

Dogs who are intolerant to chicken may experience symptoms such as gas, diarrhea, and vomiting. 

Whether a dog has a true food allergy or food intolerance, it’s beneficial to figure out which ingredient(s) they are sensitive to and then find a dog food that works well for.

Watch Dr. Laura Wilson, DVM, DACVD explain the differences between food allergy and food intolerance in dogs:

However, these symptoms can occur together. If your German Shepherd is experiencing allergy symptoms or a combination of both allergy and intolerance symptoms, you may want to schedule a visit to your vet right away. 

Use at-home allergy testing kits

To tell whether your GSD has a chicken allergy, you can use an allergy testing kit for dogs. They are a quick and painless way to test for dog food allergies at home. These test kits will use hair and saliva to test up to 100 to 355 allergens, with chicken protein being one of them.

Visit your vet for allergy testing

In common practice, your vet will do a blood test or urine test to determine if your German Shepherd is indeed allergic to chicken. A vet’s diagnosis is the only sure way to tell whether your dog has a chicken allergy. 

German Shepherd allergy symptoms

To tell whether your GSD is allergic to chicken, watch out for these signs:

• Hair falling out
• Your dog scratching their ears or skin so constantly against a hard surface
• Your dog licking and biting their paws
• Irritated skin
• Your dog sneezing and wheezing 
• Bloated and constipated stomach
• Your dog having recurrent infections
• Your dog is having diarrhea and other digestive disturbances

Some of these symptoms may be an indication of intolerance or digestive issues and not necessarily a chicken allergy. That’s why it’s important to have a diagnosis done by the vet. Watch Holistic veterinarian Dr. Ashley Geoghegan expound more on how to know if your dog has a food allergy in this video

How is a food allergy diagnosed?

Conducting blood tests that may indicate whether the dog is allergic to a special diet.

However, according to VCA Animal Hospital, a food trial called an elimination trial is the best and most accurate method of diagnosing a food allergy.

This is done by feeding your dog a hypoallergenic diet for eight to twelve weeks.

If your dog’s allergy symptoms resolve while on the food trial, the next step is to perform a food challenge by re-introducing your dog’s old food.

If your dog’s symptoms resolve with the food trial and return within one week of a food challenge, your dog has been definitively diagnosed with a food allergy.

How is a food allergy treated? Three types of hypoallergenic diets

There are several hypoallergenic diets available from your veterinarian that can be fed for the rest of your dog’s life. There are three types of hypoallergenic diets:

Veterinary hydrolyzed protein diet: The protein molecules in the food are broken down to a size too small to be recognized by your dog’s immune system.

Veterinary novel protein diet: This diet introduce one single kind of protein that was not present in your dog’s current food.

Home-prepared novel protein diet: This diet does not contain any ingredients that were present in your dog’s previous diets (must be formulated by a veterinary nutritionist and typically requires the addition of a balancing supplement).

For more information, read this post from VCA Animal Hospital.

How to help your German Shepherd with chicken allergy?

While you cannot prevent an allergy, there are a few ways you can help your GSD get through the allergy symptoms including.

Manage the symptoms

Depending on the severity of the allergy, you may first want to manage the symptoms. If your dog is experiencing high fevers, vomiting, or diarrhea, focus on managing these symptoms. Keep them hydrated, and monitor their temperature.

Manage the feeding 

A GSD suffering from an allergic reaction will most likely not want to eat which is okay, you shouldn’t force them to eat. In some cases, fasting them for up to 24 hours may help their digestive system to rest and then reset itself.

Alternatively, you could feed them smaller portions to avoid overwhelming or disrupting their digestive system than it already is.

Add Omega-3 to the diet

Many GSD owners have recommended adding fish oil supplements, which are rich in Omega-3, to dog food can help manage and even reduce the symptoms.

Switch to a poultry-free diet

Switch to a poultry-free diet or hypoallergenic diet. If the symptoms are mild, the allergic reaction may start to improve if the right dog food is introduced.

You may want to switch to dog food with lamb and rice, salmon, or sweet potato.

You can also feed your GSD a homemade diet. This will give you more control over what you feed your dog, including the absence of chicken and any potentially allergenic ingredients.

When buying commercial dog food, make sure to check the ingredients and avoid chicken or poultry as the ingredient.

Seek medical attention for canine food allergies

If your dog is experiencing a more serious or severe reaction, you want to seek treatment immediately. Your veterinarian will administer medications like Pepto Bismol and Immodium to block the immune system’s over-reaction to poultry proteins.

Introducing probiotics and prebiotics to your dog’s diet may also help restore good bacteria in their gut.

Conclusion 

Nearly all food brands include chicken meat, chicken by-products, or chicken meal in their foods. This makes it increasingly hard for many pet parents to even find the right dog food to feed their dogs. 

Even though there is no cure for chicken allergy in dogs, with the knowledge and resources, you can help your German Shepherd live a happy, healthy life despite their chicken allergy.

Further Questions 

Can chicken allergy be cured in GSDs?

Unfortunately, allergies cannot be cured. The much you can do is manage the symptoms or eliminate chicken completely from their food. You can try re-introducing the chicken after long periods to see whether the allergy is severe or manageable. 

Can GSDs suddenly become allergic to chicken?

Yes, a change in their intestinal environment can suddenly cause GSDs to be allergic to chicken. 

At what age do GSDs develop chicken allergies?

GSDs start developing chicken allergies from the age of six months all through to three years.

Can food allergies be cured?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergies in dogs. The only treatment is avoidance.