food & environmental sensitivities in dogs

#signs (anchor only visible for authoring)

Does your dog have signs of food or environmental sensitivities?

Dry, itchy skin is just one of the many symptoms that may indicate your dog is experiencing a bigger problem brought on by environmental sensitivities. In rare cases, these may also be signs of food sensitivities in dogs. These signs can be long-term, recurring, and should be noted to your vet.

Here are a few signs a dog might be experiencing food or environmental sensitivities.

  • Red patches, spots or pimples
  • Flaky or scaly patches
  • Hair loss
  • Scabs, crusts or thickened skin
  • Itching, scratching, licking and rubbing
  • Bad skin odour
  • Digestive issues
  • Watery eyes and runny nose

#causes (anchor only visible for authoring)

What causes sensitivities in dogs?

One of the most difficult things on a dog’s path to recovery is determining what is causing their reactions. There are two main types of sensitivities that dogs face: food and environmental. The majority of sensitivities in dogs are from environmental causes, but certain ingredients in food may cause reactions as well.

A Golden Retriever leaps to catch an orange ball in its mouth.
A dog enjoys a meal from a bowl.

Environmental sensitivities

Recurring signs of environmental sensitivities may be caused by grasses, pollen or biting insects. They can be addressed with a multimodal treatment including medication to help reduce the immediate symptoms and nutrition for effective long-term management.

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Grasses

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Pollen

icon dust mites

Dust Mites

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Fleas

Food sensitivities

Food sensitivities in dogs are actually very uncommon — in fact, only 10% of dogs experience food sensitivities! [1] Rarely, however, some dogs may experience reactions to certain ingredients, and they are identified through food elimination trials conducted by your veterinarian. A food elimination trial is a process of finding and removing the food ingredient causing skin issues or digestive upsets.

#management (anchor only visible for authoring)

Managing a dog’s sensitivities

Managing a dog’s sensitivities can be a challenging process, and your first step should be visiting your veterinarian. They will help you find the right combination of nutrition, medication, and/or topicals for your dog.

Trust

Living with a dog with food or environmental sensitivities can cause you both to be restless, but the road to improvement will require time, patience and trust in your vet. Remember — just like humans, every dog is unique, and the best solution will come from working with a professional to address your pet’s specific needs. Together, you’ll get on the right track to helping your best friend feel like their best self.

A woman pets a happy golden retriever.

Nutrition

Clinical nutrition plays an important role in the long-term management of sensitivities in dogs. The right nutrition can promote healthy skin from within and help alleviate your dog’s signs. Even with treatment, some dogs may have recurring signs that will require adjustments along the way, and your veterinarian will be a helpful resource in managing your dog’s sensitivities.

A very excited dog sits up for the food in a blue bowl.

Medication

A vet may prescribe medication to help alleviate your dog’s signs of sensitivities. If you are wondering what you can give your dog for sensitivities, only give medication as recommended by your vet.

Dog about to take medicine from a person's hand.

Topicals

Topicals can be used for managing skin conditions in dogs. There are various deliveries for topicals like shampoos, lotions, sprays or ointments. Reach out to your veterinarian to ensure a specific topical is appropriate for your pet’s skin condition and life stage.

A man sits in the grass with the sun behind him and smiles as he pets his black and white Border Collie.

Find a Vet

#nutrition (anchor only visible for authoring)

A black and white Border Collie leaps high in the air.

Understanding nutritional support for food and environmental sensitivities

You’ll want to ask your vet about a few things when it comes to the suitable dog food for food or environmental sensitivities. For food sensitivities, ask about clinical dog food with a single novel protein or hydrolysed protein that is unlikely to cause a reaction. For environmental sensitivities ask about nutrition that can nourish and help protect from environmental irritants.

NOVEL CALLOUT ICON

Novel protein refers to a unique protein not commonly found in pet food to help lower the risk of an adverse reaction.

HYDROLYZED CALLOUT ICON

Hydrolysed protein involves breaking proteins down into smaller pieces to help avoid detection by the immune system.

Time to see a veterinarian?

If you notice behaviour changes or sense something is off with your dog, it may be time to schedule a vet visit.

You also may want to ask your vet if clinical nutrition would be appropriate for your dog. Hill's Prescription Diet foods are developed by a team of Ph.D. nutritionists and veterinarians, and require a vet recommendation for purchase. Schedule an appointment so your vet can assess your pet's health and nutritional needs.

Find a Vet

Explore Clinical Nutrition

Veterinarian examining a happy golden retriever.

Talk to your vet about which nutrition is right for your pet.

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  • Allergic Dermatitis

    180680638 Allergic Dermatitis and Skin Conditions can affect many dogs. Learn the causes and signs of skin conditions as well as potential treatment options.

  • Dealing With Dog Mange

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[1] Muller, et al. Food Hypersensitivity. In:Dyson, J., Ed. Small Animal Dermatology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company (1989), 470–474.