Written By: Tiffany Ruiz Dasilva, VMD, cVMA | Professional Services Veterinarian, Wild Earth

When you walk into your local pet store and take a look at the variety of dog foods available you will notice that most have meat advertised on their packaging. The types of meat that have cemented themselves as common practice within these commercial dog foods tend to be chicken and beef. But recent studies have found that dogs are actually more likely to be allergic to the meat that is traditionally found in their dog food compared to any other common dog food ingredient.

How Common Are Meat Allergies For Dogs?

A 2016 study by Professor Dr. Ralf Mueller, who is on the European Board of Veterinary Specialists, revealed the most common ingredients that cause cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFRs), i.e. skin reactions, in dogs. The study found that the most frequently reported food allergen was actually beef with 34% of food allergic dogs in the study showing signs of skin allergies when consuming beef.

The study analyzed many other ingredients and found that the following ingredients had the highest frequency of causing skin allergies in dogs:

• Beef (34%)
• Dairy (17%)
• Chicken (15%)

As demonstrated, animal-based ingredients are the most common food allergens for dogs, and unfortunately are also the most common ingredients in dog food.

Don’t Dogs Need Meat to Thrive?

For years, individuals around the world have mistakenly claimed that dogs are carnivores based on the perceived connection between modern dogs and wolves. This idea is perpetuated by the dog food industry, which has an interest in convincing people that their dogs require a diet based on animal products.

Contrary to popular belief, dogs are actually omnivores – meaning that they can digest and thrive on a nutritionally complete and balanced plant-based dog food, such as Wild Earth. Studies have shown that the modern dog is genetically different compared to wolves because their lineage traces back to a now-extinct species of wolves that adapted to a starch-rich diet instead of a purely carnivorous diet.

All of this to say that the “dogs are carnivores” theory is actually a fallacy that historical and nutritional studies have disproven. A plant-based diet for your dog can help to eliminate food allergy symptoms such as itchy skin and ear infections, while offering high amounts of high-quality protein (more than most commercial meat-based diets!)

Relieve Your Dog of Their Daily Allergies

If you suspect that your dog is suffering from food allergies then you should consider switching away from a meat-based diet. A plant-based diet can provide your dog with all of the protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that they need to live a long and healthy life without any itching and scratching.

Take a look at the thousands of customer success stories about dogs who switched to Wild Earth! Many of these dogs have enjoyed full allergy relief since switching to our high-protein, cruelty-free dog food free from the most common allergens for dogs.

Learn what certified veterinarian and dog nutrition author Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM has to say about the potential benefits of vegan dog food.