"For our French bulldog, who has a lot of intolerances and allergies, it is the only food that she can tolerate. The bloody diarrhea that she has about 10-20 times a day has finally disappeared after a few weeks of feeding her VEGDOG dry food consistently. Our little one has a huge appetite again and eats the food with pleasure. Even though a vegan diet for a dog was never imaginable for us before, it has now been our salvation! THANK YOU <3" - VEGDOG customer

The most important facts about food allergies at a glance:

• Food allergies often manifest themselves through symptoms such as itching, ear infections and gastrointestinal problems.
• To treat the allergy, an exclusion diet followed by a change in food is recommended.
• According to a study on common food allergen sources in dogs, the main allergens include beef (34%), dairy products (17%), chicken (15%), lamb (14.5%) and wheat (13%).
• By avoiding the main allergens in dogs, vegan dog food from VEGDOG is ideal for dogs with food allergies.

Can a purely plant-based diet be the solution for food allergies?

A food allergy in dogs is a very painful issue: the dog is in pain and suffering greatly, and the solution cannot be found in simply giving medication. Often, medication is used after a food allergy or intolerance has been diagnosed. Although this initially alleviates the symptoms, it does not solve the original problem. The search for a suitable solution can sometimes take years. This was the case with Nelson (you can read his story here ).

More and more dogs suffer from the same disease as Nelson: a food allergy .

Many dog ​​owners, like Tessa at the beginning of Nelson's illness, are not aware that animal proteins are one of the main allergens in dogs.

In a meta-analysis by the University of Munich, meaningful studies from recent years on the topic of food allergies in dogs were summarized and evaluated. Dermatological symptoms (itchy skin, ear infections, etc.) are by far the most common in dogs with food allergies. Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.) were also seen, but significantly less often than skin problems.

The main allergens of dogs

As part of this meta-analysis, the frequency of triggering allergens was also evaluated. The following allergens triggered the most reactions in dogs with food intolerances and can therefore be considered the main allergens in dogs:

• Beef (34% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• Dairy products (17% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• Chicken (15% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• Lamb (14.5% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• Wheat (13% of dogs had a positive reaction)

Symptoms of a food allergy using the example of the French Bulldog

Certain breeds are particularly susceptible to food or environmental allergies, including the French bulldog. The reason for this is often the type of breeding. But not only French bulldogs, but also other breeds can suffer from a food allergy. The following symptoms can be an indication of this:

• Constant licking or nibbling on the paws
• Reddish fur on the paws (discolored)
• Constant scratching of the ears or ear infections
• Frequent head shaking
• strong rolling, or attempting to scratch the body on something
• Gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea or flatulence

How can VEGDOG help? An allergy food for French Bulldogs and other susceptible breeds:

With VEGDOG we avoid all of these major allergens and thus offer a healthy alternative for severe food allergy sufferers like Nelson.

We recommend that you first cook your dog's meals yourself and add our ALL-IN VELUXE mineral powder to the ration to fully cover its needs.

In the second step, after the elimination diet has been completed, you can switch to one of our dog foods such as SENSITIVE LUPINE PROTEIN . We do not use the most common allergens in our furry friends' dog food, which makes the food particularly suitable for dogs with food allergies. Alternatively, we also offer many recipes in our blog that meet your needs and that you can cook at home.

VEGDOG meets all needs and is 100% plant-based and gluten-free. The ADULT Lentils & Millet and SENIOR Peas & Millet varieties contain potatoes, among other things, to which a few dogs also react (very rarely, but still sometimes). For these dogs, we recommend our SENSITIVE Lupin Protein variety or our GREEN CRUNCH dry food.

allergen feed mite

In contrast, or in addition, some four-legged friends react to so-called food mites . Breeds such as the French bulldog are particularly susceptible to this. Food mites are small arachnids whose presence in dry food cannot always be avoided. Contrary to popular belief, freezing the food is not a suitable method for treating the allergy. The mites are then dead - but still contained in the food. They are therefore still recognized by the dog's body as an allergy trigger. In this case, we recommend exclusively feeding wet food and/or home-cooked rations .