If you are looking for a friendly, loving dog, Labradoodle might be the perfect companion for you!
It is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. They are a medium-sized dog breed that goes along with kids, families as well as other pets.
The best thing about this dog breed is that they are extremely active but don’t cause havoc in your home. They don’t bark frequently or need a heavy amount of exercise, which makes them ideal for small homeowners.
Labradoodle is known for its attractive appearance and gentle, playful, and outgoing temperament. They are easy on allergies as well.
However, like any other dog breed, they are not totally immune to food allergies. So, if you own a Labradoodle or are planning to adopt one, make sure you know about their food allergies.
It will help you to avoid feeding them food items that trigger allergies to avoid health issues. Once you have known what they are allergic to, you can easily put them on a good diet.
So, in this article, we are going to focus on Labradoodle food allergies. We will show you how to identify and treat food allergies in the Labradoodle dog breed.
What Is the Labradoodle Dog Breed?
Labradoodle is a crossbreed dog. This breed was introduced by Royal Guide Dogs Association to be hypoallergenic guide dogs. It is a planned crossbreed of Labrador Retrievers and Poodles.
The crossbreeding resulted in an extremely intelligent, sociable, and smart dog breed. The dogs not only possessed the quality of a guide dog but also of a low-shedding friendly pet dog.
These dogs are known for their attractive coat and affectionate behavior. This dog breed adapts perfectly in small apartments. It is good for new and single pet owners to keep them company.
As they have long fur, they can easily tolerate the cold temperature. Labradoodles are very affectionate with family, kids, and strangers. You will hardly face any bad dog behavior with this dog breed.
They don’t shed and drool much, so there is no need for daily grooming. On top of that, these dogs are easy to train, playful and active.
This hybrid dog breed weighs up to 65 pounds and grows 24 inches tall. Their average lifespan is 12 to 14 years. Labradoodles are perfect for all types of people and make a loving, and friendly dog.
What Is Labradoodle Food Allergies
Allergy is not a disease or health problem but a natural reaction of the body when introduced to certain factors, i.e., food, pollens, dust, etc.
When it comes to dogs, you have to protect them from the internal and external factors which cause allergies. Allergens like dust and pollen can cause serious allergies in dogs.
However, the most common thing which causes allergies in dogs is “food.” Your canine friends are allergic to many food items. For example, some dogs cannot tolerate food items like eggs, beef, chicken, fish, dairy items, etc.
Labradoodles are known for going easy on allergies, but they are not totally immune. It is very common for your Labradoodle to be allergic to one or more than one food item.
If your dog consumes food items that they are allergic to, it will lead to problems like diarrhea, vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, skin problems, etc.
So, you have to be careful when feeding them. Most of the time, food allergies occur when you change your diet or food. However, sometimes allergies might develop later as well. So even if you haven’t changed the food, you need to check the dog for allergies.
Research shows that food items that are rich in protein are the main source of allergies in dogs. So, if you feed chicken, meat, or eggs to your Labradoodle, they are more likely to suffer from an allergic reaction.
However, there are other food items like barley, oats, corn, wheat, rice, and other grains which cause allergies in your dog.
Difference Between Food Intolerance and Allergies
When it comes to food allergies in Labradoodles, most people confuse them with food intolerance. However, both the concepts are totally different.
Food allergy is a natural reaction of the dog’s immune system when you expose them to allergens in the food. The immune system fight with the allergens in the body, which causes symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.
However, food intolerance is completely different than allergies. It means that your dog is unable to digest and process the food. The immune system is not responsible for food intolerance. It mostly causes diarrhea.
While allergies are not really common in Labradoodles, it is wise to be careful in order to avoid discomfort to your precious dog. Make sure you don’t feed too much wheat or barley to your dog as it causes allergies.
Apart from grains and meats, your Labradoodle might suffer from allergies when exposed to grass as well. It contains pollens which triggers allergies. If they end up chewing the grass, it might lead to allergies.
There are some allergies that are inherited. As Labradoodle is a hybrid breed, they might inherit allergies from either or both of their parents. Sometimes allergies are caused by soaps, shampoos, and fleas as well.
Common Food Allergens for Labradoodle
Now that you know what food allergy is, let’s learn about some of the common food items which trigger allergies in Labradoodles.
- Dairy: Your Labradoodle might be lactose intolerant or might be allergic to dairy items. There are some dogs who are unable to digest dairy items. However, allergy is different from lactose intolerance. However, it is very difficult to tell the difference. While lactose intolerance always leads to digestion issues, allergies might cause skin problems as well. So, you need to stay careful while feeding them dairy items.
- Grains: This dog breed might also be allergic to grains. Out of all the grains, wheat is a major allergen. Apart from that, some Labradoodles might also be allergic to barley, oats, corns, and other grains.
- Beef: It is one of the most common food allergens in dogs. If you feed too much beef to your dog, they are likely to get allergic. As most pet foods contain beef, you need to choose the diet very carefully. If your dog starts acting weird after consuming beef, you need to take them to a vet. It is best to avoid too much beef and add other food items to their diet as well.
- Soy: It is not safe to feed soy or any soy-based products to your dogs. It is not only known for causing allergies but also other health issues in dogs. It can lead to thyroid and liver problems. Moreover, it might also compromise your Labradoodle’s reproductive and growth hormones.
- Lamb: It is the main ingredient in every dog food. While not all dogs are allergic to lamb, you need to check for signs of allergies. It can be a possible allergen for your dog.
- Chicken: As chicken is high in protein, it can also cause allergies in your dog. So, make sure you give them a balanced diet instead of feeding them chunks of chicken alone.
- Eggs: The yolk contains protein, so it can be another reason for allergy in your dogs. Most people don’t feed eggs to their dogs. So you can avoid this food item if your Labradoodle is allergic to it.
Symptoms of Labradoodle Food Allergies
It is very important to know about the symptoms of food allergies in Labradoodles. It will help you to easily identify allergies and give them proper care. While most professional dog owners are aware of symptoms of allergies, novice owners find it difficult to identify. So, make sure you look out of these symptoms if you ever change your dog’s diet or introduce them to new food.
Common Symptoms
These are some of the most common symptoms of food allergies in Labradoodles.
- Itchy Skin
- Snoring
- Sneezing
- Itchy Paws
- Skin Rashes
- Runny Nose
- Coughing
- Nausea
- Vomiting and Diarrhea
- Hair Loss
- Bald Spots
- Red Spots
- Inflammation
- Pigmented Skin
- Skin Rashes
- Leathery Skin
- Scaly or Oily Skin
- Red Eyes
- Eye Discharge
- Ear Infections
Rare Symptoms
Apart from the common symptoms, you might also notice these rare symptoms of Labradoodle food allergies.
- Breathing Problems and Heaving
- Unnatural Weight Loss
- Urinary Infection
- Seizures
- Nasal Discharge
- Bacterial Skin Infection
- Bacterial Ear Infection
How to Identify Labradoodle Food Allergies?
In order to identify food allergies in Labradoodles, you need to look out for symptoms. You can check your dog for common as well as rarer symptoms. You can easily notice a change in their behavior if they are suffering from an allergic reaction. Here are some of the signs you need to look out for.
- Restlessness: Your dog will start becoming restless.
- Lethargy: Labradoodles are very active, so if they become lethargic, it can be due to allergy.
- Anorexic: The dog might stop eating the food. They will refuse even their favorite treats.
- Fidgety: Your dog might become extremely fidgety and start shaking his ears.
- Scratching: They might scratch their skin roughly.
- Biting: The dog might also start biting ears, paws, or tail.
The easiest way to identify allergies in Labradoodle is to examine them. You need to check their eyes, ears, paws, leg area, belly as well as inner thigh. These are the common places where they develop allergy symptoms.
If your Labradoodle is suffering from an allergic reaction, the symptoms will develop instantly. However, sometimes the symptoms develop after 24 hours. They might suffer from gastrointestinal or skin problems due to allergic reactions. You need to look out for these three common gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Vomiting: The dog will start vomiting and remove the food they have eaten.
- Diarrhea: They might suffer from diarrhea as well. Sometimes you will notice blood in the stool.
- Pain and Discomfort: The dog might feel suffer from abdominal pain and discomfort.
If you notice any of the signs and symptoms of allergies, you need to take them to a vet. If the allergic reaction is left untreated and you keep feeding them the same food, it will lead to severe health problems. They might develop more allergies and go through severe pain.
Labradoodle Allergy Diagnosis and Food Allergy Test
Allergies are mostly hereditary in Labradoodle. It is passed down from the parents. But in some cases, it is also caused by climate. Food allergies are very rare. So, you need to properly diagnose the cause of the allergy.
Most of the time, it takes time for dogs to become allergic to certain foods. For example, it might take two whole years for the dog to become allergic to certain food items. Food allergies don’t take place suddenly.
So, if you have a Labradoodle puppy or a quite young dog, the symptoms might be due to climate change or any other type of allergy. You will also notice food allergy symptoms in dogs who are older than two years.
However, to stay on the safer side, you can opt for a food allergy test if your dog is showing signs of allergy. The vet might go for a skin test, blood test as well as diet trial to diagnose food allergy in your Labradoodle.
Treatment for Labradoodle Food Allergies
If your Labradoodle is diagnosed with a food allergy, you can undertake these treatments.
While food allergies are very rare, you need to avoid them at all costs. Here are some of the effective ways to treat Labradoodle food allergies.
Hypoallergenic Diet/ Hydrolyzed Food
You need to feed a hypoallergenic diet to your dog for 12 weeks. It will help you to know what food items they are allergic to. This diet contains only limited food ingredients. The protein used in this diet is sourced from other ways to avoid allergies in dogs. You need to feed your dog protein and carbohydrates. However, it should not be sourced from an animal. Make sure your dog doesn’t consume any other form of protein in these weeks.
If the allergic symptoms subside, you can put them on the old diet. However, the symptoms appear again; you need to check the ingredients in the old diet. After that, you can create a diet for them which excludes old ingredients. This way, you can avoid the protein allergens and treat their allergic reaction. You can also feed them hydrolyzed food to treat allergies.
Fish Oil/ Flax Oil
Another thing you can do to treat allergies in dogs is by adding fatty acids to their diet. It will help you to reduce the swelling in dogs caused due to allergies. It helps to soothe rashes and itching as well.
Benadryl and Other Drugs
Sometimes, even if you stop feeding them allergic food items, the symptoms will still persist. It leads to secondary inflammation. So, to treat inflammation, you can give them Benadryl. It helps you to treat allergies. You can also use ointments and anti-itching shampoo. However, make sure you consult a vet before you give the Labradoodle any medication or drugs.
Homemade Food
This is by far the best solution to treat allergies. Instead of giving packaged dog food, you can prepare food at home. Most professionals prefer cooking homemade meals for their dogs. It is fresh, healthier, and prevents allergies.
Vegan Dog Food
Most of the time, dogs are allergic to animal protein. If this is the case, you can switch to vegan dog food. It will help you to prevent allergies in your Labradoodle.
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