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Switching grain-free dog to grain food? How to spot grain intolerance?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 5 years and 1 month old | 17 lbs

My dog has been raised on grain free foods does this mean she will have a harder time if I wanted to introduce grains into her diet? How can you tell if dogs are intolerant to grains, what are the signs or symptoms? Thanks!

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenny, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 17th, 2017

No. Most dogs handle grains very well. In fact most food allergies are to a protein source such as beef or chicken. If you dog does a food allergy if some kind, it typically shows up with itching and hair loss. A small percentage can have GI symptoms but that is the minority

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    Answered By Stephanie Echols, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Great question! Typically dogs are not allergic to grains; more commonly they are allergic to the protein source (chicken, beef, fish). If there was an allergic reaction, it would probably be to a protein change. Allergies to food manifest as ear infections, skin infections, licking the paws/belly/under the tail, or vomiting and diarrhea. If you would like to change her food, I would recommend transitioning over 7 days (mix 75% old food with 25% new food, then 50/50, then 25% old food and 75% new food, then new food), so her stomach has time to adjust to the change. I usually explain it like this: If you ate cereal for your whole life for every meal, then you ate something rich like Mexican food, your stomach will get upset. If you do the change gradually, Chloe should be ok. Good luck and kisses to Chloe!

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