Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog has food allergies. What else can I try when nothing works?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | neutered | 3 years old | 19 lbs

My 3yr old Male shih tzu/dauschund mix was diagnosed with food allergies but NOTHING seems to work for very long. Our vet advised a single protein, single carb diet. Any other suggestions we can try?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 12th, 2018

Your veterinarian is right. You will actually have to do trials. Try feeding a single carb (eg potato) with a single protein (e.g. duck or deer or fish). for three to four weeks. If that does not work replace the protein with another one, feed for three to four weeks, etc. It is a long process of finding out what works and what does not. Leave out all treats, do not let him eat any human food, steal cat food, etc. No rawhide treats or toys either!. If after your trials you still have not found a food that will work you can try special commercial hypo-allergenic food or hydrolysed protein prescription diet from Hill's or Royal Canine. Unfortunately this is a very frustrating disease.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. B. DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Food allergies can certainly be very frustrating and some dogs have a combination of allergic disease processes (food and inhaled). There are typically 2 options for food trials and it sounds like maybe you have tried one of the options so I will try to give you some helpful information. The 2 options are a hydrolyzed protein diet (break the food proteins in to smaller molecules to try to evade the immune response); some examples in this realm are Hill's Z/D, Purina H/A, Royal Canin Hydrolyzed protein (HP). These are prescription diets that can be ordered through your vet or purchased elsewhere with a prescription from your vet. The benefit of a prescription diet is that they undergo better quality control and are often more limited in their ingredients. The other option is a diet with novel protein/carb sources. These are diets that hopefully the pet has not encountered yet. Some uncommon proteins are venison, duck, kangaroo, and rabbit. Basically you want to avoid common proteins like chicken, beef, and lamb. You just have to make sure to read the label because some times they will list the "novel protein" as the first ingredient but if you read further down there may actually be often animal protein in there (like chicken by product meal, etc). Some uncommon carb sources are peas and potato and you have to be careful too to make sure additional carb sources are not present (such as corn, etc.) Royal canine selected protein in an option. Natural balance is an over the counter that has several options (just again read the label to get one you pet has not tried before). For a successful food trial you need to feed the diet for 2 months and there can not be any additional food sources (treats are a big culprit, human food). There are hypoallergenic treats available for dogs on food trial or you can make some treats at home from the same protein sources in the diet. Ideally after the 2 months a pet would be re-challenged with the old diet to see if a flare up occurs in hopes of trying to figure out what the offending allergen is. It can take some time to find the right diet and pets can be seemingly doing well and then flare up again. If this happens it may be seasonal/environmental allergies, flea allergy, or a new food allergen. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

    Vote icon

    0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?
Is your dog's dry skin a concern? A certified vet offers expert advice on finding the best fish-based dog food alternatives to Science Diet for essential oils.
Updated on February 04, 2026
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?
Can your chickens eat bell peppers and salads? Veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth offers expert advice on safe feeding, frequency, and how fresh veggies boost vibrant yolks.
Updated on December 04, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
Is Purina Layer Pellets good for chickens? What other feeds exist?
Is Purina Layer Pellets the right choice for your flock? Get expert advice from a Petco veterinarian on Purina and other top chicken feed brands for your chickens.
Updated on December 04, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
My mice eat all their food together from one bowl. Is this normal?
Do your mice quickly eat together from one bowl? A Licensed Vet Tech explains normal mouse eating behavior and when to watch for aggression. Get expert insights.
Updated on December 04, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My degu lost teeth after an accident. How can I feed him soft foods?
Your degu had an accident, lost teeth, and can't eat hard food. A Petco Vet Tech offers crucial advice on immediate vet care and how to feed your injured degu.
Updated on December 04, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My rat is losing weight and has breathing issues. What should I do?
Dambo's weight loss, rough breathing, and mucus worry you? A Petco veterinarian addresses these concerning symptoms and recommends urgent professional care.
Updated on December 04, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored