My dog needs flax-free food. Can it be contaminated by other products?

Question

I have a 3yo Malinois that constantly scratches, chews his feet and shakes his head. We have literally tried everything with the vet guidance. He is on Apoquel now. Blood test just came back positive for dust/storage mites, cats, feathers and flax. My question is: in my search for a dog food without flaxseed, I notice the brands have treats, can or other formulas with flax in them: couldn’t this potentially contaminate the bags that are “flax free”? Please help! -Itchy in Delaware :). Pet's info: Dog | Belgian Malinois | Male | neutered | 2 years and 7 months old | 81 lbs

Ana M, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dempsey. Skin disease is so frustrating! I would consider trying a prescription diet. There are hydrolyzed diets (used in cases of food allergies as the protein source is chopped into tiny pieces so the body's immune system cannot recognize and react to it) or diets specifically formulated for skin disease. Over-the-counter diets are notorious for being contaminated with other protein and food sources. So it is reasonable to assume a diet could be contaminated with flaxseed. Ensure that he is on year round flea and tick to ensure ectoparasites are not contributing to his itching. Also, make sure that he has been tested for mites and ringworm as part of his diagnostic work up. Finally, there is another allergy medication called Cytopoint that may help him. Good luck!

My dog needs flax-free food. Can it be contaminated by other products?

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