A pug owner’s thoughts on the best food for pugs with allergies

There are a lot of generic articles out there related to the best dog food for pugs with allergies… 

…But there’s a difference between hiring a writer to research a topic, and being a lifelong pug owner who’s fought that battle. 

I’m in the camp of the latter, and I’m here to help you all out! 

Everyone knows someone who suffers from allergies; some people can’t stop sneezing, others have red itchy eyes, and some people can go straight into anaphylactic shock if they eat a peanut. Unfortunately, dogs are no strangers to allergies and they can also suffer from a variety of symptoms. If left unaddressed, allergies can significantly reduce a pugs wellbeing.

And while this article is titled, “Pug Allergies.” I’m sure the following will apply to any dog. Just be sure to consult with your vet. I’ll be sharing my personal experiences with my last pug, the Notorious One – Benji AKA Ben-G AKA The Notorious PUG.

Benji developed allergies later in life, and it caused red/itchy/rashy skin, particularly under his armpits. His vet recommended we could try a prescription hypoallergenic dog food, but the thought of spending $40 for a weeks worth of food for the rest of his life is kinda daunting. Shoot, that’s probably more than I spend at the grocery store for a weeks worth of food. And you have to use it for 8 straight weeks to see if it’s effective, and in that time period Benji cannot have other treats, food scraps, etc.

But our vet also suggested that he could try another dog food, as it could be an ingredient triggering this reaction, so he suggested limited ingredient dog foods and/or dog foods with an uncommon protein source – like Bison or Salmon.

So the first thing I did was make a list of the last two foods he has eaten, both from Costco – Kirkland Nature’s Domain Beef and Sweet Potato and Chicken, Egg and Rice (both of which are grain free). So basically, I was looking for ingredients other than that.

Trying out Different Dog Foods for a Pug with Food Allergies

First up, Nature’s Variety Instinct – Limited Ingredient Turkey Meal. Because I figured he was having a reaction to his old food, I didn’t bother weening him on to the new one… I started him cold turkey (no pun intended). 😂

I knew this would be a lengthy process as the vet said that you should try the food for 8 weeks. But Benji was still having a reaction after 4 (after a good start), so I ended up moving along.

Note: my vet noted that chances are if you pug has reactions to chicken, there’s a decent chance your pug is also allergic to turkey and vice versa. ie. skip anything with feathers.  

Next up, a recommendation from a friend. Who after thorough research ended up selecting Taste of the Wild – Bison and Venison,  one of the top rated dog foods listed on Amazon. Many reviewers stated that this food helped with their dogs’ food allergies.

And we ended up using this dog food for about 3 months, and Benji faired really well on it. Much improved from other foods. But every now and then, he’d still have a reaction, which is easily identifiable as he army crawls on the carpet to itch himself. Though he did well on it, I figured it would be worth trying one of the last types of protein he hasn’t tried yet – Salmon.

Here’s my winner… Purina Beyond Superfood Blend Natural Salmon, Egg & Pumpkin. And if you’re wondering, no I was not paid by them, or any other company listed here. It was basically a process of elimination until I found ingredients that Benji worked well with. It’s been a few months and I haven’t seen a allergic reaction from him yet, but I’ll surely update this if I do.

Author’s Note: And remember that these are the steps I took. They may or may not work for your dog. He/she could be allergic to something else. But if you do what I did, basically a process of elimination, I think you might find what works for you your pup. Always consult with your vet.  

Supplements for Dog Food Allergies

I regularly take probiotics for digestive health, it only made sense that Benji could try it too. So this is actually the first thing I would try, especially if you have leftover dog food that you don’t just want to throw out. Start with a probiotic with his meal and see if he improves. Make sure to get one formulated for dogs, the one I use is Purina Fortiflora Supplement Box. Personally, I think the combination of his new food with probiotics contributed to success with combating allergies and extending his lifespan.

Other Pet Supplies for Dog Allergies

Here are some other things I use, they’re all pretty cheap and don’t really change your routine anyway, so I might as well add them to your shopping cart:

• SynergyLabs Medicated Dog Shampoo – Just something I tried because of the rave reviews on Amazon. It’s a little stinky, but I use it on Benji for every bath and do think that it helps with his itchy skin. I follow it up with an anti-shed dog shampoo… which doesn’t really help much with shedding 😂
• SynergyLabs – Anti-septic and Anti-fungal spray – Since I had a positive experience with their shampoo, thought I’d try another product from their lineup. At less than $5, I think it’s well worth it.
• Burts Bee Itch Soothing Spray – I actually found this one shopping at Home Goods and figured I would give it a try. I don’t know for sure, but I believe this is just for itch relief, and not the treatment of it. In any case, it smells good and I’ll use it every now and then to mix it up.
• Wahl Waterless Dog Shampoo – Lastly, this product doesn’t really have anything to do with allergies. But if you’re like me, and a bit lazy on giving your dog a bath, this can keep him smelling fresh. Plus it says it can moisturize dry skin, which he has because of his allergies.

More Info and FAQs

MY DOG IS ALLERGIC. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Allergies occur when the animal’s immune system overreacts to a certain substance (the allergen). As the dog contacts with the allergen, whether by inhalation, ingestion or directly through his skin, the production of histamine will increase, which will be responsible for causing an inflammatory response. This response can be described as mild, moderate or severe, according to its symptoms.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG SUFFERS FROM ALLERGIES?
Allergies can have a variety of symptoms. The most common is pruritus (itching), but dogs can also suffer from redness on their skin, generalized seborrhea, itchy eyes with increased tear production, sneezing, swollen paws, vomits and diarrhea. The most commonly affected body parts are the ears, paws, inguinal region, axillary area, forelimbs, muzzle and the area around the dog’s eyes. In some cases, the dog can also develop a secondary skin infection, which will cause hair loss and other dermatological signs.
CAN DOGS BE ALLERGIC TO POLLEN TOO? AND WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
Yes, dogs can be allergic to many different substances. Pollen, plants, mold and dust, a certain house cleaning product, mites, some fabrics or specific materials, fleas… The list is endless. And, of course, dogs can also be allergic to certain food items or components. Some protein sources used in commercial dog food are more prone to inducing allergies than others, which will translate into allergy management specific food preparations.
WHAT CAN I DO IF MY DOG IS SHOWING SIGNS OF ALLERGIES?
You should take your dog to your local veterinary clinic or hospital. Some pathologies can have similar symptoms and, as a consequence, they should be ruled out before establishing a treatment plan. One of the most common ways of diagnosing an allergy is to avoid the exposure to the possible allergens and then, gradually, reintroducing them one by one. If the clinical signs disappear after the elimination of the substances but suddenly reappear after you introduce one of them, then we know what’s been causing the problem. When the allergy is related to food components, the dog may need to eat a hypoallergenic diet for the rest of his life. These diets will often have hydrolyzed protein, which is less prone to causing an adverse reaction, due to its smaller molecular size. If the dog suffers from flea bite allergy, then applying a good flea control product will often be enough to make the symptoms disappear.
If the symptoms are too intense, the veterinary doctor may also prescribe anti-pruritic medications, glucocorticoids or other symptom-management medications.