The role of whole food diets in managing food allergies in dogs

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At the Fetch dvm360® Conference in Long Beach, California, Laura Wilson, DVM, DACVD, lectured on using whole food diets to address adverse food reactions and other dermatologic issues in dogs. She covered the rapidly growing role of whole food nutrition in managing canine health, especially in cases where traditional diets may fall short.¹

Canine adverse food reactions

Adverse food reactions in dogs are a multifaceted issue involving immune-mediated hypersensitivities or non-immunologic food intolerances. Wilson explained that non-seasonal pruritus, recurrent ear infections, and gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea often signal an underlying food-related issue. "Historically, you're going to see symptoms like erythematous wheals, papules, macules, or plaques,” said Wilson. “The main thing we see is pruritus and symptoms related to self-trauma—like excoriations, ulcerations, alopecia, lichenification, and hyperpigmentation. The classic distribution, as you all know, includes the ears, rears, and paws."

Diagnosing these conditions typically involves an elimination diet trial, which she described as the gold standard for identifying food allergies. Wilson also reminded the audience that diet trials must be strict and tailored to individual pets, noting, owner compliance is often the biggest challenge Even a small treat outside the trial diet can skew results.

Benefits of whole food diets

Wilson spoke about a specific whole food diet product she uses, stating that its key differentiators are:

• USDA-certified ingredients, including produce
• Use of marine microalgae oil for omega fatty acids (instead of "plastic" fish oil)
• No feed-grade ingredients
• Free of mycotoxins, which can be found in some commercial pet foods
• Balanced nutrition

She also shared emerging research demonstrating the efficacy of whole food diets—a recent study found that 40% of non-seasonally itchy dogs responded positively to an elimination diet trial.¹ Wilson said that she felt omega-3 fatty acids from microalgae oil in this diet can help support skin and coat health, making it particularly suitable for dermatology cases. Finally, she mentioned that one of the benefits of whole food diets in general is that they can be customized to meet individual pet needs, offering an alternative for dogs with sensitivities to commercial products.

Takeaways

Wilson encouraged veterinarians to reclaim their role as nutritional advisors, countering misinformation from unqualified sources. Pet owners often hear feeding advice from breeders or social media, she said, and veterinarians can take more of a leading role in helping clients choose the right diet for their pets. And in that role as a nutritional advisor, clinicians can look to whole food diets as a potential alternative when it comes to tackling dermatologic issues.

Reference

Wilson L. Using whole food nutrition for your dermatology cases: adverse food reactions and more. Presented at: Fetch dvm360® Conference; December 7, 2024; Long Beach, CA.