"For our French bulldog with many intolerances and allergies, it is absolutely the only food that she tolerates. The bloody diarrhea about 10-20 times a day has finally disappeared after a few weeks of absolutely consistent feeding of VEGDOG dry food. Our mouse has a huge appetite again and eats the food with relish. Even though we could never have imagined a vegan diet for our dog before, it has now been our salvation! THANK YOU <3" - VEGDOG Customer

The most important facts about food allergies at a glance:

• Food allergies often manifest themselves through symptoms such as itching, ear infections and gastrointestinal problems.
• To treat the allergy, an exclusion diet with a subsequent change of food is recommended.
• According to a study on the most common food allergens in dogs, the main allergens include beef (34%), dairy products (17%), chicken (15%), lamb (14.5%) and wheat (13%).
• By avoiding the main allergens in dogs, vegan dog food from VEGDOG is ideally suited for dogs with food allergies.

Can a purely plant-based diet be the solution for food allergies?

A food allergy in dogs is a very tiresome topic: the dog is in pain and suffering and the solution is not found in a simple dose of medication. Medication is often resorted to after the initial diagnosis of a food allergy or intolerance. Although these initially alleviate the symptoms, they do not solve the original problem. The search for a suitable solution can sometimes take years. This was also the case with Nelson (you can find his story here).

More and more dogs are suffering from the same illness as Nelson: a food allergy.

Many dog owners, like Tessa at the beginning of Nelson's illness, are unaware that animal proteins are among the main allergens in dogs.

A meta-analysis by the University of Munich summarized and evaluated meaningful studies from recent years on the subject of food allergies in dogs. Dermatological symptoms (itchy skin, ear infections, etc.) are by far the most common symptoms in dogs with food allergies. Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.) were also found, but much less frequently than skin problems.

The main allergens in dogs

The frequency of triggering allergens was also evaluated in the course of this meta-analysis. The following allergens triggered the most reactions in dogs with food intolerances and can therefore be regarded as the main allergens in dogs:

• beef (34% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• dairy products (17% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• chicken (15% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• lamb (14,5% of dogs had a positive reaction)
• Wheat (13% of dogs had a positive reaction)

Symptoms of food allergy using the French Bulldog as an example

Certain breeds are particularly susceptible to food or environmental allergies, including the French Bulldog. The reason for this is often the way they are bred. However, not only French Bulldogs, but also other breeds can suffer from a food allergy. The following symptoms may be an indication of this:

• Constant licking or nibbling of the paws
• Reddish fur on the paws (discolored)
• Constant scratching of the ears, or Ear infections
• Frequent head shaking
• Vigorous rolling or trying to scratch the body
• Gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea or flatulence

How can VEGDOG help? An allergy food for French Bulldogs and other susceptible breeds:

We avoid all of these major allergens with VEGDOG , offering a healthy alternative for severe food allergy sufferers like Nelson.

In the first step, we recommend cooking the dog's meals yourself and adding our mineral powderALL-IN VELUXE to the ration to cover all requirements.

In the second step, after a successful exclusion diet, you can switch to one of our dog foods such asSENSITIVE LUPINE PROTEIN . Our dog food does not contain the most common allergens for our pets, making it particularly suitable for dogs with food allergies. Alternatively, we also offer many recipes to cook yourself at home in our blog.

VEGDOG is sufficient and 100% plant-based and gluten-free. The varietiesADULT Linsen & Hirseand SENIOR Peas &Millet contain, among other things, potatoes, to which a few dogs also react (very rarely, but still sometimes). For these, we recommend our SENSITIVE lupin protein variety or our dry foodGREEN CRUNCH.

Allergenic food mite

Some four-legged friends react in contrast or additionally to so-calledfood mites . Breeds such as the French bulldog are also particularly susceptible to this. Food mites are small arachnids whose presence in dry food cannot always be avoided. Contrary to popular belief, freezing the food is not a suitable method of treating the allergy. Although the mites are then dead, they are still present in the food. They are therefore still recognized as allergy triggers by the dog's body. In this case, we recommend exclusively feedingwet food and/or self-cooked rations .