Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chicken hydrolysate diet helps itching in 63 dogs
By Loeffler, A et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2004·Royal Veterinary College·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dietary trials with a commercial chicken hydrolysate diet in 63 pruritic dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 63 dogs with itchy skin were put on a special chicken-based diet for six weeks to see if their symptoms improved. During this time, any skin infections or parasites were ruled out. After the trial, it was found that about 20% of the dogs had an allergic reaction to their original food, as their itching and stomach issues went away on the new diet but returned when they went back to their old food. Most dogs liked the new diet, but a few did not. This trial helped identify food allergies in some of the dogs, allowing for better management of their skin problems.
People also search for: dog itching food allergy · chicken diet for dogs with skin problems · how to treat dog skin allergies
Abstract
The owners of 63 pruritic dogs were instructed to feed them a chicken hydrolysate diet exclusively for six weeks as part of diagnostic investigations into non-seasonal pruritus. Ectoparasitism and microbial infections were eliminated during the dietary trial. The dogs' skin lesions, gastrointestinal signs and frequency of defecation were assessed and scores for pruritus were assigned before they started the diet and before and after they resumed their original diet. An adverse food reaction was diagnosed if the pruritus resolved while they were on the diet, but recurred when they resumed their original food regimen. Seventeen of the 63 dogs were withdrawn from the trial, including four which found the diet unpalatable; however, its palatability was reported to be good or excellent in 48 of the dogs. An adverse food reaction alone was diagnosed in nine (19.6 per cent) of the 46 dogs and another nine had an adverse food reaction and atopy. There were gastrointestinal signs in six of the nine dogs with an adverse food reaction, which resolved on the trial diet but recurred when they resumed their original diet.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15134164/