Are There Natural Remedies To Help My German Shepherd With Persistent It... (Vet Answered)

Hi Kat,

It seems we have something in common! My German Shepherd/Malinois, Kodah, also suffers from pretty intense food allergies, and you'll be pleased to know that he is not currently on any medications. Duke's allergies are complicated by having an environmental allergen in the mix, but at least it's not dust mites or pollen! The age of onset is also pretty classic for allergies, usually appearing at around 2-3 years old.

Steroids are great in certain situations, particularly as rapid relief for intense pruritus (itching), but they're not something I would recommend as a long-term solution. You may already be familiar with some of the other treatments for allergies in dogs, such as cyclosporin (Atopica), Oclacitinib (Apoquel), Lokivetmab (Cytopoint), and allergen-specific immunotherapy, each with its benefits and drawbacks. In truth, the biggest advantage of using these sorts of immunosuppressive medications is that it is often easier (or more reliable) to give a daily tablet than to be strict about avoiding allergens in food.

For dogs allergic to things like dust and pollen, immunotherapy can be a good option because, let's face it, it's pretty difficult to avoid them! However, most dogs with these sorts of allergies are usually sensitive to multiple things, and getting good overall control makes the whole problem more manageable.

Antihistamines can be helpful, but not usually strong enough on their own. But during periods of higher allergen loads (eg, spring), they can take the edge off. If you're going to use them, I'd recommend getting prescription-strength from your vet - OTC tablets aren't going to cut it.

I'm going to talk to you mostly about my success with Kodah because I think it will be of most help to you and Duke, particularly as we are both in the UK so you should be able to access the products I have had success with.

I haven't had allergy testing done, but I used an elimination diet to diagnose food as his primary trigger, and gradually reintroduced some different proteins to find out what sets him off - the answer being: most meat! After trialling several different options, he was doing very well on an insect-meal food (which just looks like regular dog food), but the brand I was using kept going out of stock. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a huge proponent of vegan dog food, BUT, I have been feeding Kodah this particular brand of food (not cheap, but very much worth it) for around a year now. He loves it, his skin is great, and my other dogs really like it too, so I don't have to buy four different types of dog food.

Neither Dogster nor I are affiliated with that company, so there's no incentive for me to recommend it to you other than that it has really worked for me.

It is worth mentioning that there have been concerns raised in the past linking plant-based foods with legume ingredients to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but current views are that there is insufficient evidence to prove that link. However, it's something to consider and perhaps discuss with your own vet.

The other thing I had Kodah on for over a year was a probiotic. Until I started using it, I didn't fully appreciate how much probiotics can actually help with allergies. This is the one I used. I did some paid work for that company in the past, but I am not anymore, so again, no incentive to recommend it other than it worked. Their main feature is that the probiotics aren't high-heat treated, so the beneficial bacteria are still active. Kodah is no longer on the supplement, but I do keep a pot on hand in case he has flare-ups.

Secondary bacterial infections and yeast overgrowth often make allergies ten times worse, so keeping the skin clean and dry is essential. Avoid medicated shampoos unless an infection has been diagnosed; stick to simple, skin-friendly shampoos, and even then, only use them if you really need to. If Duke swims, make sure you dry his coat and skin thoroughly, and if he goes to the beach, make sure you rinse sand and seawater off.

I hope this helps!

Dr Karyn