Why Turkey Chips Are a Great Healthy Pet Treat for Dogs with Allergies

If food allergies are frustrating for us humans, they might be equally if not more so for our furry friends. After all, they can’t verbalize what’s bothering them; we just have to figure it out by trial and error – and sometimes by itch! But how common are dog allergies, what do we do if our pup has them, and is there anything else we can do to stave off allergies in our pups in the first place? Below, we examine all these topics, as well as why Farm to Pet Turkey Chips are an ideal treat for dogs with allergies.

In many cases, we pet parents use the term allergy – an immune response – for what might actually be food sensitivity or intolerance – difficulty with digestion. For our purposes, we will consider any reaction to food to fall under the allergy umbrella. Adverse reactions can include itching, hot spots and rashes, sneezing, hair loss, and gastrointestinal issues – even breathing issues or shock in severe cases.

Even though their incidence seems to have increased in recent years, food allergies in dogs remain quite rare – according to most experts, up to 1-2% of dogs, and less than 1% in cats, in fact. These rates increase among dogs with environmental allergies and allergic skin conditions. But the fact is, if our pet suffers from an allergy, it doesn’t matter how uncommon it might be – we just want it managed!

So what are the most common food allergies in pets? This list from the NIH might surprise you: beef, dairy, wheat and chicken are the most common allergens among dogs. Less common are soy, lamb and egg. For cats, beef is most common, followed by fish and chicken. Interestingly, it is usually the protein in the food that prompts the reaction. You might notice what is not on either list – turkey! But more on that later.

While allergies are chronic and reactions usually temporary, both are best managed by avoiding the allergen altogether. Dogs usually show any signs of food sensitivities beginning between 1 and 2 years of age, so you might be able to tell what prompted it based on what you have been feeding him during that time.

If you can’t decipher the cause of your pet’s food sensitivity, an elimination trial, where a dog is fed a single hypoallergenic food for several weeks then reintroduced to different foods until the offender is identified, might be in order. This is why limited ingredient or single protein diets are helpful – they can make the narrowing-down process much easier than if your pet eats foods that contain numerous ingredients. Once you know what causes the reaction, you can adjust your pet’s diet accordingly to avoid the allergen. As always, when in doubt or for expert advice specific to your fur baby, see your vet. 

Unfortunately, most experts agree that there is no foolproof way to stave off allergies from developing. Some recent studies do suggest, however, that including raw foods and introducing different pure high-quality proteins in phases during puppyhood may reduce our pets’ chances of developing food allergies. In addition, many experts stress the importance of the quality of proteins fed to puppies and kittens in helping to avoid intolerances as well as for overall health and development. For example, breast meat in poultry and lean cuts of beef seem to be less likely to prompt adverse reactions than byproducts or low-quality remnants.

So what are good choices in treats for dogs with allergies? As you might have guessed by now, turkey makes an excellent option! Not only does this low-fat protein source not even make an appearance on the allergen ranking for dogs or cats, it is also a rich source of essential nutrients including:

• B Vitamins
• Choline
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Niacin
• Phosphorus
• Potassium

Some experts consider turkey a novel protein, or one that is less commonly used in pet diets. Other novel protein sources include elk, venison and duck, as opposed to the most common ingredients – beef and chicken. Since allergies typically develop due to overexposure to a certain food, these protein options can be preferable from an allergy perspective since they are less likely to be included in pet diets.

In addition to novel proteins, certain fruits and vegetables such as blueberries and broccoli can also make healthy treats for pets, whether they suffer from allergies or not! See our popular blog article “Can Dogs Eat Fruit?” for more on the topic.

After reading this article, we are sure that you can see why Farm to Pet Turkey Chips make an ideal treat for dogs with allergies – and the rare allergic cat, too, for that matter! Not only are they made from nothing but turkey breast meat, it’s high-quality turkey that is locally-farmed, skin-free and human-grade with no additives, byproducts, preservatives or artificial ingredients. Each crunchy chip gives pets the delicious taste of all-natural turkey along with all of its nutritional benefits: amino acids, protein, vitamins and minerals. And at just 7 calories per chip, they are a healthy snack for pets as much as they are a treat for their taste buds! Plus, they have just one single ingredient, and a novel protein at that.

Another way to treat your pet to the flavor and benefits of our dehydrated turkey chips is to serve them in powdered form! Farm to Pet Turkey Treat Toppers healthy dog food toppers are a convenient and tasty way to boost the protein content of your pet’s food, especially if they suffer from chicken or beef allergies or have trouble with crunchy foods. They also make a great treat on licking mats or just in a bowl.

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If your pet suffers from food allergies, we hope this lets you breathe a little easier. While they may be rare, there are ways to diagnose and manage food allergies and sensitivities, as well as tasty and healthy options for treats for dogs with allergies that mean your fur baby doesn’t have to suffer or miss out on the yummy stuff – and you can find them right here at Farm to Pet!