Can dogs with skin allergies eat rice

Can Dogs Eat Rice?

One of the most popular foods around the world is rice. But can dogs eat rice? The answer is yes. Rice is an ingredient sometimes found in commercial dog foods.

Many pet owners feed white rice to their sick dog. One of the reasons white rice is the chosen grain for a dog with an upset stomach is that its easy to digest, quick to prepare, and low in fiber.

We use rice as a carb source when dogs are on a bland diet after a GI upset, says Dr. Steve Weinberg, DVM and medical director/CEO of 911Vets, a mobile veterinary service in the Los Angeles area. Rice helps to bind the stool in cases of diarrhea.

Is All Rice the Same?

Brown rice is never prescribed for dogs having gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea. Ill canine companions need need the starch in white rice. However, white rice has a higher glycemic index than brown rice and can cause blood sugar levels to rise. If your dog is diabetic, you can still feed them a little white rice, if needed, but not on a consistent basis.

Brown rice can be harder for a dog to digest because it is not as processed. Brown rice has a seed coat where the nutrients are stored, explains Dr. Carly Fox, DVM, a staff veterinarian at New York Citys Animal Medical Center. That coat is missing from white rice, resulting in less nutritional content.

Carbohydrates are an important part of a dogs diet, along with a certain amount of protein and fat. Just as with humans, eating too many carbs can lead to weight gain in a dog. Because commercially produced dog food contains carbohydrates, be careful not to overload your pup with additional high-carb foods like rice. As long as your dog is maintaining a healthy weight, adding some rice to your dogs mealsis perfectly fine.

When preparing rice for your pup, boil it in water and do not add any seasonings or spices, which can upset stomachs or even be toxic. Keep it plain and simple; they wont know the difference. And just like with any new food you introduce into your dogs diet, consult your veterinarian first and then start off slowly.

Can Dogs Eat Rice Safely?

If your dogs begging for food while youre eating some rice, you might wonder if its OK to give him some.

Dogs can eat plain, cooked rice in small quantities, and it actually has some health benefits for your pup, too.

We spoke to Dr. Michelle Burch, a veterinarian with Paramount Pet Health, and Dr. Corinne Wigfall, a veterinarian spokesperson for SpiritDog Training, to find out the answer to the question: Can dogs eat rice?

Can dogs eat rice safely?

Rice is totally fine for most dogs to eat, and its actually an ingredient in most dog foods.

Dogs are omnivores, which means they need to have meat and vegetables in their diet and are able to digest most carbohydrates, such as rice.

White rice is also often fed to dogs as a bland meal to settle an upset stomach since it doesnt have a lot of fiber and is easy to digest.

Cooked plain rice is very helpful for dogs who are having tummy upsets and showing signs like vomiting or diarrhea for a few days, Dr. Wigfall told The Dodo. Rice is an easily digestible carbohydrate source, and its often much easier for the body to digest and use the energy from this particular food group, [carbs].

You can also give your pup a little plain rice as a treat, too. But keep in mind rice shouldnt make up a large part of your dogs diet since it doesnt have all the nutrients dogs need.

Is rice healthy for dogs?

Even though you might not think of rice as being super nutritious, it actually has some health benefits, even for dogs (which is why its included in so many dog foods).

White and brown rice are a good source of carbohydrates, vitamin D and B, calcium, iron, and riboflavin, Dr. Burch told The Dodo. Brown rice is a good source of fiber compared to white.

Brown rice is healthier for dogs than white rice is (just like for people) because it contains more nutrients, but some dogs might have more trouble digesting it.

Brown rice can be difficult for some dogs to digest and may cause gastrointestinal problems, Dr. Burch said.

White rice has a higher glycemic index than brown rice, which means it raises your dogs blood sugar levels more, so it isnt a good snack for pups who have diabetes. You also shouldnt feed rice to an overweight or obese dog because eating too much can make your dog gain weight due to the amount of carbs.

Rice allergy in dogs

According to Dr. Wigfall, rice allergies in dogs are pretty uncommon.

If your dog does have a rice allergy, you might notice symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and skin irritation.

[Gastrointestinal] signs can be seen with or without skin irritation: scratching at the skin, red patches, hair loss, smelly ears, or scabs and crusts on the surface of the skin, Dr. Wigfall said. If you think your dog is allergic to rice in particular, it's worth having this tested with a veterinary dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis, as so many foods we feed dogs contain some elements of rice.

If your pups definitely allergic to rice, your vet can recommend a dog food thats OK for him to eat that doesnt include it. They might have you start your pup on a hypoallergenic dog food.

Dogs with rice allergies can utilize potatoes, oats or tapioca as a carbohydrate source, Dr. Burch said.

Be sure to confirm with your vet that your dog has a rice allergy before switching him to grain-free food because foods that dont include grains have been linked to dogs developing dilated cardiomyopathy, and most dogs should have grains as a part of their diet.

How to feed your dog rice

You can give your pup plain, boiled rice with no seasonings or butter. Treats should only make up around 10 percent of your dogs caloric intake, and rice is included in that if youre giving it to him as a snack, so just give him a little bit.

If youre feeding your dog rice for an upset stomach, you can try giving him plain, boiled chicken with it to add some protein and nutrients, Dr. Wigfall said. Feeding rice for tummy upset is a short-term solution, and if no improvement is seen within one to two days, veterinary advice should be sought, Dr. Wigfall said.

Rice can also be used as an ingredient in homemade dog foods or treats if you like to cook for your pup.

Rice can be fed as a treat or combined with protein and vegetables to create a well-balanced homemade diet, Dr. Burch said. Ensure to obtain homemade diets from a reliable source, such as your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist, as not all recipes are balanced or complete, leading to health problems.

And definitely dont give your dog fried rice. Fried rice has extra fat and salt, and it can contain ingredients that are poisonous to dogs, like onion.

Be sure to talk to your vet to find out how much rice is OK for your dog to eat or if you think he might be allergic to rice. In most cases, though, a little plain, cooked rice every so often is a perfectly safe and even healthy snack for most pups.

Types of Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them

Have you heard someone tell you that their dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then youve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dogs symptoms.

Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the bodys immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap.

Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs

The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.

In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Itchiness
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears
• Chronic ear infections
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Constant licking

Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice changes in their behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.

Types of Allergic Reactions in Dogs

Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

Skin allergies in dogs, known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common type of allergic reaction in dogs. Skin allergies in dogs are mainly caused by one of three things: fleas, food allergies, and atopicor environmentalallergies.Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites, and some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause their skin to become red, inflamed, or scabbed because their skin will feel extremely itchy. Its the easiest type of allergic dermatitis to treat, since you can apply flea medication for dogs to help heal their skin.

Another cause of skin allergy in dogs is from food allergies and sensitivities. Just like humans can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, dogs can be allergic, which can cause itchy skin. Dogs with food allergies usually have itchy ears or paws, sometimes along with gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says that food allergies are not as common as you might think. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from hives, facial swelling, and itchiness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea or a combination of both.

Environmental allergens can also affect the skin and be the cause of allergic dermatitis. Things like dust, pollen, fungus, and mold can cause these reactions, but in most cases, these allergies are seasonal. As with food allergies that affect the skin, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes).

All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.

Urticaria, or Hives, in Dogs

Also known as urticaria, hives on dogs are very itchy but are not life-threatening. Hives appear as a reaction anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after exposure to allergens. This consists of itchy, swelled skin, that usually looks like a red rash. Its easiest to spot hives on dogs that are hairless or have short coats. Dogs with longer hair can get them too, but its more likely that youd be able to fee the hives rather than see them. Your vet will prescribe an antihistamine in order to treat urticaria in dogs.

Edema of Face or Throat

Swelling of the throat or face looks severe, but its actually almost never fatal. This area of swelling, which can also include swelling of the eyelids or ear flaps, is known as angioneurotic edema. Its actually pretty easily treated, and despite how it looks, its a good sign in terms of allergic reactions.

If your dog has edema of any of these areas, the time for a fatal allergic reaction has most likely passed, and they arent in as much danger. Angioneurotic edema occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an allergen, and can also come with hives.A veterinarian will often give dogs with this reaction an antihistamine injection. Untreated, it may take a day or two for the swelling to subside.

Anaphylactic Shock

Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergic reactions in dogs is anaphylactic shock. Like people, dogs can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This happens when antibodies produced by the host react negatively to the allergen, dropping your dogs blood pressure rapidly and sending them into shock. This can be fatal if not treated, but luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs.

This can be a response to any allergen, most commonly bee or wasp stings, or vaccine reactions. Because of this, your vet will always recommend keeping a close eye on your dog after theyve been given any new vaccine, drug, or food item, as they might be allergic.

If a dog has had a past incident and survived, the owner may carry an epipen, but sometimes the first occurrence can lead to death. Fortunately these reactions are very rare in dogs.

In some rare cases, a severe food allergy reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dogs symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction.

Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dogs body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues.

The first thing your veterinarian will do in allergy testing is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dogs symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, they may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing.

If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. Its the same for dogs, but its worth it to understand what to stay away from when it comes to your dog.Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog one source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks.

Treating Allergies in Dogs

The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen, which may not always be possible. They type of treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog has. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet.

Depending on the cause and severity of your dogs allergic reaction, your veterinarian will prescribe different things. For hives, they might suggest antihistamines, cortisones, medicated shampoos, whereas with food allergies they might suggest fish oil or other Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, they might prescribe dog-safe anti-inflammatory wipes or shampoo on skin to provide irritation relief.

In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.

If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get them to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.