Dog Allergies & The Best Dog Allergy Tests
Your dog may be licking or scratching more than normal at this time of the year. Both you and your pet can suffer from skin allergies. Their scratching may keep you up at night, or lead to other issues that require a visit to the veterinarian. Understanding the reasons why your dog itches is key to helping them.
What are some of the most common allergies that dogs suffer from?
There are also allergy symptoms in dogs. These include flea allergies, seasonal allergies (atopic dermatitis), and food allergies. You may not be able to tell which allergy is affecting your dog. It’s best to consult a veterinarian to guide you in the right direction.
Seasonal allergies (atopic Dermatitis) in dogs
As the weather gets warmer, more dogs are itching and needing to be seen by their veterinarian. You may notice that your dog is showing signs of seasonal allergies as you start to sneeze with hay fever. This condition is also known as or atopic dermititis.
In Australia, atopic dermatitis (atopy) is common and worsens in the Spring and summer as pollen counts rise.
It sounds wonderful, and we all want to do the best for our animals. It’s not that simple. Feeding your dog raw food comes with many challenges.
What can I do to help my puppy right now?
These tests will take a few weeks to complete, while you await the arrival of the test kit and wait for results. After you receive the results, you’ll need to do a process called elimination to determine if you can stop the symptoms by changing the pet’s diet or habits.
It’s worth the effort! If your dog is as unhappy as mine, there are a few things that you can do right away to help.
Immediate Relief
You can give your dog antihistamines (basically, doggy Benadryl) to get immediate relief. You can give your dog an antihistamine to relieve their symptoms so they can sleep or eat comfortably while you try and figure out what the problem is. Try an anti-itch mousse or shampoo to reduce the itching and prevent your dog from biting off her hair or causing hot spots.
This post may include affiliate links for our partners such as Chewy, Amazon and others. These links help us to further our mission of educating people about animals around the world.
| Best for | Buy the Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Test for Environmental Tolerance and Pet Food |
| Best Saliva Test | DNA My Dog Allergy Testing for Dogs |
| Best Value | UCARI Test Kit for Sensitivity & Intolerance in Pets |
| The Best Food Only Test | Test for Intolerance to Pet Food |
| Best Environmental-Only Testing | Test for Environmental Tolerance in Pets |
Important Points
- 5Strands is the #1 Overall Dog Allergy Test.
- Allergies can affect your dog if they show signs like itchy skin, runny or watery eyes, digestive problems, or gastrointestinal symptoms. It can be difficult to determine the cause of an allergy without proper testing.
- We reviewed the best dog allergy tests available to help you identify the cause of your dog’s allergies. This guide will help determine which home test kit is best for your pet and you.
Allergies in dogs can be caused by many different things. These include what your dog eats (food), what is on their skin (bugs bites or flea treatment), and even airborne pollutants (mold, dust mites, and pollens). Allergies in dogs can be identified by licking, itching and hives. Other symptoms include red skin, ear infection, diarrhea, vomiting, sneezing and runny eyelids.
If your dog displays these symptoms, it is important to consult a veterinarian to rule out other causes. If you have eliminated all other possibilities, you can perform a variety of over-the counter allergy tests to determine what is bothering the pet.
You can easily test your dog at home to find out if it is allergic to something without having to pay a vet.
- Test for Environmental Tolerance and Pet Food
- Simple to use
- Fast Results
- Take a look at 380 environmental and food items
- Report that is comprehensive and easy to understand
- DNA My Dog Allergy Testing for Dogs
- You can test your pet using saliva
- Results can take up to two weeks
- Tests on 100 common foods, and other factors
- Included are instructions
- UCARI Test Kit for Sensitivity & Intolerance in Pets
- Report on 1000 food and environmental factors
- Report includes actionable recommendations
- Examine strands from your pet’s fur
- Easy to use
- Test for Intolerance to Pet Food
- Tests for specific foods
- Online Report on 275+ Food Items
- You can use your pet’s fur
- Easy to use
- Test for Environmental Tolerance in Pets
- Test for 105 environmental factors
- How to use a hair sample
- Fast Results
- Holistic approach
Top Picks for the Best Dog Allergy Tests
5Strands Pet food and Environmental Intolerance test is the best overall dog allergy test. It is easy to use, comprehensive and provides fast results.
Send in some of your dog’s fur for a complete list of the 380 foods and environmental items which may be irritating to your pet. This test can help you determine if your dog is experiencing a dietary or an environmental irritation. This report includes a list of proteins, grains and additives that could be causing your pet discomfort. It also lists chemicals, plants, foods, grasses, food, fish, grains, fruit, vegetables, meat, grasses, herbs, textiles, plants, etc.
This is not a immune system allergies test you may get from a vet. The report will identify sensitivities based on the lack of digestive enzymes and signs of excessive consumption or exposure to potential irritants. This report will save you money and time by letting you know what foods you should avoid and what environmental factors might be at play. Next, you should remove as many irritants from your dog’s surroundings as possible.
It is also important to know that the accuracy of this testing technology has not been scientifically proven. Many positive reviews mention that the test helped narrow down the cause of their dog’s allergy reactions.
The 5Strands Environmental and Pet Food Intolerance test: Pros and cons
| the good | The not so good |
|---|---|
| Tests are available for both environmental and food allergens. | The accuracy of the information is not proven scientifically. |
| The test looks for the most common allergens in pet food and environmental products. | |
| This test will help you pinpoint the cause of your dog’s allergies. You can then work to eliminate those allergens. | |
| The report is comprehensive and easy to read. |
Overall Best 5Strands Environmental and Pet Food Intolerance test
- Simple to use
- Fast Results
- Take a look at 380 environmental and food items
- Report that is comprehensive and easy to understand
2. DNA My Dog: Allergy testing for dogs using the best saliva test
This saliva test is easy to use at home. This kit tests your pet’s saliva for possible intolerances to food and environmental factors. The results are available in two to three week and include up to 100 foods, household cleaners and tobacco products, as well as environmental factors.
You can use this test if your dog has been showing signs of allergies, such as excessive scratching and stomach problems. The test is easy to administer, as it takes only two minutes. The results are very easy to understand when they finally arrive. The database is constantly being updated with new breeds. Sadly, they currently only have a database of just over 100 breeds. This is a lot less than the other dog allergy test, which has over 350 breeds listed in their database.
This is a simple salivary allergy test that you can administer to narrow down the allergens in your dog.
The pros and cons of DNA My Dog allergy testing for dogs
| The good | the not so good |
|---|---|
| Simple saliva test. | Only a little over 100 breeds are allowed to be tested. |
| The test determines your dog’s allergy sensitivity up to 100 allergens. | |
| The results are simple and easy to understand. |
Best Saliva Test
DNA My Dog Allergy Test for Dogs
- You can test your pet using saliva
- Results can take up to two weeks
- Tests on 100 common foods, and other factors
- Included are instructions
3. UCARI Sensitivity Test Kit for Pets: Best Value
This UCARI Pet Sensitivity & Intolerance Kit is a great option at a reasonable price. It analyzes the fur of your pet to provide a detailed report about 1000 foods, environmental factors and pet care ingredients.
You can make informed decisions about the lifestyle of your pet by focusing on specific food and environmental factors which may be causing itching or vomiting. You’ll be notified by text or email within one to two business days of the lab receiving your sample.
The report includes color-coded sections for easier reading. It also contains actionable advice that will help you and your veterinarian create nutritional, wellness and medical programs to benefit your pet. It is important to know that some reviewers found the results of the tests quite complicated. The results were overwhelming and hard to understand.
The Pros and Cons Of The UCARI Pet Sensitivity And Intolerance Testing Kit
| the good | the not so good |
|---|---|
| The test results are available within 24 to 48 hours. | The test results were difficult for some reviewers to understand. |
| Reports on 1,000 possible allergens | |
| You can take immediate action with your veterinarian based on the results. |
Best Value
UCARI Pet Sensitivity & Intolerance Kit
- Report on 1000 food and environmental factors
- Report includes actionable recommendations
- Examine strands from your pet’s fur
- Easy to use
4. The 5Strands pet food intolerance test is the best food-only test.
You can take the 5Strands pet food intolerance test if you’re sure that your dog is allergic to a particular food. Because there are some foods that are commonly allergens for pets, veterinarians will likely tell you to begin by removing chicken, beef and grains. If your dog’s reaction isn’t to these foods, you may be left frustrated.
This online test provides a report of 255 different food items including grains, proteins, additives and preservatives as well as fruits, vegetables, seafood and other foods. You don’t need to guess what to eliminate. The test uses the hair of your pet, which is non-invasive and easy to perform. The lab will report the results five to seven business days after receiving your sample. Test interpretation is easy to understand.
As we have already mentioned, the accuracy of bio-resonance is not proven scientifically. You may wish to use these results along with a veterinary visit.
The 5Strands pet food intolerance test: Pros and cons
| Pros | You can also find out more about Cons |
|---|---|
| It is non-invasive as only a single strand of hair is required. | The accuracy of bio-resonance is not proven scientifically. |
| This test allows for the testing of intolerance to 275+ commercial ingredients. | |
| The results are available five to seven working days after the test is received at the laboratory. | |
| It is easy to understand the test results. |
The Best Food Only Test
Test for pet food intolerance using 5Strands
- Tests for specific foods
- Online Report on 275+ Food Items
- You can use your pet’s fur
- Easy to use
5. The 5Strands Environmental Intolerance Pet Test is the best test to use only for environmental factors.
The 5Strands Environmental Intolerance Pet Test is a great tool for owners who think that environmental factors are responsible for their dog’s allergies. This 5Strands Test focuses on 105 environmental factors that can irritate your pet. This includes plants, grasses, flowers, essential oil, fabrics, cleaning products, and more. You can use the tracking information to access your report online five to seven business days after you send them your hair sample.
It is suitable for dogs of all breeds and ages. The test is reasonably priced. The test does not use DNA testing, but instead bio-resonance. You’ll want to visit your vet’s office if you want the most accurate test results.
The 5Strands Environmental Intolerance Test for Pets: Pros and cons
| the good | the not so good |
|---|---|
| Environmental allergens can be detected by specific tests. | This test does not use DNA testing, but rather bio-resonance. |
| This test considers up to 105 environmental factors that could be irritating your dog. | |
| This is a simple, non-invasive test requiring only a small sample of hair. | |
| This product is safe for dogs of any breed and age. |
Best Environmental & Raw Food Testing
5Strands Environmental Tolerance Test for Pets
- Test for 105 environmental factors
- How to use a hair sample
- Fast Results
- Holistic approach
What to look for in the best dog allergy test
The blood and skin tests your veterinarian will perform at her office are different from the hair and saliva tests available on Amazon and Chewy. These tests are not for allergies, but rather to determine intolerances or sensitivities. They are an inexpensive and effective way to narrow down the list of possible irritants so that you can adjust your dog’s routine and diet. Understanding what’s good for your dog will not only help to alleviate their symptoms, but also improve their health in the long run.
You should consider the following when choosing the best test for dog allergies:
- Allergy tests are conducted on different types of allergies
- Test Methods
- Breeds that are in the database
Below, we’ll examine each of these aspects in greater detail:
Testing for Allergy Types
When choosing a dog allergen test, you should first consider the type of allergy being tested. You can choose between tests that test for both environmental and food sensitivities, or just one. You’ll want to select the test that suits your needs based on your belief about what is causing your dog irritation. You should also be aware that tests that measure two factors are often more expensive than those that measure only one.
Test Methods
This is an important factor because it will affect how you test your dog for allergy. You may find that some dogs will allow you to perform a salivary test, while others are not so willing. Some tests only require a hair strand to be effective.
The Database contains breeds of all types.
You should also check that the breed of your dog is listed in the database. Some allergy tests are restricted in what dog breeds they can test. You’ll want to check to make sure that your dog is not a rare breed.
Long-Term Relief
Salmon oil or other omega-3 supplements for dogs can reduce allergic reactions and build natural resistance to histamine.
Probiotics can also benefit dogs with digestive problems. Some experts believe that poor gut health can lead to food allergies. These supplements won’t replace eliminating allergens but can benefit your pet long-term in many other ways.
