Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Become a credit card member today!Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!APPLY NOWLearn More About Petco Pay Benefits
Can homemade treats help my dog's allergies and stop scratching?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 4 years and 1 month old | 72 lbs
My dog has severe scratching right now and our vet advised it could be flea allergies. I also have a suspicion of food allergies so I will be transitioning him to wheat/corn/soy free dog food the next couple of weeks. I want to make treats that have plain yogurt (alive bacteria), diatomaceous earth, coconut oil, local honey, and maybe apple cider vinegar and fish oil. I saw all those help with allergies and perasites, which he has issues with. Could this combo be dangerous or not help him?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 24th, 2018
One way I often bypass the elimination trial is by recommending a hydrolysed protein diet such as Hill's i/d. In these diets, the proteins are broken down, so there is minimal chance of them causing an allergy. This would have to be prescribed by a veterinarian though. It's actually best to consult with your vet before pursuing a diet change, because they can help to ensure the right diagnosis is made and that you are not doing anything that may be potentially harmful for Jake.
The proposed ingredients for your treats are not known (do not have sufficient scientific evidence) to be helpful for allergies, but are not toxic, so you can feed them. I would just account for the calories and feed less of his normal food.
Below are a couple of links to articles that may be helpful for you and Jake. I hope that helps and Jake gets better soon.
https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/
https://www.petcoach.co/article/skin-allergies-vs-food-allergies/
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on October 12th, 2017
Your vet may have been referring to a food trial for food allergies. I will attach a link to a good article on performing a food trial below.
Top 5 dog food allergens:
Beef – 32%
Chicken -26%
Lamb - 20%
Pork - 16%
Dairy - 14%
Less than 1% of dogs diagnosed with food allergies will be allergic to grains
I usually recommend starting with a commercial dog food that uses a "weird" protein, like duck, venison, buffalo, rabbit, etc - basically something you wouldn't normally find in the meat section of a grocery store. If you get a good response after 4 weeks of this new food (and no other treats!), then you can give Toby a piece of chicken. If his allergies flare up, then chicken is a trigger. A few days later, try a piece of beef, etc.
If you try a commercial dog food and never get a good response, then you may want to talk to your vet about a prescription hypoallergenic dog food to use in your food trial.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=24991Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian
Published on April 18th, 2018
Poor Gunner! It sounds like he could also have an allergy to the protein in the food. He could also be allergic to the environment. Make sure he is also on a flea preventative. Unfortunately, any "hypoallergenic" food over the counter isn't complete allergen free since they are made in factories where other foods are made which can lead to cross contamination. The best food option for a true food trial would be a prescription hypoallergenic food like science diet Z/D or Purina H/A. I would talk to your vet about a prescription if you want to try this. I would do a food trial for 12 weeks giving him nothing but this particular food. If you want to try a OTC food, I like natural balance venison and sweet potato. Also, if Benadryl isn't helping you could try 20mg of Zyrtec per day. I would also start bathing in 1-2 times per week in a calming shampoo. I like duoxo calm.
If he isn't improving, I would have your vet take a look at him. He may need some stronger allergy meds like apoquel or steroids. Also, Gunner could be experiencing a secondary yeast or bacterial infection that could also be causing the itching and he may need some additional meds. I hope this helps!1Pet Parents found this answer helpful