For some time, I have been trying to answer the question, “If my dog is allergic to chicken, can it eat chicken eggs?” This is a common question with an unclear answer, and there is limited research on dogs. Human research can help provide some clarity.

Egg whites contain allergens Ovomucoid or Gal d1 (Gal d being an abbreviation of the Latin name Gallus domesticus for domestic chicken), Ovalbumin Gal d2 , Ovotransferrin Gal d3, and Lysozyme Gal d4. These are unique to eggs, whether they are duck, quail or indeed chicken.

Egg yolk contains allergens that are serum albumins Gal d5 and Gal d6.

These allergens are called cross reactive allergens as they share characteristics of other foods such as chicken meat or feathers.

You can be allergic to one or all of the allergens in the egg and the white.

The allergen most common in chicken meat which is not found in eggs is Gal d7 and Gal d5 was found in both egg yolks and chicken.

What this means is that you can be allergic to anyone of the Gal d allergens numbered 1-7.

Unfortunately, allergy tests only specify the whole egg or chicken, and it’s not clear which specific allergen is causing a reaction to your dog.

In short assuming dogs react to the same allergens as people, they can be allergic to the chicken, the egg or both.

Katie McCaul