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Histamines. You’ve probably heard the word tossed around when talking about allergies, but did you know they can also affect your dog’s digestion, skin, and overall health? Many dog parents don’t realize that some chronic health issues – like itchy skin, recurring ear infections, or digestive drama – might be less about “allergies” and more about histamine overload. The more I’ve read about histamines, the more I've begun to wonder if this explains why Buffy, my 8-month-old puppy, is chewing her paws and itching.
Let’s break this down in a way that makes sense, without the science jargon overload.
What Are Histamines?
Histamines are natural chemical compounds that act like little messengers in the body. Their job? To help the immune system respond to injury, allergens, and stress.
For example:
- If your dog is stung by a bee, histamines rush to the scene and cause swelling and redness as part of the body’s defense system.
- If your dog eats food with bacteria, histamines may trigger gut reactions to protect them.
In other words, histamines aren’t bad. The problem happens when there are too many histamines, or when your dog’s body struggles to break them down. That’s when things start to look like chronic allergies or digestive issues.
Foods High in Histamines
Some foods naturally contain high levels of histamines, while others trigger the release of histamine in the body. In dogs prone to histamine issues, these can be troublemakers.
High-histamine foods include:
- Fermented foods (like kefir, sauerkraut, yogurt, and even fermented fish oils)
- Aged meats (think venison, duck, and pork that’s been stored too long)
- Canned fish (sardines, mackerel, anchovies)
- Bone broth (especially long-cooked, which increases histamine content)
- Leftovers (histamines build up in cooked foods the longer they sit in the fridge)
Histamine-liberating foods (not high in histamines themselves, but they trigger release):
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Spinach
- Tomatoes (ripe tomatoes are safe for dogs)
Learning more about foods that trigger histamines made me realize that the habit of taking the chill off my dogs’ food daily with warmed bone broth may be an issue with Buffy. While I only pour a small amount (a few tablespoons), it may be too much for a dog of her size (38 lbs/17.2 kg).
Is Kibble Considered a “High-Histamine” Food for Dogs?
The short answer: yes, kibble often ends up being high in histamines, but not necessarily because of the ingredients themselves. It’s more about how kibble is made and stored.
- Processing & Storage
- Kibble is a highly processed food. The proteins are cooked at very high temperatures, then stored for long periods (sometimes months) before reaching your dog’s bowl.
- During this time, histamines can build up, especially in protein-heavy formulas.
- Rendered Meat Meals & By-products
- Many kibbles use meat meals or by-products that may already be oxidized or partially degraded before being cooked into kibble. These are more likely to contain histamines compared to fresh meat.
- Long Shelf Life
- Unlike fresh or frozen raw, kibble sits in warehouses, stores, and your pantry for months. The longer food is stored, the higher the histamine levels can climb.
This explains why Rodrigo, one of my first dogs (the dog who inspired me to switch to raw), struggled when I fed him a kibble diet. I didn’t know about histamines beyond the anti-histamines I took for hay fever. Sadly, my veterinarian didn’t know either because he continually prescribed antibiotics to my dogs, destroying my dog’s gut microbiome (it took years to repair) and making the symptoms worse.
But what are the symptoms of histamine intolerance?
Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance in Dogs
So, how do you know if your dog is experiencing a histamine overload? Symptoms can look a lot like allergies, which is why this issue is often overlooked.
Common signs include:
- Chronic itching, scratching, or red skin
- Recurrent ear infections
- Watery eyes or sneezing
- Upset stomach (vomiting, diarrhea, gas, soft stools)
- Restlessness or anxiety after eating certain foods
- Flare-ups after eating leftovers or fermented products
If you’ve ever thought, “I swear my dog is allergic to everything!”—histamine intolerance might actually be the real culprit. Which may be a relief for some; if you’re like me, I did an intolerance test on Rodrigo, and it came back with nearly everything highlighted in red – this is because he was experiencing a histamine overload.
Histamine Intolerance vs Allergies
Here’s where it gets tricky: allergies and histamine overload look similar but aren’t the same thing.
- Allergies: The immune system identifies something (like chicken or pollen) as an invader and mounts an attack. True allergies involve the production of antibodies (IgE reactions).
- Histamine overload/intolerance: The immune system isn’t “allergic” to the food, it just can’t process the histamine levels, so symptoms flare up.
Think of it like this: allergies are like an alarm system gone wrong. Histamine overload is like a sink that won’t drain—eventually it overflows.
The Connection Between Histamines and Liver Health
Most people think of histamine only in terms of allergies, but it also plays an important role in liver function. When histamine levels get too high, they can overwhelm the liver’s detox pathways, causing inflammation and oxidative stress.
That’s why supporting the liver is so important for dogs dealing with allergies or histamine overload. By strengthening the liver’s ability to break down and clear histamine – through good nutrition, targeted supplements, and healthy lifestyle choices- you can ease allergy symptoms and lighten the overall load on the body.
How to Feed and Treat a Dog with Histamine Intolerance
The good news? Managing histamine issues in dogs often comes down to diet and lifestyle.
Feeding Tips:
- Fresh is best: Feed freshly prepared raw or lightly cooked meals rather than storing leftovers for days.
- Freeze, don’t refrigerate: If you meal prep, freeze portions immediately and thaw as needed. I prepare bulk meals, freezing food until ready to serve; thawing 10-20 lbs (4.5-9 kg) weekly.
- Choose low-histamine proteins: Fresh, pasture-raised chicken (from local farms), turkey, rabbit, lamb, and white fish tend to be better tolerated than aged game meats or meat sourced from freezer dumps.
- Limit fermented foods: While kefir and fermented vegetables are great for gut health in many dogs, they may be a problem for histamine-sensitive dogs. So, I’ve taken a break from Gussy’s Gut products with Buffy until her system levels out.
- Avoid long-cooked broths: Stick with short-cooked broths (1–2 hours) or skip bone broth if your dog reacts. I generally make bone broth in a pressure cooker for 4-5 hours, and frozen once cooled (and fat is skimmed from top).
Holistic Support Options:
- Quercetin (often called “nature’s Benadryl”) may help stabilize histamine release.
- Omega-3 fatty acids from fresh fish (like flash-frozen salmon) may reduce inflammation.
- Probiotics that are low-histamine strains (not all probiotics are equal here).
- Liver supplement to strengthen liver health and promote a healthy and efficient detox.
- DAO (diamine oxidase) enzymes help the body break down histamines, although canine-specific options are still limited; ask a holistic veterinarian.
Lifestyle Tips:
- Reduce environmental stress, as stress can worsen histamine reactions.
- Use air purifiers and natural cleaners to cut down on environmental allergens.
- Work with a holistic or integrative veterinarian to tailor a diet and supplement plan.
How I’m Managing Histamine Levels in My Dogs
Histamine intolerance isn’t as widely recognized as food allergies, but it may be the missing puzzle piece for many itchy, gassy, or uncomfortable dogs. By focusing on fresh, low-histamine foods and avoiding histamine-builders like leftovers and fermented products, you can help your dog feel better – and maybe finally stop the cycle of “mystery allergies.”
This week’s rabbit hole was inspired by Buffy, who has been biting her paw pads and itching. We recently had a minor flea outbreak, which I would have blamed were it not for the itchy paws. In the past, I treated allergies with Benedryl and by eliminating foods from the diet. This time, my focus will be on managing my dog’s histamine levels through a balanced diet, targeted supplementation, and a healthy lifestyle.
- DIET: Buffy eats a raw food diet, having transitioned from kibble several months ago.
- BONE BROTH: I use warmed bone broth to take the chill off my dogs’ meals. I temporarily switched to warm water for Buffy.
- GUT HEALTH: I stopped adding fermented Gussy’s Gut to Buffy’s meals. Instead, I alternate between Pawsitive Immunity and Gut Soothe because these support gut health with less histamine exposure.
- LIVER SUPPORT: I primarily use Daily Dawg, a supplement by Real Mushrooms, for immune and liver support (among other things), because it contains milk thistle. I use Liver Tonic by Adored Beast for additional support.
For lifestyle, I try to keep our home stress-free. I do this through daily exercise and engagement. This helps to keep my anxiety down, too.
