What Should I Feed a Dog With Lupus?

Author:
Mark dos Anjos, DVM
Updated:
Dec 2, 2024 7:08 PM EST

What is the best diet for a dog with autoimmune disease?
CC 0 via Pxhere

Can a Dog's Diet Cause Autoimmune Issues?

"In a Facebook post I saw, a woman was telling us that their dog got lupus because of processed dog food. My last vet told me that my dog has an autoimmune disease, sort of like lupus. Is his food really a problem?"—Daniel

Canine Lupus Is on the Rise

Yes, I think food is one of the problems. The frequency of lupus has been increasing since it was first diagnosed in dogs in 1979. (1) There are a lot of theories as to why there are so many more dogs with one of the autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, though, there is still not much evidence that the high carbohydrate processed foods, overvaccination, or any other part of modern life are what is causing the increase in autoimmune diseases.

Breed Predisposition

Genetics is definitely involved, as some dog breeds are more prone to autoimmune diseases. A few breeds that are commonly affected include:

Shetland Sheepdog
Rough Collie
German Shepherd Dog
Siberian Husky
German Shorthaired Pointer
Afghan Hounds
Irish Setter
Old English Sheepdog

Other Factors That May Trigger Autoimmunity

Microplastics and forever chemicals might also be causing problems. Some holistic vets are concerned that this might be caused by overvaccination, and the dry dog foods may also be causing this. In humans, the relationship between processed food and autoimmune diseases like lupus has been studied a lot more than in dogs. Autoimmune dieases in people have been shown to be affected by genetics, lifestyle, and the diet. (2)

Diet and Autoimmunity

In one small study, it was shown that dogs fed a whole food had an improved immune function in several areas and no differences in the other immune responses that were measured. (3) Based on those results, whole food without antibiotics, hormones, or preservatives may help.

What Is the Best Diet for Lupus?

A whole-food diet appropriate for a dog with lupus should include the following:

About 50 to 60 percent raw meat: Raw meat is not inflammatory, unlike many vegetables and most grains. There are some unproven reports that red meat is inflammatory, so if you can give chicken or turkey, do so. (Do not use processed turkey and chicken, which may also be inflammatory.) Cooking changes several factors in the fat of the meat and may make it more inflammatory; for best results, you should feed raw.
About 10 percent raw bones: Bones will supply a the calcium and phosphorus he needs to stay healthy. Chicken necks, carcasses, and chicken wings are safe sources if fed raw. If your dog has problems chewing, you can use egg shells or another calcium source.
About 10 percent organ meat: This part of the food will provide many of the vitamins and minerals a dog with lupus needs to stay healthy. About half should be liver, but also include heart, kidneys, spleens, and anything else your butcher might sell.
About 10 percent vegetables: Many of the vegetables that are listed on many web sites as anti-inflammatory for dogs, like spinach, are actually high in oxalates and can end up making your dog worse. Do not feed your dog grains, as these fillers might add to the inflammatory state and make his lupus worse. It is fine to feed the anti-inflammatory fruits and vegetables like berries, apples, and carrots.
About 5 to 10 percent fish: Current research into fish oil and its anti-inflammatory effects suggests that we should use it every day and should try to get as close to 10 percent of the diet as you can. Sardines and makerel are both fine, but many types of farmed fish have to be avoided since they can be high in mercury.
Eggs: Egg yolks will provide almost all of the vitamins that may be lacking in muscle meat and fish. You can substitute part of the meat part of the diet with eggs if you want to give an egg every day but if not, you should give at least one or two eggs a week. Poached or lightly boiled eggs are best as the yolk is still raw (the vitamins are not destroyed by heat), but the protein is cooked and more bioavailable.
Fermented food: There is also evidence in human medicine that fermented foods decrease inflammatory markers and may help patients within about 6 weeks of daily consumption. There are not many of these that are useful for dogs but kefir would be a great addition to the diet. There is no way to deterimine an exact quantity at this time but giving a tablespoon every day on top of the food would be a good start.
Other supplements: When eggs are given to provide vitamin E, zinc, and the B vitamins, most other supplements are not needed. Vitamin E may still be low so can be supplemented, but omega-3 fatty acids will not be needed as long as you give fresh or canned fish. Magnesium is an anti-inflammatory and may have several other beneficial effects for dogs with lupus. Magnesium citrate powder will provide a supplement to your dog and can be adjusted by your pet's weight to get the right amount. (If your dog has kidney disease this dose may be too high.) Probiotics are recommended but you can provide this by putting a tablespoon of fresh non-flavored yogurt (read the ingredients and do not buy it if there are other things present) on top of the food. (The yogurt should not be frozen so if you are making up your dogs food just once a week you should add this component each day.)

Don't Wait for the Research to Catch Up

There is no research available on the ideal diet for dogs with lupus—neither the diet I outlined above nor the plant-based diets—but both options are less inflammatory than commercial dry dog food diets.

There is still little evidence that whole foods help dogs with lupus, but there is certainly no evidence that they cause any harm. I realize not everyone can or is willing to give real foods instead of processed commercial dog foods, but humans with lupus complain of being in constant pain and having terrible fatigue, so there is no reason to believe that dogs are not going through the same pain and suffering.

If you cannot give whole food at least substitute part of the dry food for real food. If many of the ingredients are colors, artificial flavors, and chemical preservatives, your dog with lupus should be on a different diet immediately.

I think this diet can make a big difference in your dog's life. What we really need to know is that dogs fed a whole diet made up of meat and other fresh foods are less likely to develop autoimmune diseases. No one has done this study yet since there is no way to predict if a dog will come down with lupus.

There are a lot of other reasons to stop feeding processed foods and if your dog has lupus, then it is a good idea to swich to a real diet.

References

(1) Olivry T, Linder KE, Banovic F. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus in dogs: a comprehensive review. BMC Vet Res. 2018 Apr 18;14(1):132. doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1446-8. PMID: 29669547; PMCID: PMC5907183. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5907183/
(2) Mazzucca CB, Raineri D, Cappellano G, Chiocchetti A. How to Tackle the Relationship between Autoimmune Diseases and Diet: Well Begun Is Half-Done. Nutrients. 2021 Nov 5;13(11):3956. doi: 10.3390/nu13113956. PMID: 34836210; PMCID: PMC8620243. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8620243/
(3) Jaffey JA, Su D, Monasky R, Hanratty B, Flannery E, Horman M. Effects of a whole food diet on immune function and inflammatory phenotype in healthy dogs: A randomized, open-labeled, cross-over clinical trial. Front Vet Sci. 2022 Aug 23;9:898056. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.898056. PMID: 36082214; PMCID: PMC9447376. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9447376/

This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.