This is a specific conversation about Dog food allergies — identifying and fixing them — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
True food allergies in dogs are actually less common than food intolerances — but either way, the symptoms are real and worth taking seriously. The most reliable way to identify the problem is an elimination diet using a novel or hydrolysed protein food, which rules out the usual suspects one by one. To point you in the right direction: what breed and age is your dog, what symptoms are you seeing, and have you already tried an elimination diet or spoken to a vet?
He's a 5-year-old Labrador Retriever. We've confirmed he has a corn intolerance — the vet identified it after an elimination diet. He gets digestive upset and itchy skin when he has corn. The other problem is he's overweight, he's about 38kg and should be closer to 32. We need something corn-free but also low calorie.
inparticular.ai
That's a really clear picture, which makes this easier. Corn intolerance confirmed by elimination diet, and a meaningful amount of weight to shift on a breed that's already prone to obesity — Labs are notorious for it. Before I suggest something, a couple of quick questions: is he currently on any food, and is the weight just diet-related or has the vet checked his thyroid? Hypothyroidism is worth ruling out in a dog that's genuinely struggling to stay lean.
The vet checked his thyroid and it's fine. He's just a typical greedy Lab. He's currently on a supermarket own-brand dry food which probably has corn in it, which is why we want to switch. No joint issues or anything else to worry about.
inparticular.ai
Good — straightforward then. My recommendation is James Wellbeloved Adult Light Turkey & Rice. It's completely corn-free, uses a single novel protein source (turkey), and is specifically formulated as a light food for weight management in adult dogs. The calorie content is meaningfully lower than standard adult kibble, which matters a lot for a Lab who needs to drop around 6kg. It's also widely trusted for sensitive digestion — the rice base is gentle and the ingredient list is clean and simple, which is exactly what you want when you're managing an intolerance. You'll want to weigh portions carefully rather than estimate; Labs will convince you they're starving even when they're not. Move him over from the current food gradually over about a week to avoid any extra digestive upset during the transition.
That sounds good. How much should I be feeding him at that weight, and how long before we'd expect to see him losing weight?
inparticular.ai
The bag will give feeding guidelines based on target weight, not current weight — so feed him for a 32kg dog, not a 38kg one. That's usually around 250–280g per day for a dog his size on a light food, split across two meals, but check the specific bag as it varies. With consistent portion control and normal exercise, most dogs start losing noticeably within 6–8 weeks. Labs can take a little longer because they're very good at looking desperately hungry and extracting treats, so factor that in — treats count toward the daily total. Aim for losing around 0.5kg per month; faster than that puts stress on joints. Weigh him monthly and adjust portions if he's losing too fast or too slow.
Really helpful, thank you. We'll give it a try.
inparticular.ai
Good luck with him — Labs are great patients as long as you don't let them guilt you into extra biscuits. James Wellbeloved Light Turkey & Rice is straightforward to find on Amazon UK or in most pet shops. Stick with the weighed portions, be consistent, and he should be back to a healthy weight within six months or so. If the itching or digestive symptoms don't improve within four to six weeks on the new food, it's worth going back to the vet — occasionally there's a second trigger ingredient alongside the corn.
