Getting to Know About Dog Food Allergies

Dog food allergies can affect canines of any age, size and breed. It does not matter if you have a tea pot Chihuahua or a big Saint Bernard. Your pet can still have allergic reactions to certain types of food. Like humans, dogs can also develop food sensitivities even after months or years of eating the foods that cause their allergy flare-ups. Moreover, it is worth noting that even if you stick to the same brand of dog food for years, there is no guarantee that the food you give your dog will be forever safe. Dog food manufacturers sometimes make subtle changes to their food formula as they change suppliers, add new ingredients or enhance existing flavors.

Common Ingredients that Cause Dog Food Allergies

Aside from chemicals and preservatives, there are certain types of foods that are inherently more likely to cause allergic reactions in canines. Studies have shown that the most common ingredients that can trigger allergies in dogs include dairy products, lamb, fish, chicken, beef, soy, corn, eggs and whey.  Several of these items can actually be found in commercial dog food sold in the market. Still, it must be emphasized that the likelihood of an allergic attack is often associated with how long has your pet been exposed to the allergy-causing food. The longer that your dog has been exposed to the allergenic ingredients, the more likely will your pet develop allergic reactions.

Symptoms of Dog Food Allergies

Usually, the symptoms of canine food allergies are not much different from environmental allergies. One of the most common signs is itching. If you see that your pooch is suddenly scratching itself excessively and is developing sores in various areas of the body, your dog may have already developed food sensitivities. Other symptoms that may indicate food allergies include dog hair loss, uncontrolled face rubbing, itchiness in the backside area, rampant shaking of head and frequent ear infections. Your dog is surely suffering from allergic reactions to food and not to pollen or other environmental particles if it starts to show signs of asthma and behavioral changes. Diarrhea, flatulence, vomiting, sneezing and even seizures are also surefire signs of food allergies.

What to Do with Dog Food Allergies

If you see that your pet is showing symptoms of food allergies, it is important that you take it to the vet. The doctor will give your pet some antihistamine or other drugs that will help manage the symptoms. However, the allergies will keep coming back unless you determine what food is causing the problem. Once you know the culprit, you must immediately take it out of your dog’s diet. At present, ordinary lab tests still cannot pinpoint exactly which foods cause allergic reactions in specific dogs. So, the vet will assist you by devising a food trial plan for your dog so that you can identify the problematic food ingredients. Such a plan may last up to 12 months and the vet will ask you to refrain from giving your pet the usual treats and items like pig ears, cow hides, or medications that are flavored.