Dog Allergies to Food - The Common Culprits

By Lizzie Novotny

Dog allergies to food have been shown to give a dog much discomfort. This can cause them to itch and scratch. We may not know all the reason why dogs have these allergies, but we can simplify by narrowing down their symptoms, diagnose it and then eliminate the possible source.

Food allergies don't prey on a specific breed or gender of dog. It doesn't necessarily mean that it will show up right after birth. Sometimes food allergies show up around 2 years old and in some, and much later than that for others. Just like with humans, sometimes food allergies go hand in hand with other problems, such as contact allergies or sinus issues.

Dog allergies to food create hotspots and the itching and scratching of the skin. Food intolerances, however, can cause a dog to have an upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, or vomiting. Getting rid of the food culprit can cure both issues.

When a dog itches, it normally occurs on the anus, legs, ears, face and feet. You may have some difficulty figuring out if its dog allergies to food or if its an ordinary skin condition. Some questions you may have to ask yourself are the following: Is steroid treatment ineffective? Does my dog suffer throughout the year? Does your dog have skin issues at a young age?

The itching normally occurs around the anus, armpits, forelegs, ears, face and feet. It may be quite challenging to figure out if its dog allergies to food or if its just a skin condition from contact with a specific environmental agent. In order to figure this out, you may have to answer a few questions. Is the dog suffering throughout the year? Does your dog not respond well to steroid therapy? Is your dog young with skin issues? If you answered "yes" to most of these--you probably have a dog that is allergic to food.

You want to make sure to rule out any dog allergy aggravators such as flea bit allergies or shampoos, etc. Once you rule out any aggravators you can begin testing the food that it eats. Pick one protein and one carbohydrate to test for the next 3 months with nothing but water and no treats. This is the only way, besides going to through expensive veterinarian testing. Once you narrow it down and are able to eliminate it, your dog will be much happier for it. - 29895

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