How can I tell if my dog is allergic to his food

6 Signs Your Dog is Allergic to Food: Vet-Approved Guide

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Food allergies in dogs can be a serious problem Often, dogs are allergic to specific proteins found in their foodusually meat proteins like chicken or beef. Luckily, counteracting these symptoms isnt difficult. All you need to do is switch your dogs food to something that does not contain their allergen.

However, before you can go about treating your canine, you need to determine if they are really experiencing food allergies. Surprisingly, the symptoms arent what most people expect.

Take a look at the list of symptoms below.

The 6 Signs Your Dog is Allergic to Its Food

1. Itchiness

Surprisingly, the most common sign of food allergies in dogs is excessive itching. This itching is usually located on the dogs extremities, such as their paws and tail. However, it can occur anywhere. Usually, the easier a dog can reach the itchy spot, the more damage they can do through their itching.

For this reason, youre most likely to notice the itching if its on their paws, tail, or stomach.

While itching may not seem like a serious symptom, it absolutely can be. Many dogs with food allergies itch excessively. Eventually, they will bite and scratch the fur off of their itchy spots. Sores and redness are also common.

Because the dog will continue to itch until their food is changed, these sores will not heal. Instead, they will continue to get worse, which will eventually lead to infections. While dogs usually dont die from food allergies, these infections can become extremely serious.

2. Digestive Problems

Some dogs also experience digestive problems when eating an allergen. However, this is less common. Dogs dont have to experience digestive problems to get a food allergy diagnosis.

Most commonly dogs will experience diarrhea. However, more rarely, dogs have been known to throw up or act generally ill when eating their allergens. As youd guess, these symptoms usually arent serious. Still, in some cases, dogs may have severe reactions to their allergens, causing hydration loss.

In extremely severe cases, dogs may be unable to keep anything down and will perish without veterinary care. Usually, food allergies get worse over time if exposure is repeated. Therefore, its vital to identify the cause of your dogs food allergies before their symptoms worsen.

3. Hyperactivity

Some dogs become hyper when consuming their allergens. This symptom is less commonwhether thats because it really is less common or because it just goes unnoticed. Either way, some pet parents do report that their dogs become substantially more hyper when they eat their allergens. If you notice this trait in your canine, be sure to mention it to your vet.

Luckily, this symptom is troublesomebut not serious. Therefore, it typically isnt noticed by pet parents and usually doesnt require treatment.

4. Aggression

Many dogs experience mood changes when consuming the foods they are allergic to. Plus, these foods likely cause digestive pain, though our dogs cant tell us that they dont feel good. All of these things can lead to serious aggression problems.

If your dog suddenly becomes aggressive, food allergies may be to blame. This behavioral problem can range from minor to serious. However, if you do notice changes, be sure to report them to your vet. They may need this information to diagnose your dog.

5. Weight Loss

Because their food makes them feel unwell, many dogs may stop eating as much as they once did. Their digestive system may be unable to absorb and use the proteins in their food due to the allergy and inflammation. Therefore, these factors can lead to weight loss.

Often, this weight loss isnt serious. Youll notice a pound or two difference in most dogs. However, the problems can be extremely serious for some dogs, especially if there are other factors affecting their weight loss, as well.

Weight loss is practically always a sign of an underlying problem and we recommend speaking to your vet if your canine begins losing weight.

6. Lack of Energy

Dogs with food allergies may lack energy for all sorts of reasons. They may be eating less since their food causes stomach upset. At the same time, these dogs may also not absorb everything they need from their food, which can cause lethargy. Some dogs may feel sick from eating their food and wont want to move quite as much for this reason.

If your dog begins to act lethargic, its typically because there is an underlying reason. Therefore, whether its food allergies or not, youll need to speak to your vet about the possible underlying causes.

How Long Does It Take to Notice if a Dog is Allergic to Food?

Dogs develop allergies a bit differently from humans. Dogs arent typically born with allergies. Instead, they develop them after continued exposureyour dog likely wont be allergic to a new protein they consume. Instead, theyll suddenly become allergic to the same protein theyve been consuming for years.

Often, there isnt much you can do about this development. Some breeds are more prone to developing allergies and will need to switch protein sources every few years as new allergies develop. Medications can help, but they do not prevent allergies from occurring.

Some vets recommend switching foods regularly to prevent allergies from surfacing. This makes sense, as more exposure typically increases the chance of allergies developing. However, if an allergy does develop, it can be difficult to find a new protein if your dog is switching to a new food constantly. Plus, it also makes figuring out what your dog is allergic to all the more difficult.

If youre particularly concerned about your dog developing allergies, speak to your vet. They can determine if your canine is at risk and what steps you should take.

What is the Most Common Food Allergy in Dogs?

Dogs become allergic to the foods they are often exposed to. Therefore, their most common allergies are those that are often found in dog food, including chicken and beef. In fact, chicken is the most common allergen, followed by beef.

Even foods that arent advertised as containing chicken often do, as this protein is extremely cheap. For this reason, its vital to check the ingredient list if your dog has a chicken allergy. It is very difficult to find a chicken-free food, though there are quite a few options out there.

Despite misconceptions, gluten is not a very common allergen. While dogs can be allergic to gluten, this isnt as common as chicken or beef allergies. If your dog develops allergies, we recommend looking towards the meat protein most abundant in their food, first.

Conclusion

The most common food allergy symptoms in dogs are itchiness and all the symptoms that come with it. Youll likely see your dog scratching, even if you try to punish your dog for the scratching. However, youll also notice redness, swelling, scratches, sores, and hair loss. Sometimes, secondary infections can occur, though these usually occur after the other symptoms are noticed.

If you suspect that your dog has allergies, we recommend speaking with your vet. Youll likely need to switch their food to something with a protein they are not allergic to. However, their secondary symptoms may also need treatment.

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Featured Image Credit: Kobkik, Shutterstock

How to Tell if My Dog Is Allergic to His Food?

Dogs can be allergic to food, too, just like us humans. There are many ways your pup can respond to a food allergy, and it can be as minor as itchiness and irritation to serious and scary.

There is no specific age to get these food allergies. And it can happen for many reasons. For instance, giving your dog the same food for months or years.

Food allergies can be dangerous, and not only do they cause digestive problems like diarrhea and vomiting. But also they can cause serious skin problems or behavioral issues.

It is a significant concern for many dog owners, and it can be pretty frustrating at times, not only for dog owners but also for dogs. Suppose you own a dog and dont know how to tell if your dog is allergic to his food. Then dont worry. We are here to help you. We have listed some common signs of food allergies that will help you know if your dog is allergic to his food.

Common Signs of Food Allergies in Dogs

There are several reasons for dog food allergies, from sneezing to skin reactions. We have listed some signs that help you to identify whether your dog is suffering from a food allergy or not.

Chronic Ear Infections

If your dog gets frequent ear infections like he has to get treatment more than 2 to 3 times a

year, it is a sign that your pup suffers from a food allergy. Ear infections can happen for various reasons, but if they occur a few times a year, it is a sure thing due to food allergies.

Your dog ears seem yeasty, stinky, and have brown or black build-up. If your dog scratches the ear multiple times or continuously shakes his head, you should take it as a hint that he might suffer from a food allergy.

Red, Brown, Or Bronze Nail Beds

Naturally, the dogs nails are white with a pink quick. But if you notice that the base of your dogs nail is bloody red, brown, or red-brown, it is a sign of an inflammatory immune response. Nails are sensitive; if your dog itches or licks them frequently, you should know that something is up.

If your dog is among Bulldogs, Bully breeds, Spaniels, etc., then it is quick to notice this sign as they all have white nails.

Bronzing Around The Lips

If your dogs lips, toes, or skin seem to be pink or red or is inflamed and your itches them frequently, it indicates that he has a food allergy triggered by yeast colonization.

If you have a dog breed with a white coat, then it is easily noticeable if he has pink or red inflamed lips, jowls, or feet.

Itchy Skin, Red Underbelly, And Dull Coat

If your dog has itchy, red, dry, and inflamed skin, it is a sign of suffering from a food allergy. The dog will get no relief after the excessive itching resulting in hair loss in the affected areas.

You might clean him by giving him a good bath with an excellent conditioner or even allergy medications, but it does not relieve him from constant itching.

Watery Eyes

Watery eyes are one of the signs that will help you understand that your dog is suffering from a food allergy. When humans have a fever, they experience symptoms like watery eyes, itching, stuffy nose, etc.; dogs also show the same symptoms when they have food allergies.

When your pup constantly scratches their eyes or has teary eyes, it indicates that he is suffering from a food allergy.

Dog Food Allergy Treatment

The treatment for the food allergy your pup is suffering from lies on one principle: to identify the food your pup is allergic to and stop feeding him that food. You must try several foods for some time as it is the only solution to identify which food your dog is allergic to.

Apart from this method, several other ways come in handy when dealing with dog food allergies. Lets look at those ways.

Antihistamines and Other Treatments

If you take your pup to a vet, then there are good chances that he may prescribe an antihistamine for the constant itching. He can also prescribe antifungal treatments like ketoconazole, etc. these treatments provide relief, but it is short-lived when it comes to severe food allergies.

There is no need to hospitalize your dog, but if he is experiencing symptoms like severe vomiting, diarrhea, etc., he should be hospitalized for supportive care.

Homemade Diets

In most cases, when dog owners see their dogs in pain, they are tempted to feed them homemade food to remedy their food allergies. And this can be a good option as they can control what they are feeding their dogs. But there are possibilities that this homemade diest lacks some essential ingredients which will harm your dog. So it is an excellent option to talk to your vet before feeding your dog any homemade food.

Vegan Dog Food Diets

After trying several foods, some owners and vets use vegan diets as a remedy, but it is not proven that it is effective dog food for allergies. However, if your dog is allergic to meats, it is a sure way to avoid food allergies. But you should keep in mind that these vegan diets should be well prepared, just like homemade diets, with the advice of a vet. Certain vegan foods are available in the stores that lack nutrients but are still prescribed by vets just because of their popularity among dog parents.

Conclusion

There is no particular dog food for allergies; one food works for some dogs, and another works for others. It is totally up to your dog which food will work in his case. It is essential to look for food that contains quality ingredients and does not contain chemicals. Companies that make hypoallergenic dog food and contain limited ingredients in their dog foods follow best practices in manufacturing dog food.

Many dog parents prefer to feed their pups homemade food because they dont trust dog food companies. They want their dogs to feed on quality diet that are free from contamination.

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