Dog Food Allergies – Is Your Dog Suffering?

by admin | March 31st, 2010

Dog food allergies can cause all kinds of symptoms in a dog. That is why the allergy may be hard to diagnose – allergies can affect many different systems and cause different symptoms. A dog food allergy can present one set of symptoms in one dog, and a completely different set of symptoms in another dog.

Itching is the first and most common sign. Your dog may scratch a lot, chew on his paws, or his skin may look dry and flaky. He may start to lose his hair in clumps. He may also develop a skin rash and scratch non-stop.

Another common sign of dog food allergies is gastric distress. Your dog may suffer from diarrhea or vomiting. He may have to go to the bathroom more frequently than normal. He may lose his appetite and not want to eat anything at all. Sometimes the food allergy can occur even when your dog has been eating the same food for several years without a problem. Dog food allergies are not always necessarily linked to a new food or treat.

If you think your dog is suffering from dog food allergies, avoid common trigger foods. These foods include soy, eggs, dairy, chicken, beef, wheat, and corn. You should take your dog to the vet to determine if the problem is indeed an allergy. You will probably need to try different foods and watch for improvement until you find one that agrees with your dog.

If left untreated, dog food allergies can lead to secondary complications like infected skin rashes, dehydration from diarrhea, or infections in areas where the dog scratches and chews. Don’t wait for the problem to go away, see your veterinarian as soon as possible to have the condition diagnosed and treated.