Is your dog suffering from itchy hot spots, or is he constantly licking and scratching in certain spots? The struggle is real for both pets and pet parents as we try to get to the bottom of what’s going on. Browse below to explore our picks for the best dog food for allergies.
The good news is, the issue might be something less stressful than you think! These symptoms are some of the most common signs of food allergies in dogs, from sensitive skin to hot spots and everything in between.
In this day and age, allergies are a super common occurrence for pets. And we understand how difficult it is to watch your beloved pets suffer through uncomfortable and often painful conditions.
While the symptoms can be treated with some success, it’s important to know that using medications, grooming supplies, and supplements are often just a temporary band-aid instead of a complete solution.
The underlying causes of these skin reactions often go unresolved for far too long.
The first step is understanding what exactly is causing dog food allergies and being able to identify dog allergy symptoms so you can help minimize and, in some cases, eliminate your dog’s discomfort.
What Causes Allergic Reactions in Dogs?
An allergic reaction is actually your pet’s body using its natural defence mechanisms and protecting itself from potential threats. In this case, those aggravating threats are called allergens! An allergen can be anything from food, pollen, grass, insects, or even chemicals.
To protect itself from the foreign substances that have entered the bloodstream, either through ingestion or inhalation, your dog's body will produce an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE for short) that is specific to that allergen or whatever substance it flagged as a threat.
When an IgE and its matching allergen react with carrier cells, called mast cells, the cell will begin to break down, releasing the chemical compound stored within the cell. This chemical compound contains Histamine and a type of Omega 6 fatty acid called Arachidonic Acid, both known to increase inflammation.
This inflammation is what causes the visible reaction and itchiness in your pet. When untreated, can lead to skin damage and infection.
Though allergens can be environmental, meaning seasonal pollens, dust mites, ear mites, or chemicals, we are going to be focusing on dog food allergies specifically in this post. Sensitivities and intolerances to dog food are becoming much more common, and while managing symptoms can help, identifying the cause can lead to a more permanent solution for your pet.
How Do Dogs Develop Food Allergies?
While the true cause of allergies is still unknown, there has been speculation that when a pet is over-sensitized to food, it can lead to allergies developing later in life. For example, if your dog has only ever eaten chicken-based foods, then they are more likely to develop a chicken allergy.
Offering a wider variety of foods on a rotational basis can potentially help to prevent over-sensitization to specific proteins. In addition to possibly reducing future food allergies in your dog, you will also be supplying them with a wider variety of essential nutrients from different ingredients.
Digestion and the Link to Dog Food Allergies
We use the term allergy, but in reality, true dog food allergies are much less common than most people think. Only about 20% of allergies are true dog food allergies. In many cases, the skin reactions that we attribute to dog food allergies stem from a digestive issue or intolerance.
If you’ve ever tried to correct or identify a food allergy in your pet (or even yourself), then the first attempt to find the nasty allergen is changing their diet. The assumption is often - I eliminated X from the diet, and my dog improved. Therefore, he must be allergic to X!
While this seems logical on the surface, it may only be one piece of the puzzle. Remember that correlation does not imply causation
True food allergies can’t be fixed. Just eliminated from the diet. If further symptoms begin to develop, or if symptoms return, then it’s time to consider that your dog’s digestion might be the cause of his ailments.
Your dog’s first line of defence against food sensitivities is the digestive tract. In fact, 70% of your dog’s immune system is located in the digestive tract, which means that digestion is directly tied to their immune response.
If the digestive system isn't working optimally, nutrients can get flagged as potentially harmful intruders, which causes an immune response.
A common reaction is inflammation, leading to skin issues like dry and itchy skin. This is why so many dogs seem to have food allergies.
Leaky Gut Syndrome in Dogs
When poorly or partially digested foods pass through the intestinal wall, this could signify a case of leaky gut syndrome. This chronic condition can lead to discomfort both internally and externally.
Leaky gut causes inflammation of the mucosal wall of the intestine, which is the permeable layer of epithelial cells that separate the intestines from the bloodstream.
Chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall will cause a widening between the epithelial cells, allowing larger particles to pass through. Because these molecules aren’t supposed to be there, the immune system raises the alarm and attacks, causing widespread inflammation throughout the body.
Leaky gut is often mistaken for food allergies, especially in more severe cases where the dog seems to react to all or at least a large variety of foods. Healing digestion will fortify the intestinal wall and prevent chronic allergy symptoms and skin reactions in dogs.
Poor Quality Diets and Dog Food Allergies
Most dogs that are dealing with common food allergies and skin issues don't have leaky gut, and instead, simply need to boost their digestive health by switching to a more natural, whole-food diet.
Foods that use too many synthetic nutrients or use ingredients that are heavily processed can denature the nutrients, making it difficult for their body to recognize.
The nutrients are there, and they are broken down small enough to pass through the intestinal wall, but they are so heavily processed that the body doesn’t recognize them. Anything the body doesn’t recognize is an intruder, and the immune system takes immediate action.
Fresh foods, raw diets, and even oven-baked kibbles that are cooked at lower temperatures are going to offer more usable nutrients that are easier for your dog’s body to recognize and use appropriately. Stick to foods that use as many real, whole-food ingredients as possible.
Gluten Intolerances
While gluten is thought to be a common allergen, many pets showing signs of allergic reactions from gluten are more likely to have a digestive reaction. Gluten intolerance, like in people, can be either an allergy or an intolerance.
Gluten intolerance causes inflammation in the lower intestine. This inflammation affects the lower intestine's ability to digest food properly, resulting in loose stool, poor absorption of nutrients, and immune responses like skin and coat issues.
True gluten allergies in dogs are quite rare, so make sure you don't let human diet fads cloud your judgement when trying to assess your dog's dietary needs.
Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs
Dog food allergies are something many pet owners deal with, and in many cases, the symptoms are pretty obvious! However, in some cases, subtler dog allergy symptoms can go unnoticed for a long time until they get bad enough to catch our attention.
Your dog’s constant scratching and licking to try to soothe the itchiness will only make matters worse. Being able to identify symptoms of dog food allergies can help you take action quickly and prevent the symptoms from getting worse, spreading, or causing your dog to hurt themselves further in their efforts to stop the itch.
Here are some of the symptoms that are commonly associated with dog food allergies:
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- Itchiness
- Redness of the skin
- Hot spots
- Dry flaky skin
The truth is you may not even notice the symptoms so much as you’ll notice your dog’s reactions. Many dogs will scratch and lick themselves raw to the point of even further skin damage. In this situation, you are now dealing with the initial symptoms, plus the symptoms caused by your dog’s licking and scratching.
Prevention is always the best medicine, but not all symptoms of dog food allergies are initially recognized as an allergic reaction. There are lots of different types of reactions that you can treat without realizing the connection to his diet.
Here are a few symptoms that are often misdiagnosed as a one-off or unrelated issue:
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- Hives
- Acne or pimples
- Chronic skin or ear infections
- Yeast infections
- Runny eyes and sneezing
- Coughing
Because these are some of the more atypical symptoms, they are usually treated as a separate issue instead of treating the underlying cause.
In some cases, along with skin and coat issues, you might see digestive reactions, like loose or inconsistent stool. This is a good indicator that the problem is digestive rather than a true food allergy.
What is My Dog Allergic To?
A true food allergy or not, it can help to be able to identify which ingredients or types of diets your dog is having a reaction to. When a dog first shows signs of dog allergy symptoms, it's common to point the finger at some of the most common allergies in dog food.
This can be done through elimination diets, limited ingredient formulas, and prescription diets to limit the most common foods that are contributing to your dog's reactions. Once triggers have been identified, you can slowly try to reintegrate other ingredients to ensure your dog is eating a robust and well balanced diet long term.
This does take a little trial and error, because not all dogs food allergies are the same for every dog, but in many cases, the ingredients that are most common in processed dog food tend to be the easiest ones to cut out during the elimination process.
Common Foods Allergies in Dogs
Before we list common foods that cause allergies in pets, let’s preface this with what we’ve learned so far: Not all food allergies are actually true food allergies, but that doesn't mean that certain ingredients aren't triggering reactions.
With this in mind, however, we do have some usual suspects that are commonly eliminated from the diet to help test out diet changes and narrow down possible triggers.
Chicken Allergies in Dogs
The most commonly suspected food allergy in dogs is chicken. Chicken allergies in dogs are considered so common that some pet owners avoid chicken-based diets, even for dogs without allergies.
This isn't necessary, but we can understand that avoiding chicken may seem like a reasonable preventative measure, especially for breeds that are more prone to allergies.
As we noted earlier, it’s possible that over-sensitization to certain common dog food ingredients can lead to the development of allergies. Chicken is the most common protein used in pet food, so it's not surprising that chicken allergies are at the top of the list.
Grains Allergies in Dogs
The second most common ingredient we eliminate from dog diets when we suspect food allergies is grains. In some cases, a specific grain could be the cause, but for some, gluten is the culprit. While actual grain or gluten allergies are pretty rare, avoiding grain-based diets is another common practice.
More often than not, "grain allergies" are actually just a digestion issue due to the high carb content and sugars in many commercial pet foods, but eliminating or at least limiting grains can be a good way to test this theory.
Other commonly used ingredients in pet food are also high up on our list of possible allergens or triggers for dog food allergies. Here are a few more overused ingredients:
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- Beef
- Corn
- Dairy
- Soy
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Though these are considered the most common culprits, your dog can develop allergies or sensitivities to any food ingredients. So don’t get discouraged if your first attempt to change foods or eliminate ingredients is unsuccessful.
Eliminating common allergens may work for some dogs, but when dealing with allergies or sensitivities stemming from digestive issues, you may need to consider a more limited ingredient diet to help identify the ingredients that are triggering reactions. This is called an elimination diet.
What to Feed a Dog with Allergies
Eliminating common allergens may work for some dogs, but when dealing with allergies or sensitivities stemming from digestive issues, you may need to consider a more limited ingredient diet to help identify the ingredients that are triggering reactions.
The problem with most dog foods is the number and variety of ingredients. Multiple proteins and carbohydrates in food can make it tough to figure out what your dog is digesting properly and which ingredients are leading to allergic reactions.
Here are a few methods for managing your dog's allergies and the uncomfortable symptoms of food allergies in dogs:
Elimination Diets
The simplest method for determining what your dog is allergic to is to use a process of elimination called an elimination diet. Elimination diets require you to feed a diet that is limited to a single protein source and preferably minimal other ingredients to test which ingredients your dog is and isn’t reacting to.
As stated earlier, there are many common food allergies, like beef and chicken, that are widely used in popular dry dog food brands. Start by avoiding some of the most likely culprits, and monitor your pet’s reactions.
It is recommended that a single, novel protein or a limited-ingredient diet be fed during the food trial to help you limit the variety of ingredients in your pet’s diet.
Try choosing a protein that is new to your dog, like fish, goat, venison, or duck. Exotic proteins aren't always easy to find, but there are a few brands that offer some unique proteins, like Zignature, go!Solutions, or Petkind. Both offer a variety of single and multi-protein diets to help you weed out some possible problem ingredients.
It's important to note that limited-ingredient dog foods are a valuable tool for identifying sensitivities, but they are not designed to be fed long-term. Cooked diets like kibble and canned rely heavily on synthetic nutrients to ensure the diet meets your dog's minimum dietary needs, but real food ingredients are always going to be the superior options.
Additionally, a rotational diet, meaning switching between different proteins, will offer more well-rounded nutrition. This means you should use elimination diets as a first step, and not a final step.
Limit Unnecessary Carbs
For allergic reactions relating to digestion, we recommend feeding a diet high in animal protein and limiting carbs to healthy, whole grain or legumes. Some carbs are healthy and nutritious, but even high-quality grains fed in excess can provide too much sugar and feed bad bacteria in your dog’s gut.
Whole grains are an excellent source of many vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, but dogs are scavenging carnivores, so they thrive on a meat-rich diet. Check out your dog food ingredients to make sure that the diet offers multiple high-quality meat sources to complement the fibre and carbs.
Not all limited-ingredient diets are ideal for elimination diets. Some rely even more on carbs because they limit the variety of animal proteins in the food to just a single source. Make sure you know how to read pet food labels to find a suitable diet for your trial-and-error process.
Watch your Treats
Eliminate all other food sources from your pet’s diet during this food trial. Treats, chews, and table scraps can all affect the results, so be very diligent. If treats are a necessity, then try to stick to ingredients that are in their diet already.
Freeze-dried meats, fresh fruits and veggies, bone broth, or raw bones should match the ingredients in their food. Don’t introduce new ingredients until you are well into the trial diet and have seen significant improvement in dog allergy symptoms. Even then, introduce new ingredients one at a time.
Tips for Choosing the Best Hypo-Allergenic Dog Food
When it comes to finding the best selection for allergies, you’ll more than likely come across the term “hypoallergenic” pet food. So, what is the best dog food for allergies?
Hypo-allergenic is a pet industry buzzword, meaning the product is less likely to trigger an allergic response. There are no regulations regarding the use of the term hypoallergenic for pet food, so it’s best to consider it with skepticism.
Unfortunately, any company that limits or omits a couple of common allergens from their formulas can slap the hypo-allergenic label on their food. Don’t be tricked by this clever marketing ploy. There is no such thing as hypoallergenic food.
Any dog can react to any food if they’ve developed a sensitivity to an ingredient in it.
That being said, you still may find a “hypoallergenic food” useful in an elimination diet for your pet, just don’t consider it the cure-all for food sensitivities.
What is Hypoallergenic Dog Food?
Instead of looking for foods labelled "hypoallergenic", look for foods that say Limited Ingredient, or LID. This style of diet typically uses only 1 animal protein and a limited number of other ingredients that are buffered with a vitamin and mineral pack.
By eliminating too much ingredient variety, you can test how your dog reacts to different ingredients. Once safe ingredients are identified, you can choose a more robust diet that only contains the foods that you know your dog can have. This is called an elimination diet.
Here are just a few of the brands that offer these types of formulas:
Not every diet will use that terminology on the label, but a quick read-through of the ingredients will display a limited variety of ingredients that will help your pet thrive. Grandma Lucy's and Sojos are some natural and limited-ingredient foods that would be a great choice for an elimination diet.
What is Hydrolyzed Dog Food?
Hydrolyzed dog foods are another food type that may be recommended for dogs with food allergies. This type of food is made by taking common proteins and chemically breaking them down into smaller components so they don't get flagged by the immune system in your dog's gut.
This is a kind of back door to get around food allergies and can be a good tool for dealing with extreme dog food allergies. These diets are primarily offered by vets, but there are a few pet store options on the market in Canada.
While these can be a useful tool, they are not an ideal long-term option. Real whole food ingredients are always going to be the best option nutritionally, so use this as a stepping stone to identifying allergens, not as a long-term solution for allergies.
What Food to Avoid for Dogs with Skin Allergies
If your dog is showing signs of skin allergies, it’s crucial to identify and avoid common food allergens that may be contributing to their discomfort. Proteins like chicken, beef, and dairy are frequent culprits, as are grains such as wheat, corn, and soy.
While these ingredients provide essential nutrients for many dogs, they can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive pets, leading to symptoms like itchy skin, redness, and hot spots. This is why they are often the first elimination pet owners try.
Not all pets with food allergies are allergic to these common ingredients, and some dogs have reactions to many more ingredients.
When choosing a diet, look for limited-ingredient dog food or hypoallergenic dog food options. These formulas often use less common proteins (such as duck, lamb, or fish). It's also a good idea to try a protein that your dog has never had before, like kangaroo, rabbit, or venison.
Remember, not all reactions are due to food allergies; many instances of reactions to dog food actually stem from intolerances or digestive sensitivities, which may require a different approach.
Consulting with your veterinarian can help identify whether your dog’s symptoms are truly related to their diet and guide you in selecting appropriate food options.
Raw Dog Food For Allergies
Raw dog diets are another type of limited-ingredient food and are often a great choice for pets with sensitivities. They are both easy to digest and all-natural, so your dog’s body will likely recognize and process the ingredients better.
Preservatives and fillers in many cooked foods can contribute to reactions, but raw diets will be free of these less desirable ingredients.
How Long Do Dog Food Allergies Take to Clear Up?
Ok, let's get to the real question. Dog food allergies - how long to clear up and what should you expect during this process?
When transitioning your dog to a new diet to address dog food allergies, patience is key. The time it takes for symptoms to clear up depends on several factors, including the severity of the allergies and how long your dog has been exposed to the allergen.
Generally, it can take 6 to 8 weeks for noticeable improvements in your dog’s skin and coat condition. During this time you should try to minimize dietary changes, or your results will be misleading.
During this period, you’ll also need to strictly adhere to the elimination diet and avoid giving your dog treats, table scraps, or other foods that might contain allergens. Even small amounts of the allergenic ingredient can cause a setback, prolonging the healing process.
One of the biggest no-nos with trial-and-error diets is to jump around to different foods too quickly. More often than not, the reactions will continue to get worse, but it's not because your dog is allergic to every food you try.
In fact, that's typically a sign that your dog's food allergy is actually a digestive issue, and the constant switching is worsening the problem.
In cases of severe food allergies or related conditions like leaky gut syndrome, it may take longer for the immune system to stabilize and symptoms to fully resolve. Regular check-ins with your veterinarian are essential to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
Creating a Safe Diet Plan for Dogs with Allergies
Managing food allergies in dogs involves a combination of eliminating triggers, choosing high-quality dog food, and supporting overall health through proper nutrition. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Eliminate Common Allergens
Start by removing common allergens like chicken, beef, dairy, and grains from your dog’s diet. Use a limited-ingredient diet or novel protein sources to simplify the ingredient list and make it easier to identify potential triggers. - Choose High-Quality Dog Food
Opt for dog food brands that prioritize real, whole ingredients without artificial additives or fillers. Raw, freeze-dried, or gently cooked diets can provide better nutrient absorption and reduce the likelihood of adverse reactions. - Monitor and Document Changes
Keep track of your dog’s symptoms and progress during the elimination diet. Note any improvements in skin condition, energy levels, or digestive health, as this can help pinpoint effective dietary changes. - Gradually Reintroduce Foods
Once symptoms have improved, you can slowly reintroduce single ingredients to test for reactions. This process, guided by your veterinarian, can help identify specific allergens and broaden your dog’s dietary options.
The process can be a bit long, but eventually, your dog will be back to eating a healthy, whole-food diet with premium ingredients and look and feel better for it.
Regular vet consultations and consistent dietary management are the cornerstones of success in managing dog food allergies.
Supporting Digestive Health for Allergy Relief
Improving your dog’s gut health can also play a significant role in managing allergies. Adding probiotics, digestive enzymes, and omega-3 fatty acids to their diet can strengthen the gut barrier, reduce inflammation, and support overall immune function.
Supplements like fish oil or kelp can also promote healthier skin and coats, helping to combat the secondary effects of dog food allergies.
Ultimately, every dog is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Tailoring your dog’s diet to their specific needs, while consulting with your veterinarian, is the best way to ensure long-term relief and wellness.
How to Treat Symptoms of Dog Food Allergies
While we don’t recommend trying to find band-aid solutions for your dog’s allergy issues, we also know that sometimes you need to find temporary relief of symptoms to allow your dog to start healing. No pet parent can stand watching their poor doggo suffer!
There are several dietary aids and topical treatments that can effectively provide some relief to the constant and aggravating itch your dog is struggling with.
Topical Treatments
The allergic reactions are often a pain, but the damage dogs can do to themselves while trying to ease their discomfort can exacerbate the issues, making it even more difficult to find solutions. In some cases, the residual damage done from the biting, licking, and scratching can go on well after the original cause of the reaction has been eliminated.
Topical treatments can help to soothe the itch, rehydrate skin, disinfect open wounds, and speed healing. Here are some products that can be effective for managing symptoms of dog food allergies:
Skout’s Honor Probiotic Itch Relief
This formula blends the soothing and healing properties of aloe leaf and oatmeal with healthy bacteria from kefir culture to help support the protective layer of bacteria on your pet’s skin.
Tropiclean OxyMed Anti-Itch Medicated Spray
Paw licking is a common symptom of dog food allergies. Some dogs will lick and gnaw at their paws until they are raw, develop hot spots, and lose their fur. Colloidal oatmeal in this spray helps to soothe the itch and break the paw-licking habits.
Kin + Kind Hot Spot Relief Stick
Hot spots are minor wounds that become inflamed and infected and are usually worsened by your dog licking, scratching, and biting. Kin + Kind HotSpot sticks are an easy rub-on treatment to help soothe and disinfect the hot spots and allow the wounds to heal faster.
Diet Supplements
While topical treatments may seem to have the quickest effect on dog allergy symptoms, the results are often very temporary. Treating symptoms with supplements can provide longer relief and further support the healing process.
Though there are many skin and coat care supplements, we chose a few easy-to-feed supplements that are the most effective treatments for managing allergy symptoms:
Brilliant Salmon Oil
Fish oils for dogs are one of the best ways to help your dog’s body reduce inflammation and heal. Brilliant Salmon Oil is a healthy blend of vital omega fatty acids to support skin, coat, and overall health. Other fish oils for dogs can also be useful, but salmon is one of the most well-balanced and affordable options.
Thrive Sea Kelp
Kelp is nature’s multivitamin. Thrive Sea Kelp is organic sea kelp that provides over 60 essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to help support your dog’s skin and coat health.
BiologicVet BioSkin+Coat Antihistamine Powder
This product works for any kind of allergy. Using natural antihistamines like quercetin and digestive enzymes to support a healthy immune system, Biologicvet Skin and Coat helps to reduce allergic reactions, alleviate discomfort, and allow your dog’s body to heal. This is a great choice for managing seasonal and environmental allergies.
Omega Alpha Probiotic 8 Plus
An often overlooked supplement for supporting dogs with food allergies is a gut health supplement. Omega Alpha Probiotic 8 is a multi-strain probiotic supplement that helps to build healthy digestive bacteria in your dog's gut so they can properly break down and utilize nutrients. A healthy gut leads to a healthy immune system, so this is a great option to complement your dog's food allergy routine.
7 Tips for Managing Dog Food Allergies
At the end of the day, every case of dog food allergies is different, so something that works for one dog might not be effective for another.
As we mentioned above, blanket fixes, like hypoallergenic diets and medicated shampoos, make lots of promises but rarely deliver!
It is always best to consult with your veterinarian if problems continue, but here are some general tips to help you find the solution that works for your unique pet!
1. Assess their diet
Assess your pet's diet to determine if there is something in his food that he may be reacting to. If you've read our blog about Understanding your Pet Food Labels, you may already have some insight into ingredients that can be damaging or more likely to cause digestive upsets.
2. One step at a time
Don't try too many “fixes” at once. Changing your diet, using special shampoos, adding dietary supplements, and trying prescription drugs all at the same time may give you the results you are looking for, but you will have no way of knowing which remedy may have been helping and if your solution was just a temporary fix.
3. Try an elimination diet
Eliminating excessive ingredients from your dog's diet can help you narrow down which ingredients might be the source of the reactions. The more ingredients in the food, the harder it will be to determine what they may or may not be reacting to. Start with a single protein diet, and limit other ingredients to avoid ingredients that are commonly overused in pet food.
4. Every Protein is Different
Treat every protein differently. We often associate similar proteins together, like chicken and turkey meal, but this often isn't the case. A dog that has a true food allergy or sensitivity to chicken doesn't necessarily have the same issues with turkey meals or other poultry products.
The same goes for beef and bison and fish and shellfish. It may seem easy to just rule out all poultry or all fish, but you may end up limiting the foods that your dog can eat by eliminating such a wide range of protein options for the diet.
5. Stick to it
Avoid jumping hastily between foods if you aren't getting an immediate result. Patience is required in this often lengthy, trial-and-error method. Try to give each food at least 4-6 weeks before trying something new. Quickly switching foods can cause digestive upsets that may contribute to the skin reaction worsening during your trials.
We like to give ourselves a "cheat" day in our own diets, but when it comes to dog food allergies, there is no cheating allowed. Cut out treats and snacks, and be cautious of things your dog may find on walks or in the backyard. Once you find a diet that your dog can have, then you can start reintroducing treats with the same ingredients.
6. Monitor and document changes
Monitor your pet's progress. We recommend taking pictures or keeping a small journal so that you can record changes to your dog's skin condition during your trials.
7. Consult your vet
Consult with your vet if symptoms continue to worsen. Infections can develop, especially in heavily licked or scratched areas. If you think that your dog may be at risk of developing an infection, you may need antibiotics to eliminate the infection.
Dog Food Allergy Trial and Error
The toughest thing about correcting allergies or sensitivities is that it takes time. It could take several weeks and even months to determine intolerances and allergies and even longer to completely reduce the symptoms.
It's important to stay consistent and try not to rush the process. Little mistakes could require that you start fresh from the beginning, so take your time and give each step a chance to work before changing directions.
Dog Food Allergy Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common signs of food allergies in dogs?
Common signs of food allergies in dogs include itching, skin rashes, hives, ear infections, gastrointestinal upset (vomiting or diarrhea), and chronic licking or chewing of paws. These symptoms can vary in severity.What are some common food allergens for dogs?
Common food allergens for dogs include proteins such as beef, chicken, pork, and dairy products. Grains like wheat, corn, and soy can also trigger allergies.How can I determine if my dog has a food allergy?
To diagnose a food allergy in your dog, your veterinarian may recommend an elimination diet. This involves feeding your dog a novel protein and carbohydrate source for a set period and then gradually reintroducing previous foods to identify the allergen.Can food allergies develop over time in dogs?
Yes, food allergies can develop over time in dogs, even if they have been eating the same food for a while without issues. Allergies can develop due to changes in the dog's immune system or exposure to new ingredients.How can I manage my dog's food allergies?
Managing food allergies in dogs involves identifying and avoiding problematic ingredients. Elimination diets are a useful tool to test different food ingredients.Are there any treatments for food allergies in dogs?
While there is no cure for food allergies, the primary treatment is avoidance of the offending ingredients. Digestion plays a significant role in allergies, to in addition to finding appropriate ingredients, make sure you are feeding formulas that boost digestive health.