Dog Food Allergies

Pet May Be Suffering From Dog Food Allergies

Food allergies are not only for humans. They can be found in your pets and are difficult to diagnose because dog food allergies can appear so rapidly. The greatest problem, of course, is the pet can’t let you know what his symptoms are and these are oftentimes confused with other problems.

Some symptoms of dog food allergies are: excessive scratching, hair loss, skin infections, as well as ear infections. Many times antibiotics are used for skin infections and they will clear up briefly, only to return again when the antibiotics are completed. An animal with itchy skin that doesn’t seem to improve with the use of antihistamines or steroids, might possibly be suffering from a dog food allergy.

There are many differences between dog food allergies and food intolerance. Intolerance to certain foods may cause your dog to have diarrhea or frequent bowel movements and vomiting. Fortunately, food allergies and food intolerance can both be treated once they have been diagnosed.

Beef, chicken, wheat, eggs, soy, and dairy products are what most dog food is made from. So therefore, it should not come as a surprise that most dog food allergies are going to be to one of the major ingredients found in the food.

When pet food companies began marketing lamb and rice formulas many dog food allergies seemed to go away.

Many veterinarians agree that it is not because of something special in the lamb and rice formulas that reduced the incidence of dog food allergies, but rather that the dog’s diet was changed and the animal had not developed intolerance to the new food.

Dietary Change to Test for Food Allergies

Once other causes are ruled out, such as flea bites, intestinal parasites, yeast and bacterial infections, a dietary change may be needed to reduce the symptoms of dog food allergies. A new food containing protein and carbohydrate should be the only diet for the pet for about 12 weeks to determine which ingredients in their old food was causing the allergic reaction.

The food must be completely different from the previous food and cannot be supplemented by treats or other types of food for the test to be effective. Once it has been determined the pet is not having an adverse reaction to the new diet, various foods may then be added to help develop a more diverse diet. Any addition must also go through the same test procedures and if any reaction, the new addition will be eliminated.

A healthier dog means a healthier friend for life!