Dog food allergies account for about 20 percent of all dog allergies. The most common symptom of a food related allergy in dogs is itchy skin especially on feet, legs, armpits, ears, face and ****. Hair loss from biting and scratching, hot spots, and skin infections can be repercussions of an untreated food allergy. There are many ingredients that can cause food related allergies in dogs. These are but not restricted to;beef, chicken, eggs, wheat, corn, fish and soy.

Before treating a food allergy you must cure any secondary infections or conditions that are occurring such as skin infections, mange, yeast infections, etc. Once all of these are cured then a food trial can begin.

Most allergies are associated with a particular protein of carbohydrate that is in the food or treats the dog is eating. A food trial or elimination diet consists of feeding the dog a food containing a protein source and carbohydrates that the dog has never had before. The trial consists of twelve weeks of only this food. This means no treats, rawhide or any other type of dog chew (pig ears, bully sticks, etc.), flavored medications, toys or toothpaste of any kind. If the food for the elimination diet has a version in a can you can use bits of this as treats. The dog must not roam giving them access to eating things in the yard that may cause these symptoms. I think you get the idea, you do not have to quarantine the dog but make sure the diet is all they are eating or playing with. At the end of the trial the dog is reintroduced to the food they were given to begin with to confirm the allergen is in the food.

The cure for these allergies is avoidance of the items that aggravated them in the first place. Short term relief for the symptoms can be achieved through the used of antihistamines and steroids but the only cure is through avoidance of the offensive ingredients. At this time your veterinarian may prescribe a particular type of food to put your dog on or you can investigate a homemade diet. If you choose to use a homemade diet it can afford you the ability to control exactly everything that goes into the food. Commercial dog foods are not bound by law to list every ingredient on the pet food label. If you go the homemade route make sure your formula contains all the nutrients your dog needs.

Allergies in dogs seem to be more prevalent these days that ever before. With food allergies at twenty percent of all allergy causes it is a very viable avenue to pursue if your dog is suffering. Allergic reactions can occur due to new foods being introduced so talk to your veterinarian if making your dog food and follow their recommendations to avoid recurrence.

By: Robbie Black

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