How Will You Know If Your Dog Has Allergies?
Dogs, in general, love to eat and devour anything you put in front of them in seconds, however they can be allergic to certain food items. Dogs have no concept of allergies and only know that the food they eat is delicious, so it is our responsibility as pet parents to notice if our furry friends exhibit dog food allergy symptoms. These are not the only symptoms that can occur, but they are common visible indicators that your dog is allergic to food.
Scratching or itching skin, licking, especially the paws, and face rubbing are all common symptoms. Affected dogs may also have red skin, hair loss, and recurring skin or ear infections. Your dog’s paws and lower legs, face, ears, armpits, and belly may have red skin or fur loss.
What are the Signs and Symptoms that Your Dog Has Allergies?
Allergies can be aggravating, and your dog may be experiencing issues that you are unaware of. There are numerous ways to treat allergies, making it simple to make your dog happy. Sometimes changing your dog’s food is all that is required.
If your dog is allergic to something they eat, there may be some common symptoms that accompany this condition. Some are more obvious than others, but all can cause your furry friend discomfort to the point where they may require treatment.
Symptoms of dog allergies include:
- Skin irritation
- Scratching
- Licking
- Facial rubbing
- The skin is red.
- The loss of fur
- Skin and ear infections that reoccur
- Gastrointestinal disturbance
The type and severity of these dog allergy symptoms are determined partly by the type of allergy your dog has.
Ear Infections
One symptom could be an infection in your dog’s ear, which causes itching or even pain and can be highly irritating to your pet. Dogs who are subjected to this frequently shake their heads or scratch at their ears. They’ve also been seen grooming themselves more regularly than usual.
If you notice these behaviors, check your dog’s ears. If there is a brownish buildup inside, it is a yeast buildup caused by ear infections caused by dog food allergies. Additionally, there may be an odor associated with this, which may be your signal to have them checked.
A veterinarian can help with the ear infection and will often prescribe ear drops or other medications to combat whatever is causing it.
Itchiness on Skin
Itchy skin is another common dog food allergy symptom. The presence of an itch is a recurring feature of any allergy. Itching can be a symptom of a variety of conditions, including allergies. These dogs will frequently scratch and itch every inch of their bodies. This could include rolling or rubbing on whatever feels good.
Because itching is such a common symptom, determining whether a food allergen is involved can be difficult. This is a bad side effect, but it may not be a clear sign; look for other typical dog food allergy symptoms to ensure this is the case with your pet.
How to Diagnose Allergies on Dogs?
If you’ve ever had allergy testing, you know that determining allergies can be difficult.
The first step is for your veterinarian to rule out any other conditions causing your dog’s symptoms. If your veterinarian believes that an allergy is a likely cause, they may recommend allergy testing to identify the allergen causing the reaction. However, keep in mind that testing may not always be able to determine the cause of an allergy.
An elimination diet is frequently used to diagnose food allergies. A food trial consists of feeding a dog for 12 weeks a novel source of protein and carbohydrates.
The most common allergy is flea allergy dermatitis. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dog’s body and applying a product that kills fleas before they bite to see if that solves the problem.
What are Food Allergies?
According to AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein, true food allergies may be less common than people believe. True food allergies cause an immune response, manifesting as skin conditions like hives, facial swelling, itchiness, or gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, or a combination of the two. A severe reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur in rare cases, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans.
Are There Hypoallergenic Diets for Dogs?
Most people mean that their dog has a food sensitivity, also known as a food intolerance when they say that their dog has a food allergy. Unlike true allergies, food sensitivities result from a gradual reaction to an offending ingredient in your dog’s food, such as beef, chicken, eggs, corn, wheat, soy, or milk.
Food sensitivities in dogs can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, dermatologic symptoms such as itchiness, poor skin and coat, and chronic ear or foot infections.
Working with your veterinarian to manage your dog’s symptoms and identify the ingredient causing the reaction is the best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy.
Can Dogs Get Acute Allergic Reactions?
An acute allergic reaction is one of dogs’ most concerning types of allergies. Dogs, like humans, can experience anaphylactic shock if they have a severe allergic reaction to an allergen. If not treated, this can be fatal.
Bee stings and vaccine reactions, among other things, can cause anaphylactic reactions in some dogs, which is why you should always keep a close eye on your dog after administering any new vaccine, drug, or food item. Fortunately, anaphylactic reactions in dogs are uncommon.
In response to an allergen, your dog may develop hives or facial swelling. Swelling of the face, throat, lips, eyelids, or ear flaps may appear severe, but it is rarely fatal and can be treated with an antihistamine by your veterinarian.