Dog Food Allergies Are Never Fun!
Food allergies are not exclusive to humans, but they can be difficult to diagnose in pets, especially when dog food allergies appear to manifest quickly. The biggest problem of course, is the pet’s inability to communicate the symptoms effectively, and they are many times confused with other ailments.
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 is also a difference between the dog food allergies and food intolerance. Intolerance to certain foods may cause symptoms such as diarrhea or frequent bowel movements and vomiting. Fortunately, whether the animal is suffering form food allergy or food intolerance once the proper diagnosis has been made, they both are treatable.
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 producing lamb and rice formulas, many dog food allergies seemed to disappear.
Most veterinarians agree that it is not because of something special in the formula that reduced the dog food allergies, but merely, that the dog’s diet had not been one the dog had developed intolerance for.
Dietary Change To test For Food Allergies
Once other causes are ruled out, such as flea bites, intestinal parasites, yeast or bacterial infections, a dietary change may be needed to reduce the symptoms of dog food allergies.
A new food source containing protein and carbohydrate should be the only diet of the pet for at least 12 weeks to determine which of the 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!
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