Signs of a Dog Food Allergy
10 Sep 2008
If your dog is constantly scratching, tail-chasing, coughing and wheezing, or has eye and nose discharges – chances are that he/she is suffering from an allergy or allergies.
Roughly 20% of the dogs suffer from some allergy type. Major allergies found in dogs include atopic dermatitis, flea allergy, food allergy and inhalant allergy.
Dog Food Allergy
A dog food allergy is probably the most tedious of dog allergies to diagnose because dog food allergies can mimic the symptoms of any of the other allergies mentioned above.
Other symptoms of food allergies are stomach problems, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, ear infections and sometimes, even changes in behavior.
To find the food or foods that your dog is allergic to you must first remove all the possible allergy causing ingredients from your dog’s diet. The easiest way to do this is by using a homemade meal of a protein and starch source that your dog has not had before. Then gradually add more ingredients into it over time (every 2-3 weeks). The most common allergens tend to be protiens, such as meats and grains. If your dog’s symptoms return after adding a particular ingredient, then you may have identified the possible allergen.
Allergic reactions may not appear for about a week after consuming the allergen so confirm your findings with your vet. Obviously, once you have determined the offending ingredient you will need to avoid it in the dog foods you feed your pet.
View a video of other dog food issues here
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