Everything you need to know if you suspect your dog has a food allergy

Has the behaviour of your pet, who is normally a big foodie, changed lately? Maybe even in a strange way?

• Does he scratch his ears like crazy?
• Does he vomit after eating?
• Has he run out of energy to play or ask for treats with his pleading dog eyes?

Before you decide too quickly that your dog is acting weird, the cause may actually be a food allergy.

As with any allergy, this happens when the immune system perceives a certain substance in the dog food as a threat and triggers a reaction.

Signs that your dog is allergic to his food will be visible on the skin or may lead to stomach problems. The problem is that these symptoms can also indicate other problems, such as infections or gastritis.

How can you be sure your dog has a food allergy and how do you treat it to prevent allergies from ruining your dog's day?

Today, we reveal everything so your dog can enjoy playing and eating like before.

Common causes of food allergies in dogs

In most cases, proteins the leading cause of food allergies in dogs. This is not an exhaustive list, but many dogs are sensitive to or allergic to the following foods and ingredients that contain protein:

• Chicken
• Beef
• Wheat
• Eggs
• Lamb
• Soy
• Rabbit
• Fish
• Pork
• Dairy products

Even long-term use of the same type or brand of dog food can cause allergic reactions, making diagnosis difficult.

However, food allergies that develop over time are not as simple as simply avoiding the above foods. Your dog may be allergic to several types of food or ingredients from this list.

Besides food, allergies in dogs can also be caused by the environment or by skin and intestinal problems, which can indicate other allergies.

The symptoms of a food allergy in dogs to watch out for include:

• Braken
• Diarrhoea
• Itchy skin and paws
• Skin rash
• Swollen face
• Weight loss
• Listlessness
• Little energy
• Aggression
• Hyperactivity
• Ear infections
• Excessive licking

Unhappy pets will show more than one of these common symptoms of a food allergy. However, the same symptoms can also indicate other problems, such as gastrointestinal problems or reactions to flea bites.

If symptoms occur immediately after introducing new food, your pet may develop a rash or swell immediately - a sign of a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate help from your local vet.

But how can you figure out exactly what is bothering your dog?

Diagnosis and testing of food allergies in dogs

The vet usually starts by ruling out other conditions causing the same symptoms. Then they suggest either testing or elimination diets.

Food allergies are one of the most common allergies in dogs. Chances are your pet is suffering from them, but the only way to know for sure if he is allergic is to eliminate certain foods that cause allergies.

Without food elimination, it can be difficult to determine whether your pet's itching, ear infection or diarrhoea is diet-related or a sign of skin, intestinal problems or something else.

As mentioned earlier, food allergies in dogs can develop suddenly - meaning you can't just rule out the food your dog has been eating for years.

How is a food allergy diagnosed?

You will have to remove the foods your dog does not tolerate from his diet - this is known as an elimination diet.

Performing an elimination diet

In most cases, an elimination test takes about 12 weeks. The vet will suggest a suitable diet for your pet or give advice on what ingredients you can prepare for your dog at home. That way, you gradually test what might cause problems in your dog.

Food allergy tests for dogs

What about allergy tests for dog food? Even tests that diagnose allergens are not easy - even vets cannot always get accurate results with those tests, let alone home allergy test kits.

Treatment of food allergies

Modifying the diet after an elimination diet - where you avoid the ingredients that cause allergic reactions in your pet - is the way to treat food allergies in dogs.

For some dogs, vets may even prescribe medication to relieve common allergic symptoms, such as itchy skin and upset stomach.

Does your dog have a food allergy?

Determining the exact food allergy in your dog (or whether he has one at all) is challenging. It can be difficult to determine because the symptoms of food allergies in dogs overlap with skin infections or various stomach problems your pet may suffer from.

Moreover, a dog can become allergic to food it has eaten for years without any problems.

How can you help your dog overcome this situation?

Take your pet to the vet and prepare meals with only a few ingredients to find out what is causing the reaction. During the elimination diet, give your dog lots of cuddles and help soothe his itchy skin.