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When it comes to allergies, anything from food, medications, or the environment can set them off. This is the same for humans and our pets.
Particularly for dogs, environmental impacts can commonly trigger allergies. But they may also experience food allergies. Food allergies are often caused by a particular protein ingredient. The typical way the body responds to an allergy is through inflammation.
In this guide, we’re discussing how to identify a food allergy in your pet and how to manage this on a day-to-day basis.
How to identify a food allergy in dogs
In a similar way to how food can trigger eczema in us, one of the main symptoms of a food allergy in dogs is changes in their skin. Itchiness, flaking, and rashes can all be a sign that something isn’t quite right in their diet. They might also suffer from hair loss, raw spots, and lesions.
Food allergies can occur whether you’re trying a new food or they’ve been on the same mix for quite some time. It’s worth giving your pooch a quick snuggle while you move their fur around to check if you can see any problems with the skin underneath.
Food intolerances can also lead to other ailments such as ear infections, vomiting, or diarrhea.
If you’ve recently adopted a puppy, food allergies can develop within the first six months as they get used to their diet. Older dogs over the age of five can also have a switch in tolerance and develop allergies later in life.
Official diagnosis
Before making any changes to their diet or trying to find allergy remedies online, you should consult your vet. As side effects can include skin problems, it’s better to check there’s nothing else underlying. Vets will also be able to identify any other symptoms of a food allergy a little better than an untrained eye.
Skin problems can also be caused by fleas. So, before jumping to conclusions, you’ll need a good flea treatment in place. You can shop online for flea collars, shampoos, and spot treatments at the Exceptional Pets Shop.
Your vet may also prescribe anti-itch medications or antihistamines to rule out environmental triggers. If you’ve adopted an older dog who has lived in a different house or setting, they may be just getting used to their new surroundings – the smells, dust, and cleaning products you use. Antihistamines will help to assess what the allergy trigger actually is.
How to treat and manage a dog’s food allergy
If it is concluded that your dog is suffering from a food allergy, the next step is to find what ingredient is causing the problem. Some vets suggest using skin swabs and blood tests, but these can be pretty inaccurate.
The best course of action is to create a specific diet plan over a longer period of eight to 12 weeks. Your vet will create a specialized diet involving a novel or hydrolyzed protein that your dog has never eaten.
Novel proteins combine things like venison, duck, or rabbit with carbohydrates that have all the vitamins and minerals they need. The aim is to omit any potential allergens, so it’s worth creating the plan with your vet so that as few ingredients are included as possible. A fresh diet is preferred for the trial rather than a specialized store-bought product. Despite these products being specialized, they still offer the chance of cross-contamination.
During the food trial, you need to be strict. No matter how cute they are or how long they give you the puppy dog eyes, you need to make sure no other food scraps or treats are eaten during the 12 weeks.
If you have other dogs in the house, it’s a good idea to put everyone on the same food for the time being. This will prevent your pooch from stealing food from their siblings.
In the first few weeks of the trial, you might notice your pet’s skin condition improving – but this shouldn’t be seen as the end. Continue with the course but report improvements to your vet.
After the trial, your vet may recommend going back to the previous diet for a few weeks to see if their condition changes. Alternatively, they might suggest adding additional ingredients into the mix gradually to help you see which parts are the trigger.
While some dogs can simply grow out of an allergy, others may have several concurrent allergies and will need a special diet long term. It is worth continuously checking with your vet about their diet and what food they can and shouldn’t have.
Other allergies and illness
As mentioned above, allergies can cause ear infections. But ear infections can also cause allergies. Illnesses can have similar symptoms to an allergy, so any odd behavior or problems shouldn’t go unchecked.
Bacterial or yeast infections can be an underlying condition to an allergy and can cause more irritation for the skin. Antibiotics or anti-yeast medications can cure the infection, as well as medicated bathing.
Another allergy or illness that can seem like a food allergy is atopic dermatitis (AD). This is inherited and can cause a variety of skin problems when exposed to pollen, dust, or mold. To diagnose AD, your dog will need an intradermal skin test or bloods taken. From this research, vets can create a ‘vaccine’ to reduce the sensitivity your pet suffers from.
Of course, fleas aren’t enjoyable for you or your pet, but some dogs can have an allergy to fleas – making treatment even more difficult. Although you might not ever see fleas on your dog, you should always have preventative measures in place. Fleas can be really difficult to get rid of once they’re in the house. Flea saliva causes the reaction, which means the allergy can be hard to detect once the fleas have gone.
Keeping a close eye on your pet can help you to identify any changes in their behavior or skin before they become a bigger problem. Make sure you keep your vet in the loop and work on their expert recommendations.
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