May 10, 2012
Posted in Pet Food, Pet Health

Allergies can rear their ugly heads in a variety of ways, but many also have the same symptoms, making them difficult to diagnose and treat. Food allergies, which make up about 10 percent of all pet allergies, can be hard to pinpoint. However, once they are determined to be the trigger of the dog's symptoms, they can often be treated without pet drugs.

Narrowing down the allergy

Unfortunately, the symptoms of a food allergy may be very similar to that of flea dermatitis, an allergy to flea saliva. They may also be mistaken for a fungal or yeast infection on the skin. Generally, the symptoms of food allergies include severe itchy skin, hives and other breakouts on the skin. If your dog is on a flea preventative medication like Sentinel and you washed it with a pet shampoo like Be Flea Free Shampoo, the issue is most likely not an allergic reaction to a flea infestation. If the vet determines that the dog is not suffering from any other type of skin infection, they will most likely determine the underlying issue is an allergy to something in the dog's pet food.

Determining the culprit

Once you and the vet determine that your dog is allergic to something in its food, you need to begin the process of figuring out what it is. It might be that the dog is allergic to something in its treats – if you usually give your dog chews like Greenies Dental Treats, the vet may recommend stopping to see if that is the culprit.

If the allergy is severe, or if your dog is suffering from a food intolerance (characterized by gastrointestinal upset), your vet may recommend feeding the dog a plain diet of chicken and rice or something similar until its body is functioning normally again.

In commercial pet foods, dogs are typically allergic to the low-quality ingredients that make the food cheaper to produce. Many brands use artificial dyes, preservatives and cheap grain fillers to make more food at a cheaper cost. If you determine your pet is allergic to these ingredients, you might want to feed it a kibble with limited ingredients. Go! Sensitivity + Shine Salmon Recipe might be a good option, since it contains a single source of protein, carbohydrate and oil. 

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4. How to prevent hot spots this spring
5. The role of antioxidants in dog food