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Most Common Dog Food Allergies

29 11:23:26
Dogs too suffer from food allergies, pretty much like their human mates. The problem may be the dog food you have been feeding him as many food allergies can be traced to common ingredients used in dog food. These dog food allergies may develop spontaneously, overtime or may be a lifelong issue. Before we tell you about some common dog food allergies, let's have a look at what exactly are allergies.

What Are Allergies?

Just like people, dogs too can be allergic to certain stuff when their immune system recognizes some everyday substances or in medical terms 'allergens' as dangerous. These allergens might be common and harmless in most environments; a dog with allergies may show extreme reaction to these allergens.

Common Dog Food Allergies

The most common dog food allergies are from wheat, corn, chicken and soy. But dogs may also be allergic to fish, lamb, beef, pork and whey which makes it all the more challenging to figure out what food is causing allergy to your dog. Grain free duck and potato blends are advised for dogs for food allergies, even though they are not universal cure. In case your dog suffers from any food allergy it is recommended to introduce potato and duck into his diet and remove other food. Then once the allergic symptoms have ceased, slowly reintroduce the normal foods into his diet and check what is causing a reaction. It is also recommended that you read the labels on the food you buy for your dog.

Symptoms Of Dog Food Allergies

How exactly will you tell that your dog has food allergy? It is easier than it seems as food allergies often show in the form of skin problems. You can tell that your dog has food allergy is he indulges in excessive itching, paw chewing or has hair loss. Ear infections that keep on occurring are also symptoms of food allergy. If you spot any of these symptoms in your canine, talk to his vet and get his blood or skin test done to determine the exact allergy causing foods.

Here Are Some Common Symptoms:

* Red, moist, itchy or scabbed skin
* Increased scratching
* Runny or itchy eyes
* Swollen paws or paw chewing
* Constant licking
* Itchy ears or recurring ear infections
* Sneezing/ vomiting

Prevention and Treatment of Dog Food Allergies

Dog food allergies are often caused by overexposure and that is why the most common dog food allergies are the most common ingredients found in their food. If your dog follows only one type of diet, then try switching him to other kind. Also when you have found the allergens through allergy tests or diet elimination make sure you change his diet and exclude foods that caused allergies in the first place. Also don't allow any friend, trainer or relatives to feed your dog anything not approved by you and keep a check on his treats too. Try and rotate his diet to avoid allergies and give him wholesome nutrition too.