The Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs and Treatment Options

     It's just recently been learned that dogs, very similar to humans, can develop allergies to specific foods, a particular ingredient, or foods in a certain food group. Food allergies in canines is one of the five most frequently found types of dog allergies, although a dog is usually born with the food allergy, food allergies in dogs can develop at any time throughout the course of their lifetime.

Warning Signs and Causes of Dog Allergies to Food

A dog will occasionally sustain a reaction to the diverse kinds of foods they take in. Oftentimes, they only get a stomach ache which might cause bloating, diarrhea and vomiting. Allergies to food are not the same as that however, besides only getting indigestion, it will cause itchiness in canines as well as the previously cited signs of allergies to food: diarrhea, swelling and vomiting. A dog's scratching and itching can lead to flaky skin, eczema, hot spots and quite possibly loss of fur. In a number of dogs, other symptoms of a food allergy could involve a loss in weight, agitation and perhaps hostility.

In dog's suffering with a food allergy, the immune system overreacts to a specific ingredient or type of food that it typically ignores producing an allergic response. A food allergy in dogs is typically caused by proteins from dairy foods, wheat and sugars as a direct result of being fed table scraps. Even though proteins are the most likely trigger of an animal's food allergy, any kind of food or food constituent can cause an allergic response.

Identifying Dog Allergies to Food

Not too long ago, an elimination diet was the only means available to detect whether or not an animal was being affected by food allergies. The dog was served hypoallergenic dog food that didn't have the same ingredients found in the preceding diet for about 2 to 3 months. Today, diagnosis can be done by a veterinarian employing a quick dog allergy test consisting of lab testing done on a sample of blood extracted from the animal.

Remedies for a Food Allergy in Dogs

The only cure for an allergy to food is avoidance of the food or food ingredient that's triggering the food allergy. The recommended type of food for dogs coping with an allergy to food is hypoallergenic dog food that's comprised of all natural ingredients. This kind of dog food can be given to your pet for the remainder of his lifetime with no fear that the dog will have further allergic reactions to food.

Because of the dog's itching, you might need to address the dog's skin issues also. A veterinarian will usually recommend getting skin lotion and antihistamines. But because the use of antihistamines for a canine allergy could perhaps trigger undesired side effects, an herbal or homeopathic remedy is a healthier option. There are numerous natural treatment options available that have been demonstrated by dog owners to give great results. Certain herbs found in these all natural remedies are well known for their skin soothing and healing characteristics.