TheGiantVermin, Flickr
Food allergies aren't extremely common in dogs, but they aren't uncommon either. Food allergies affect dogs in two primary ways, says Korinn Saker, a clinical nutritionist at the North Carolina State School of Veterinary Medicine who specializes in canine allergies. "We either see skin issues, or GI [gastrointestinal] issues," she says. If your dog is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea on a regular basis, or is itching constantly and licking or biting at his skin or fur, allergies may be to blame. (Your vet can help you rule out other ailments, like parasites or infections, that could cause similar symptoms.)
Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell whether an allergic dog is having a reaction to his food or to an environmental allergen such as pollen. (Dogs can also become allergic to food they've happily eaten their entire lives making detection even more difficult.) Still, there are ways to tell if food is the foe, Sakar says. "The most definitive way to do that is to do a feeding elimination trial," she says. In other words, try removing the suspected ingredient or ingredients from the dog's diet, and see what happens.
Choose a dog food with novel ingredients the dog hasn't had before. The new food should have a single source of protein, such as fish, duck or lamb, and a single source of carbohydrates, like rice or potatoes. (And don't give him any treats or table scraps during the feeding trial!) If the allergy symptoms go away on the new diet, you can then try adding back the suspected allergens, one by one. If the symptoms come back, she explains, you'll know what ingredient (or ingredients) to avoid from now on.
Testing your dog's diet is something you can do easily at home, but it's a good idea to consult with your vet if you suspect food allergies. Sakar also points out that when experimenting with new foods, make sure to choose a diet that also contains the many vitamins and minerals dogs need to stay healthy. "Make sure it's a balanced and complete diet based on the labeling," she says.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the most common dog allergens are beef, chicken, eggs, corn, wheat, soy and milk.
"Beef is the number one allergen," Sakar says. She adds that protein sources in general, including beef, chicken and fish, are much more likely to cause allergies than are carbohydrate sources like corn or wheat. (Irish setters, however, are known to have a wheat sensitivity.)
Sakar says that corn has become a favorite villain, and many pet owners are sure their dog suffers from a corn allergy. However, "a real, true allergy to corn is very, very, very rare in a pet," she says.
Hypoallergenic prescription diets are available for allergic dogs. These foods often contain an unusual protein source, such as duck, venison or rabbit. Other special diets are made from hydrolyzed beef or chicken. In these foods, Sakar says, "the protein has been mechanically altered so it's very small in size and not recognized by the immune system." In other words, the dog's body doesn't recognize the altered protein, so it doesn't respond with an allergic reaction.
Of course, with so many dog food varieties available on store shelves, you might not need a prescription to find a food your dog can tolerate. If you have trouble figuring out what ingredients might be causing your dog difficulty, talk to your vet. With a little detective work, you should be able to find a diet that keeps your dog's tail wagging.
Many pet owners rely on the Internet to gather information about their pet's health. Following are the top 10 most-searched allergy treatments, according to AOL Search.
Top Searched Dog Allergy Treatments:
-
Corticosteroids for Dogs
- Antihistamines for Dogs
- Immunotherapy for Dogs
- Allergy Shots for Dogs
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Dogs
- Symptomatic Therapy for Dogs
- Epsom Salts for Dogs
- Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs
- Biotin for Dogs
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids for Dogs
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one of my dogs was at the vets months ago for a skin rash on his stomach and his paws. he scratched and licked his stomach and paws. the vet said it was some type of dermatitis, typo i think, and a yeast infection. he was on 2 different antibiotics. we are not sure what caused it, but he did have a rash on his stomach in the summer, but was not licking his paws like he did this time. they said it could be some type of allergy,from what, is unknow.
Maybe allergy to type of grass? My dog is sensitive to rye grass.
Be sure that your dog doesn't have the "lupus" of the dog world, called Pemphigus. If your dog is around 2 or 3 years old give or take a few years, it is possible. You can read about it on dog websites. My dog had the dry paw thing and bright red areas that didn't make any sense. Also, she seemed kind of run down. Sure enough, she had Pemphigus, an autoimmunde, genetic disorder. Luckily it can be well-managed with steroids...as little as they can get by with that help the symptoms.
My dog has food allergies and seasonal allergies. Food allergies were the hardest to figure out and the vet was at a loss. Symptoms are paw chewing and licking, thinning fur around the eyes and ears. After my own research and a lot of tial and error - I stopped giving him anything containing red dyes in food, or treats. Read the labels and you will be amazed how much pet food and treats contain red dye. I now make his own vet approved food (most of the time), and give him snacks without the offending dye. Iams and Pedigree have some dye free snacks and canned/dry food. It's worth a try and maybe it will end your dogs itchy misery.
Ellie, with regards to the allergy to red dye, did you have to put your dog on antibiotics to clear it up or did it go away once you eliminated red dye from his/her diet?
My dog has many allergies - over 30! We went through the rash, food elimination, etc. and finally ended up paying to have him allergy tested. We paid the vet's office approximately $300 and it was the best money I have ever spent. They took a small vial of blod and sent it out to a company that sent back a full report of what he was allergic to, not allergic too, and borderline allergic too. It tested for food and environmental allergies (over 90 total I believe) and now we are having much more success. We know exactly what he can't have in his dog food (corn, poultry, barley, oatmeal, eggs) and what he is allergic to in his environment. Not all vet's offices will allergy test, so I would suggest calling around if you have a dog that has allergies. Well worth the money spent!
My daughter has a dog(havanese) that did the same thing. Scratching,and
biting himself constantly.
She now gives him Organic food, and some drops that have to
be given 3 times a day in his water. He is doing so much
better now.
Our dogs suffered horribly from food allergies, cooked beef, flaxseed, yeast and rice. They are all now on raw and the allergy issues are a thing of the past.
B.A.R.F. diet is the way to go. I switched from regular dog food when my austrailian shep was 11 and doing very bad, she loved the diet and couldnt wait to eat. she lived another 4 good years. both my lab and german shepard have been raised on the B.A.R.F. (Biologically Acceptable Raw Food). check it out. not any more expensive than the "organic" kibble diets
Where can I purchase B A R F?
If everyone would do research on the garbage they put in the grocery store food for animals there would be no surprise our animals are getting sick from eating it. I have done many years of research and appalled at the carcinogens and the lacking of nutritional ingredients. Please avoid all by-products,BHA, BHT, food coloring, and Propylene glycol (chemical used in anti-freeze and solvent in brake fluid) it taste sweet. these are just a few, please do your research!
My doxie has spring/fall pollen allergies, he'll chew on his back feet. I give him benedryl, per the vet, and he's good to go. He's also allergic to milk bones. He got a bacterial skin infection on his back, they were pink/red bumps that would then dry out and scab over. The vet said it was due to a food allergy. I knew what it was because the only thing different in his diet around the time he got the infection was the milk bones. The vet said no more beef products though. Now he gets lamb, peanut butter or apple flavored treats and is fine.
I have a 7 year old English Mastiff. He has suffered from allergies from birth. His symptom was an ear infection in one ear. According to my vet, it is a common indication of allergy. We changed his diet and the ear infection went away. When ever he eats something he shouldn't, the ear infection returns. I initially bought him a prescription diet but eventually found a similiar brand at the local Walmart. It is made of lamb and rice. No soy, yeast, wheat, corn, chicken or beef.
I have a lab with severe ear problems. Black tar substance and liquid in both ears. I was able to get rid of these problems for almost a year by switching food but they came back. I have tried switching the foods again but no luck. The vets I have brought the dog to have been of little help? Any suggestions?
my black lab has terrible ear scratching that swells and bleeds and has black stuff around it. vet says it's from food allergies and i've tried many different foods and still having problems. am laid off and can't afford iaams or prescription diet foods. can you please tell me the name of the wal-mart food that is working for your dog? thanks!!!
If I'm EVER saddled with a cur eat up with this, that or the other, I'm taking it to a shelter in Beverly Hills where it's hip to adopt a mentally challenged, handicapped or high-maintenance, spastic mutt. THAT'S how I'll manage my dogs "allergies", "fears" and "sensitivities".
You're an ass !!
yep, you're an ass
Angie,
Maybe you shouldn't have a animal if that is you attitude. What if you parents felt the same way that you did about kids as you about animals. Wonder where you would be now?
What a sickening post--shame on you. Do your dog a favor--give him/her up now. As they age, dogs will need all kinds of extra care attention. I have three rescue dogs who came from people like you. Discarded like shoes that went out of fashion. Pets are not accessories for your sad, bitter life--your dog deserves better than to live on the verge of being dumped if anything goes wrong. Here's a news flash for you, sweetheart--things will go wrong--old age, incontinence, constant bathing, cleaning up, trips to the vet, and money. You need to love your pets with all your heart because at some point it will become very hard. God help you and your poor pet.