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Dog Food Allergy Symptoms
What Are Dog Food Allergy Symptoms?
The most common dog food allergy symptoms are:
- constant itching and scratching of the skin
- pawing at the mouth area
- swollen mouth
- licking at paws constantly
- hot spots
- diarrhea
- gas
But some of these are also common symptoms for other types of allergies also – such as seasonal allergies from pollens and grasses (just like humans), chemical allergies from insecticides and household cleaners, and even flea allergies.
What To Do About A Dog Food Allergy
If you believe your dog may have a dog food allergy, the best thing to do is trying feeding a diet that is wholesome, with simple ingredients and a minimal amount of grains. Some options you might want to consider are:
- You may want to try feeding homemade dog food – where you will have complete control over the ingredients your dog gets. If so, I recommend the Canine Nutrition Guide to help ensure you provide adequate nutrition.
- Change to a super-premium or hypoallergenic dog food – sometimes it is just the inferior ingredients and a lot of grains used in many commercial dog foods that cause the allergy or intolerance. See my article on how to read your dog food ingredients label to figure out if your current dog food is any good.
- If you are already feeding a good quality dog food, you may want to try adding digestive enzymes and probiotics to improve your dog’s gastrointestinal system.
Most Common Dog Food Allergy Triggers
The most common food allergens are listed below. But remember, your dog can develop an allergy or intolerance to any type of food – especially if it is the same food fed over a long period of time.
- beef and chicken
- dairy
- corn, wheat, soy
- artificial flavorings and colorings
- artificial preservatives
- antibiotics and hormones
The hardest thing about a dog food allergy is finding the offending culprit(s). Luckily, once you know what food triggers the allergy, there are many dog foods or homemade foods you can choose from to feed your dog. A dog food allergy is very uncomfortable for your dog and one that you can control very easily.
