How will I know if my dog is allergic to her food?
Katheryn Kunde
2025-07-30 19:20:52
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In the dog, the signs of a food allergy are usually itchy skin, paws, or ears or digestive disturbances such as vomiting or diarrhea. Other more subtle changes can also occur, including hyperactivity, weight loss, lack of energy, and even aggression. The most common food allergens in dogs are proteins, especially those from dairy, beef, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, or wheat gluten. Each time a pet eats food containing these substances, the antibodies react with the antigens, and symptoms occur. Virtually any food ingredient can produce an allergy, however. Proteins are the most common culprits but other substances and additives can also be responsible. The best and most accurate method of diagnosing a food allergy is to feed a hypoallergenic diet for 8 to 12 weeks as a food trial, called an elimination trial. If your dog's allergy symptoms resolve while on the food trial, the next step is to perform a food challenge by re-introducing your dog's old food. If your dog's symptoms resolve with the food trial and return within one week of a food challenge, your dog has been definitively diagnosed with a food allergy.
Sienna Barton
2025-07-30 19:13:27
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If your pet has a true allergy, over-the-counter diets will likely not resolve their allergies. An unknown ingredient within an over-the-counter pet diet can lead to allergic reactions in your pet. You identified that your pet gets itchy, ear infections, and a red belly after feeding them chicken, so for years, you have fed them an over-the-counter fish-based diet. Unbeknownst to you, this new diet has unlabeled chicken in it due to the way the food is processed. Within the week, your pet is itchy, has ear infections, and their belly is red. Despite their owner’s best attempt to avoid certain foods, a small amount can slip in, leading to years of suffering. There are also concerns that the many available minimally-regulated pet foods might contain unlabeled food sources that could negate your attempt of a diet change for your allergic pet.
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