Food allergy is the reaction of the immune system to certain types of foods. Even a small portion of the allergen can cause symptoms and reactions. It is a common scenario to see signs of food-related allergies in humans. But things are even more surprising to some dog adopters when their fur baby develops allergies that are food-related. Similar to humans, dogs also have food-related allergic reactions. This happens when the immune system of the dog mistakes that a certain type of food that is entering their system is harmful. The response of the pet’s immune system is to produce antibodies.

These are usually exhibited as symptoms that point towards a food allergy. The most observed symptoms of dogs with food allergies include hives, paw biting, itchy paws, rashes, obsessive licking, chronic inflammation in the ears, vomiting, watery eyes, incessant sneezing, and diarrhea, among many others. If any of these symptoms are noticed, it is important to get them checked by a veterinarian to know if these symptoms are actually caused due to food allergies. Here are some things to consider:

1. Consider common allergy triggers for dogs

Mostly, if your dog is overly exposed to the allergy-causing agent, the symptoms might crop up. For instance, dogs usually do not react well to certain food items such as grains and meat. Grains like wheat contain a type of protein called gluten that causes an allergic reaction in dogs. Some common types of food that dogs with food allergies react to are dairy products, soy, eggs, pork, rabbits, fish, chicken, lamb, corn, and beef.

2. Is it more than one allergy?

It is noticed that dogs who don’t react well to a certain food type are likely to be susceptible to other foods as well.

3. Elimination diets

In order to stop the food that triggers an allergic reaction, the veterinarian has to put the dog on an elimination diet. The next step is to put the pet dog on a food challenge. This is done by feeding the dog only 2 foods which usually include sweet potatoes and ground turkeys. Once it has been determined that the dog does not have a reaction to those two food items, the food challenge can be started. More food items can be included in the diet. This will go on till the pet starts showing any signs of an allergic reaction. This will be helpful in identifying the allergens.

4. Environmental allergens

If it is observed that dogs with food allergies are still facing problems, irrespective of the combination of food that is being fed to it, then there is a possibility that they are not allergic to a specific food item but may be allergic to other factors in the environment like certain medications, fabrics, and pollen.

5. Anaphylaxis in pets

In rare cases, you may notice that a life-threatening reaction, known as anaphylaxis, may happen to your pet and that it might have difficulty breathing. Telltale signs of this include itching and hives, muzzle swelling, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea, and difficulty breathing with a bluish color inside the mouth (tongue and gums). If you see these symptoms, get your dog to an emergency vet hospital immediately.