Statistics state that one out of ten cases of dog allergy can be due to food, though you should be aware that there are reactions in dogs caused by food intolerance too. Normal symptoms of food allergy can be severe infections in the ear, digestion problems, diarrhea and itchiness. There might be other symptoms, which are not normally related to allergies but are caused due to them like seizures and sinus.
Food allergies are hereditary ailments, which flare when your pets come in contact with the type of food they are allergic to. According to researchers, all types of meat, wheat, egg and some varieties of fish are allergens triggering allergic reactions in dogs. Though uncommon, dogs can be allergic to more than one item.
All breeds of dogs are prone to allergy but then as this is a genetic issue, a particular breed may be more susceptible than others. Eliminating food items from the diet is the only way to find out the element causing the allergy and it usually takes a long time to come to a conclusion. Vets prescribe a complete different formula from what the dog was previously taking to reduce the flare-ups and once there are signs of improvement, the veterinarian will slowly reintroduced the ingredients to find out what the allergen is.
Dog allergies may happen even with the staple diet to which it is used; there are known cases where the pets suddenly became allergic to the food they were being fed for years. Under such a condition, you have to change the diet completely and try to reduce the reaction. It is better that you test at least some diet formulas, with your dog, so that you know what they can tolerate.
So what is the treatment for dog food allergies? There are medications available which helps temporarily but then the disease needs to be treated by removing the allergen from the food that you feed. Some pet lovers cook food for their dogs, but as they do not follow proper instructions, they end up feeding their dogs with unbalanced diets. This instead of helping the dog actually ends up making it weaker.
Hypoallergenic dog food is available in the market, which can help in the treatment of the allergy. They are available in various combinations and flavors with ingredients, which are known to reduce allergic reactions in dogs. Such readymade food, though costly, provides proper nutrition for your dog.
Remember there is not much that you can do to prevent food allergies in dogs, try rotating the diet formula; it will not only allow you to provide them with wholesome nutrition, but at the same time enable you to diagnose the items causing allergic reactions.
