Like humans, pets can also be allergic to a large number of environmental factors and food substances. Allergies can start at any age and can affect any dog breed. The most common symptoms of food allergies in animals are itching (especially around the head and forelegs, belly and tail), hair loss, gastrointestinal upset or, although rarely, breathing difficulties. If you fear that your faithful friend suffers from a food allergy, you must diagnose the problem and take action to prevent the animal from being exposed to that type of allergen.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the Common Symptoms of Food Allergies
Step 1. Check your dog for any skin reactions
Skin irritation and itching are the most common symptoms that suggest food allergies. Check if your pet tends to scratch often; check under his coat if you notice any rashes, hives or if his skin is dry and itchy.
Step 2. Pay attention if you have an ear infection
Ear and skin infections are often related to allergic reactions to food. If your dog scratches his ears excessively, you notice redness or swelling in or around the pinna, and you notice a yellow / brown leaking material or traces of blood, these are all signs of a possible ear infection..
Step 3. Check if your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea
If you notice that your dog vomits frequently or has constant diarrhea after eating, the cause could be a form of allergy to something in his food, treats or some inedible substance he ingested while not holding him. check..
Method 2 of 3: Eliminate Foods That Can Cause Allergies
Step 1. Read the ingredients list of his food
Some dyes, fillers, cured meats, grains and proteins in your food could cause allergies just like humans do. The most common allergens in dog food are beef, dairy, chicken or egg derivatives, wheat and soy. If you analyze the ingredients of the food for your furry friend, you will be able to implement the elimination diet, if necessary.
Even if your dog is not allergic to a certain ingredient, he may still have an intolerance to that substance. True allergies usually manifest as itching and irritation of the skin, while food intolerances generally cause gastrointestinal problems. Regardless of the reaction that your four-legged friend displays, it is important to circumscribe the problem by identifying the responsible ingredient and removing it from his diet
Step 2. Set up a diet plan to check for allergies
Change your dog's diet by gradually passing from his usual food to a food free of the suspected allergen over a period of four days. Then continue to give him only that food for a period of twelve weeks. This will help you determine for sure which substance or additive is causing the allergy. Looking for a hypoallergenic diet is the best way to diagnose a food allergy.
Step 3. Make sure your furry friend doesn't eat any other items
It is essential not to give him any other food during the hypoallergenic diet, to avoid false positives. If your dog eats animal feces, treats, or foods for humans during this investigation phase, know that these are all elements that can potentially trigger the allergy, making it impossible to tell if the diet you are subjecting him to is effective or not. Once triggered, the resulting inflammation in the intestine can persist in your body for weeks, so the element that triggered the allergy may also have been eliminated, but the symptoms persist. This is why the animal needs to adhere to a special diet for a minimum of 8 or 12 weeks.
- Dogs may exhibit symptoms that resemble allergic reactions after eating inedible products, such as cardboard, grass, garbage, animal feces, dead animals and other objects or items found outdoors or even at home.
- Monitor your pet closely for a few days to make sure it is not ingesting any abnormal products and consider training it with deterrents if you find it sneaking through garbage or eating inedible products.
Step 4. Try to change the food and switch to organic or otherwise without fillers
Sometimes simply switching dog food or switching to a brand with simpler ingredients can reduce allergy symptoms and facilitate digestion.
Keep in mind that if the label says "Made with organic ingredients" it does not mean that the product is truly organic. Only dog food with at least 95-100% organic ingredients can carry the "organic" label
Step 5. Consider temporarily switching to unrefined foods
Sometimes the symptoms similar to an allergic reaction can disappear with the simple momentary change to a diet of cooked rice with chicken or beef broth.
A light diet allows the dog's digestive system to normalize (unless one of these ingredients causes him an allergy, in which case you can easily understand which food triggers the symptoms)
Method 3 of 3: Get the Dog for a Veterinary Examination
Step 1. Ask for advice on the elimination diet
Some vets are able to teach you how to prepare meals for the dog at home, so that you can set up a temporary elimination diet.
Step 2. Learn about a hydrolyzed protein diet
This type of diet is particularly indicated in the presence of allergies; for about three months the animal must not be given any other food, not even sweets or kitchen leftovers, which were previously granted to the animal.
Once the symptoms are gone, you can gradually reintroduce individual foods until you are able to identify the allergen. This type of diet allows you to determine if the allergy is really caused by food
Step 3. Consider getting your pet for blood or skin tests
Some tests can detect specific food allergens quite easily, while others only give information on foods that the dog is not allergic to.
- Blood tests are typically done to look for antigen-induced antibodies, which can then help the vet determine which antigen is causing the dog's reaction. Consult your doctor about the tests and procedures that are most effective for your pet.
- There is a great deal of debate about the usefulness of these tests. The general conclusion is that they are not particularly useful and, ultimately, the best thing to do is always to make the dog respect a careful diet.
Advice
- Even if you haven't changed your pet's food, it is possible that the manufacturer has withdrawn some batches of food from the market due to contamination by bacteria, dust mites or other potential allergens. Try searching through the media, TV, radio, websites, POS signs and social networks to find out if your pet's food has been withdrawn.
- Before making any drastic changes to your diet, consider cutting out those extra snacks like cookies, treats, and table scraps. You should also avoid using spray deterrents applied to nails, fur, or other items in the house that the dog may lick or chew.
Warnings
- Avoid constantly feeding him a home-cooked meal if your vet hasn't trained you properly. To stay healthy, dogs need a different nutritional balance than humans and, without formal education, few people are able to provide an adequate diet.
- See your vet or emergency clinic immediately if your furry friend has severe, life-threatening symptoms.
